Heart-Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies are a sweet and charming way to show your love. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or any occasion, these soft, buttery cookies are packed with gooey chocolate chips and shaped into adorable hearts. Simple to make and fun to share, they’re a delightful treat for loved ones or yourself!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Classic Favorite: Everyone loves a chocolate chip cookie, and the heart shape makes it extra special.
- Fun and Festive: Perfect for holidays or as a thoughtful homemade gift.
- Customizable: Add sprinkles, colored chocolate chips, or your favorite mix-ins.
- Easy to Make: Straightforward steps make these cookies beginner-friendly.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- Unsalted butter, softened
- Granulated sugar
- Brown sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Chocolate chips (milk, dark, or semi-sweet)
Optional: Heart-shaped cookie cutter and sprinkles for decoration.
Directions
Make the Dough:
- Cream the Butter and Sugars:
- In a large bowl, beat softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients:
- Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips:
- Gently mix in the chocolate chips, ensuring they’re evenly distributed.
Chill and Roll the Dough:
- Chill the Dough:
- Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. This helps the cookies hold their shape during baking.
- Roll Out the Dough:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
Shape and Bake:
- Cut Out Hearts:
- Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies. Re-roll scraps and repeat until all the dough is used.
- Bake:
- Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
Cool and Decorate:
- Cool the Cookies:
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
- Optional Decorations:
- Sprinkle with colored sugar, drizzle with melted chocolate, or add a dusting of powdered sugar for a festive touch.
Servings and Timing
- Servings: Makes about 18 cookies
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Chill Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
Variations
- Double Chocolate: Replace 1/4 cup of flour with cocoa powder for a chocolate dough.
- Add Nuts: Fold in chopped walnuts or pecans for extra texture.
- Colorful Chips: Use pink, red, or white chocolate chips for a festive look.
- Stuffed Cookies: Add a dollop of Nutella or peanut butter in the center before baking.
Storage/Reheating
- Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Refrigeration: Keep in the fridge for up to a week.
- Freezing: Freeze the dough or baked cookies in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw before baking or serving.
FAQs
1. Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes! The dough can be refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for longer storage.
2. Do I need a heart-shaped cookie cutter?
While it’s ideal, you can shape the cookies by hand or use a knife to create hearts.
3. How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much?
Chill the dough before baking and ensure your baking sheet isn’t warm from previous batches.
4. Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for a gluten-free version.
5. Can I use salted butter?
Yes, but reduce the added salt in the recipe to balance the flavor.
6. Can I use other mix-ins?
Absolutely! Try dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, or caramel bits for variety.
7. What if I don’t have time to chill the dough?
While chilling is recommended for better shape, you can bake immediately, but the cookies may spread more.
8. How do I keep the cookies soft?
Store them in an airtight container with a slice of bread to retain moisture.
9. Can I decorate these cookies with royal icing?
Yes! These cookies are sturdy enough to hold icing decorations.
10. How do I make the cookies extra chewy?
Add an extra egg yolk to the dough for added moisture and chewiness.
Conclusion
Heart-Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies are the perfect way to add a little love to a classic dessert. With their soft, chewy texture and gooey chocolate chips, these cookies are as delightful to eat as they are to look at. Whether you’re making them for a special someone or a fun baking project, these cookies are sure to warm hearts and satisfy cravings. Bake a batch today and share the love!
Heart-Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (+30 minutes chilling)
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 2 minutes
- Yield: 18–20 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These heart-shaped chocolate chip cookies are soft, chewy, and filled with gooey chocolate chips. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or whenever you want to show a little love, they’re as fun to make as they are to eat!
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Heart-shaped cookie cutter
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream the Butter and Sugars:
- In a large bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
- Add the Wet Ingredients:
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, until fully incorporated.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Chill the Dough:
- Wrap the cookie dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to make it easier to roll out and cut.
- Roll and Cut the Dough:
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the cookies and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets. Re-roll the scraps as needed.
- Bake:
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may look slightly underbaked but will set as they cool.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve:
- Enjoy as-is, or decorate with melted chocolate, sprinkles, or icing for an extra festive touch!
Notes
- For thicker cookies, chill the cut-out dough hearts for 10 minutes before baking.
- To make these cookies extra chocolatey, sprinkle a few chocolate chips on top of each cookie before baking.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months.