Description
Romantic French Valentine’s chocolate cut-out cookies sparkle with sweet passion and delicate charm. Rich chocolate dough creates elegant heart-shaped treats perfect for celebrating love’s most tender moments.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Binding and Leavening Ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Flavor and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Optional Decorating Ingredients:
- Icing or royal icing
- Heart-shaped sprinkles
Instructions
- Create a rich chocolate cookie foundation by whisking together dry ingredients including flour, cocoa powder, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl.
- Cream butter and sugar in a separate large bowl until the mixture becomes airy and pale, creating a smooth base for the cookies.
- Incorporate egg and vanilla extract into the butter mixture, blending thoroughly to ensure even distribution of moisture and flavor.
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, kneading until a uniform, cohesive dough emerges.
- Partition the dough into two equal discs, encase each in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes to firm up the texture.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and arrange parchment paper on baking sheets to prevent sticking.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to a slim 1/4-inch thickness, ensuring even consistency.
- Press heart-shaped cookie cutters into the dough, carefully transferring cut shapes to prepared baking sheets with slight spacing between each cookie.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, watching for set edges and slightly soft centers, which indicate perfect doneness.
- Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to stabilize, then transfer to a wire cooling rack.
- Once completely cooled, embellish with delicate icing or royal icing, and sprinkle heart-shaped decorations for a romantic Valentine’s presentation.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain sharp cookie edges during baking.
- Use unsweetened cocoa powder for a rich, deep chocolate flavor that doesn’t compromise the cookie’s structure.
- Experiment with different extracts like almond or orange to create unique flavor variations that complement the chocolate base.
- For gluten-free options, swap wheat flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to maintain the cookie’s texture and taste.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg