Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies (No Chill, Easy)

Name: Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2.25 cups all purpose flour (about 270 g, spooned and leveled); 1 teaspoon baking soda; 0.75 teaspoon fine sea salt; 1 cup unsalted butter (softened to room temperature, about 226 g); 0.5 cup light brown sugar (packed, about 100 g); 0.5 cup granulated sugar (about 100 g); 2 large eggs (at room temperature); 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 1.5 cups semisweet chocolate chips (about 250 to 270 g, a mix of regular and mini chips works well); 0.5 cup chopped chocolate or chocolate chunks (optional, for pressing on top before baking); 0.25 cup Valentine sprinkles or heart sprinkles (optional, more or less to taste); flaky sea salt (optional, for sprinkling on warm cookies)

Warm, bakery style Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies that actually keep their cute heart shape and are ready in under 30 minutes. This is the Valentine’s Day cookie recipe you pull out when you want something sweet, impressive and totally doable on a weeknight. The dough mixes up in one bowl, there is no chilling, and you use a heart cutter to press perfect shapes right on the tray.

Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies topped with pink and white sprinkles on a tray — Soft heart cookies packed with chocolate chips and Valentine sprinkles, perfect for gifting or sharing.

Jump to Recipe

These easy heart shaped cookies are soft in the center, crisp at the edges and packed with melty chocolate in every bite. They work just as well for romantic dessert ideas for couples as they do for Valentine baking for kids, school parties or cookie boxes. Make a batch, cut out those hearts, and you have a simple heart-shaped dessert that looks like it came from a bakery, not your home oven.

Why You Will Love These Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies

These Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies give you the best of both worlds. You get the rich, nostalgic flavor of classic chocolate chip cookies with the picture perfect look of a heart shaped dessert that is ready for gifting or sharing. Instead of hoping your dough holds its shape, you bake normal scooped cookies, then press a heart cutter into them while they are still soft. The result is neat edges, defined points and puffy centers filled with melted chocolate.

This Valentine’s Day cookie recipe skips chilling, so you can go from mixing bowl to warm cookies in about 25 minutes. The texture leans soft and chewy, not cakey, with lightly crisp golden edges. These heart shaped chocolate chip cookies feel special enough for romantic dessert ideas for couples, but the method is simple enough that kids can help with scooping, sprinkling and decorating. If you need easy heart shaped cookies for a classroom party, date night or a movie night treat, this dough is designed to be reliable, forgiving and fun to decorate.

These heart shaped chocolate chip cookies started as a simple solution to a common Valentine problem. I wanted heart shaped dessert ideas that tasted like real chocolate chip cookies, not dry sugar cookies, and I wanted them to look cute without hours of decorating. Shaping dough before baking never gave me clean edges. The hearts puffed, spread, and turned into blobs.

The trick that finally worked was baking regular scooped cookies, then cutting out the hearts while the cookies were still soft and warm. Suddenly, every single cookie looked like it came from a bakery. Defined heart points, rounded tops, and those shiny chocolate puddles on top.

This method turned into my go to Valentine’s Day cookie recipe. It is easy enough for weeknights and special enough for anniversaries, classroom parties, or date nights. It is also perfect for Valentine baking for kids, since little hands can help press sprinkles on top and cut out the hearts once an adult checks that the tray is cool enough to touch.

Ingredients For Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here is everything you need to make a batch of soft, chewy shaped chocolate chip cookies that cut cleanly into hearts. Measurements are given in both cups and grams so you can choose what works best for you.

For the Cookie Dough

2 ¼ cups (270 g) all purpose flour
1 teaspoon (4 g) baking soda
¾ teaspoon (4 g) fine sea salt
1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
½ cup (100 g) packed light brown sugar
½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
2 teaspoons (10 ml) pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 ½ cups (250 to 270 g) semisweet chocolate chips
- Use a mix of regular and mini chips for lots of chocolate in every bite.

Optional Toppings and Decorations

½ to 1 cup (85 to 170 g) chopped chocolate or chocolate chunks
- Pressed on top before baking for shiny chocolate pools on your heart shaped chocolate chip cookies.
¼ to ½ cup (40 to 80 g) Valentine sprinkles or heart sprinkles
Flaky sea salt for finishing, if you like a sweet and salty contrast

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Butter
- You can use salted butter if that is what you have. Reduce the added salt to ¼ teaspoon.
Flour
- Stick with all purpose flour for the right structure. If you try a 1 to 1 gluten free blend, choose one that contains xanthan gum and be aware the texture will be slightly more delicate.
Chocolate
- Semisweet chips give a classic chocolate chip flavor. Dark chocolate chips or chopped bars make these heart shaped chocolate chip cookies taste a bit richer and more grown up, perfect for romantic dessert ideas for couples.
Sprinkles
- Use jimmies or confetti style sprinkles. Nonpareils can sometimes bleed color into the dough during baking.
Allergens
- This recipe contains wheat, dairy and eggs. To experiment with dairy free options, use a good quality vegan butter stick and dairy free chocolate chips and expect the dough to be slightly softer.

Equipment You Need For Heart Shaped Cookies

You do not need any fancy tools to make these easy heart shaped cookies, but a few basics will make the process smoother and give you cleaner hearts.

Essential Tools

Mixing bowls
- One medium bowl for dry ingredients and one large bowl for the dough.
Electric hand mixer or stand mixer
- Creams the butter and sugar so the cookies bake up thick and soft.
Rubber or silicone spatula
- For scraping the bowl and folding in chocolate chips.
Baking sheets
- Light colored metal sheets help prevent over browning.
Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
- Keeps cookies from sticking and makes it easier to cut and lift out the heart shapes.
Heart shaped cookie cutter
- A metal cutter about 3 to 3.5 inches wide works very well for heart shaped chocolate chip cookies. Metal cuts through warm cookies more cleanly than plastic.

Helpful Extras

Cookie scoop, about 2 tablespoons size
- Keeps all the cookies the same size, which helps them bake evenly so your heart shaped dessert ideas look consistent on a platter.
Wire cooling racks
- Lets the cookies cool completely so they stay soft in the center and lightly crisp at the edges.
Small offset spatula
- Handy for lifting the cut heart cookies off the tray without breaking the pointed ends.

If You Do Not Have A Heart Cookie Cutter

You can still learn how to make heart shaped cookies even without a cutter.

Trace or print a heart template on paper, then place it under a sheet of parchment and gently cut around it with a small sharp knife once the cookies are baked and still soft.
For kids, you can let them press small upside down teardrops next to each other in the dough using a round cutter and a knife, although this is a bit more advanced and works best with adult help.

Once your tools are ready and your tray is lined, you are set to move on to how to bake heart cookies that keep their shape and stay chewy.

How To Make Heart Shaped Cookies Step By Step

This is exactly how to make heart shaped cookies that bake up soft and chewy, then cut into neat hearts.

Preheat the oven
Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper so the cookies do not stick and are easy to cut.
Mix the dry ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt until everything looks evenly combined. Set the bowl aside.
Cream butter and sugars
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1 to 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape the bowl once so no butter sticks to the sides.
Add eggs and vanilla
Mix in the eggs one at a time, beating on low until just combined. Add the vanilla and mix again briefly. The mixture should look smooth and creamy.
Add the dry ingredients
Pour the flour mixture into the bowl in two additions. Mix on low speed just until you no longer see dry flour. Over mixing will make your heart shaped chocolate chip cookies tougher.
Fold in the chocolate
Use a spatula to fold in the chocolate chips until they are evenly spread through the dough. If you are using chopped chocolate or extra chips for the tops, keep those separate for now.
Scoop the dough
Scoop about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie and place on the prepared baking sheets, leaving 3 inches between scoops. This spacing is important for how to bake heart cookies that have room to spread before you cut them.
Top with chocolate and sprinkles
Press a few chocolate chunks and Valentine sprinkles onto the tops of the dough mounds. This gives you pretty, festive easy heart shaped cookies that look special even without frosting.
Bake the cookies
Bake one sheet at a time for 9 to 11 minutes until the edges look set and lightly golden but the centers are still pale and soft. They will continue to cook on the tray after baking, so do not wait for deep browning.
Cut out the hearts
Working quickly while the cookies are still hot and soft, press a heart shaped cookie cutter straight down into each cookie. Wiggle it gently, then lift away the excess cookie around the heart. Use a small spatula to lift each heart onto a cooling rack.
Cool and serve
Let the heart shaped chocolate chip cookies cool on the rack until set. They will firm up but stay chewy in the center. Now you know how to bake heart cookies that hold a perfect heart shape every time.

Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies cooling on rack with pink sprinkles — Freshly baked heart cookies packed with chocolate chips and Valentine sprinkles.

Pro Tips, Variations And Valentine Baking For Kids

Once you know how to make heart shaped cookies with this method, a few simple tricks will make every batch look and taste bakery quality.

Pro Tips For The Best Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies

Measure flour accurately
Too much flour makes shaped chocolate chip cookies dry and thick. Fluff the flour, spoon it into your cup, then level it, or use a kitchen scale for the most reliable results.
Use room temperature ingredients
Soft butter and room temperature eggs blend more evenly, which helps your cookies bake with even spread and a tender crumb.
Do not over mix
Once you add the flour, mix only until the streaks of dry flour disappear. Extra mixing develops gluten and can make your heart shaped chocolate chip cookies tough instead of chewy.
Bake one tray at a time
For even color and consistent results, bake a single sheet in the center of the oven. Rotate the tray halfway through if your oven has hot spots.
Cut the hearts while cookies are hot
This is important for how to bake heart cookies that keep clean edges. Press the cutter into the cookies as soon as the tray comes out of the oven so the dough is still soft.
Save the cookie scraps
The pieces left around the heart cutters are still delicious. Crumble them over ice cream, yogurt or pudding for a quick treat.

Easy Heart Shaped Cookies Variations

Try these ideas to fit your cookies to the occasion.

Pink and white heart cookies
Stir in white chocolate chips and a small amount of pink gel food coloring to the dough. Top with pastel sprinkles for heart shaped dessert ideas that feel extra festive.
Salted dark chocolate hearts
Use dark chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate, then finish the warm cookies with a pinch of flaky sea salt. This version leans more grown up and is perfect as romantic dessert ideas for couples.
Strawberry chocolate chip hearts
Fold in a handful of chopped freeze dried strawberries along with the chocolate chips. They add pops of color and a fruity twist that fits any Valentine’s Day cookie recipe.
Mini heart bites
Use a smaller heart cutter and reduce the bake time by 1 to 2 minutes. You will get more cookies and they are great for party platters or gifting.

Valentine Baking For Kids

Heart shaped chocolate chip cookies are a fun project for kids. Here is how to make it smooth and safe.

Let kids help with dumping ingredients into the bowl, stirring dry ingredients and pressing sprinkles onto the tops.
Have an adult handle the hot tray and the first few heart cuts. Once the metal cutter cools slightly, older kids can help press it down with oven mitts.
For classroom parties, make the cookies a bit smaller so you get more per batch. Pack cooled cookies in clear bags tied with ribbon and a little Valentine tag.
If you are baking for a group, consider common allergies and label cookies that contain dairy, eggs and wheat.

If you enjoy soft, chewy cookies, you will also like my Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe that uses the same simple technique.

Storage, Freezing And Make Ahead Tips

Once your heart shaped chocolate chip cookies are baked and cooled, you can easily save some for later or prep ahead for parties and date nights.

Storing Baked Heart Shaped Cookies

Keep completely cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
Store them in a single layer or separate layers with parchment so the points of the hearts do not break.
They stay fresh for about 4 to 5 days. After that, shaped chocolate chip cookies start to dry out.

If they feel a little firm after a day or two, place a slice of sandwich bread in the container for several hours. The cookies will absorb some moisture and soften again.

Freezing Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies

You have two good options.

Freeze baked cookies
- Arrange cooled heart cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid.
- Transfer to a freezer bag or container, stacking with parchment between layers.
- Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature, then warm briefly in a low oven if you want them soft and fragrant again.
Freeze scooped dough
- Scoop dough onto a tray as if you were going to bake it. Freeze until solid, then store the dough balls in a freezer bag.
- Bake from frozen, adding 1 to 2 extra minutes to the bake time.
- Cut out the hearts just as you would with fresh dough, pressing the cutter in as soon as the tray comes out of the oven.

Make Ahead For Parties And Date Nights

For Valentine baking for kids or romantic dessert ideas for couples, it helps to bake ahead.

For school parties, bake the heart shaped chocolate chip cookies one day in advance, cool completely, then pack in airtight boxes so they stay fresh.
For a date night, you can freeze dough balls and bake a small batch of warm heart cookies right before serving. This gives you heart shaped dessert ideas that feel special with very little last minute work.

Nutrition Info For These Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies

Exact nutrition will vary slightly based on the size of your heart cutter and how much chocolate you add on top, but here is a good estimate for one medium cookie when the batch makes about 24 cookies.

Calories: about 210 to 220
Carbohydrates: about 24 g
Protein: about 2 g
Fat: about 12 g
Saturated fat: about 7 g
Sugar: about 13 g
Fiber: about 1 g

These heart shaped chocolate chip cookies are a treat, so think of them as a fun part of a celebration rather than an everyday snack. If you want a lighter option, use a smaller heart cutter so each cookie is a bit smaller, or serve one cookie alongside fresh berries for a simple Valentine’s Day cookie recipe that still feels special.

Serving Ideas And Romantic Dessert Ideas For Couples

Heart shaped chocolate chip cookies work for both family treats and date nights.

Easy Serving Ideas

Stack cookies on a simple white plate and scatter a few extra sprinkles around the edge.
Serve warm with scoops of vanilla ice cream for quick cookie sundaes.
Package two or three hearts in clear bags with ribbon for classmates or coworkers.

Romantic Ways To Serve

Arrange cookies with fresh berries and a few pieces of dark chocolate on a small board for sharing.
Make ice cream sandwiches using two hearts and a scoop of ice cream, then roll the sides in sprinkles.
Drizzle melted chocolate over the hearts, add a pinch of flaky sea salt and serve with coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies FAQ

How can I make heart shaped cookies without a cookie cutter?

Draw or print a heart template, place it under parchment and use a small sharp knife to trim the warm cookies into hearts. Cut right after baking so the cookies are soft and your heart shaped chocolate chip cookies have clean edges.

Why did my shaped chocolate chip cookies spread too much?

Too soft butter, not enough flour or too much sugar can cause spreading. Next time, measure flour carefully and chill scooped dough for 20 to 30 minutes before baking.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes. Chill the dough for up to 48 hours, then let it sit at room temperature until scoopable and bake as usual. You can also freeze baked heart cookies for up to 3 months.

How long should I bake heart cookies?

For how to bake heart cookies with a chewy center, bake at 350°F for about 9 to 11 minutes. The edges should look set and lightly golden, while the centers stay soft and pale.

Is this recipe good for Valentine baking for kids?

Very much. Kids can help with mixing, scooping and sprinkling, while an adult handles the hot trays and heart cutter. Use a smaller cutter for school treats so you get more cookies per batch.

How can I turn these into romantic dessert ideas for couples?

Serve warm heart cookies with fresh berries and coffee or hot chocolate, or make simple ice cream sandwiches. They are easy heart shaped cookies that feel special without extra work.

Final Thoughts

Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies are one of those recipes you can keep on repeat all year, not just for Valentine’s Day. The dough is simple, the steps are clear and the results look impressive without any complicated decorating. You bake regular scooped cookies, cut them into hearts while they are still warm and end up with soft, chewy centers and neat heart edges every time.

Whether you are planning Valentine baking for kids, packing treats for a classroom party or looking for easy romantic dessert ideas for couples at home, these heart shaped chocolate chip cookies fit the moment. Print the recipe, save it to your favorite board and keep a heart cutter in your baking drawer so you are always ready for a quick batch of chocolate filled hearts.