“EVERY FRIEND TO THE OTHER IS A SUN, AND A SUNFLOWER ALSO. HE ATTRACTS AND FOLLOWS.” Jean Paul Richter
Some days we could all use a little self imposed sunshine. Such was my day today! And while I didn’t intend on baking and posting today, a quick trip to the market had me gazing upon these enormous sunflowers and just smiling! Plus….they were on sale! While these are not my most favorite flower, when I see them…..it’s like looking at a huge smiley face ….and I can almost hear them telling me….“Have a nice day!” And then I knew I wanted to bake a batch of sunflower seed cookies! The best part of a chocolate chip cookie for me is the cookie flavor itself. I swear I could bake them plain without the chips! And so I wanted to use a similar cookie base. But I just had to add something special…..
……….chocolate covered sunflower seeds (which I find easily at Trader Joe’s!)
Here’s what you’ll need to keep smiling……
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups chocolate covered sunflower seeds (plus extra for garnish)
In your electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and beat till combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. With your mixer on low, add the flour mixture and mix until incorporated. Stir in the chocolate covered sunflower seeds by hand. Chill the mix in your fridge for about a half an hour.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Using the smallest size ice cream scoop to assure even size cookies, scoop the batter onto the cookie sheets. I baked only 6 to a sheet because they do spread a bit. Bake for about 8 minutes. Then sprinkle a few sunflower seeds onto the center of each cookie and bake about a minute longer. Remove the pan and let cool for 5 minutes and then transfer the cookies to a baking rack to cool. This makes about 3 dozen cookies.
I hope you really enjoy these and that they make you smile as they did for me!
This is fantastic. Such incredible pictures. You must send these in to the food porn sites. Just beautiful.
Thanks Kim….I thought it came out kinda cool. But I expect I would get the same reply as always…composition too crowded or lighting issues! I can’t win with them! : )
I hear ya Anne. Those sites are very frustrating! But like Kim said, beautiful pics!
Thanks Steve! Yes…and I got rejected on the lighting again! : (
The cookies (and sunflowers) look amazing! I’ve had those chocolate covered sunflower seeds…although we STILL don’t have a Trader Joes here!
Thanks Ann! I could eat those seeds by themselves! : )
These look great. I love sunflower seeds, have them for breakfast almost everyday. Never seen chocolate coated ones though
Thanks….I love sunflower seeds, too! But only use the chocolate covered ones in my baking! : )
Anne I LOVE sunflowers. My kitchen is in sunflowers. I always say you cannot feel sad when you see a sunflower. They are truly like a ray of sunshine. I love what you did with these cookies. You’re such a smart cookie! : ) Your pictures are wonderful.. very creative! I hope you have a better day today. A great lady deserves to have a great day! : )
Oh Ramona! Your kitchen must be so cheery! No wonder everything that comes out of it is always so good! ;- )
What a brilliant idea Anne and your photography delivers your vision to perfection. Don’t you just love when the unexpected arises – when you are moved to do something you wouldn’t otherwise because it just feels right. And, what a gorgeous result – so pretty!
Thanks Kelly! Sometimes you take 64 pictures to get just one great shot! And yes…I’m learning to be more spontaneous! : )
I think I’ve seen chocolate covered sunflowers seeds at one of my local health food stores. Now I have a reason to buy them!
Julie….if you find them….pick them up! These are really a sweet and crunchy treat! : )
Totally smile inducing
Love these cookies! Buzzed
Then my work is done here! ;- }
Love the pics of these cookies. Delicious job.
Thanks Briarrose….and they really are a great little cookie! : )
Anne, this post is fantastic!! Beautiful pictures and I’ve never seen chocolate covered sunflower seeds! They look so pretty! Buzzzzzzz!
Thanks Stephanie! I get these at Trader Joe’s. If you ever find them…pick them up! They are even great to munch on by themselves! : )
I wish we had a Trader Joe’s ! Sounds like a wonderful recipe and I love your pictures with the huge sunflowers with the cookies in the center!
Thanks Jill! I’m so happy to have a Trader Joe’s in my neighborhood. They always carry some funky stuff! : )
I feel like I am on the same wave length as you. I was literally looking to see if Trader Joe’s carried candy coated sunflower seeds yesterday. I want to use them as eyes for mummy cupcakes for Halloween and yes I said Halloween cause I’m crazy and plan way ahead.
But knowing I wouldn’t use them all I was trying to figure out what I could make with the rest. These cookies are perfect!!!! They look super yummy and now I know what I’m going to make.
Susie….we are on the same wavelength! Because I was looking at Halloween cupcake recipes just last weekend! (Martha Stewart has some great decorating ideas….you should check her out too. I’ll send you a particular link if I can find it!) I also used these sunflower seeds at Easter because they reminded me of little easter eggs, too! : )
Anne, these definitely put a smile on my face! I love that you put them in sunflowers for the pictures, that is so great. When I saw them I thought to myself that I had seen somethign like that at TJ’s…then read on and saw that’s where you found them. I love thier unique products like these. The cookies sound delicious!
Cassie….what is it about sunflowers that make us smile? I love Trader Joe’s for their unique products, too. Plus, I always buy my dried fruit and nuts from them. They have a great selection! : )
These were yummy anne!!
Oh Franny! Thanks so much. And thanks for always taking the time to post on my blog after taste testing. It means so much and you are such a doll! : )
Wow, how beautiful!!! They make me smile, too~
Oh Liz….thanks so much! I’m glad we are all smiling today! : )
Love the photos!! And WANT the cookies!
Thanks Janet! The cookies are a cinch! : )
I love the photo…how creative and fun! And I have never, ever had, or even considered chocolate covered sunflower seeds. Hmmm….I will have to do some extra close looking at market apparently. Thanks for the smile….and the inspiration!
Thanks Sheri! The photo turned out better than expected and it was fun to set up. Hope you find the sunflower seeds….they are really worth trying! : )
Too cute for words and the pictures are fantastic!
Thanks Sandra! These really are a great cookie…light, sweet and slightly crunchy! : )
Love all sorts of seeds and nuts! Those cookies look incredibly delicious!
Thanks Angie! I love all sorts of seeds and nuts, too! : )
Those cookies look so tasty and cute…! Thanks for sharing the recipe with us!
Thanks Eftychia! I hope you try these one day! : )
I hope these brought some sunshine to your day! I KNOW they would have brought sunshine to my day! These would also be awesome at Easter time with all of those pretty colors!
Tiffany…they did make me smile! And these chocolate covered sunflower seeds are perfect to use at Easter! : )
Beautiful cookies and very well thought out picture compositions!!
Thanks so much! I feel the same way about your zebra cake! : )
These cookie sound delicious. This is another beautiful photo! Very creative.
Thank you so much! These cookies are nicely sweet and crunchy! : )
Anne, wow! Your styling is just beautiful. I love the cookie centres of the sunflowers.
Thanks Hester! These pretty sunflowers were so inspiring!
Thank you so much for introducing me to chocolate covered sunflower seeds and sharing this recipe. I whipped these up last night, and everyone loves them! We may be going to Madison this weekend which means I may get to venture in to Trader Joes! I will let you know if I make it!
Hey Kris! So glad you liked the sunflower seeds. I could eat them all by themselves! But I love them in this cookie, too! I hope you enjoyed your trip to Trader Joe’s! I love that store and could just about spend a half a day there! Hope you were able to stock up! : )