Alright people. Suit up. Gather your armor. We’ve got another holiday to dive into.
I’m talking about Valentine’s Day.
Now listen…. I don’t care where you stand on the Valentine’s Day issue. I don’t care if you’re single or married or smitten or bitter. Valentine’s Day exists… there’s no ignoring it. Flag day we can ignore. Arbor day we can half acknowledge…. but Valentine’s Day, we just have to get in there and deal with.
It’s like going to the dentist… but more romantic (or something).
Maybe you can sorta tell how I feel about Valentine’s Day. Maybe you can sorta tell I’m not that into it. I’m not angry or bitter… it’s just never been a day that’s bowled me over. Wait… is that an expression?
When I was 17, my first boyfriend made me something from his pottery class for Valentine’s Day… that he then took back and gave to another girl. It sounds way more upsetting than it actually was. I remember totally not caring. Aaaannnnddd…that’s that. Moving on.
Let me tell you about these cookies. They’re certainly not your typical rolled out sugar cookie.
These cookies are loaded with good quality cocoa powder and stone ground whole wheat flour. I like them quite a lot. They’re slightly crisp around the edges and soft in the center. The cocoa adds… you know… lots of yumyum. The whole wheat flour adds a nuttiness and makes the cookies more of a mouthful than plain old all-purpose flour. I love the combination.
I topped these cookies with a generous sprinkling of granulated sugar and thought they were just divine.
I bought myself two awesome early Valentine’s Day presents.
The Jamie at Home cookbook. So beautiful! I mean… swooooon! I can’t wait to dive into this book.
And, of course, Ree’s new book. And she signed it. And all is well.
Boooya(kah)!
Whole Wheat Chocolate Brown Sugar Sugar Cookies
Makes: about three dozen cookies
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, fit with a paddle attachment, beat together butter and sugars. Beat until well incorporated. Stop the mixer and scrape down the bowl. Add the egg. Beat on medium speed until mixture is glossy and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Stop mixer and add the dry ingredients all at once. Mix on low speed until all of the flour is incorporated Stop mixer and finish incorporating ingredients with a spatula. Spoon batter out onto a sheet of waxed paper, and form loosely into a log. Roll and seal cookie dough and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
Once chilled, divide dough in half and place one half on a lightly floured counter surface. Lightly flour a rolling pin and roll out dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Use a heart shaped (or whatever) cookie cutter to cut out cookies and place dough on prepared baking sheet. Very lightly brush cookies with water and sprinkle with granulated or turbinado sugar.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven, allow to rest on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Roll and cut cookies, re-rolling the dough once or twice, until all cookies are cut and baked.
Cookies will last, in an airtight container at room temperature, for up to five days.
Milzo
They look good..and I am whipping up a batch now..my only problem with the directions is that it said to pre-heat the oven which I did but then later said to chill it in the fridge for 2 hours.
Paula B.
I add a teaspoon of vanilla and could eat a batch of raw dough, since I use flaxseed “egg”. This is a fabulous recipe.
Deborah Chapman
Hello Joy made these cookiesx today I had everything on hand they are very good. I also made an extra bactch if dough and put it in the freezer. .I did not have a heart shape cookie cutter so I used the small round cutter. I made one tray if cookies with turbinado sugar and the second tray with regular granulated sugar and I ate about 7 cookies, I love these cookies thank you for sharing.
reece
Thanks for the recipe! We had very little in the cupboard and were looking for a sneaky sweet treat with our nightly cup of tea and they were super scrupmtious. I didn’t refrigerate and they were just perfect to roll out. The whole process only took about 20mins which made them taste even sweeter. :)
Martha
Making these today for valentines gifts and I plan on adding crushed pistachios on top of some of them, I think it will be pretty yummy!
Thanks again Joy!
Christine
Just wanted to tell you, as I make these a second time, they are probably my almost-2-year-old’s favorite cookies I’ve ever made. I’m making them for her 2nd birthday party — they were a total hit at her cousin’s birthday in September. Toddlers love them and they’re healthier than most cookies, win/win! I simplified slightly by using just white-whole-wheat and just unrefined granulated, rather than using two types of flour and sugar, and it worked perfectly.
Sabrina
Hi, I just made those cookies!
They are awesome! Thanks for sharing.
I didn’t used regular flour, only whole wheat and + 1 tablespoon of flax seed.
Also right before they went to the oven I added chocolate chips on top.
Kat @ Indie Domestic
I totally made these…sort of. I changed them. The originals were good (I made those, too) but I added cinnamon and chili powder and vanilla and chocolate chips and called them Mexican Hot Chocolate cookies (my changes are on my blog at indiedomestic.wordpress.com). So delicious! Thanks as always for having amazing recipes…and being a great inspiration!
Lisa
Just about to make a few dozen of these and can’t wait – I’ll follow up.
But I had to comment on the photo of your Lenox china. LOVE that pattern, and it’s nearly impossible to find. So pretty. :)
Great blog!
Kat
Hi Joy!
I just finished making these, but I wasn’t in the mood for just chocolate so I changed them up a bit. I split the dough and made half White Chocolate Mocha cookies (added instant coffee and white chocolate chips) and the other half Mexican Chocolate cookies (added cayenne pepper and cinnamon). Both were really good! Easy to overbake and dry out, but good! Thanks!
Kat
Alison
Super delicious. I can’t actually tell that they contain whole wheat flour at all. They just taste like chocolate and deliciousness. Yum.
Karen
I was thinking the same thing as another about just slicing and baking rather than rolling them out. I will try these for sure. I am lazy when it comes to rolling cookies. I am a new convert to baking more with whole wheat flour rather than all purpose white. I like the grainy texture it adds to some things.
Christine
Joy, I made these delights with some friends the other day and we decided to get a bit creative with your original recipe. These are the variations we came up with:
– Cookie covered in Peanut Butter
– Cookie dipped in Chocolate
– Cookie dipped in chocolate and then in coconut shavings (favorite!)
– Cookie with Strawberry Preserves spread on top and covered in a Chocolate Drizzle
Thanks for inspiring so many delicious treats!
koko1215
so sweet and also the decor too!!!
Pat
Almosot amde these for Valentines’, but they didn’t last. I found they’re also great to simply roll into logs, freeze and slice when you want a few. Not as pretty as the hearts, but easy and quick — maybe a little too easy if you’ve always got dough handy.
Mo
I had a coworker of mine make these and between me, her and another coworker we polished them off! I kept thinking “Fiber has never been sooo good!” Thanks for the recipe :)
bakingaddict
I’ve just made them and they are divine! I’ve also added a link back to your site from my blog.
http://themorethanoccasionalbaker.blogspot.com/2011/02/chocolate-heart-cookies.html
Merage
ok, so I’ve been following this blog for a while… but haven’t commented until now… I like to try a lot of your recipes–and i’m impressed (obviously)… but these cookies just make me so happy. I substituted agave for the brown sugar cause I was out of brown sugar, but I have to say. Delish. Great tea time snack (yes I have tea time…because i’m persian… it just happens. )
joythebaker
i’m so glad you liked these cookies!
Katheryn
These were fantastic! My daughter and I made them on Valentine’s Day and were gone by bedtime. Thanks for the recipe!
Stephanie
These look great… just the kind I like. Not too sweet, a little crisp, and a little chocolaty. Great with tea or cocoa or coffee. (Can’t wait for the cookbook! Congrats!)
GracieGirl
Joy please, please, please, please, please, please come out with a cook book! I just love all of your recipes so much!! (My laptop is starting to get a bunch of flour gunk all over it from having it sit on the counter all the time.I am kinda a messy person when I bake.)
joythebaker
workin on it! i just turned in the first draft of my cookbook today. look for it early 2012!
Joyce
I made these yesterday — wonderful! I bake a lot, but not usually with whole wheat flour and was a little afraid they’d be dry. Perfect cookie I will bake these again. Thank you for the great recipe!
Emily
Joy, these are amazing. I made them for my husband’s birthday. He was pleased! Thanks as always for the recipes and inspirations. Your blog has been bookmark-tabbed in my browser for months… please keep the deliciousness coming for many more!
Tameka
I made these last night and they came out so great. It was my first time using whole wheat flour and the results exceeded my expectations. Instead of granulated sugar, I used red sanding/decorator sugar. The colors were awesome and the sweetness was right on point.
Thanks for the fantastic recipe.
Tameka
River
I made them today and they turned out yummy. I do have one question though, for anyone or for Joy, how do I get the dough to not crack apart when I start rolling it out? It seems too dry, but I did everything according to Joy’s recipe, everything. I let it chill for 2 hours (like the recipe) and when I went to get it, it was hard and hard to roll out. When I go to roll out the dough, the edges start to crack and split apart; which makes it difficult to cut out more hearts before I have to roll it out again. Does anyone have this problem? I mean, I finished baking all 6 dozens (not as scary as it sounds) cookies still but the rolling out the dough part got a little tedious cause of the dry edges. I had to through out the rest which ended up being just crumbs, but I could’ve gotten at least five more hearts out of’em. Hopefully someone (or Joy) can give me some tips cause I really want to make these again in different fun shapes for my baby girl on non-holiday days too!
joythebaker
maybe the dough was a little tooooo chilled. i’m sorry you had a cracking problem. maybe if it were slightly warmer, you wouldn’t have a cracking problem.
Lisa
River:
I agree with Joy about being cold. I bake cutouts ALL the time, and I know this challenge! Some doughs are simply more temperamental than others. If you like the cookies enough to make again, I will give you a few technique suggestions:
1) Besides being cold, major edge cracking can mean that the dough is either too short or too dry. You might try adding a tablespoon of milk or water to the dough when making. This can help a lot.
2) There is an optimal dough temperature for rolling. Try to find that temperature….it will NOT be right after you remove from the fridge after chilling. You’ll have to experiment a bit…
3) When the dough is still fairly cool but rollable, make sure you are not too forceful with your rolling pin. Roll AROUND the outer edge of the dough as well…NOT just straight across. And if you do get cracks (which we all do and are virttually inevitable!), simply press them firmly together with your fingers and then roll over them CAREFULLY! Try not to get any flour on the cracked places, as the cracks won’t bond together nearly as well.
4) I am CONSTANTLY working with cracks in rolled dough, and I just accept it and use the above tricks to cope.
5) ADDRESS THE CRACKS WHEN THEY ARE SMALL, AND DON’T WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE HUGE FISSURES! This helps immensely! It also sounds as if you are pressing too hard and fast with your rolling pin. Use a gentler touch….it may take you a bit longer, but the cracking won’t be as bad! Hope this helps!
Steph
Made these today. Love em!
Very tasty and easy to cut out.
This ones a Keeeeeeper!
Juawice
Made these today….DELISH!!! They will be repeaters, that’s for sure! Doubled the recipe and got right at five dozen two-inch heart-shaped cookies. Very good cookie. Made mine with the Hershey’s Dark Cocoa and they are dark and wonderful! Thanks for the recipe!
Sara
You start the recipe off by saying to preheat the oven, which I did. Then proceed to say put the dough in the fridge for at least 2 hours… meaning I just preheated my oven for nothing! :P
Guess that’s what I get for not reading all the instructions before starting. Oh well!
Look forward to trying these… in about 2 and a half hours! :)
Stephanie @ I really take the cake
Dear Joy, I made them and they’re absolutely great. I posted them – Again! Thanks so much! Want to have a look at my photos?
Anne Carlyle Lindsay
Just made these and they are delicious!!! A perfect gift to give to friends on Valentines Day who are healthy eaters!
Natalia
Ree’s book = so cute. makes me want a cowboy? Dont know if those exist in Chicago… ;)
Melanie
Valentine’s Day in my life is a time to celebrate my friends who love me despite my quirks, bad fashion choices, and miles between us. I give homemade gifts and a super girly card to acknowledge that love comes in many forms-A tradition since college that continues almost 20 years later!
Just made these for this year’s girlfriend Valentine’s Day brunch. Used my dough stamps to make them look like the conversation hearts personalized to celebrate each friend. Thanks for the great recipe!
Ernestine
How do you get them looking so perfect? When I try to make cookies it is such a disaster! Actually any time I bake it’s a disaster!
Katie@Cozydelicious
Haha… like going to the dentist! You and my husband would get along wonderfully. But I kinda like teh excuse to eat chocolate all day. And to bake bookies. Not that I need an excuse, but still…
joythebaker
bookies.
Dagmarette @ The Finishing School
I wonder if these would hold up in an ice box cake?! I usually use chocolate wafers… but these sound so much more yummy than that….
Ellsworth
Joy,
I’ve been creeping on your site for a while and just love it. I did see you on the PW site today. Thanks for the great recipes and pictures.
Cookie
You mean Valentine’s Day isn’t just about Chocolate?! I thought that was the day we celebrated Chocolate!
Lot-O-Choc
These look so tasty…healthy I suppose too since they contain whole wheat hehe! I’d love to try them!
debbie koenig
I tweaked these yesterday & turned them into sandwich cookies with raspberry filling–sooo good! I almost didn’t have enough cookies left for sandwiches after nibbling all day… (If you’re curious: http://wordstoeatby.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-gave-him-my-heart-now-give-me-pen.html)
Anna
These are perfect! You must have read my mind because I was scouring for a chocolate sugar cookie recipe .. whole wheat flour is even BETTER (I won’t tell and they won’t know)! If you don’t mind, I’m going to turn them into sandwich cookies and dust them with powdered sugar!
Amanda
I saw the picture of you and PW on her website this morning. I love it! My two favorite cooking bloggers.
Darla @ Bakingdom
Mmmm! I was just thinking yesterday that I hadn’t seen enough chocolate sugar cookies! I love that these are whole wheat too…I mean sure, they’re still *sugar* cookies, but every little bit helps, right?! :) Thanks, they look fantastic!
Mary Beth
Um, Joy? About these whole wheat goodies. Just like with your Whole Wheat Molasses bread, the ‘whole wheat’ aspect makes me feel like I’m doing something good for myself by eating this… all the while my jeans are getting a leeetle too snug.
Lindsey Jackson
These look so tasty, I will def. be baking them for the people I love this Valentines Day!
homegrown countrygirl
Beautiful recipe! And speaking of beautiful… just saw the picture of you and PW over on her blog!
bakingaddict
Wow these look amazing. I must try them soon! I’m sure I have a heart cookie cutter somewhere…
anita
hey joy check out you with PW on her site!
Robin
AHH! You and Ree – your cookie posts are like twins!! Well, different ingredients (totally different cookies) but I thought the coincidence was cool.
Also, are you using colored sugar or something like that on those cookies? In the first photo the 5th cookie down looks really colorful for some reason! Was wondering if I was missing something cool.
joythebaker
yes! some of the cookies i sprinkled with colored sugar… but i think i liked the white, granulated sugar better. good eye!
aLice
Did you add red food coloring to the cookies? (I don’t see it under the ingredients tho…) Or do they just turn out like that? I would love to make these for my cafe here in South America.
joythebaker
no red food coloring is added… that’s just how they bake up.
Michelle
Thank you for the recipe. I just pulled a batch out of the oven. These cute little nibbles are not going to last long! I am going to let them cool then drizzle chocolate over them.
Anna R.
Ooooh, tell us how the books are! Both look amaZING.
Stefania
oh… splendidi !! ?
charlotte s
you’re too cute! i’m in love with Jamie and PW! i just love all of his cookbooks- the pictures are always SO gorgeous, and the food always looks so incredibly earthy and inspiring… the epitome of rugged-perfection if such a thing is possible!
Mrs. Baker
LOVE your blog! I am going to make these for my girls :)
Francisca Amenábar
I found your blog and I found it very nice. All the recipies looks delicious
Greetings from Chili
Vicki B
Joy, you are so cute!
Shushmi
As V-Day falls on a monday this year I was thinking this gives me the right to totally ignore it. But after reading your post I figure I might make some heart-shaped cookies for people coming over for lunch on Sunday :) no romance involved just sharing the love :)
Rita
Pretty cookies :) Jamie at Home is by far my favorite cookbook of all time. The roasted shoulder of lamb is amazing, as is the onion soup and the pasta with leeks and porcini mushroom. I can’t wait to see you write about some of the recipes!
margaret
I agree with Michelle. I love your pictures. I think you should sell calendars. And baking cookies scares me but I may just have to try these. Or look at yours. Or…
Gabrielle
These look delicious! I’ve got to bake me some of these!
Celia
I have a question-what does boooya(kah) mean?
michelle
I don’t even care what they taste like. I would hang these photos in my kitchen. Beautiful.
Libby
Oh, HELLO. Yuuuuuum.
Magpie
Why are there so many cookies suddenly that I want to bake right now but have only 1 stick of butter?
Oh wait these only need 1 stick and are CHOCOLATE!
I love your pink heart-y cookie cutter. Where from? Are plastic ones as good as metal ones? Or better?
joythebaker
they’re super cheap cookie cutters from the 99cent store. blerg.
srs1972
So, I’m here watching Teen Mom 2. Thanks so much. If anyone needed a Valentine, it would be them. For sure. Also, are you stalking Jamie since he moved here? That’d be a book signing!
joythebaker
wait just a minute. Jamie lives here??
srs1972
Yyyyyeeeeaaaaahhhhh. 3rd St Promenade Saturday. In the flesh (probably w/ wifey and 4 kids )!
srs1972
btw lil wayne’s mom was a chef (!)
Kaity
Remember that time you were so legit I read almost every post instead of doing my homework? That was now. Worth it.
Kaity
joythebaker
i like you.
nicolette
Yum! These are pretty as a picture. The sugar on top just makes them sparkle!
Jill Lu
These turned out really well! They have a delicious nutty flavor from the cocoa and the wheat, but obviously you know that since you created the recipe.
Kat @ Cupcake Kat
These cookies sound delicious.
I can’t believe your first boyfriend would do that to you! I’m glad you took so well though
Megan
These look delicous! I might even get over my aversion to roll-out cookies and make them!
Heather
I have a serious aversion to roll out cookies too! I made these tonight, and they were yummy, only I didn’t get anywhere near 3 dozen.
brittany ukulele
Screw julie and julia, they obviously don’t know who you are. i think i’m going to make it a goal to create everything in your blog. everything you touch is golden in my mouth.
Jayne
Oh oh oh… I so want those 2 books. For Valentine’s. Gah…
Coby
Oh!! I can’t hardly wait to read Ree’s Black Heels! Isn’t she awesome!? You, by the way, turned me on to her (Thank you!) I think I will make YOUR cookies and grab a comfy blanket and a comfy couch and dive into her book.
*Love*
Coby
PS: Jamie is H*O*T!!! AND he cares about USA kids :o)
Becca
Ohhh, these cookies look good. I’ve never had a chocolate sugar cookie before o.O Sounds interesting :D
As for the whole Valentine’s Day thing, I’ve never had a Valintine (so far) and I’ve turned out just fine. It’s stilla nice holiday to have, plus you can eat all the chocolate you want because calories don’t exist on holidays!
Katrina
Hey Joy!
I saw this and thought of you… I said, “Joy the Baker needs this!!!!!”
Look how cute!!!!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/62309974/the-bakers-necklace-sterling-silver?ref=sr_gallery_9&ga_search_query=sterling%2Bbird%2Bnecklace&ga_search_type=all&ga_shopname=JJDL&ga_page=2
:-)
Christina of Form V Artisan
Dannnng. I want that.
Michelle
My boyfriend will be out roaming the country for work on V-Day. This sounds like the perfect way to celebrate by myself.
Annie
Just made these. They were tasty. Thanks for the recipe.
Amie
They’re such pretty cookies. Does going to the dentist with your husband count as a date? We were even in rooms right next to each other but we were both numbed up so our conversations were a little mumbled.
laura @ a little barefoot
I always make my chocolate chip cookies with whole wheat pastry flour – i love the texture and the flavor! And of course I tell myself they are healthy. Nevermind the butter.
I also love Jamie Oliver! I don’t have the Jamie at Home book but perhaps I should give it another glance at the bookstore.
Sonia
These may not be considered “healthy”, but maybe I can pass it as healthy to my ODD (Obsessive Dieting Disorders. I made it up, I think. Is it a legit disorder???) friends by saying it’s whole wheat. ^_^ I’m SO making this for my Valentines Day Party.
Rhonda
Let’s NOT ignore flag day, it’s not cool. Plus we could all use a little red, white and blue!
joythebaker
you’re not wrong.
Carmen
These look delicious! I cannot wait to make them. ;80)
Ella @ The Single Girl's Kitchen
I’m one of those people who is really not excited about Valentine’s day, but these cookies look really tasty!
Stephanie
I love the idea of combining whole wheat flour and cocoa. Slightly healthier and great flavors. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Katie
I’m totally making these for all my friends this year!
Jess
Cant wait to try these! :)
tracy
SUGAR SUGAR!!
I’ve got that Jamie book- it’s pretty but there aren’t a TON of recipes that I’m JAZZED about. Maybe i should take another look at it! Also. I wanna see this coach bag!!
joythebaker
i love the design and all the extra blurbs the cook has.. and i’m totally making some stew. duuh.
Alex G
These are ripe for sandwiching with something! Maybe some sort of raspberry cream, mmm…
Jessica @ bake me away!
sugar sugar! I’m forever single and okay with that, but V-Day annoys me.
It’s the one holiday that my dad buys gifts for his girls (my mom, sister, and me), which is really sweet, especially if you know my dad. I think it’s what keeps me from wearing all black and smashing candy hearts.
Holly B @ Recipes from a Normal Mum
Joy! You have under gifted yourself for V Day! You must buy Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals – is it available on your side of the pond yet? If not then order it for yourself off amazon.co.uk and pay the crazy shipping. It IS worth it. And is IS V Day. x
joythebaker
awesome! i’ll look for it!
Mindi - Dandi
get it from book depository!! free shipping! mines on its way!! ps jamie @ home = amazing… i watched the whole series back to back when I was at home sick and it made me feel so much better!
Erika
Those cookies look yummy! And I happen to have some whole wheat pastry flour I need to use.
So jealous about your signed “Black Heels To Tractor Wheels”! :)
Gen
Hello Joy! I love those cookies, I could eat them all while reading your blog!
They seem so “yum yum” just like you said! And they could even celebrate the love of good food!
Maggie
Ok these HAVE to be the cookies that I bring to the office for V-Day. They’re so darn cute and yummy looking! :)
Elizabeth
You are too cute, Miss Joy the Baker. These cookies look delectable. And I absolutely love the photos you took of them stacked a mile high. I hope you know that your new posts never fail to make my day!
Julien Slate
Oh lord, that Jamie Oliver… *Swoon*
I am a straight man, but his scrubbed-clean good looks and his goofy antics/accent are delightful.
Also, it was his show “The Naked Chef” that got me into cooking in the first place… so he has a special place in my heart.
sheila @ Elements
They look so good! Wish I could grab one (or two) and enjoy some right now!
You got yourself some nice Valentine gifts. I’d love to have Ree’s books…maybe after we get our tax check. :)
As far as Valentine’s Day is concerned, my honey and I don’t buy each other gifts or cards. We just don’t feel like it’s necessary. We do nice things for each other all the time, and that’s the way we like it. :) We also don’t go out that take ’cause we’re both in the restaurant business and required to work that day.
Anyway, I did use Valentine’s Day as an excuse to make some Turkish Delight. It’s our favorite confection, and nibbling on rose-flavored candy on Valentine’s Day seems perfect somehow. We’ll just have to make sure we don’t pre-nibble too much, but I think we’ll be able to enjoy a few pieces every day and still have some left for the holiday. :)
Anyway, your cookies look marvelous! So rich and elegant. And the sugar sprinkles on the top are perfect! :)
Lina
I never had a boyfriend yet, so I never suffered as much as some of the people around here. However, if I did and he was like yo’ first, I’d be compelled to “fix” him.
(Fix = kill)
joythebaker
that’s funny.
Christina
I just made these and I gotta say…DELISH!!! Not too sweet with just the right amount of chocolaty-ness. (is that a word?) Since I made these for Valentine’s Day I did use different sized heart shaped cookie cutters and in addition to using turbanado sugar I used red and pink colored sugar…too cute! Oh, and I also used a water bottle mister to mist the cookies before sprinkling on the sugar and it worked great.
Joy, I just love, love, love your site!!! Tomorrow I’m making the avocado pound cake…sounds yummy!
Sarah
Yay! I needed something new to try out for Valentine’s day at the bakery I work at. I hate Valentine’s day but I love Chocolate—don’t you think we should just change it to a Chocolate Celebration day? I mean isn’t that really what it’s all about?
Every year I let my guy off the hook by saying he doesn’t have to get me anything or do anything besides grab me this one sort of expensive box of local chocolate truffles. You should check them out- they will rock your world- Plus they are made on an island in Maine! http://www.blackdinahchocolatiers.com
Thanks for your awesome entry!
Tamara
I love reading your blog. I especially love the pictures. And I love your Valentine’s Day gifts!!!
Anne @ Baking Me
These cookies look really good. I want to eat them now with a glass of milk. I actually really like Valentine’s Day because it is a good excuse to eat a lot of chocolate and other sweet heart shaped treats. I got Ree’s new book as well and I am totally enjoying it, she is coming to my city tomorrow and I am going to her book signing!
*Just Fran*
Beautiful cookies! and great commentary!
B. in the Know
These are so cute and sound amazing! May need to make them this weekend!
Much love,
B
faith
Hi Joy! Which cocoa did you use?
joythebaker
dutch process.
Tamara
Where do you typically find/purchase Dutch process cocoa? I can’t say that I’ve looked specifically for it, but I don’t recall seeing it at Safeway where I shop most frequently. Thanks!
EatLiveRun
These look delicious! I’ll miss seeing you today—things are going to be a little rushed with cabs and flights. Next time for sure!
joythebaker
for sure.
Cindy
So cute! I haven’t made whole wheat cookies yet. Whole wheat pie crust, yes, but not cookies. Looking forward to trying them out!
Stoich91
These look like trouble hiding under the innocent red ridding hood called whole-wheat-flour-well-it-must-be-healthy-for-you, and the scarier thing is that I’M BUYING IT! Hello, when you are surrounded in a month of candy and chocolate, 12 out of 10 doctors probably agree that you need MORE. WHOLE. WHEAT. in your diet. So, yeah. Bring on the excuses! :D LOL
That is the best description of Valentine’s day, ever! It IS just like going to the dentist…only sweeter. Ha. I would agree with you on the “more romantic” part, but I know some ladies who are married to dentists and they romance their dental doctors all the time, so yeah…. :D
@DwellingonthePositive “healthy enough for breakfast”, indeed! :D LOL
Elizabeth
You were there?!!! Me too. Second in line. I love The Pioneer Woman and she led me to you who I also love!!! I was talking about you to the women around me wanting them to fall in love with you too. Drat! I wish I had known you were there. How far back in line were you?
Totally exciting huh? I love her.
Giovanna
I’m in love with this little hearts! And I’m in love with the Photos… the Pisa’s tower, and the one with the hart on focus and the plate out of focus. WOW
good good cookies.
Maryam
The worst Valentine’s day I ever had was when a boy I liked in 3rd grade gave me a really amazeballs chocolate heart. It was milk chocolate, iced with lovely sugar lace and flowers and filled with marshmallow fluff. I was SO excited because I had the biggest crush on him and had given him my favorite Valentine candy – the XL Hershey’s kiss.
Then, before recess, he came and said, “I want the candy back. I meant to give it to [other girl]. You can have this instead” … and then he hands me a box of sweethearts.
h e a r t b r e a k
Maryam
Also, I want to eat all of the cookies. ALL OF THEM.
Em
I hope you got your hershey’s kiss back at least.
DeeDee
I was planning on baking sugar cookies this weekend with my boys, these are perfect! I have everything for them AND I can say I’m a good momma ’cause they’re all whole wheat and healthy-like. win!
Alyx
Weird… last night I was sitting in my kitchen wondering how I could satisfy my sweet tooth with a big bag of whole wheat flour and no white flour. Thanks for the recipe <3
Megan
Boohyah Kah! I love that you said that. It’s fun to say like that cool dude on Top Chef!
And these look good. And I love Valentines day for the hearts and prettiness.
Natalia - a side of simple
A recipe title that has “sugar” twice? As if I needed convincing… :)
kris with a k
the picture looking down on the stack of cookies is divine. hubby is getting these for v-day. danke.
Diane
Ignore Flag Day?
Chrissy
You just made my day. Whole wheat & brown sugar? This is something that I can eat. I will try these this weekend. Thank you.
Scarletta @ Scarletta Bakes
Nice cookies.
Nice Valentine’s gifts.
Nice stance on V-Day.
I will take my head out of the sand, bake some cookies, and make peace with the day.
Thank you!
Jordan
Aaah! I just ordered Ree’s new book, and I’ve been waiting impatiently all week for it to get here (even though she didn’t sign mine, so it’s far less impressive). Please hurry UPS…pretty please.
And I totally want to make these cookies. I have some sanding sugar that’s been begging to be used; I think I just found a solution to this problem.
Vanessa
Oh who could resist the leaning tower of cookies, especially heart shaped. I can tell you’re a true romantic. Awesome photos and recipe.
Céline
Dear Joy,
Please stop making delicious looking cookies, they are killer on my waist line.
Thank you!
PS: I’m totally making these.
joythebaker
but they’re whole wheat!
dominique
but they have a stick of butter….:(
joythebaker
duuuh.
ps.. i never said these cookies were healthy! i only said they were delicious.
Sandy in South Dakota
The cookies look wonderful and yummy and I will try them. But………I don’t agree with you about ignoring Flag Day………..it is our national symbol of freedom and we must never ignore it…..we must celebrate it. And, Arbor Day? What if no one planted trees anymore. We need trees to survive and they bring such beauty to our lives. We need to celebrate them too. However, I love your blog, your recipes are awesome,…. and just wanted to let you know. :o)
joythebaker
you’re right… about everything.
Jess
these sound like they have just the right amount of sweetness without being chocolate overload. unless you eat all of them yourself. i will remind myself to share when i make these. ?
Alana
Were you at the Grove for Ree’s signing, too? I thought I saw someone who looked like you but I didn’t want to seem like a creepy stalker fan or anything. The book’s great!
joythebaker
i was there… that was me!
Laura @ SweetSavoryPlanet
Love Jaimie’s style of cooking and he is so fun to watch. Contagious enthusiasm, don’t you think?
These are my kinda cookies. I am definitely going to give these a try.
rosie
you had me at whole wheat…now i can eat 12 because they’re healthy ;]
Stacy
Jamie is delicious. I’ll take HIM for Valentine’s Day.
Avery
Hahaha! the text for this post is hilllariiousss!! girl you have found your calling, if you werent already aware
Judy
whole week cookies are the BEST! oh i can’t wait to make these!!!
only pink frosting could make these any more delightful!
Erin
You know whats worse than Valentines Day???
Your birthday ON Valentines Day! UGHHH for me.
joythebaker
oh my goodness… sucktastic. happy birthday almost!
Missy
NOM NOM – I am all over these. Valentine’s? not so much. I have a man, a daughter – none of us are interested “celebrating”. My guy and I don’t even exchange gifts. On some level, it’s liberating – on another – it’s sad. I’m okay with it. :)
Will you give a book review on Ree’s book? I bet it’s funny/naughty/quippy. :)
blueka
Diju know that BOTH you and PW have chocolate heart-shaped cookies today? Is there some kind of psychic link thing going on here?
joythebaker
whoa.
Kate
Ohhh maybe I’ll buy myself a Valentines Day gift…and make myself cookies. I like the way you think, Joy.
Barbie
I read Ree’s new book in one snowed in afternoon! LOVED IT!! She is not coming to MI for a book singing so I am sending them off to MO to my BFF to have them signed there.
I will be making these cookies for my work valentine’s because I like to pretend i like them most of the time! ahahaa!
You are one of my most fav bloggers!! Thanks for being a inspiration!
xox
Barbie
Keep on Making Stuff
jen @ the baked life
Ahh! These cookies look unreal! I made roll out chocolate cookie heart this week too! Valentines is the worst holiday. Even though I’m married, we shouldn’t be forced to be romantic. I feel it’s more a consumer holiday now.
ps. so jealous you got PW to sign the book.
DessertForTwo
I love that you get to eat chocolate, yet not feel bad about it because there’s whole wheat flour! It’s a win-win! :)
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Amber
These cookies look delicious!
When people talk about making chocolate anything that involves cocoa powder, they always add that disclaimer “good quality cocoa powder” Does anyone have any suggestions for a good quality cocoa powder? My grocery store is limited, but even so, there are still a handful of options and I don’t really want to spend a small fortune on cocoa finding a “good” one.
joythebaker
you can buy good cocoa powders online if your store is limited. i like valrhona. http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-546960/?affsrcid=Aff0001&mr:trackingCode=6E4B8D3D-AAC1-DF11-98FF-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA
Robyn
i’m also meh on the topic of valentine’s day…but i mostly like it for the baking. i made cookies with my niece and nephew on the weekend and we added red and pink smarties. do americans know smarties? canadian m&ms, then.
brandi
Super delicious! I love chocolate + whole wheat flour in baked goods. They have a good balance.
Samantha
black heels to tractor wheels is SO GOOD. i’m almost done with it. my new goal in life is to fall in love with a cowboy.
Kristin Nicholas
Lovely photos – especially the last one. You are going to love Jamie’s At Home book – the art direction in particular is so pretty and those chapter openers are stunning. Love your header too. Found your blog recently and am really enjoying it. Thank you from western Massachusetts.
joythebaker
the design of this book just makes my heart leap. is gorgeous!
Justeen @ Blissful Baking
Yum! I’m love that these are a little more spiced up than your average sugar cookie! My list of things that I must bake for Valentine’s Day is just getting out of control!
Happy When Not Hungry
Wow these cookies look delicious! Love how they’re whole wheat too. Awesome cookbook choices as well!
Rachel
These look delicious! Can’t wait to try them :)
Tim
These look delicious, Joy. Thanks for sharing.
And sorry about your teenage Valentine’s crisis. If it makes you feel better, when I was 19 I left flowers outside a guy’s dorm on Valentine’s, and…didn’t hear from him until a month later when he said he just wanted to be friends. Anyway…he was a loser so it worked out for the better!
alana (at) the food
your pomegranate header is the best in town!
we don’t do valentine’s day, but we do cookies!
peachkins
lovely sugar cookies!
Michelle
Cookies are much better than flowers for this holiday. Well actually if I did get flowers this would be a true statement, if my husband made me cookies like these for the holiday, or any day things would be off the hook.
Oh how smitten you must be with Ree’s new book! Signed!
Amanda (Eating Up)
Ree’s book is out?! Must snag myself a copy!
The Blue-Eyed Bakers
YUM. Ah Valentine’s Day…an excuse to eat as many sweet things as we can get our hands on…
Kylie @ A Hungry Spoon
LOVE this! Not enough cookie recipes include whole wheat flour…and I can honestly say I’ve never made a rolled chocolate cookie before–seems like sugar cookies are always of the vanilla variety.
I’ll admit it: I’m a fan of Valentine’s Day. I know, I know, it’s way cooler to be bitter about it. But what can I say? I love an excuse to bake treats for people!
Hope you’re having a great week :)
joythebaker
it’s never cooler to be bitter… just so you know.
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday
Are they difficult to roll out? I made homemade oreos (http://bit.ly/hkjolK) and I thought the dough for the cookie was SO hard to roll out nice and thin.
joythebaker
i didn’t think these were difficult to roll out at all.
Stephanie Rose
Glad I’m not the only one who buys treats for myself on Valentine’s Day… yummy cookies
Bethany @Bridezilla Bakes
These look/sound so unique! I love using brown sugar with chocolate in baking — adds a depth/twist to the flavor that white sugar with chocolate just doesn’t really do.
I’m not a huge fan of Valentine’s Day either. Too many unnecessarily traumatic experiences. I’ve tried to make it a LOT more about my friends than about my husband… maybe that sounds bad, but he doesn’t care about things like that — and it’s a really fun way to celebrate my girlfriends who aren’t expecting it!
joythebaker
that’s sweet!
Caroline
Whole wheat flour in cookies is usually a secret weapon of mine, I adore the depth of flavor it adds to almost any recipe. I’ve been waiting to try chocolate cutout cookies for a while, I have bookmarked this one for sure!
Meg H.
And if I put ganache in between and make sandwich cookies – quadruple YUM! Now, how do I hide them from the rest of the family?
joythebaker
ganache! i like the way you think!
Elle
Just in time! In the last few days I’ve been really wanting to make something with whole wheat and chocolate but didn’t know what. Now I totally know.
BTW, if you put the dough in the fridge for 2 hours – it is really not necessary IMHO to warm up the oven 3 hours in advance… maybe that line needs to move after the dough is taken out of the fridge.
joythebaker
you’re right. good lookin out!
Estela @ Weekly Bite
Lovely looking cookies! I love how pretty Valentine’s pastries are :)
Sue
I love your blog. And your Apple Pie with Love recipe is the absolute best in the world. These cookies look very good too. I will definitely give them a try today. I have a favor to ask, can you not ask us to preheat an oven if we are going to chill something for a couple of hours. Just a pet peeve of mine. Thanks.
Lissi
Wow! Chocolate, Jamie and the Pioneer Woman! All in one post! What Joy! You’ve made my morning, Joy, thanks!
Paulette
Sugar cookies, and whole wheat very healthy. Now are they less calories then the regular cookie and can I eat more and not feel guilty. By eating more I mean sitting down and just consuming at least a half a dozen. I know shame on me but hey I love chocolate. Paulette
Stephanie @ I really take the cake
I was thinking about whether I want to make something for Valentine’s Day or not. And you convinced me – I’m totally going to make these. Sugar Sugar sounds just great. Do you think I could stick them together with Nutella? :-)
Thanks so much for the recipe!
Helena
Double sugar cookies!That’s all I need to know :D
Katrina
What a title! I like the sound of these cookies for any occasion! I like Valentine’s Day weirdly enough. It always gives me an excuse to bake something pretty :)
joythebaker
i know! so many words!
Emily
ha! loved the intro to this post – cracked me up! totally sums up howiI feel about this holiday: suck it up and get through! and i bet the irish biddies i work with would loooove those cookies with their morning cuppa tea on monday!
monikapaprika
These sound and look amazing, Joy! I’ve been looking for a whole wheat cookie recipe to try :)
Lauren at KeepItSweet
My biggest issue with sugar cookies is generally the lack of chocolate, looks like you just solved that problem!
Lynn
Thanks for sharing an alternative chocolate cut out cookie recipe!!
Very lovely!
Ruthie
Hiya Joy, I love, love, love your site! I am always excited to read new postings and your recipies are always fab. Even better would be if one or two of your yummy photos could appear in the printable versions. That would make me very happy…but either way I will be continuing to print and bake your recipes!! :-)
MaryMoh
These are really lovely. You have made a healthier version with whole wheat.
The MuffinTin Post
I’m not the biggest fan of Valentine’s Day myself, but I love it for it’s baking purposes! It’s the only time of year that I don’t feel weird dying things pink and making them into heart shapes. (Except for when I’m making Rice Krispie treats. Then it’s always acceptable).
Monique
Now I know what I will be doing this weekend! Thanks Joy!!
btw the Jamie at home is my all time favorite book. Untill your book comes out.. Now there’s a Valentines present to wish for one day. :-)
joythebaker
that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said.
Anita
Oh Joy, what a good idea to buy yourself some Valentine’s presents! I love Jamie & Ree – good choice!
Those cookies look nice but sugar cookies aren’t really my thing – your hot fudge cupcakes are my Valentine baking plan, those & some Banoffi! Look out thighs!
Three-Cookies
Love the photo – leaning tower of cookies:)
Emily
Yum! These cookies sound flavorful with the whole wheat flour and good cocoa powder. Nice new books!
Silvia
I was just wondering which cookies I could bake, and voilà, a great idea!
Erin
Call me a freak, but what most appeals to me about these cookies (apart from their delicious taste and wholesome-ness) is their gorgeous colour. Seriously. Reddy-brown deliciousness right there.
They make me want to paint them (while simultaneously eating them, for inspiration of course) and use a lot of burnt sienna paint.
Yum.
Dwelling on the Positive
These sound delicious- and healthy enough to eat for breakfast! ;)