Valentines Sugar Cookies Recipe

Dreamy Valentine’s Sugar Cookies Recipe: Bake with Love

Sweet moments of love sparkle through these delightful valentines sugar cookies that melt hearts instantly.

Baking becomes magical when simple ingredients combine with passion and creativity.

Soft, buttery textures promise pure happiness in every delicate bite.

Decorated with charming pink and red designs, these treats celebrate romance in the most delicious way.

Little touches of icing create whimsical patterns that transform ordinary cookies into edible art.

Romantic bakers can craft these delectable sweets with minimal effort and maximum joy.

You will absolutely adore sharing these beautiful cookies with someone special.

  • Craft Sweet Memories: Create a delightful baking experience that brings families together, making lasting valentine memories through shared cookie decorating fun.
  • Master Simple Techniques: Learn easy baking skills with straightforward steps that transform basic ingredients into beautiful, professional-looking decorated sugar cookies.
  • Customize with Creativity: Personalize cookies with various colors, sprinkles, and decorative techniques, allowing endless possibilities for unique valentine treats that match your style.
  • Impress Without Stress: Achieve bakery-quality results with minimal culinary expertise, producing stunning cookies that look intricate but are surprisingly simple to make.
Base Ingredients:
  • Butter: A rich, creamy ingredient that provides tender texture and delicious flavor to the cookies.
  • Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cookies and helps create a light, crisp texture.
  • Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and add moisture to the cookie dough.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor with a warm, sweet aroma.
Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: The primary structure-building ingredient that gives the cookies their classic shape and texture.
  • Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor profile of the cookies.
Decoration and Finishing Ingredients:
  • Powdered Sugar, Milk, Vanilla Extract: Combine to create a smooth, spreadable royal icing for decorating the cookies.
  • Red Food Coloring, Pink Food Coloring: Add festive Valentine's Day colors to the icing.
  • Heart-Shaped Candies, Edible Glitter, Colorful Sprinkles: Provide whimsical and decorative finishing touches to the cookies.

Step 1: Whip Butter and Sugar

Grab your mixing bowl and beat softened butter with granulated sugar until the mixture becomes incredibly fluffy and light, transforming into a dreamy cloud-like texture.

Step 2: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Gently introduce eggs one by one, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Splash in vanilla extract and blend until the mixture looks silky and smooth.

Step 3: Create Cookie Dough

Gradually sift flour into the buttery mixture, stirring carefully to form a perfect dough. Be gentle and avoid overmixing to keep the texture tender.

Step 4: Chill the Dough

Wrap the dough in plastic film and tuck it into the refrigerator for one hour. This resting time helps develop rich flavors and makes rolling easier.

Step 5: Prepare Baking Station

Heat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Get your heart-shaped cookie cutters ready for some love-filled baking.

Step 6: Roll and Cut Cookies

Sprinkle flour on your work surface and roll the chilled dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Use heart-shaped cutters to create adorable cookie shapes that scream romance.

Step 7: Arrange on Baking Sheets

Carefully transfer cookie cutouts to prepared baking sheets, leaving about an inch of space between each sweet heart.

Step 8: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the baking sheets into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges turn a beautiful golden color. Remove and let cookies cool completely on wire racks.

Step 9: Whip Up Royal Icing

Ingredients:
  • Powdered sugar
  • Milk
  • Vanilla extract

Whisk ingredients together until you achieve a smooth, spreadable icing that’s perfect for decorating.

Step 10: Create Colorful Icing

Divide the icing into separate bowls and add red and pink food coloring to create festive valentine-inspired hues.

Step 11: Decorate with Love

Use piping bags or offset spatulas to spread the colorful icing over cooled cookies with artistic flair.

Step 12: Add Sparkly Touches

While the icing is still wet, sprinkle:
  • Heart-shaped candies
  • Edible glitter
  • Colorful sprinkles

Step 13: Let Icing Set

Allow decorated cookies to rest at room temperature for 1-2 hours until the icing hardens completely, creating a stunning valentine treat.

  • Chill the Dough Properly: Refrigerate the cookie dough for at least an hour to prevent spreading and ensure crisp, defined heart shapes during baking.
  • Flour Surface Lightly: Use minimal flour when rolling out dough to prevent dry, tough cookies and maintain a delicate texture.
  • Control Icing Consistency: Adjust royal icing thickness by adding small amounts of milk or powdered sugar to achieve perfect piping or spreading texture.
  • Prevent Overbaking: Watch cookies closely and remove from oven when edges are just golden to keep them soft and tender, avoiding dry or crispy results.
  • Use Fresh Ingredients: Select high-quality butter, eggs, and vanilla extract for rich, flavorful sugar cookies that taste homemade and delicious.
  • Chocolate-Dipped Hearts: Melt dark or white chocolate and partially submerge cooled sugar cookies, creating elegant and rich flavor profiles perfect for romantic gifting.
  • Fruity Romance: Incorporate finely grated orange or lemon zest into cookie dough, then top with raspberry or strawberry-flavored royal icing for bright, tangy notes.
  • Nutty Love Bites: Mix finely chopped almonds or pistachios into cookie dough, then drizzle with melted white chocolate and sprinkle crushed nuts for added texture and warmth.
  • Lavender Romance: Blend dried culinary lavender into sugar cookie dough, decorate with soft purple royal icing, creating an elegant and sophisticated valentine treat with subtle floral undertones.
  • Sip Sweet Romance: Perfect Pairings for Valentine Sugar Cookies
  • Match Luxurious Hot Cocoa: Creamy, rich dark hot chocolate complements the sugar cookie's sweet vanilla notes, creating a warm and indulgent experience that melts hearts.
  • Pair Sparkling Rosé Wine: Delicate bubbles and light pink hue of rosé wine enhance the romantic cookie theme, offering a sophisticated adult treat that balances the cookie's sugary profile.
  • Craft Lavender Earl Grey Tea: Subtle floral undertones of Earl Grey tea with lavender provide an elegant counterpoint to the sweet cookie, adding sophisticated complexity to each delightful bite.
  • Drizzle Raspberry Liqueur: Small shots of raspberry liqueur create a decadent pairing that intensifies the cookie's romantic mood, adding a luxurious grown-up twist to the dessert experience.
  • Store completely cooled cookies in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking, keeping them fresh for up to 5 days at room temperature.
  • Wrap undecorated cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe containers or zip-lock bags, preserving their quality for 2-3 months without compromising taste or texture.
  • Keep cookies with different icing colors in distinct containers to maintain their individual design and prevent color bleeding or smudging during storage.
  • Place decorated cookies in a cool, dry spot away from direct sunlight, ensuring the icing remains intact and the cookies maintain their crisp, delicate texture.
  • Why should I chill the cookie dough before rolling?

Chilling helps the dough firm up, prevents spreading during baking, and makes it easier to cut precise heart shapes without sticking or falling apart.

  • How thick should I roll the cookie dough?

Roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness for consistent, evenly baked cookies that maintain a soft, tender texture without becoming too crisp or brittle.

  • Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the cookie dough up to 3 days in advance, storing it wrapped tightly in plastic film in the refrigerator until you’re ready to roll and bake.

Print
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Valentines Sugar Cookies Recipe

Valentines Sugar Cookies Recipe


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4.7 from 9 reviews

  • Total Time: 37 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x

Description

Sweet romance fills kitchens with delightful Valentine’s Sugar Cookies, crafted with love and delicate pink frosting. Crisp heart-shaped treats promise memorable moments for couples sharing tender bites of pure sugary affection.


Ingredients

Scale

Cookies

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Decorating Ingredients

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 34 tbsp milk
  • 1/4 cup red food coloring
  • 1/4 cup pink food coloring
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract

Garnish

  • 1/2 cup sprinkles
  • 1/4 cup edible glitter
  • 2 tbsp heart-shaped candy decorations

Instructions

  1. Cream softened butter with granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
  2. Incorporate eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition, then blend in vanilla extract until smooth.
  3. Gradually sift flour into the butter mixture, stirring until a uniform dough forms without overmixing.
  4. Wrap the dough in plastic film and refrigerate for 1 hour to enhance flavor and make rolling easier.
  5. Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  6. Roll chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness, using heart-shaped cookie cutters to create romantic shapes.
  7. Transfer cookie cutouts carefully onto prepared baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart.
  8. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges turn golden, then remove and cool completely on wire racks.
  9. Prepare royal icing by whisking powdered sugar with milk and vanilla extract until achieving a smooth, spreadable consistency.
  10. Divide icing into separate bowls, adding red and pink food coloring to create festive valentine tones.
  11. Decorate cooled cookies with colored icing using piping bags or offset spatulas.
  12. While icing is still wet, sprinkle heart-shaped candies, edible glitter, and colorful sprinkles for whimsical finishing touches.
  13. Allow decorated cookies to set at room temperature for 1-2 hours until icing hardens completely.

Notes

  • Chill dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain precise heart shapes during baking.
  • Use room temperature butter for smoother, more evenly mixed cookie dough that creams perfectly.
  • Avoid overmixing flour to keep cookies tender and prevent developing tough gluten structures.
  • Customize icing consistency by adding milk or powdered sugar for perfect piping or spreading techniques.
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 24
  • Calories: 184
  • Sugar: 13 g
  • Sodium: 90 mg
  • Fat: 8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 25 g
  • Fiber: 0.5 g
  • Protein: 1.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Truc Tran (Kris)

Truc Tran (Kris)

Senior Food Editor

Expertise

Home Cooking, Meal Planning, Recipe Development, Baking and Pastry, Food Editor, Cooking-video Maker, Vietnamese Food Evaluation Expert

Education

  • Hospitality (Commercial Cookery) at TasTAFE
  • Culinary Arts at Kendall College (Australia Branch in Sydney)
  • Vietnamese Cuisine Head Chef at HNAAu School (Vietnam, International Joint Training Program)

Truc Tran (Kris), an experienced food writer and editor, is great at exploring and describing global cuisines, from simple street food to fancy dining. In her writing, she skillfully mixes different flavors, cooking methods, and culinary traditions, showing the unique character of various cultures through their food and drinks. On azcuisines.com, Kris highlights her knowledge, especially in Asian cuisine and worldwide traditional dishes.

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