Love is in the air…

…and in the oven.

I love Valentine’s Day. I always have. I just like the idea of setting aside a special day to be sure to tell those you love that you care about them. Valentine’s Day parties in elementary school circa 1993 were the best. Our class would decorate our shoeboxes and bring in our brightly colored Lisa Frank valentines with a medicinal tasting sucker taped to the back (or if you’re lucky, yours had those small chocolate hearts with the crispies in them). We’d be sure to give them to everyone in the class, yes, even if they pick their nose. As soon as I got home, I would race upstairs with my shoebox, plop down on my bed, and read every word of the cards I received that day.

I didn’t necessarily want to give a valentine to every kid in the class, but I knew it was the right thing to do. Everyone needed a valentine, even if it was hard to give. What a great lesson I was reminded of each year. Love isn’t always easy to give. It’s not always convenient. And I don’t just mean in a relationship with your spouse. I mean showing love to the old woman driving super slow in the fast lane, the friend who just needs a listening ear just at the moment when you have to go, the person who consistently gossips about you but deep down just needs to be loved. Sometimes, showing love is hard. But on Valentine’s Day, even if you think it’s a fake holiday created by the card companies, you’re forced to think about love. So this year, think about it. Think about how you’re showing love to others. Think about who you’re showing love to. Think about how you could be showing that love differently. Let’s love bigger this year. Let’s love greater. Let’s love the way we were made to love.

If you are looking for a delectable dessert to make your valentine, look no further. This skillet cookie is actually easier than making chocolate chip cookies, with all the delicious chocolatey taste of a warm gooey chocolate chip cookie. The dough could be enough of a dessert in itself. Exhibit A:

To cook, or not to cook?

The top may seem more brown than you typically like, but it’s necessary for the cookie to cook all the way through. If you want to risk an even more gooey cookie, go for it, but know that we haven’t tested that quite yet.

You are sure to impress your valentine this year with this irresistible dessert!

Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookie

Prep Time: 15 min. Cook Time: 40 min. Cool Time: 20 min.

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 stick butter, softened

1 egg

1.5 cups semi-sweet chocolate chunks

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine flour, baking soda and salt together in a bowl and set aside. Using an electric beater, cream the softened butter with the two sugars. Add the vanilla and egg and continue to beat until creamy. Add the flour mixture and continue to beat until well combined. Stir in the chocolate chunks using a wooden spoon.

Press dough into a small 8″ cast iron skillet and bake for 35-40 minutes until top is golden brown. Allow to cool for 20 minutes prior to serving.

The Newlywed Chefs

We’re St. Louis food bloggers who love to cook! Join us on our culinary adventures as we keep a fresh outlook on life, love, and food.