If you’re looking for a chocolate cookie that will truly melt your heart this Valentine’s Day, then you’re really going to fall in love with these Heart-Melting Chocolate Espresso Cookies. They’re chocolaty, crunchy, and sweet, with a lovely espresso flavor. And for the finishing touch, each cookie is topped with a heart-shaped chocolate that literally melts into it. How can your heart not totally melt over these cookies?
For the third year in a row, I am taking part in an event whose goal is to shine a light on childhood cancer. Cancer is the number one cause of death for children by disease in the United States, and the National Cancer Institute’s budget for childhood cancer is less than 4%. In the next two minutes, somewhere in the world, a family will be told, “Your child has cancer.” It’s hard for me to even begin to wrap my mind around these horrifying statistics. And, to make matters worse, two-thirds of childhood cancer survivors suffer from long-term side effects including but not limited to secondary cancers, heart disease, and kidney disease.
So, what can you do to help make a difference in these children’s lives? You can donate to our Good Cookie Valentine’s Event. Today, I and several other food recipe bloggers and food content creators are sharing a recipe or content to help raise awareness and funds for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. Last Valentine’s Day, this event helped to raise $12,267 to help fund pediatric cancer research, and this year, with your help, we’re hoping to raise even more. Below, you’ll find details on where to donate, as well as links to all of the amazing recipes being shared for this event.
Now, let’s talk about these gorgeous chocolaty Valentine’s Day cookies. If you’re someone who loves chocolate and espresso, then your heart is totally going to melt when you take a bite out of one of these brown sugar espresso cookies topped with a melted chocolate Valentine’s heart. The crunchy sugar texture of the cookie paired with the gooey melted chocolate is such an amazing combination. One that you’ll definitely have a problem saying no to. Seriously. You may want to bake about three batches of these. They’re just that good.
Ingredients:
- 1 Cup Unsalted Butter, Softened
- 1 3/4 Cups Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 1 Egg
- 1 Tablespoon Vanilla
- 2 Cups + 2 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 3 Teaspoons Espresso Powder
- 1 1/4 Teaspoons Baking Soda
- 3/4 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/3 Cup Granulated Sugar
- Heart-Shaped Chocolates
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar together for 3 minutes on medium speed.
- Add the egg; mix for 30 seconds on medium speed.
- Add the vanilla; mix for 30 seconds on medium speed.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking soda, and salt. On low speed, add the flour mixture a little bit at a time to the butter mixture. Mix until the flour is just incorporated.
- Place the granulated sugar into a small bowl. Use a cookie scoop to measure out the dough. Roll each scoop of cookie dough into a ball between the palms of your hands. Roll each ball into the granulated sugar and then place it on a Silpat or parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately press an unwrapped chocolate heart down into the middle of each cookie.
- Allow the cookies to rest for at least 5 minutes before removing them to a baking rack to finish cooling completely.
Suggestions:
- If you don’t own a cookie scoop, use enough cookie dough to roll 1-inch balls of dough.
- These cookies will take 8 to 10 minutes to bake. They are done when they are puffed and beginning to crack on the top.
- I used Dove Promises Dark Chocolate Hearts for this recipe. Use whichever brand or variety of chocolate hearts you prefer.
- The chocolate hearts on these cookies will remain gooey for quite some time after baking. To store these cookies, place the cookies on a rimmed baking sheet or in a sheet cake pan. Cover the baking sheet or sheet cake pan tightly with foil. This will prevent the chocolate hearts from being smudged during storage.
- If you would like to store these cookies immediately for travel or packaging, place them in a freezer on a baking sheet for 15 to 30 minutes to reharden the chocolate hearts.
- This recipe will yield approximately 3 dozen to 3 1/2 dozen cookies. You may have a few less or a few more depending on how large you roll the balls of cookie dough.
Improvements:
- When it’s not Valentine’s Day, you can still make these cookies by adding a normal-shaped chocolate on top of them after baking. Try using any variety of Hershey’s Kisses or Dove Promises.
- Roll the balls of cookie dough into finely ground pecans, almonds, or peanuts instead of granulated sugar.
- Place two small candy eyes on each heart to make an adorable cookie for young children.
- CLICK HERE to check out all of our past cookie recipes. Don’t forget to check out our Valentine’s Day section.
Ingredients:
- 1 Cup Unsalted Butter, Softened
- 1 3/4 Cups Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 1 Egg
- 1 Tablespoon Vanilla
- 2 Cups + 2 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 3 Teaspoons Espresso Powder
- 1 1/4 Teaspoons Baking Soda
- 3/4 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/3 Cup Granulated Sugar
- Heart-Shaped Chocolates
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar together for 3 minutes on medium speed.
- Add the egg; mix for 30 seconds on medium speed.
- Add the vanilla; mix for 30 seconds on medium speed.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking soda, and salt. On low speed, add the flour mixture a little bit at a time to the butter mixture. Mix until the flour is just incorporated.
- Place the granulated sugar into a small bowl. Use a cookie scoop to measure out the dough. Roll each scoop of cookie dough into a ball between the palms of your hands. Roll each ball into the granulated sugar and then place it on a Silpat or parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately press an unwrapped chocolate heart down into the middle of each cookie.
- Allow the cookies to rest for at least 5 minutes before removing them to a baking rack to finish cooling completely.
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Nutty M&M Peanut Butter Cup Valentine Cookies
Strawberry Dark Chocolate Shortbread Biscuits
Whether you’re looking for a rich and decadent chocolate treat, a buttery shortbread cookie, or something with a hint of fruity sweetness, we’ve got you covered with our list of “14 Valentine’s Day Cookies You’ll Love at First Bite.” From classic favorites to unique and easy-to-make recipes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So grab your apron and get ready to whip up some love-filled treats that will have your Valentine falling head over heels at first bite. CLICK HERE for the recipes.
FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, & LUCK “GOOD COOKIE” RECIPES
2021 – Vanilla Bean Cherry Chocolate Kiss Cookies
2022 – Flourless Chunky Peanut Butter Blossoms
2023 – Heart-Melting Chocolate Espresso Cookies
Please help us make a difference by donating to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. Cancer is the number one cause of death of children by disease in the United States. Currently, in the United States, there are over 40,000 children actively battling cancer. The National Cancer Institute’s budget for childhood cancer is less than 4% and 47 children continue to be diagnosed with cancer each day in the United States. It’s imperative that we raise awareness and continue to raise money to fund ongoing pediatric cancer research.
This February, I am excited to participate in the Good Cookie Valentine’s Event with several other amazing food recipe bloggers and food content creators. This is the seventh year for this Valentine’s Day fund-raising event whose goal is to make a difference in the fight against pediatric cancer. Our goal is to raise at least $3000. Mediavine has pledged to match our donations raised through this campaign, up to $3000. That means, due to their generosity, when we raise $1, it turns into $2. Thank you to all of those who generously choose to help us meet this fundraising goal. Donations will be accepted until March 31, 2023. Please, CLICK HERE to donate.
Please visit the other amazing bloggers participating in this Valentine’s Day event and check out their recipes.
- Heart-Shaped Homemade Pop Tarts from Julie of The Little Kitchen
- Valentine Snack Mix – Cupid Crunch from Jenn of Ever After in the Woods
- Easy Dark Chocolate Cherry Truffles from Audrey of That Recipe
- How to Make an Edible Valentine Gingerbread House from Jennifer of The Rebel Chick
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Parfaits from Stefanie of Stef’s Eats and Sweets
- Easy Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies from Melissa of Persnickety Plates
- Valentine Love Bugs Oreos from Jaclyn of Crayons & Cravings
- Round Up of Homemade Valentine’s Day Sweets and Treats from Lisa of Blogghetti
- Mini Skillet Cookie from Caroline of Caroline’s Cooking
- Easy Pink Cookie Recipe (Refined Sugar-free) from Shashi of Savory Spin
- Truffle Honey Goat Cheese Stuffed Rolls from Lisa of Taste Cook Sip
- Sweetheart Strawberry Brownies from Nicole of For the Love of Food
- Heart Shaped Pancakes from Sarah of TheGleasonCo
- Chubby Hubby Cookies from Rebecca of Sugar & Soul
- Heart-Shaped Reese’s Stuffed Cookie for Two from Erin of The Spiffy Cookie
- Heart-Melting Chocolate Espresso Cookies from Colleen of Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
