Ever since New York Times columnist and author Alison Roman's latest cookbook, Dining In, came out in the fall of 2017, her chocolate chunk shortbread cookies (commonly known as "the cookies") have taken the Internet by storm. The recipe has been published in both Bon Appétit and The New York Times, and if you search #thecookies on Instagram, you will find over 4,000 photos of these buttery, chocolatey morsels.

These cookies are addictively delicious and require fewer than 10 ingredients, making them the perfect baking project for college students who want to give their loved ones a thoughtful and affordable homemade gift this Valentine's Day.

Aesthetically Delightful

By shaping the cookie dough into logs and rolling them in demerara sugar before slicing, each cookie comes out as a perfectly uniform little disk with crisp, sparkling sugar-studded edges. On top of that, the shards and chunks of chocolate create a tantalizing mosaic effect. And once you've sprinkled on some flaky sea salt? Absolute aesthetic perfection. 

Addictively Delicious

Homemade baked goods are always a lovely, thoughtful gift, but these cookies are truly next level. Buttery, crisp and salty-sweet, they are unlike anything you have ever tasted before. Anyone you give these to will be instantly addicted and will be irrevocably convinced that you are a truly gifted baker. The only problem is that within a few days, they'll almost certainly be begging you for more.

Accessible Ingredients

The best part about this recipe is that you get to choose how elaborate you make it. At the most basic level, the dough only has six key ingredients, most of which are probably in your pantry at this very moment. And while Roman's recipe does call for getting a little fancy by brushing the cookies with an egg wash and rolling them in demerara sugar, the final product is still amazing without that extra step. Similarly, if you really want to treat your S.O. or best friend, go ahead and buy a high-quality chocolate bar, but if you'd rather just use a dark chocolate Hershey's bar that absolutely works too.

These chocolate chunk shortbread cookies are such a fun twist on the classic chocolate chip cookie we all know and love, and the fact that they require such little effort yet yield such magical results makes them the perfect way to show someone how much you care, even if you're a little short on money and time.