Valentine’s Day Cookies Recipe

Heart-shaped sugar cookies provide soft tender base perfect royal icing conversation hearts sprinkles festive designs.

Classic cutouts serve 24 in 45 minutes plus chilling ideal romantic gifting parties classroom treats or holiday memory-making.

Why This Recipe Works

Butter sugar balance creates melt-in-mouth texture holding decorations. Cream tartar stabilizes preventing spread maintaining sharp hearts. Chilling firms dough preserving cutter details. Royal icing hardens shiny smear-proof. Almond extract optional sophisticated flavor.

Ingredients & Prep

1 cup unsalted butter softened, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 egg, 2 tsp vanilla extract ½ tsp almond optional, 3 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp cream tartar, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt. Royal Icing: 3 cups powdered sugar, 2 egg whites room temp, 1 tsp vanilla, gel food coloring.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Beat butter sugar fluffy 3 minutes. Add egg vanilla(s). Whisk dry ingredients gradually mix dough forms. Divide flatten discs wrap chill 2 hours. Preheat oven 350°F. Roll ¼-inch thick cut hearts parchment sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes pale edges. Cool racks. Whip egg whites vanilla gradually powdered sugar stiff peaks. Divide tint pipe outlines flood centers add sprinkles before setting.

Flavor Variations

Storage Tips

Room temperature airtight 1 week. Freeze dough 3 months slice bake fresh. Icing best day-of.

FAQs

Spreaders? Chill longer roll cold. Icing runny? Powdered sugar extra. Cracks? Lower oven bake longer.

Conclusion

Valentine’s Day Cookies capture romantic sweetness through classic cutout perfection crisp decorative heartfelt joy.

Valentine’s Day Cookies Recipe

Print Recipe

Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies deliver crisp-edged soft centers with buttery vanilla richness and glossy pink royal icing hearts. Perfect cutout texture holds shape while stained-glass effect reveals through heart windows. Ultimate romantic cookie swap star, teacher gift, and milk-dipping perfection.

• Author: ssam
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 3 hours (+ chill/dry)
• Yield: 30–36 cookies 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Oven
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• Sugar Cookies:
• 1 cup unsalted butter (room temp)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg (room temp)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp almond extract
• 2½ cups all-purpose flour (spooned)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• Royal Icing:
• 3 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
• 2 tbsp meringue powder
• 4 tbsp warm water
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Pink/red gel food coloring
• Garnish:
• Heart sprinkles

 

Instructions

• 1. Cream butter + sugar 3 mins pale fluffy. Add egg + extracts.
• 2. Whisk flour + baking powder + salt. Gradual mix into wet until dough.
• 3. Divide, flatten discs. Chill 2 hours minimum.
• 4. Roll ¼-inch thick between parchment. Heart cutters 2½-3 inch.
• 5. Bake 375°F 8-10 mins edges golden. Cool completely.
• 6. Royal icing: Meringue powder + water + vanilla 2 mins stiff peaks.
• 7. Gradual powdered sugar to pipeable.
• 8. Outline hearts. Flood centers pink. Detail white hearts.
• 9. Add sprinkles before set. Dry 4-6 hours undisturbed.

Notes

• Chill essential = crisp heart shapes no spread.
• 375°F = signature crackly edges.
• Meringue powder = safe glossy shine.
• Gel coloring = vibrant no dilution.
• 4-6 hour dry = travel-ready cookies.
• Storage: Airtight room temp 2 weeks.
• Freeze dough perfect 3 months.
• Gift: Cellophane bags + ribbon perfection.
• Scale: Double = 60 cookies party ready.
• Kid job: Sprinkles + simple flooding.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 cookie
• Calories: 165
• Sugar: 20g
• Sodium: 85mg
• Fat: 8g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 23g
• Fiber: 0g
• Protein: 2g
• Cholesterol: 25mg

Keywords: valentines sugar cookies, heart cutout cookies, royal icing valentines, conversation heart cookies