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.
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.
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.
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.
Take a delicious chocolate chip cookie to the next level and add a cute smile to it!
- 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
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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.
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Mix flour, salt, and baking soda together then incorporate it into the wet ingredients.
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Fold chocolate chips into the batter.
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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.
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Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
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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.
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Allow cookies to cool completely.
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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.
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)
Wilton Candy Eyeballs, Grea...Shop on Amazon
White And Black ½-Inch Ca...Shop on Amazon
Squeezit Mold Painter Plast...Shop on Amazon
More Happy Smiling Desserts
from Hungry Happenings
White Chocolate Cupcake Wrappers
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Jamie says
My 2yo asked to make "happy face cookies" one day and we found your recipe! The cookies were delicious and we will definitely make them again. Thank you!
Beth Klosterboer says
I'm glad you enjoyed the cookies! They always make me happy.
Jamie says
My 2yo asked to make "happy face cookies" today so I went straight to Google for inspiration and we landed on your recipe. The cookies are very fluffy and yummy. We didn't have chocolate chips so we used mini m&m's; other than that, we stayed true to recipe. We didn't have melting chocolate for the face so we improvised with sweeze tube gel frosting. Thanks for the fun and yummy recipe. I have no doubt we will make these again.
Beth says
Ah, that is so sweet! I'm so glad you are your little one enjoyed making and eating these cookies. I think your substitutions were great and I'm sure they turned out super cute.
David @ExploreFeelGood says
Love it!!
Keep up the good work Beth 😉
Hi from France
Beth says
Thank you so much, David!
Anonymous says
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!
beth says
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
Mitzi says
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/
Marie says
Those are too cute and so delicious looking!
Jennifer Johnson says
So cute! Love this
Crochet Hooks says
so many happy desserts here 🙂 I would love a smiley face cookie!
Cara says
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 🙂