Irresistible Valentine Heart Cookies
Bake delightful Valentine Heart Cookies that capture love in every bite! These buttery, soft cookies are perfect for decorating with royal icing and sharing with loved ones on Valentine’s Day or any special occasion.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Hand or Stand Mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Heart-shaped cookie cutters
- Wire Cooling Rack
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 ½ cups white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract optional
Decorating
- 3–4 cups royal icing for decorating
- food coloring optional
- sprinkles optional for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until combined.
- Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until a smooth dough forms. Do not overmix.
- Chill dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to make it easier to handle.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out heart shapes using cookie cutters.
- Place cookies on the prepared baking sheet about 1 inch apart and bake for 8–10 minutes, until edges are lightly golden.
- Let cookies cool on a wire rack completely before decorating.
- Decorate with royal icing, food coloring, or sprinkles as desired. Let icing set before serving or storing.
Notes
For a richer flavor, substitute part of the white sugar with brown sugar. Chill dough before baking to prevent spreading. Decorated cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week or frozen undecorated for up to three months.