It's the most decadent time of the year! You might have heard the best time for sweets is Christmas or Easter but YA HEARD WRONG, MARTHA!
Valentine's Day is where it's at and now that it's February, I am kicking off my Valentine's Cheer. As I have always done, I am bringing you some Valentine's inspired outfits but sneaking in some goodies because WHAT ELSE WOULD I DO?
I have had these Raspberry Chocolate Chip Cookies pinned for a couple years now and really didn't change much at all because, well, they're perfect. The change I did make was adding raspberry abstract to the mix because I so wanted a punch of raspberry. To accomplish this, I added 3/4 teaspoon of vanilla abstract along with 1/4 teaspoon of raspberry abstract. If you don't want to do this or don't have it handy, just add a full teaspoon of vanilla abstract.
I don't think Cody and I have any big plans next week. We used to have a Valentine's routine. We'd make reservations at the Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant, and we'd sign up for their special Valentine's pre-fix menu. It was so much fun and delicious. But in recent years we've changed it up for a couple reasons. Mainly because it is an expensive meal and last year we were saving money wherever we could for the wedding but also because, well, a fondue place is pretty much a vegan's nightmare. Oh well!
Speaking of vegan's nightmare, these cookies are 100% NOT vegan (lol) but whatever. I don't expect the world to be vegan with me and this is not a vegan focused blog so enjoy these cookies made with butter and eggs, my peanuts. I may make a second batch and see how they come out using vegan ingredients, however!
All that aside, I love a cookie made with a pudding mix. The pudding mix makes cookies so soft and chewy - but not in the traditional chewy sense? Does that make sense?
I know, who cares? They're scrumptious and really hard to resist. I know this because Cody, who has no sweet tooth to speak of, wanted not one, but TWO, of these bad boys. Eat all you want, darling. I mean, hey, there are raspberries in these cookies. FRUIT! Ah! We're being SO HEALTHY this year! Look at us go...
All right, enough trying to rationalize. Pass me a glass of almond milk already because my mouth is watering just talking about these cookies. I wonder if ANY of them will make it to our offices after all...
Chocolate Chip Raspberry Valentine's Day Cookies
Adapted from Butter With a Side of Bread
-
1 cup (2 sticks)
butter, softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 box instant vanilla pudding (5.1 oz)
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (add a full teaspoon if not adding raspberry abstract)
- 1/4 teaspoon raspberry abstract (optional)
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup fresh raspberries, roughly chopped
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease cookie sheets.
- Beat the butter and sugars in a high speed mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Add the pudding mix and mix until combined.
- Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and raspberry abstract, mix well.
- Slowly add the flour and baking soda. Mix to combine.
- Stir in chocolate chips.
- Remove from mixer to gently fold in the raspberries (by hand is definitely going to be easier with this dough and you probably won't avoid breakage - I sure didn't!).
- Drop cookies onto cookie sheets in rounded spoonfuls.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are starting to turn slightly golden brown.
- Remove and cool completely.
- Pile onto plate, carry into living room, turn on whatever show you're currently binging, and binge on these cookies.
- Happy Valentine's Day!
