Love-Struck Chocolate Pudding Cookies 💘
These delightful Love-Struck Chocolate Pudding Cookies are the perfect treat for Valentine's Day or any occasion that calls for a touch of sweetness and love. Soft, chewy, and packed with chocolate flavor and festive M&Ms, they're sure to win hearts!
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper or Silicone Mat
- Large mixing bowl
- Stand Mixer (optional)
- Small Bowl
- Wire Rack
Ingredients
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter softened
- 0.6666666666666666 cup packed brown sugar
- 0.25 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp water or brewed coffee (coffee enhances chocolate flavor without adding a coffee taste!)
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (regular or, for a richer taste, Hershey's Special Dark)
- 1 box INSTANT chocolate pudding mix (3 to 3.5-ounce), any flavor (ensure it's not sugar-free, just the dry mix!)
- 1.25 cups all-purpose flour
- 0.5 tsp baking soda
- 0.25 tsp salt
- 1.25 cups Valentine M&Ms plus extra for decorating
- 0.25 cup Valentine sprinkles plus extra for decorating
Instructions
- Get Ready: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. This simple step makes cleanup easy and helps prevent sticking!
- Cream It Up: In a large mixing bowl, or using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter with both the brown sugar and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Wet Ingredients: Stir in the vanilla extract, the large egg, and your choice of water or brewed coffee. Mix until well combined.
- Chocolate Boost: Add the unsweetened cocoa powder and the dry instant chocolate pudding mix to the wet ingredients. Mix until everything is incorporated and smooth.
- Dry Mix: In a separate small bowl, quickly whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine & Fold: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to your wet chocolate mixture. Mix on low speed just until the ingredients are combined – be careful not to overmix the dough!
- Sweet Add-ins: Gently fold in the Valentine M&Ms and sprinkles until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Shape & Chill: Scoop the dough into approximate 2-tablespoon sized balls and place them onto your prepared baking sheet. For an extra festive touch, press a few more M&Ms and sprinkles onto the top of each dough ball. Cover the sheet with plastic wrap and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. This crucial step helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking!
- Preheat & Prepare: Once the dough has chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a fresh baking sheet (or reuse the chilled one if space allows) and arrange the dough balls about 2 inches apart. Lightly press down on each cookie dough ball with the palm of your hand.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake for 10-14 minutes. For that perfect soft-chewy texture, aim for about 11-12 minutes, or until the edges are just set and the centers still look slightly soft. For even baking, you can rotate your cookie sheets halfway through the baking time.
- Cool Down: Allow the warm cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store & Enjoy: Store these delightful cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze them for up to 3 months to enjoy a taste of love later!
Notes
Store these delightful cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze them for up to 3 months to enjoy a taste of love later!
Nutrition Information (per serving): Calories: 155 kcal, Total Carbs: 22g, Net Carbs: 21g, Fats: 7g, Protein: 2g.
