Pink Ombre Valentine’s Day Cookies
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What’s Up, Hungry People
Valentine’s Day just got a whole lot more… pink-ish. These aren’t your standard sugar cookies either—they are packed with white chocolate chips and crafted from a modified classic chocolate chip cookie recipe, making them super soft and chewy.
As an adult, I find that I miss exchanging silly Valentine’s Day cards with friends—so I’ve adopted the cookie method to appease my inner child (even though I totally gave out paper Valentine’s Day cards all the way up to college).
Plus, who doesn’t love a deliciously soft and chewy cookie to munch on while thinking about their sweetie?
These cookies boast that perfectly crispy bottom while remaining soft and moist in the middle. By tweaking a standard chocolate chip cookie recipe, we create exceptional sugar cookies that outshine their traditional counterparts.
So, instead of handing out printed Valentines, I’ve decided to express my affection through cookies—and it just so happens you can eat as many as you want. And let’s be honest, they are WAY better than those little chalk-like “conversation hearts” that are somehow still a thing.
Truly, if I hand you a cookie – it means I very much like you.
Going Ombre
I opted for an ombre look with my cookies—gradually adding more and more pink or red food coloring to each batch of cookie dough until I finally achieved my desired shades.
The best approach is to start with the whitest, plainest colored dough possible. Set aside enough for about six cookies then add the food dye gradually, setting aside dough for about six cookies after each new addition of food dye.
You can craft your cookies all in one hue, or mix it up with half white and half pink—whatever suits your mood. And you’re not limited to pink! The beauty of baking is that it’s all up to your creativity.
Use Food Gels
For the best results, I recommend using food gel dye rather than liquid food dye, like these:
Get your food gel dyes here (affiliate link)!
Valentine’s day is on the horizon, but these versatile cookies are perfect for a myriad of occasions—from baby showers to workplace meetings. Interestingly, I work for a company that sports a pink logo, so these cookies were a hit at our start-of-the-year meeting.
Here’s What You Need
- Sugar: Sweetens the cookies and contributes to their golden color.
- Butter: Adds richness and helps with the tender texture.
- Vegetable shortening: Stabilizes the dough, making it easier to handle.
- Egg whites + yolk: Binds ingredients together; whites add lightness, yolk adds richness.
- Flour: Provides structure to the cookies.
- Baking soda: Acts as a leavening agent, helping the cookies rise.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor.
- White chocolate chips: Adds creamy texture and sweet chocolate flavor.
- Vanilla extract: Offers a subtle, sweet aroma and flavor.
- Food coloring gel: Adds color for visual appeal and theme customization.
Let’s Cook
Alright, first things first—get your oven heating up to 375°F. While it’s warming, grab your stand mixer and throw in the butter, vegetable shortening, and sugar. Whip them together until the mix is light and fluffy, which sets the base for our soft cookies.
Now, crack those eggs in one at a time, making sure each one is fully mixed in before adding the next. Toss in that splash of vanilla extract if you’re using it.
Mixing the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This combo helps our cookies get their lift and flavor balance. Now, take it slow—add your dry mix to the mixer a quarter cup at a time. Keep it on a low speed so you don’t end up wearing the flour. Just before you put in the last of it, sneak those white chocolate chips in. We want them evenly distributed in every bite.
Dividing the Dough
Once your dough is ready, divide it up. How many bowls you use depends on how many colors you want. I went with five for a nice gradient effect. If you’re not into the whole ombre thing, just keep it simple with one or two colors.
Creating the Ombre Effect
For those going the ombre route, start with your plain dough. Scoop out enough for about six cookies—this is your base color. Now, let’s jazz it up! Add a few drops of food coloring to your next batch of dough, mix it in, and set aside another six cookies’ worth. Keep doing this, adding more color each time until you reach the darkest shade.
Baking Your Cookies
Got all your dough colored and ready? Perfect! Now, scoop these little beauties onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. No need to crowd them; give them some space to spread out. Pop them in the oven for 8-10 minutes. Keep an eye on them—when they’re just right, they’ll look set but not browned.
After they’ve had a minute to cool on the sheet, transfer them to a cooling rack. This is the hardest part—waiting to eat them!
Baking Tips for Perfect Ombre Cookies
- Check Your Oven Temperature: Ovens can vary, so using an oven thermometer ensures accurate baking and prevents overcooking or undercooking. This is crucial for achieving the perfect texture in your cookies.
- Gel Food Coloring Over Liquid: Using gel food coloring instead of liquid ensures vibrant colors without altering the cookie dough’s consistency. Gels are more concentrated and blend more smoothly into doughs.
- Mixing Dough Evenly: Ensure all ingredients, especially the butter and sugar, are thoroughly mixed before adding eggs. This helps avoid uneven textures and ensures the cookies bake uniformly.
- Test Baking a Single Cookie: Before baking an entire batch, bake one cookie to check the spread and baking time. This way, you can adjust the oven temperature or baking time as needed for the rest of the batch.
- Cooling Cookies Properly: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. This helps them set without breaking.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Valentine’s Day, baby showers, or any casual get-together—these cookies are perfect for adding a splash of color and a dose of sweetness to any occasion. Making these pink ombre cookies is not just about baking; it’s about creating moments and memories. They’re a fun twist on the classic sugar cookie, packed with white chocolate chips that melt into each bite. Sure, they’re great for impressing your sweetie or friends, but let’s be honest, they’re also an excellent excuse to indulge in a little baking therapy. Plus, these cookies are a fantastic way to put those food coloring gels to good use and maybe even brush up on your color-mixing skills. So, why not whip up a batch and see just how many smiles they bring?
Pink Ombre Valentine’s Day Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- ½ cup vegetable shortening
- 4 egg whites + 1 yolk
- 4 cups flour + more as needed
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 16 oz (1 package) white chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- food coloring gel pink or of desired color
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, vegetable shortening, and sugar together until light in color and fluffy. Add in the egg whites and yolk one at a time, mixing until incorporated after each addition. If using, add the vanilla extract.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add the flour mixture, about a quarter cup at a time, to the bowl while the mixer stirs at a low speed. Right before adding the last bit of flour, mix in the white chocolate chips. The dough should be thick and not stick readily to the sides of the bowl.
- Divide the dough into separate, smaller bowls. For example, divide the batch into five different bowls, each containing about one to two cups of dough. Each bowl should yield about 5-8 cookies.
- For the ombre effect, leave one bowl of dough plain. Use a tablespoon to measure out dollops of dough. Arrange the plain dough balls on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Bake for 8-10 minutes—watch these carefully to note the exact cooking time. They should be cooked through but not yet browning. The cookies should not appear moist in the center when finished.
- In the other bowls of dough, add a few drops of food coloring to each until the desired colors are achieved. Start with 1-2 drops in the first bowl for light pink; 3-4 drops pink plus one drop red for the second; 3-4 drops pink plus 2-3 drops red for the third; 1-2 drops red plus 1-2 drops burgundy for the fourth. Adjust the amount of food coloring based on the type and intensity you desire.
- Based on the cooking time for the plain batch of cookies, form dough balls from the colored dough and bake in batches for 8-10 minutes, or about the same amount of time as the first batch. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 2-3 minutes once out of the oven, then transfer to a cooling rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!