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    Home » Recipes » Everyday Desserts

    Smiley Face Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Modified: Mar 4, '24 · Published: Jun 2, '14 · By: Beth Klosterboer · Commission earned on paid or sponsored links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Put a huge smile on everybody's face by giving them these Smiley Face Chocolate Chip Cookies. They are impossibly soft and chewy and will surely turn any frown upside down.

    Smiley Face Chocolate Chip Cookies

    It's hard not to smile when faced with a plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, especially when they are smiling back at you.

    Something about these Smiley Face Chocolate Chip Cookies, just melts my heart.

    Smiley Face Chocolate Chip Cookies by HungryHappenings.com

     

    I brought them to a family dinner along with some other desserts, and they were the first things to get gobbled up, which wasn't a surprise as I used the best chocolate chip cookie recipe I've ever made from Cook's Illustrated.

    There are lots of variations of chocolate chip cookies from thin and crispy to ooey gooey and I can't say I'd complain about eating any of them, but I really prefer these bakery style cookies. They are nice and thick, gooey on the inside, especially when hot out of the oven, have crispy edges, and a really wonderful buttery flavor with hints of caramel.

    Smiley Face Chocolate Chip Cookies

    My family would have been perfectly content with plain cookies and I'm sure they all would have enjoyed eating them, but I do think that these smiley face chocolate chip cookies might have just helped to elevate the mood in the room.

    I made really large cookies and used Jumbo ¾ inch Candy Eyes, you can make your cookies any size and use smaller eyes, if you prefer, but having one big cookie for dessert is filling and fun.

    Decorated Chocolate Chip Cookies

    5 from 2 votes
    Print
    Smiley Face Chocolate Chip Cookies
    Prep Time
    15 mins
    Cook Time
    16 mins
    Total Time
    31 mins
     

    Take a delicious chocolate chip cookie to the next level and add a cute smile to it!

    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: chocolate chip cookie, smiling cookie
    Servings: 16
    Author: Beth Klosterboer
    Ingredients
    • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
    • 1 cup packed brown sugar
    • ½ cup granulated sugar white sugar
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 egg yolk
    • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • 2 ⅛ cup all purpose flour unbleached is best
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 12 ounces semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips
    • 36 Jumbo Candy Eyes
    • 4 ounces dark confectionery coating melted
    Instructions
    1. Cream butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar and beat on medium speed for about a minute until well blended. Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and beat until fully incorporated.
    2. Mix flour, salt, and baking soda together then incorporate it into the wet ingredients.
    3. Fold chocolate chips into the batter.
    4. Scoop out 16-18 cookies, about ¼ cup of dough for each. Place cookies on parchment paper lined baking sheets. Refrigerate for 30-60 minutes.
    5. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
    6. Bake cookies one tray at a time, for 12-16 minutes. The cookies should begin to set around the edges, be light golden brown, yet still be soft in the center.
    7. Allow cookies to cool completely.
    8. Attach two candy eyes to each cookie using melted confectionery coating. Pour remaining coating into a squeeze bottle or small zip top bag. Pipe smiles onto cookies. Let candy coating harden.

    How to make Smiley Face Chocolate Chip Cookies

    recipe adapted from Cook's Illustrated

    Cream butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and beat until fully incorporated. Mix flour, salt, and baking soda together then incorporate it into the wet ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips.

    Scoop out 16-18, ¼ cup size dough balls. Place dough balls on parchment paper lined baking sheets. Refrigerate for an hour. By doing this you get nice thick cookies that wont spread too much.

    Pre-heat 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, be light golden brown, yet still be soft in the center.

    Allow cookies to cool completely.

    Decorated Smiley Face Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Attach two candy eyes to each cookie using melted confectionery coating. Pour remaining coating into a squeeze bottle or small zip top bag. Pipe smiles onto cookies. Let candy coating harden.

    These really aren't much more work than plain cookies, and they look so adorably cute.

    Items used to create this project are available on Amazon.com (commission earned for sales)

    White And Black ½-Inch Ca...Shop on AmazonSqueezit Mold Painter Plast...Shop on Amazon

    More Happy Smiling Desserts
    from Hungry Happenings

    Smiley Face Lollipops

    Smiley Face Cakester Pops

    Smiley Face Chocolate Heart Box

     Chocolate Heart Boxes

    Slumber Party Snacks

    Sleeping Bag Wraps

     

    Daisy Cheesecake

    Daisy Cheesecake

    Butterfly Fruit Pizza

    Butterfly Fruit Pizza

    White Chocolate Sunshine Lollipops

    Sunshine Lollipops

    White Chocolate Snowman Cupcake Wrappers

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    Twinkie Bumble Bees

    Snack Cake Stingers

     

    If you liked this Kid's Recipe, then you need to check out these other fascinating recipes that your little ones will love!

    Find over 100 cute and tasty kid's treats that are as much fun to make as they are to eat. Choose from cookies, cupcakes, popsicles, pretzels, and more.

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Beth Klosterboer
    Beth Klosterboer
    Hi, I'm Beth Klosterboer, a professional chocolatier & baker, cookbook author, and event planner. I love sharing recipes for happy occasions here on Hungry Happenings. I also create easy fudge recipes to share at HowToMakeEasyFudge.com, rice krispie treat recipes at HowToMakeCerealTreats.com, and easy cookie recipes at HowToMakeEasyCookies.com
    Beth Klosterboer
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    1. Erica Loop says

      June 06, 2014 at 11:16 am

      These are adorable! Can't wait to make them. Great photo!

      Reply
    2. Melinda @Home.Made.Interest. says

      June 06, 2014 at 3:05 am

      Stopping by from Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday link party. These are so cute! I need to make them for my son's class asap! Thanks for sharing. Pinning 🙂

      Reply
      • beth says

        June 06, 2014 at 3:36 am

        Thanks for stopping by Melinda. Have fun baking:)

        Reply
    3. Anonymous says

      June 05, 2014 at 9:34 pm

      No! When i took the cookies out of the oven they were melted like a big thin surface :/. (And wasn't because of baking powder).

      Reply
      • beth says

        June 05, 2014 at 9:40 pm

        I just rechecked my recipe to make sure it was correct, and it is, so I have no idea what would have caused that. My cookies always turn out really thick using this recipe. I hope you give them another try. The recipe really does make the best chocolate chip cookies I've ever had .

        Reply
    4. Anonymous says

      June 05, 2014 at 8:19 pm

      I loved your cookie idea and tried to do them and they all just melted!!! 🙁 And i have no idea why!

      Reply
      • beth says

        June 05, 2014 at 8:29 pm

        What melted? You need to allow the cookies to cool completely before piping on the smiles? If they melted then your cookies were still too warm.

        Reply
    5. Karen @ Sugartown Sweets says

      June 05, 2014 at 1:22 pm

      Oh my goodness..these are awesome! The cute factor is off the charts..plus the fact that they are so easy to decorate just make them extra sweet in my book.

      Many times I struggle (and fail) to get that all important great shot for my post. Every one of your photos here are really great!

      Reply
      • beth says

        June 05, 2014 at 6:08 pm

        Thanks, Karen. I too struggle with photography. Some things are easier to capture on film than others and I love when I can get nice pictures without a lot of effort.

        Reply
    6. Brenda @ SweetSimpleStuff says

      June 04, 2014 at 4:15 pm

      Chocolate chip cookies make me smile ... eyeballs make me laugh ... these must be the happiest cookies ever 🙂

      Reply
    7. Lauren Brown says

      June 03, 2014 at 8:35 pm

      These are so adorable! My kiddos would LOVE them. I'd be thrilled if you'd link up at this week's Off the Hook!

      Reply
    8. www.farmhousestyleliving.blogspot.com says

      June 03, 2014 at 10:42 pm

      Those are so cute! As soon as my kitchen is done I am making these! They remind me of cookie monster. Love that you put a extra little something into an old favorite.

      Reply
    9. Alexis Middleton says

      June 03, 2014 at 4:56 pm

      These are so, so cute, Beth! I love how fun they are but still pretty simple to put together. And as much as I love all kinds of treats, there really is just something about a good chocolate chip cookie, isn't there? It's tough to beat. Thanks so much for linking up at The Makers!

      Reply
    10. Gloria @ Simply Gloria says

      June 03, 2014 at 2:46 pm

      Beth, these are the cutest chocolate chip cookies EVER! So creative, pinning!

      Reply
    11. Kyra says

      June 03, 2014 at 12:46 am

      These are too cute - saw them at Two Cup Tuesday! Got them pinned!

      Kyra @ Caramel Potatoes

      Reply
      • beth says

        June 03, 2014 at 12:57 am

        Thanks for stopping by and for pinning:)

        Reply
    12. Lynn@Happier Than a Pig in Mud says

      June 02, 2014 at 10:09 pm

      I have to say, these are absolutely perfect:@)

      Reply
    13. KathyA. says

      June 02, 2014 at 7:29 pm

      I just ordered some of these candy eyes from your Amazon link. Love this idea!! Thanks so much for sharing.

      Reply
      • beth says

        June 02, 2014 at 7:54 pm

        The jumbo eyes are so much fun. This is the first time I've used them, but plan to use them a lot from now on. Thanks for using the link to make your purchase:)

        Reply
    14. The Partiologist says

      June 02, 2014 at 5:10 pm

      I haven't had a chocolate chip cookie in such a long time I want one now with a smiley face! 🙂

      Reply
    15. Sue says

      June 02, 2014 at 2:35 pm

      Beth, You've done it again! These cookies are so cute, simple and fun! Love them! Time to share on fb and share on Pinterest:)

      Reply
      • beth says

        June 02, 2014 at 5:10 pm

        Thanks for sharing, Sue:)

        Reply
    16. Anonymous says

      June 02, 2014 at 2:23 pm

      Lol, those are too cute! They made me so smile as soon as I came onto your website! Such a simple but inventive idea, love it.

      Reply
      • beth says

        June 02, 2014 at 5:10 pm

        I'm happy to hear these cookies made you smile. That is their job:)

        Reply
    17. Anonymous says

      June 02, 2014 at 1:35 pm

      Love it! Now I know what to make for my kids teachers to hand out on the last day of school 🙂

      Reply
      • beth says

        June 02, 2014 at 1:49 pm

        Oh, great idea. I'm pretty sure teachers everywhere would enjoy a nice smiley face chocolate chip cookie on the last day of school.

        Reply
    18. Project Denneler says

      June 02, 2014 at 1:33 pm

      Oh Beth… these made my Monday. (And it's only 8:32 a.m!) Adorable.

      Reply
      • beth says

        June 02, 2014 at 1:48 pm

        I'm happy to help start Monday off on the right foot!

        Reply
    19. Lisa@hooplapalooza says

      June 02, 2014 at 1:31 pm

      GAAAAHHHHH! i LOVE them Beth!! absolutely and undeniably! :>D!

      Reply
      • beth says

        June 02, 2014 at 1:51 pm

        It's fun to do something so easy that turns out so cute. You and I both know how much work goes into a lot of our edible crafts, but this one couldn't be simpler.

        Reply
    20. Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons.com says

      June 02, 2014 at 12:44 pm

      These are so perfect...such a great idea Beth!!

      Reply
      • beth says

        June 02, 2014 at 1:50 pm

        Thanks for sharing with your followers, Jill!

        Reply
    Newer Comments »
    Beth Jackson Klosterboer

    Welcome to Hungry Happenings!

    I'm Beth. I've been a professional chocolatier & baker for over 30 years, have written 5 cookbooks, and love creating fun food for holidays and special occasions.

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