Description
Delightful Valentine Cookies made with a buttery dough, baked to perfection, and dipped in dark and white chocolate with festive nonpareil decorations. Perfect for gifting or sharing during the Valentine season.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cups (150 g) sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 ¼ cups (295 g) all-purpose flour
Chocolate Coating & Decoration
- 1 cup (170 g) dark chocolate melting wafers
- 1 cup (170 g) white chocolate melting wafers
- Nonpareils for decoration
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Combine softened butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl. Beat until well-creamed and fluffy.
- Add Vanilla and Salt: Stir in vanilla extract and salt until well-combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
- Incorporate Egg Yolk: Add the large egg yolk and beat until fully combined with the mixture.
- Add Flour: With the mixer on medium-low speed, gradually add the all-purpose flour. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl several times to fully incorporate the dry mixture and form a crumbly dough.
- Form Dough Ball: Transfer the dough to a clean surface and use your hands to form it into a cohesive ball.
- Chill Dough: Flatten the dough ball into a disk about 1 inch thick, cover it with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Roll Out Dough: Once chilled, transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll it out to ¼ inch thickness.
- Cut Out Cookies: Lightly flour your cookie cutters, cut out shapes from the dough, and transfer them to the ungreased cookie sheet. Recombine scraps, roll out, and cut again to maximize yield.
- Bake Cookies: Bake cookies at 350°F for 12 minutes or until edges begin to turn lightly golden brown. Adjust time if cookies are smaller or larger. Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating.
- Prepare Chocolate: Melt dark chocolate melting wafers in one bowl and white chocolate melting wafers in another, following package instructions.
- Dip Cookies: Holding each cooled cookie by the base, dip the surface into the melted chocolate. Place the dipped side up onto a wax paper-lined cookie sheet. Immediately sprinkle with nonpareils or sprinkles.
- Alternate and Repeat: Alternate dipping cookies in dark and white chocolate until all are coated and decorated.
- Allow Chocolate to Harden: Let the chocolate set and harden completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- The baking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of the cookie cutters used; adjust accordingly.
- Chilling the dough helps with easier rolling and cleaner cookie shapes.
- Use parchment paper on baking sheets to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- For easier chocolate melting, use a double boiler or microwave in short bursts, stirring frequently.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
