• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Hungry Happenings
  • RECIPES
    • All Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Decorated Cookies
    • Decorated Cakes
    • Cheesecake Recipes
    • Everyday Desserts
    • Homemade Candy
    • Everyday Meals
    • Readers’ Gallery
    • Hungry Happenings Blog Posts
  • HOW TO
    • Chocolate Making Tips
    • Chocolate Making Course (video lessons)
    • Make Modeling Chocolate
      • Modeling Chocolate Recipe and Tutorial
      • How to Color Modeling Chocolate
      • How to Store and Work with Modeling Chocolate
      • How to Fix Greasy Modeling Chocolate
      • How to Fix Dry Modeling Chocolate
      • Use Colored Candy Melts to Make Candy Clay
    • Candy Clay Creations
    • How To Color White Chocolate and Candy Melts and Paint Candy Molds
    • How to Use Food Coloring Markers
  • HOLIDAYS
    • ALL HOLIDAY RECIPES
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
      • Hungry Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year’s Eve
    • MORE HOLIDAYS
      • Mother’s Day
      • Father’s Day
      • April Fools
      • Chinese New Year
      • Cinco de Mayo
      • Day of the Dead
      • Earth Day
      • Mardi Gras
  • PARTY FOOD
    • Super Bowl
    • Graduation
    • Birthday Party
    • March Madness
    • Summer Fun
    • Baby Shower
    • Wedding Shower
    • School/Teacher
    • Movie and T.V. Characters
    • Kid’s Treats
    • Fun Party Recipes
  • MY COOKBOOKS
  • ABOUT
  • MY BLOGS
    • HowToMakeCerealTreats.com
    • HowToMakeEasyCookies.com
    • HowToMakeEasyFudge.com
    • TheSugarAcademy.com

Smiley Face Chocolate Chip Cookies

Published: Jun 2, 2014 · Recipe by: Beth · This post may contain affiliate links.

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 3/4 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

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
Ingredients
  • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar white sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 1/8 cup all purpose flour unbleached is best
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 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 1/4 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, 1/4 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)

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

White Chocolate Cupcake Wrappers

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.

About the Author, Beth Jackson Klosterboer

Beth is a professional chocolatier, recipe developer, event planner, and cookbook author who loves to make fun food.

Read More about Beth...

Previous Post: « Rainbow Tie-Dye Surprise Cake
Next Post: Melting Rainbow Cake »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David @ExploreFeelGood

    December 2, 2021 at 5:20 am

    Love it!!
    Keep up the good work Beth 😉
    Hi from France

    Reply
    • Beth

      December 3, 2021 at 10:55 am

      Thank you so much, David!

      Reply
  2. Anonymous

    April 27, 2015 at 3:44 pm

    I'm sure these are going to be lovely, but not being based in the USA (I'm in the UK), I can convert Fahrenheit to Centigrade OK, but I've no idea what 'cups' are! Can anyone please supply the measurements in grams? Thanks!

    Reply
    • beth

      April 29, 2015 at 2:56 am

      Here are the conversions –
      12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened = 170 grams
      1 cup packed brown sugar = 220 grams
      1/2 cup granulated sugar (white sugar) = 100 grams
      1 large egg
      1 egg yolk
      2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract = 8 grams
      2 1/8 cup all purpose flour (unbleached is best) = 272 grams
      1/2 teaspoon salt = 2 grams
      1/2 teaspoon baking soda = 2 grams
      12 ounces semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips = 340 grams

      Reply
  3. Mitzi

    June 10, 2014 at 12:10 am

    ok- this is just the cutest thing ever! I am so buying these jumbo candy eyes. If you have a chance, hop over and share with Motivation Monday, too-thanks
    http://writtenreality.com/motivation-monday-linky-party/

    Reply
  4. Marie

    June 9, 2014 at 6:05 pm

    Those are too cute and so delicious looking!

    Reply
  5. Jennifer Johnson

    June 9, 2014 at 12:48 pm

    So cute! Love this

    Reply
  6. Crochet Hooks

    June 8, 2014 at 1:48 am

    so many happy desserts here 🙂 I would love a smiley face cookie!

    Reply
  7. Cara

    June 6, 2014 at 4:39 pm

    Well slap me silly, aren't these just so much fun?? I love it! I have a bunch of sugar eyes begging to be chocolate glued to cookies now 🙂

    Reply
  8. Erica Loop

    June 6, 2014 at 11:16 am

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

    Reply
  9. Melinda @Home.Made.Interest.

    June 6, 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

      June 6, 2014 at 3:36 am

      Thanks for stopping by Melinda. Have fun baking:)

      Reply
  10. Anonymous

    June 5, 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

      June 5, 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
  11. Anonymous

    June 5, 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

      June 5, 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
  12. Karen @ Sugartown Sweets

    June 5, 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

      June 5, 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
  13. Brenda @ SweetSimpleStuff

    June 4, 2014 at 4:15 pm

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

    Reply
  14. www.farmhousestyleliving.blogspot.com

    June 3, 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
  15. Lauren Brown

    June 3, 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
  16. Alexis Middleton

    June 3, 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
  17. Gloria @ Simply Gloria

    June 3, 2014 at 2:46 pm

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

    Reply
  18. Kyra

    June 3, 2014 at 12:46 am

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

    Kyra @ Caramel Potatoes

    Reply
    • beth

      June 3, 2014 at 12:57 am

      Thanks for stopping by and for pinning:)

      Reply
  19. Lynn@Happier Than a Pig in Mud

    June 2, 2014 at 10:09 pm

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

    Reply
  20. KathyA.

    June 2, 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

      June 2, 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
  21. The Partiologist

    June 2, 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
  22. Sue

    June 2, 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

      June 2, 2014 at 5:10 pm

      Thanks for sharing, Sue:)

      Reply
  23. Anonymous

    June 2, 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

      June 2, 2014 at 5:10 pm

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

      Reply
  24. Anonymous

    June 2, 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

      June 2, 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
  25. Project Denneler

    June 2, 2014 at 1:33 pm

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

    Reply
    • beth

      June 2, 2014 at 1:48 pm

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

      Reply
  26. Lisa@hooplapalooza

    June 2, 2014 at 1:31 pm

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

    Reply
    • beth

      June 2, 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
  27. Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons.com

    June 2, 2014 at 12:44 pm

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

    Reply
    • beth

      June 2, 2014 at 1:50 pm

      Thanks for sharing with your followers, Jill!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

WELCOME!

See all recipe categories

The Sugar Academy Chocolate Making Courses

Footer

Popular Kid Friendly Recipes

Cookie Monster Rice Krispie Treats with candy eyes, Tootsie Roll mouths, and mini Nutter Butter Cookies
Halloween Mickey Mouse Oreo Cookies decorated using candy clay are fun to make for your Halloween parties.
Turn Reese's Cups into sweet little otters then use them to create some adorable Sea Otter Cupcakes. These treat will be perfect for you Finding Dory Party.
Mickey Mouse Galaxy Cookies - chocolate cookies topped with chocolate ganache and galaxy sprinkles.
Decorate this cute Olaf Mickey Cake for your Disney Frozen party. It's easy to create using a simple cake decorating technique.
This Winter Wonderland White Chocolate Popcorn speckled with candy snowflakes and blue sprinkles would make a great treat for a Frozen party, a nice gift for Christmas, or a wintertime snack.

Hungry Happenings is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and occasionally writes sponsored posts which will be disclosed within the post. We value your privacy. Please read our Privacy Policy, Disclosure, and Terms of Service.

Copyright © 2023 Hungry Happenings