Nice to have but not necessary- silicone brush for greasing the cookie sheet
The recipe
1/3 cup/75 mL butter, softened
1/2 cup/125 mL sugar
1/2 cup/125 mL unsweetened cocoa powder
1 egg
1 1/2 cups/375 mL whole wheat flour
1/4 cup/60 mL water
Preheat the oven to 350F/180C.
Grease some cookie sheets.
In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar.
Add the cocoa. Cream it into the sugary butter.
Add the egg.
Mix.
Add the flour, a bit at a time.
Use your clean hands to work it into the dough.
Add the water.
Mix and knead with your hands until you have a nice smooth dough.
Take a small chunk of dough.
On a flat surface, roll the dough into a "snake".
Form the snake into a heart shape.
Place on a cookie sheet.
Repeat until you have a forest of hearts.
Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Substitutions
- Use another type of flour instead of whole wheat.
Ideas for making this recipe your own
- Make carob hearts by substituting carob powder for the cocoa. (I haven't tried this because Valentines Day means "chocolate" in our house - but I'd love to hear how this works if you try it!
- Make different shapes. How about making letters? You could spell out your children's names - as long as they don't have long names like Bartholemew or Alexandrietta!
Tips
- To soften butter, leave it at room temperature for a couple of hours. You can also melt it in the microwave on low power, or cut it into cubes and warm them in a double boiler, or in a bowl placed over a saucepan of boiling water. Watch the butter carefully, though - you want it softened, not melted.
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