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The Best Valentine Sugar Cookies

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  • Author: KimEasy
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
  • Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

These Valentine sugar cookies are soft, buttery, and topped with a sweet glaze or royal icing. Perfectly festive for Valentine’s Day, these cookies are easy to make, delicious, and ideal for sharing with your loved ones. Decorate them with red, pink, and white sprinkles or pipe on heartfelt messages to make them extra special.


Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Cookies:

  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
  • 2 1/2 cups (315g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Glaze/Icing:

  • 2 cups (240g) powdered sugar
  • 23 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Food coloring (red, pink, or desired colors)
  • Sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dough:
    • In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
    • Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using). Mix until combined.
    • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until a dough forms.
  2. Chill the Dough:
    • Divide the dough in half, shape into discs, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or until firm.
  3. Roll and Cut Cookies:
    • Preheat your oven to 350ยฐF (175ยฐC). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
    • Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out cookies.
    • Transfer cookies to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
  4. Bake the Cookies:
    • Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  5. Decorate:
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Divide the icing into bowls and tint with food coloring as desired.
    • Spread or pipe the icing onto cooled cookies and decorate with sprinkles. Allow the icing to set before serving or storing.

Notes

  • For extra flavor, add 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • Royal icing can be substituted for the glaze for more intricate designs.