Description
Cupids Trash Can Cookies blend irresistible sweet and salty flavors into a playful Valentine’s dessert. Chocolate chips, pretzels, and colorful sprinkles create a whimsical treat you’ll crave long after the last romantic moment passes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups (296 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (110 grams) brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
Flavoring and Leavening Agents:
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Mix-in Ingredients:
- ½ cup (60 grams) crushed pretzels
- ½ cup (85 grams) mini chocolate chips
- ½ cup (85 grams) candy-coated chocolates (e.g., M&Ms or Valentines candy)
- ¼ cup (40 grams) sprinkles (preferably pink, red, and white for Valentines Day)
- ¼ cup (30 grams) chopped nuts (optional)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats, ensuring a smooth non-stick surface for your cookies.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, whip the softened butter with granulated and brown sugars until the mixture becomes airy and pale, creating a fluffy foundation for the cookies.
- Incorporate eggs one at a time, blending thoroughly after each addition, then mix in the vanilla extract to infuse a rich, aromatic flavor.
- Separately, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, whisking to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to maintain a tender cookie texture.
- Introduce a playful medley of crunchy pretzels, mini chocolate chips, colorful candy-coated chocolates, vibrant sprinkles, and optional nuts, folding them delicately into the dough.
- Scoop rounded tablespoons of the loaded dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing each mound approximately 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Slide the trays into the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for golden-brown edges and centers that appear slightly soft and yielding.
- Let the cookies rest on the baking sheets for 5 minutes to set, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Serve these whimsical treats with a chilled glass of milk or package them as a charming Valentine’s Day gift.
Notes
- Customize mix-ins by swapping out ingredients like pretzels or chocolate chips to match personal taste preferences or dietary needs.
- Use gluten-free flour and certified gluten-free pretzels to make these cookies celiac-friendly without compromising flavor.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent excessive spreading and create thicker, chewier cookies with more defined edges.
- Reduce sugar content by using alternative sweeteners like monk fruit or cutting total sugar by 25% for a less sweet version that still maintains delicious texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg