Stacked Brownie Valentine Cookies are a delightful and easy-to-make treat perfect for expressing love this Valentine’s Day. This recipe simplifies achieving a decadent brownie flavor in a cookie format, making it a convenient and impressive dessert option for both beginners and experienced bakers.
Key Ingredients for Stacked Brownie Valentine Cookies:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for dusting
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Valentine’s Day sprinkles (optional, for decoration)
- White chocolate melting wafers or melted white chocolate (for drizzling)
How to Make Stacked Brownie Valentine Cookies:
Get ready for an incredibly delicious and satisfying experience with these Stacked Brownie Valentine Cookies. They are surprisingly simple to whip up, yielding a rich, fudgy texture that’s far more satisfying than a plain cookie. The aroma alone is worth the minimal effort, promising a decadent treat for your loved ones. Preparation time typically takes around 20 minutes active time, with an additional 12-15 minutes for baking per batch.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking. This is a crucial step to ensure your cookies don’t adhere to the pan.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. This process incorporates air, leading to a better cookie texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the two large eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract for that classic sweet aroma and flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisking them together ensures that the leavening agents and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in tough cookies.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the ½ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips. These will melt into pockets of gooey chocolate within your brownie cookies, adding an extra layer of indulgence.
- Scoop the Dough: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Aim for about 1.5-inch diameter balls. Leave about 2 inches of space between cookies as they will spread slightly. If you’re using Valentine’s Day sprinkles, you can gently press a few onto the tops of the cookie dough balls before baking for a festive touch. For a truly stacked brownie cookie experience, you can gently flatten the dough balls with the palm of your hand or a flat-bottomed glass, reminiscent of a brownie’s shape.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are set but the center still looks slightly soft. The cookies will continue to cook as they cool on the baking sheet. Overbaking will result in a dry cookie, so watch them closely.
- Cool and Decorate: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once fully cooled, you can melt the white chocolate melting wafers or use pre-melted white chocolate and drizzle it over the cooled cookies. For an extra festive flair, add more Valentine’s Day sprinkles immediately after drizzling before the chocolate sets. The white chocolate drizzle provides a beautiful contrast to the rich brownie color and adds a delightful sweetness.
Why You’ll Love This Stacked Brownie Valentine Cookies:
You’ll absolutely adore these Stacked Brownie Valentine Cookies for their intensely fudgy interior, reminiscent of a perfectly baked brownie but in a delightfully portable cookie form. Imagine biting into a cookie that’s so rich and chocolatey, it feels like a special occasion, without the fuss of making a whole pan of brownies. This recipe is incredibly budget-friendly, allowing you to create a gourmet-feeling dessert at a fraction of the cost of store-bought treats or bakery equivalents, making it a smart choice for any occasion.
What truly elevates these cookies are the thoughtful touches – the rich cocoa creates a deep chocolate flavor, and the optional white chocolate drizzle and festive sprinkles add a touch of sweet elegance and visual appeal that’s perfect for sharing. They are a step above your average chocolate chip cookie, offering a more sophisticated yet equally comforting chocolate experience. Ready to wow your loved ones with a homemade gesture of affection? Give these Stacked Brownie Valentine Cookies a try this Valentine’s Day – your taste buds will thank you!
Storing and Reheating Tips:
To keep your Stacked Brownie Valentine Cookies tasting their best, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. Ensure they are completely cooled before sealing the container. For longer storage, you can freeze them. Place the cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container, with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. They can be kept frozen for up to 2-3 months.
To reheat, you can enjoy them at room temperature or gently warm them. If desired, place a cookie on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 10-15 seconds, just until slightly warm and the chocolate chips are melty again. They are also delicious eaten straight from the freezer for a chewy, chilled treat.
Final Thoughts:
These Stacked Brownie Valentine Cookies are a wonderfully simple way to indulge in rich chocolate flavor. Encourage yourself to bake this delightful treat for a special someone or just for a delightful personal indulgence – you won’t regret it!
Stacked Brownie Valentine Cookies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking. This is a crucial step to ensure your cookies don’t adhere to the pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. This process incorporates air, leading to a better cookie texture.1 cup unsalted butter, softened, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- Beat in the two large eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract for that classic sweet aroma and flavor.2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisking them together ensures that the leavening agents and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour.1 cup all-purpose flour, ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in tough cookies.
- Gently fold in the ½ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips. These will melt into pockets of gooey chocolate within your brownie cookies, adding an extra layer of indulgence.½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Aim for about 1.5-inch diameter balls. Leave about 2 inches of space between cookies as they will spread slightly. If you’re using Valentine’s Day sprinkles, you can gently press a few onto the tops of the cookie dough balls before baking for a festive touch. For a truly stacked brownie cookie experience, you can gently flatten the dough balls with the palm of your hand or a flat-bottomed glass, reminiscent of a brownie’s shape.Valentine’s Day sprinkles
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are set but the center still looks slightly soft. The cookies will continue to cook as they cool on the baking sheet. Overbaking will result in a dry cookie, so watch them closely.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once fully cooled, you can melt the white chocolate melting wafers or use pre-melted white chocolate and drizzle it over the cooled cookies. For an extra festive flair, add more Valentine’s Day sprinkles immediately after drizzling before the chocolate sets. The white chocolate drizzle provides a beautiful contrast to the rich brownie color and adds a delightful sweetness.Valentine’s Day sprinkles, white chocolate melting wafers or melted white chocolate