Creating Chocolate Dipped Brownie Hearts is a fun and rewarding process. Follow these steps for perfectly baked brownie hearts:

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a heart-shaped baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. Melt the Butter: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Once melted, remove it from the heat and stir in the granulated sugar until well combined.
3. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt.
5. Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
6. Pour Batter into Pan: Pour the brownie batter into the prepared heart-shaped pan, spreading it evenly.
7. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out with a few moist crumbs.
8. Cool Brownies: Once baked, remove the brownies from the oven and allow them to cool in the pan for about 30 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Cut into Hearts: Once cool, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out brownie hearts.
10. Melt Chocolate for Dipping: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in 30-second intervals, stirring in between until smooth.
11. Dip the Brownie Hearts: Dip each brownie heart halfway into the melted chocolate, allowing excess chocolate to drip off.
12. Add Toppings: If desired, sprinkle with crushed nuts or colorful sprinkles before the chocolate sets.
13. Let Chocolate Set: Place the dipped brownie hearts on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let the chocolate set at room temperature or in the fridge for quicker results.