Valentine's Cookies
These melt-in-your-mouth Valentine's Cookies are the perfect homemade treats to express love with a delightful blend of vanilla and almond extract.
Ingredients
For the cookie dough
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour Can be substituted with almond flour for gluten-free.
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened Can be substituted with dairy-free margarine or coconut oil.
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar Can be replaced with natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup.
- 1 whole egg Can be replaced with a flax egg for a vegan option.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract Can be replaced with more vanilla extract.
For decoration
- to taste Powdered sugar or icing For dusting or decorating cookies.
Instructions
Preparation
- Start by gathering all your ingredients. Make sure your butter is softened at room temperature for easy creaming with the sugar. Pre-measure your flour, baking soda, and salt to save time as you mix.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- In a larger bowl, cream the softened butter with granulated sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy (approximately 2-3 minutes).
- Add the egg to the creamed mixture. Next, sprinkle in the vanilla and almond extracts, mixing until fully combined.
Making the Dough
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Stir gently until just combined to avoid overmixing. The dough should be soft and slightly sticky.
- Place the dough onto a floured surface and roll it out to about 1/4 inch thick.
Baking the Cookies
- Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut cookies from the dough. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly golden but centers remain soft.
- Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decoration
- Once cooled, decorate with a layer of powdered sugar or your preferred icing. Get creative with sprinkles or edible glitter.
Notes
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days. For longer storage, refrigerate or freeze baked cookies.