Smiley Face Chocolate Chip Cookies
Fun and cheerful cookies with delightful smiley faces made from candy eyes and chocolate, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened) Ensure it is properly softened.
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (white sugar)
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/8 cups all-purpose flour Unbleached is best.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 12 ounces semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips Use high-quality chocolate chips.
Decoration
- 36 pieces Jumbo Candy Eyes For the smiley faces.
- 4 ounces dark confectionery coating (melted) For attaching eyes and piping smiles.
Instructions
Preparation
- Cream the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together in a bowl. Beat on medium speed for about a minute until well blended.
- Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla to the mixture. Beat until fully incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, mix the flour, salt, and baking soda together. Gradually incorporate this dry mixture into the wet ingredients.
- Fold the chocolate chips into the cookie batter.
- Scoop out 16-18 cookies, using about 1/4 cup of dough for each. Place the cookies on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate for 30-60 minutes.
Baking
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Bake cookies one tray at a time for 12-16 minutes. The cookies should begin to set around the edges, turning light golden brown while still soft in the center.
- Allow cookies to cool completely.
Decoration
- Attach two candy eyes to each cookie using the melted confectionery coating.
- Pour the remaining coating into a squeeze bottle or small zip-top bag. Pipe smiles onto the cookies and let the candy coating harden.
Notes
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week. For longer storage, freeze cookies in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to three months. Don't skip the refrigeration step; it helps the cookies keep their shape while baking.