Looking for the sweetest way to say “I love you”? This rich and buttery chocolate heart sugar cookies recipe is the answer. Whether you are searching for romantic Valentine’s Day baking ideas or thoughtful Mother’s Day treats, nothing beats a homemade batch of delicious chocolate sugar cookies.
Whether you’re whipping up sweet surprises for a Galentines Party, assembling heart shaped desserts for a Valentine’s Day party platter, or making cute boyfriend cookies for a homemade treat box, this recipe fits every occasion.
With a smooth and easy-to-roll dough, and a quick bake time, you’ll have adorable, chocolate heart cookies ready to decorate with pretty sprinkles in no time.
If you love to bake homemade cookies, also try these love heart mosaic cookies, these chocolate pinwheel cookies or these yummy tiramisu cookies.
Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Heart Sugar Cookies Recipe
They keep their shape perfectly: The “chill and freeze” technique (chilling the dough and freezing the cut shapes for 5 minutes before baking) ensures every heart comes out with sharp, defined edges.
Easy to decorate: You don’t need to be a piping expert or make complicated royal icing to decorate these pretty cookies. With a simple melted chocolate drizzle and celebration themed sprinkles, it’s so easy to create bakery-quality decorated cookies with minimal effort.
They’re rich, soft, and perfectly chocolatey: A balance of cocoa powder, vanilla, and buttery dough creates cookies that taste as good as they look – soft in the center, lightly crisp on the edges, and full of chocolate flavor.
Ingredients
To make chocolate heart shaped sugar cookies you’ll need the following ingredients. I go into detail for a few of the key ingredients here, but you can find the specific quantities and steps in the recipe card below.
- All purpose flour
- Sugar: Granulated white sugar.
- Cocoa powder: I like to use dutch processed cocoa powder for a rich chocolate flavored cookie.
- Unsalted butter: Bring it to room temperature for easier creaming.
- Egg: Also bring the egg to room temperature for better mixing.
- Semi-sweet chocolate: For melting and drizzling over the cookies. I recommend you use a good quality melting chocolate for the best flavor. You can also use bittersweet chocolate.
- Sprinkles: Choose any celebration themed sprinkles to suit the occasion – I have used a Valentine sprinkle mix for these cookies, but you can use anything you like.
- Vanilla, Salt, Baking Powder
How To Make Chocolate Heart Cookies
Here’s a quick overview of how to make chocolate cutout cookies. For the full recipe details, including ingredients and measurements needed, scroll down to the printable recipe card below.
You will need a heart shaped cookie cutter, baking sheet, parchment paper and a large mixing bowl to get started.
Prepare the cookie dough: Using a stand or hand mixer, beat the butter, sugar and vanilla together in a large bowl until creamy and well combined. Add the egg and beat to combine.
Scrape the sides down and then incorporate the flour, salt, and baking powder. Mix on low until just combined into a smooth cookie dough.
Shape the dough into a large rectangle and cover in plastic wrap. Freeze for 3 hours, or leave in the fridge overnight.
Roll and cut cookies: Lightly flour your working surface, rolling pin and your hands. Roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Us the heart cookie cutter to cut the heart shapes out and place the heart cookies on a lined baking sheet.
Re-roll the leftover dough and cut out additional cookies until all dough is used.
Place the chocolate hearts on the baking sheet in the freezer for 5 minutes (or the fridge for 30 minutes) then bake in the preheated oven for 6-7 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.
Leave to cool for 5 minutes on the tray, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Don’t decorate while they are warm!
Decorate the cookies: When you’re ready to decorate, melt the chocolate and put into piping bag with a very thin tip. Drizzle the chocolate over one side of each cookie. You can use a fork to do this step if you don’t have a piping bag.
While the drizzled chocolate is still warm, decorate the cookies with sprinkles. Leave to firm up before serving.
Recipe Tips For Success
Do not skip the chilling or pre-bake freeze: This is the most critical step for cut-out cookies. Chilling the dough ensures the cookies hold their cut out edges and do not spread too much when baking.
Use room temperature ingredients: If the butter is too cold, it won’t mix properly with the sugar, if it’s too warm, the dough will be greasy and likely cause the cookies to spread excessively in the oven.
Avoid overbaking to achieve the perfect texture: The cookies only need a very short bake time. They will continue to firm up on the hot baking sheet as they cool, so don’t leave in the oven too long or they will be dry.
How To Store Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Freshly baked heart shaped cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Make ahead: Make the dough and wrap tightly before freezing for up to 3 months. Thaw the dough in the fridge overnight before rolling, cutting, and baking.
Serving Ideas
These love heart cookies are a great option for so many different occasions. Here are just a few ideas:
- Part of a Valentine’s Day treat box for someone special
- Valentine’s Day classroom treats the kids will love
- On a platter of sweet treats for Mother’s Day
- A cute Galentines Party food idea
- Easy Valentine bake sale cookie to package up
- A special treat for your partner on your anniversary.
More Cookie Recipes To Try
- This collection of Valentines cookies has ideas for every occasion.
- These pistachio cookies recipes are a little bit fancy.
Or find more dessert recipe ideas to make at home here.
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