Simple Chocolate Cookies for Valentine’s Day

Ok ok, I’ve been slack lately but there’s things afoot that I can’t tell you about until they happen. These things-which-are-afoot mean a combination of less time and less money, but only in a very happy manner.

Enough of the excuses and onto the baking.

Love you all

I’m not going to pass comment on Valentine’s day (except to say that I think TT3D is an entirely acceptable film for such an evening) but I am going to share these super-simple sprinkle heart-shaped chocolate cookies (say that after a glass of bubbly). I’ll level with you: they’re not the tastiest or most decadent cookies ever but they hold their shape very well, which means no mangled hearts, and that can only be a good thing on such a day. They are perfectly good though for a nibble, they are pretty foolproof and I think they’d be ideal for placing in the top of a valentine’s sundae.

Have a heart

Chocolate Sprinkle Cookies
from Marks & Spencer’s Easy Baking

Makes 30 (best to freeze half)

225g butter, softened
140g caster sugar (I used soft brown for more taste)
1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
2 tsp vanilla (I didn’t have any)
225g plain flour
55g cocoa powder
pinch of salt
A good amount of whatever sprinkles you want in there!
 

For the top:
200g melted chocolate (white looks pretty but I only had milk)
85g Vermicelli or a selection of valentines-y sprinkles

Cream butter and sugar together
Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla
Sift together the flour, cocoa and salt and mix into the wet mixture until combined
If adding sprinkles or choc-chips to the mixture do so now. Mix well.
Half the dough , roll each piece into a ball, wrap in clingfilm and refrigerate for 30-60mins to firm up.
Preheat oven to 190c/375f/Gas Mark 5
Grease baking trays and line with paper.
Roll out the dough between two pieces of baking parchment until 5mm thick. 
Cut out the cookies and put them on the baking trays a little distance apart.
Bake for 10-12 minutes and then leave to cool for 10 before transferring to wire racks.

Melt chocolate and spread or splatter over cookies
Sprinkle on the sprinkles (surprise!)

I’m entering this for the valentine’s Tea Time Treats hosted by Kate and Karen