485
This post is all about heart shaped chocolate cookies.
When it comes to expressing love through baking, heart-shaped chocolate cookies take the center stage.
In this post, we’ll not only provide you with a delectable chocolate cookie recipe but also inspire your creativity with stunning decorating ideas.
Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a kitchen novice, these cookies are a blank canvas for your artistic expressions of love.
Easy Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Servings: 36 Cookies (2.5 inches)
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all purpose flour (sifted, then spooned and leveled)
- ¼ cup Dutch process cocoa powder unsweetened
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter softened at room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Set aside. In a small bowl, combine egg and vanilla extract. Set aside.
- In a separate mixing bowl of an electric stand mixer, using paddle attachment, combine butter and powdered sugar, and beat at high speed until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add egg mixture and beat until it resembles frosting, about 2 minutes.
- Switch to low speed and gradually add dry mixture to wet mixture, stirring until it resembles peas and crumbs. Add water in small increments (½-1 tablespoon at a time) while stirring at low speed until dough pulls away cleanly from the sides of the bowl and gathers together at the center paddle.
- Split dough into two equal parts. Put one half between two sheets of parchment paper and roll it out to a 1/4-inch thickness. Fold all 4 sides of parchment paper to seal and prevent dough from drying. Repeat with second half of dough.
- Keeping the dough wrapped in parchment paper, stack one sheet of dough on top of the other, and chill both in freezer for 10 minutes (or refrigerator for 30 minutes).
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Take out one sheet of dough at a time from freezer (or refrigerator). Cut shapes with your desired cookie cutters. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, placing cookies 1 inch apart. If dough becomes too soft while cutting, chill again for 10 minutes. Repeat with second half of dough.
- Bake for 6-8 minutes (rotating sheet halfway through) until they lightly brown at bottom edges. Let rest on sheet to harden and cool completely. Serve as is or decorate.
Easy Royal Icing
Yield: 3 cups
Ingredients
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 tablespoons warm water (plus more for thinning)
- food color gel (optional)
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl of an electric stand mixer, using a paddle attachment, stir powdered sugar and meringue powder at low speed.
- While stirring, add water to the mixture. Stir until stiff peaks form. Add vanilla extract and beat at medium speed until combined. If you are only making white icing, skip to step 5.
- Divide the icing into separate bowls that are designated for each color. Allocate a larger amount of icing for the colors that will be used most frequently. Cover the icing with plastic film directly on the icing's surface when not in use to prevent premature hardening.
- Working with one bowl of icing at a time, create a desired color by mixing food coloring gel gradually into the designated icing bowl.
- After the shade of color is achieved, add water in small amounts (⅛-¼ teaspoon at a time) gradually and stir until a thick outlining consistency is achieved. Divide the icing in two parts by transferring one portion into a piping bag for outlining. Leave the remaining icing in the bowl as it will be transformed into thin flood icing in the next step.
- Add small amounts of extra water gradually to the remaining icing and stir until the desired thin consistency for flooding is achieved. Transfer to a piping bag or squeeze bottle for flooding.
Summary
Baking and decorating heart-shaped chocolate sugar cookies is a delightful way to express love and creativity in the kitchen. With the provided recipes and decorating ideas, you're equipped to embark on a sweet journey of personal expression and heartfelt gestures. So, gather your ingredients, put on your apron, and let the decorating magic begin!