How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? I read an article the other day that stated something I completely agree with, although I’m not quite sure I jibe with their reasoning. They recommend that you avoid dining out on the actual holiday. Why? Well, there is the obvious reason of restaurants being overbooked and so packed that you’ll have to wait a long time if you didn’t make reservations. This can also keep you from having a good time. (Which I completely agree!) But, this writer was making the observation that Valentine’s Day is the one day of the year where people who are not “practiced” at dining out, will dine out. This means you are dining with amateurs, so to speak, who will totally ruin your experience.
I think that is rather pompous. What do you think? I’m really curious!
Right now, I don’t have plans to go out on Valentine’s Day. Maybe Ben does, but he’ll have to let me know if that’s the case. 🙂 I’d rather stay in, eat a home-cooked meal and avoid the crowds and the waiting and the cost!
How does this all tie in with these cookies? Honestly, I have no idea. 😉 But, I guess I really wanted to get that off my chest!
Here’s what I can say about the cookies: Go snatch up these adorable heart-shaped marshmallows (I found them at the Wal-mart) and then place them on top of your favorite sugar cookies the last two minutes of baking. Or, use my recipe creation below to make the most scrumptious white hot cocoa sprinkles cookies! I’m seriously proud of these cookies and will use the base for many more festive creations. Add a little tub of Valentine’s sprinkles, and these are somewhat like a Funfetti treat. But better, in my humble opinion. 😉
You can use store-bought white hot cocoa mix, or homemade. I found these Land o Lakes individual packets at my local Kroger store on sale the day I made up this recipe and it worked out perfectly. I took them to church where they were gobbled up. These would also be great cookies to share at your kids’ Valentine’s Day school party. Something different than the usual cupcake or heart-shaped sugar cookies. You can thank me later when the other moms are all jealous of your creativity. 😉
- 1 cup unsalted butter , at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup white hot cocoa mix (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 container (1.3 oz) sprinkles
- 10 oz package heart shaped marshmallows (by Campfire)
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liner.
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In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then blend in the vanilla.
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In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, hot cocoa mix, baking soda, salt and the sprinkles. Slowly add to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
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Drop six large dough balls onto the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 8-9 minutes. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven. Working quickly, carefully add one heart-shaped marshmallow to the center of each cookie, pressing lightly to adhere. Return to the oven and bake an additional 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, or until the marshmallows start to puff. Remove from oven, place on wire rack and gently press the warm marshmallow again to flatten the heart a little and stick to the cookie a little better. Allow to cool on cookie sheet for 10 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.
Warning: It's hard to not eat all of the dough! 🙂
I definitely avoid going out on Valentine’s Day to eat. But this year I celebrated early and visited my boyfriend over this past weekend to celebrate, since we won’t be together on the actual day.
I love the heart shaped marshmallows. They really look great on the cookies.
Do you think they mean people show up and eat with their hands? Can’t figure out how to read a menu and ask for fried chicken at a Greek restaurant? That’s a headscratcher for sure.
lol!
These cookies are adorable!
These cookies are adorable! I love the heart shaped marshmallows!
Wow! I didn’t even know they made white cocoa mix. We always make sugar cookies on Valentine’s Day, but we might have to give this recipe a try. Thanks for the post!
We will be having a Valentine’s lunch date this year, kids will be in school but so much easier than getting a babysitter mid week! Have fun 🙂
What a great idea, Gerry! Too bad Judah’s not in school yet. lol!
I don’t plan to go to a fancy café on valentine’s day. It will be crowded.
I am planning to make some peanutbutter truffles for my husband today.
My husband will cook for me this weekend.
Umm yeah, that’s sort of an obnoxious thing to say – I agree with you! 🙂
This cookie base sounds amazing, I love the addition of the hot cocoa mix!
So, you can be a professional diner? I want that job! But more importantly, I want to make these, because they sound delicious and I bet they’re just as good anytime of the year even without the heart shaped marshmallows.
haha! I know! I’ll take that job, too!!!
We always avoid going out on the actual holiday, but only because of the crowds/potential difficulty getting a reservation! We usually go out either the weekend before or the weekend after, and then eat a nice dinner at home on the actual night. Although this year our dog has agility class on Thursday nights so I guess we’ll be eating frozen pizza or something! 🙂
I made these cookies for my girls. I couldn’t find white cocoa mix, so I substituted Hershey’s white chocolate pudding mix and they came out great!
Hi! I came across this and don’t see the recipe for the cookies. I know it’s from several years ago but would love to have the recipe. These would be great to make for my son’s class party!
Oh my, Megan! I’m glad you left a comment. Yes, the recipe disappeared somehow. I tried finding it in my saved files for my website, but couldn’t find it. Sometime this week, I will look through my printed binders and see if I can find it there! So sorry!
Ah! Nevermind! I found it! It’s back now! 🙂