Description
Soft, buttery, and perfectly sweet these heart-shaped sugar cookies are ideal for Valentine’s Day or any occasion. Decorate them with colorful royal icing or sprinkles for a charming homemade treat.
Ingredients
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
Royal icing or colored frosting for decorating
Sprinkles or sanding sugar (optional)
Instructions
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
3. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using); beat until combined.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined.
5. Divide the dough in half, flatten into disks, and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 1 hour.
6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
7. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness.
8. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out cookies and place them on prepared sheets.
9. Bake for 8–10 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Let cool completely.
10. Decorate with royal icing, frosting, or sprinkles as desired.
Notes
Chilling the dough helps cookies keep their shape while baking.
For soft cookies, don’t overbake — remove as soon as edges begin to turn golden.
Store decorated cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: Heart-shaped sugar cookies, Valentine’s Day cookies, cut-out sugar cookies, royal icing cookies