Description
These adorable heart-shaped cookies are perfect for Valentine’s Day or any occasion to show your love. Soft, buttery, and sweet, they’re fun to make and even more fun to decorate.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 2 ¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Royal icing or colored icing (for decorating)
- Sprinkles or edible decorations (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) and beat until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this to the wet ingredients and mix until a dough forms.
- Divide the dough into two portions, wrap each in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out cookies and place them on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes or until the edges are just starting to turn golden. Allow cookies to cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, decorate with royal icing, colored icing, and sprinkles as desired.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is crucial to keep the cookie shapes intact while baking.
- You can freeze the dough for up to 3 months for later use.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant icing colors.
- Let the decorated cookies dry completely before storing.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
