If you’re looking for a delightful heart shaped sugar cookies recipe, you’ve come to the right place! These cookies are sweet, soft, and perfect for sharing love this Valentine’s Day.
This cookie recipe addresses challenges like spreading, stickiness, and lack of flavor, ensuring sweet and beautifully decorated treats for Valentine’s Day.
I know the struggle of finding the right cookie that doesn’t turn out too dry or crumbly. This recipe is straightforward and really helps create cookies that hold their shape. I can still remember one time, I made a batch for my kids, and half of them got eaten before I could even decorate them!
This recipe is reliable and gives you cookies that are great to eat right after baking, but they also hold up well for decorating later. In just about 6 hours, including chilling and decorating time, you’ll have about 20 cookies ready to impress anyone.
If you’re in the mood for something a bit different as well, try my Patriotic Sugar Cookies!
Table of contents
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Perfect Texture Every Time , These sugar cookies achieve a crisp edge with a soft, buttery center thanks to the ideal mix of butter and baking powder. You’ll love the way they hold their shape without spreading too much!
- Flavorful Depth , The combination of vanilla and a hint of almond extract brings a delightful twist to the traditional cookie flavor, making each bite uniquely satisfying and pleasant.
- Made for Sharing , Heart-shaped sugar cookies are the ideal treat for Valentine’s Day; they create the perfect opportunity to express your sweet sentiments. Decorative royal icing gives you the chance to personalize messages or designs that will leave a lasting impression.
- Long-lasting Freshness , Thanks to proper storage in an airtight container, these cookies can last up to a week, making them great for planning ahead for Valentine’s Day or other special occasions!
Heart Shaped Sugar Cookies
- Prep Time: 2 hours
- Cool Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 6 hours
- Yield: 20 cookies (3.5-inch) 1x
- Category: dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delicious Valentine Heart Sugar Cookies, perfect for celebrating love with a sweet treat.
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups (281g) all-purpose flour, fresh
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, fresh
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter, chilled
- 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, optional
- Royal icing (for decoration): confectioners’ sugar, meringue powder, and water (quantities as needed for decorating)
Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. This distributes the leavening evenly for proper rising.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, beat the unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until smooth and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes. The mixture should lighten in color and achieve a soft, creamy texture.
- Step 3: Beat in the large egg, pure vanilla extract, and almond extract until fully incorporated. The batter will become smooth and moist.
- Step 4: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients on low speed, mixing until just combined. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough cookies; the dough should be soft and hold together without being overworked.
- Step 5: Divide the dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to your desired thickness. Flour your rolling pin and work surface to prevent sticking. Chill the rolled dough in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days to firm the butter and maintain shape during baking.
- Step 6: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Check the oven for heat hot spots to ensure even baking.
- Step 7: Use a 3.5-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut shapes from the chilled dough. Arrange cookies on baking sheets, leaving space between each to allow for slight spreading. For best shape retention, if cookies spread excessively, chill cut shapes for 15 minutes before baking. Bake for 12 minutes until edges show a crisp but centers remain soft.
- Step 8: Transfer baked cookies to a wire rack and let cool completely before icing. For royal icing decoration, thin the icing with water by the teaspoon to desired consistency for piping. Use a toothpick to release surface bubbles after icing application for a smooth finish.
Notes
- Room Temperature: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 2 days to preserve texture.
- Refrigeration: Place cookies in an airtight container and refrigerate up to 7 days. Bring to room temperature before serving to soften.
- Freezing: Wrap cookies in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
- If dough feels sticky, chill an additional 30 minutes before rolling for easier handling.
- Avoid overmixing when incorporating dry ingredients to prevent tough cookies.
- If royal icing is too thick for decorating, add water gradually by teaspoon until workable.
- For spreading issues, chill cut-out cookies 15 minutes before baking to help maintain shape.
- Use a toothpick to pop bubbles in royal icing right after application for a smooth finish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Ingredient Notes
- Flour: Go for all-purpose flour for that classic cookie texture. Make sure it’s fresh; old flour can affect the rise and chewiness of the cookies.
- Butter: I love using unsalted butter here. It gives a clean flavor without added salt. Super important to chill the dough, so the butter firms up and helps keep the shape.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar is key for sweetness and helps the cookies spread properly. Brown sugar can add some extra moisture and depth if you mix it in!
- Egg: A large room temperature egg binds everything together. It’s crucial for keeping that chewy texture while the cookies bake.
- Vanilla extract: Use pure vanilla extract for that delicious flavor boost. Avoid imitation, it can leave a synthetic aftertaste that’d throw off your cookies.
- Baking powder: This is your leavening agent. It gives the cookies a nice rise, ensuring they’re fluffy and not too dense. Check the expiration date to make sure it’s fresh!
- Salt: A pinch of salt enhances all the flavors in the cookie. Even if you’re using salted butter, a little extra salt can really elevate the taste!
Recipe Tips
- If dough feels too sticky, chill it for 30 minutes before rolling out to achieve a smoother texture.
- When cookies spread too much while baking, chill cut-out shapes for 15 minutes to help maintain their shape in the oven.
- If icing is too thick for decoration, gradually add water by the teaspoon until you reach the desired consistency for piping.
- For a smoother finish on royal icing, use a toothpick to pop any surface bubbles just after applying the icing.
- If cookies are tough after baking, avoid overmixing the dough, particularly when combining dry ingredients, to maintain tenderness.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these sugar cookies alongside a cup of herbal tea or hot cocoa. I also enjoy displaying them with a fresh fruit platter or chocolate-covered strawberries.
Use to make cookie sandwiches filled with frosting or whipped cream. Add to a dessert table featuring other favorites like brownies or cupcakes.
Top with royal icing for decoration or dust with confectioners’ sugar for simplicity. You can also drizzle with dark chocolate for an elegant finish.
Recipe variations
- You can use either unsalted or salted butter depending on preference; just reduce added salt slightly if salted butter is chosen to maintain taste balance.
- Add 1/4 teaspoon almond extract alongside the 2 teaspoons of vanilla for subtle depth; increasing almond is optional but should not exceed 1/2 teaspoon.
- Either pure vanilla or imitation vanilla extract can be used, but pure vanilla offers superior flavor; royal icing decoration enhances appearance for festive occasions.
- If baking for more than 20 cookies, double the dough ingredients and bake in batches ensuring evenly spaced cookies on parchment-lined sheets to avoid sticking.
- This recipe pairs nicely with Brown Butter Sugar Cookies which use similar base ingredients with a richer butter note.
Save This Recipe!
How to Store?
To keep your heart shaped sugar cookies fresh and delicious, follow these storage tips:
Room Temperature: Place cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days to preserve texture and prevent drying out.
Refrigeration: Use an airtight container and refrigerate cookies up to 7 days. Bring to room temperature before serving to soften.
Freezing: Wrap cookies in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.
Other Recipes You’ll Love
If you enjoyed this sugar cookies or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I appreciate taking time to read about this recipe, thank you!
