Chocolate Butter Cookies with Dark Chocolate Filling – A Perfect Bite-Sized Indulgence

These Chocolate Butter Cookies are a delightful treat for chocolate lovers! With a soft, buttery base and a rich dark chocolate filling, they offer the perfect balance between sweetness and a touch of bitterness from the dark chocolate. The dough itself is mildly sweet, making these cookies ideal for those who prefer their desserts less sugary. The heart-shaped indentations add a charming touch, but you can keep it simple with classic round shapes too. These cookies are perfect for gifting or enjoying with a hot beverage, and the recipe can easily be doubled for larger batches!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

These cookies are incredibly easy to make and provide a perfect balance of flavors with their tender, buttery texture and smooth, rich filling. The dark chocolate filling adds a decadent touch, and you can easily swap it for milk chocolate if you prefer a sweeter version. The dough comes together quickly, and shaping the cookies is fun for any skill level. You can make a small batch or double the recipe for more, and they store well, meaning you’ll have delicious cookies on hand for up to a week. These cookies are great for sharing, gifting, or just treating yourself!

Perfect Occasion:

These Chocolate Butter Cookies are perfect for casual tea times, afternoon snacks, or as a sweet treat to serve after dinner. They also make wonderful gifts during the holidays or for special occasions like Valentine’s Day, with the heart-shaped indentations adding a lovely touch. The cookies are great for packing into lunchboxes or enjoying with coffee or tea. Their elegant appearance and rich flavor also make them a lovely addition to any dessert platter for parties or gatherings.

Decoration Tips:

For a beautiful finish, you can add a drizzle of melted chocolate over the top of each cookie once the filling has set. If you want to enhance the presentation further, consider dusting the cookies with a light sprinkling of powdered sugar before serving. You could also top the filling with small decorations like chopped nuts, sprinkles, or even a pinch of sea salt to balance the sweetness. These cookies are also perfect for customizing with different fillings like milk chocolate, caramel, or fruit preserves for added variety.

Ingredients (Makes 15 cookies):

For the Cookies:

• 115g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 60g powdered sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 15g cocoa powder
• 15g cornstarch
• 140g all-purpose flour

For the Filling:

• 45g dark chocolate
• 20g unsalted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon glucose syrup

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Oven and Baking Tray:
   Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Make the Cookie Dough:
   In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract, mixing well until the mixture becomes fluffy and pale.
3. Add Dry Ingredients:
   Sift in the cocoa powder, cornstarch, and flour. Using a spatula, gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until a dough forms. It should be soft but not sticky.
4. Shape the Cookies:
   Roll the dough into 15 small balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving enough space between each one. Gently flatten each ball slightly with the palm of your hand.
5. Create the Indentations:
   Using your finger or the back of a spoon, make a small indentation in the center of each cookie. For a special touch, you can shape these indentations into hearts.
6. Bake the Cookies:
   Bake the cookies for 8 minutes. If the indentations lose their shape during baking, press them gently again and return the cookies to the oven for another 8 minutes. Once baked, let the cookies cool on the tray.
7. Prepare the Filling:
   While the cookies cool, melt the dark chocolate, butter, and glucose syrup together in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 15-second intervals, stirring in between, until the mixture is smooth and fully melted.
8. Fill the Cookies:
   Once the cookies have cooled completely, spoon the melted chocolate mixture into the indentations. Let the filling set at room temperature for about an hour, or place the cookies in the fridge for faster setting.
9. Store and Enjoy:
   Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to one week. Enjoy these rich and buttery chocolate-filled cookies with your favorite beverage!

These rich, chocolatey butter cookies with a luscious dark chocolate filling are sure to become one of your go-to treats.