Description
These slice and bake heart cookies are buttery, tender, and perfect for festive occasions. Featuring a heart-shaped center, they’re an adorable and delicious treat ideal for Valentine’s Day or gifting.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Red or pink food coloring
Instructions
- Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until a soft dough forms.
- Remove about 1/3 of the dough and tint it with red or pink food coloring.
- Roll out the tinted dough and cut into heart shapes using a small cookie cutter.
- Stack the heart cutouts to form a log and freeze until firm.
- Wrap the heart log with remaining plain dough, shaping it into a round or rectangular log so the heart is centered.
- Chill the dough log in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Slice the chilled dough into 1/4-inch thick cookies.
- Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes, until edges are set but not browned.
- Cool the cookies on a wire rack before serving.
Notes
- You can freeze the dough log and slice directly from frozen, adding 1–2 minutes to baking time.
- Use gel food coloring for more vibrant colors without altering dough texture.
- To keep heart shape intact, ensure dough is well chilled before slicing.
- Try almond or citrus extract for flavor variations.
- Roll the dough log in sprinkles for decorative edges before slicing.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
