1-First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a heart-shaped pan using aluminum foil. This DIY method makes baking accessible without special tools.

2-Melt ½ cup unsalted butter in the microwave for 20-30 seconds until just melted.

3-Stir in ¼ cup granulated sugar and ½ cup light brown sugar with a spatula until combined (do not use a mixer).

4-Add 1 large egg and 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract, then mix well.

5-Add ½ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt, and mix again.

6-Incorporate 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour and mix until fully combined.

7-Fold in ½ cup chopped and ½ cup whole semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly through the dough.

8-Press the cookie dough into a heart shape using a parchment-covered heart template on a cookie sheet. Wrap the shaped dough with a greased strip of aluminum foil to prevent spreading, then remove the paper template before baking.

9-Bake for 16-18 minutes if using the foil pan method, or 12-14 minutes if using a metal heart-shaped pan. Avoid overbaking to keep the cookie soft.

10-Cool for 5 minutes, then carefully remove the foil strip. Allow the cookie to cool completely before decorating.

11-To decorate, pipe a border with the vanilla buttercream frosting and add themed sprinkles immediately before the frosting hardens.