Mickey & Minnie's Valentine's Day Chocolate Cookies!

There's nothing quite like a good Chocolate Cookie for Valentine's Day. I make a lot of Heart shaped Chocolate Cookies for Valentine's Day. I always think it's fun to use different Heart Cookie Cutters, so you have different sizes and different shaped hearts. A few years ago at the Flea Market I came across these two cuties. What says Valentine's Day more than the perfect couple -- Mickey and Minnie Mouse!

So here's a great easy Chocolate Cookie Recipe. Use whatever cookie cutters you have.. I'm using Minnie and Mickey!

This great Chocolate Cut Out Cookie Recipe is slightly adapted from Bake @ 350. These cookies hold their shape and are delicious!

CHOCOLATE COOKIES

Ingredients
2 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Dark cocoa powder (Dutch Process)
1 tsp instant espresso powder
1 cup sweet butter
1/2 tsp salt (I use course seasalt)
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp Madagascar vanilla

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350.
Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Cream together butter and sugar until light & fluffy (1-2 full minutes). Beat in egg and vanilla until well combined.
Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, espresso and salt and slowly add to butter mixture with mixer on low. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl as needed.
Roll dough about 1/4 inch thick on surface lightly dusted with cocoa powder. Hint: roll soft dough in between sheets of parchment and put in refrigerator for 15 minutes until firm.
Cut out shapes and put on baking sheets.
Freeze for 5 minutes (optional) 
Bake for 8-10 minutes, until set.
Let cookies cool for 2-3 minutes and using spatula put on cooling rack.

I don't frost my chocolate cookies, but these cutters would guide the way. I know you'll love the great chocolate taste in these cookies!

What cookie cutters are you planning to use for Valentine's Day?

Northern California Chocolate Valentine's Events

February is Chocolate Month. That shouldn't be a surprise, especially with everyone gearing up for a Chocolate-y Valentine's Day celebration--all month. 

Wine and Chocolate are the Perfect Pairing... but so are Bourbon and Chocolate, and Beer and Chocolate, and Port and Chocolate.  So grab your favorite Valentine and attend one or more of these great events in Northern California to jumpstart your Chocolate Valentine's Celebration.

SARATOGA

February 9: 12-5:00: Mountain Winery: Wine & Chocolate. Perfectly paired Gourmet Wine & Chocolate Tastings. Indulge in six perfectly paired decadent chocolate and divine wine pairings.  Enjoy lively music and a spectacular view. 


SAN CARLOS


February 9: 12-5.  Domenico Winery. Noon-5 p.m. Annual Wine & Chocolate Festival. 9 wineries pouring wines at Domenico. Each winery will pair their wines with chocolate.

HEALDSBURG
 
February 9, 1- 4. Wine & Chocolate Fantasy. Rodney Strong Winery.  24th annual event at one of Healdsburg's great wineries! 

February 16 & 17: Valentine's Weekend Wine & Chocolate Pairing. Ferrari-Carano's Seasons of the Vineyard Tasting Bar & Boutique, in the Enoteca.

LODI

February 9 & 10: 11-5. Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend. Taste delicious Lodi wines and decadent chocolates at over 40 wineries in the Lodi appellation.

MOUNTAIN VIEW

February 11: 7-9 p.m. Savvy Cellars. Port & Chocolate Class.

LIVERMORE

February 10: Wente Vineyards. Romance Wine & Chocolate. 1 p.m and 4 p.m. Sit down -- five decadent chocolate desserts paired with Wente Vineyards wines.

SAN FRANCISCO

Friday, February 8: 5:00 p.m  Aurea, Renaissance San Francisco Stanford Court Hotel. Mark Gleason leads a wine and chocolate tasting, featuring TCHO artisanal chocolates.

Saturday, February 9:  3:30-4:45 Hog & Rocks. Bourbon and Chocolate Pairing. Tasting includes three pairings, with chocolates from Dandelion's single-origin batches and half-ounce bourbon pours from Hog & Rocks' selection..

Thursday, February 14: 6-8 p.m. Dogpatch Wineworks Hosts Wine and Chocolate Date Night. Recchiuti chocolates and wine pairings.

NAPA

February 16. Wine & Chocolate Tasting. Silverado Vineyards. Sit down special pairing of Annette's Truffles and Silverado Vineyards wines...

MADERA

February 9-10. 10-5 Wine & Chocolate Weekend. Along the Madera Trail.

RICHMOND

February 16. 12-6. 4th Annual Chocolate & Beer Festival. Craneway Pavilion. Gourmet chocolates and local craft brews (part of SF Beer Week)

ALAMEDA

February 15. 6-9 p.m. Viva Amore, Viva Wine. Alameda's Rock Wall Wine Company. Third wine-pairing fest. includes Coco Tutti chocolate tasting.