Who doesn't love a box of chocolates for Valentine's Day? This cookie recipe is great because you use one basic dough to create an endless variety of cookies.
They are so cute when finished — they look like a box of chocolates! Wrap them up and deliver them to your sweetheart or best friend. Perfect for this time of year!
Basic Cookie Recipe
- ⅔ cup butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 1¼ cup flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 egg whites (reserved for later)
- Various toppings (see below for variations)
Preheat oven to 375°.
Cream butter. Add sugar and mix until combined. Add egg yolks and vanilla and mix well. Add cocoa powder and half the flour; mix. Add remaining flour, a little at a time, until the mixture forms a ball or cookie dough.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. (No parchment paper? That's OK; just be sure to grease your cookie sheets.)
Roll dough balls in egg whites, then in your choice of topping: sprinkles, nuts, coconut, or whatever you want! Leave some plain, too. Use your thumb to make an indentation in each dough ball.
Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until bottoms are lightly browned. Note: Some cookie variations will require putting toppings on during the last few minutes of baking to melt. Transfer to cooling rack and top as desired.
Nine Scrumptious Variations! Try one, two, or all nine!
Chocolate Covered Cherry: Roll dough balls in egg whites then chocolate sprinkles. Add cherry pie filling just before baking. Bake as directed.
German Chocolate: Roll dough ball in egg whites then coconut. Cook as directed for 8 minutes. Add caramel candy and bake for remaining 4 minutes. Remove from oven and add pecans.
Salted Caramel: Bake dough balls as directed for 8 minutes. Add caramel candy and bake for remaining 4 minutes. Sprinkle 3 to 4 crystals of sea salt on top.
Rocky Road: Roll dough ball in egg whites then crushed almonds. Cook as directed for 8 minutes. Add mini marshmallows and chocolate chips and bake for remaining 4 minutes.
Turtle: Roll dough balls in egg whites then chocolate sprinkles. Cook as directed for 8 minutes. Add caramel candy and bake for remaining 4 minutes. Remove from oven and add walnuts.
Hot Cocoa: Leave dough balls as is and bake as directed. Remove from oven and cool completely. Put 3 Tbs. of powdered sugar in a plastic baggie, add cookies and give a shake. Dust off cookie and top with chocolate frosting.
Mexican Hot Chocolate: Leave dough balls as is and bake as directed. Remove from oven and cool completely. Put 3 Tbs. of powdered sugar and 1 tsp. of cinnamon in a plastic baggie, add cookies and give a shake. Dust off cookie and top with vanilla frosting.
Mocha Cappuccino: Leave dough balls as is and bake as directed. Remove from oven and cool completely. Combine 3 Tbs. of powdered sugar, 1 Tbs. of cocoa powder, and 1/4 tsp. of instant coffee in a plastic baggie; add cookies and give a shake. Dust off cookie and top with vanilla frosting.
Peanut Butter Cup: Leave dough balls as is and bake as directed. Remove from oven. Add peanut butter and chocolate chips to the indentation.
