Valentine's Day was always one of the big holidays growing up. My elementary school would make a big fuss and go through a big production every year. We would choose the best valentines for our classmates and build boxes to keep them in. Most kids would decorate a shoe box or bring in a small mailbox, but I would always create elaborate valentine boxes.
My mom and I love crafts and we use any excuse to get covered in glue and paper scraps. Valentine's day is no exception. One year we built and decorated a giant house from cardboard, complete with chimney smoke, to drop my valentines in. Another year we constructed a lion from construction paper which ended up standing nearly two feet tall in all of its roaring glory. I kept that lion for many years after, not only as a reminder of how awesome it was, but of the entire weekend I spent with my mom creating it.
This is the perfect valentine for someone sweet. Simply wrap the cookie pop in plastic wrap, secure it with a red ribbon, and you have a delicious valentine to give someone special. The cookies are entirely customizable. You can leave them plain, decorate them with frosting, or pipe out your own valentine message directly onto the cookie.
Now answer me this—who wouldn't want a cookie valentine?
We all know chocolate chip cookies are delicious, but when you put them on a stick? Even better. I personally enjoy chocolate chip cookies more than just about any other cookie (sorry, sugar cookies), because they just taste good. These chocolate chip cookies are no exception. They are rich with brown sugar, chocolate, and are partially made with whole wheat flour which gives them a great texture. These cookies are light and soft; when you bite into them they will not crumble and fall off the stick. These are perfect for Valentine's day or anytime you just want to eat something on a stick.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pops
Adapted from Dinner With Julie
Yields 3 dozen cookies
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup applesauce
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 dozen lollipop sticks or wooden Popsicle sticks
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the applesauce, eggs and vanilla. Add the flour, baking soda and salt and mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Shape the dough into round balls. Position them on a parchment covered baking sheet allowing 2 inches between each cookie. Stick a lollipop stick into the cookies. Make sure that the stick will not interfere with the spreading of any cookies.
Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until lightly golden. Move to a cooling rack to cool completely.