Description
These Valentine’s Sugar Cookies are soft, sweet, and perfect for celebrating love! With their crisp edges and soft centers, they’re perfect for decorating with frosting, sprinkles, or enjoying as they are. Whether for a Valentine’s Day party or a sweet homemade treat, these cookies are sure to steal hearts.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookies:
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional for extra flavor)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for rolling)
For the Royal Icing (Optional):
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp meringue powder (or 1 egg white)
- 1–2 tbsp water (adjust for desired consistency)
- Food coloring (optional)
- Sprinkles for decorating (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Baking Sheets:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats for easy cleanup. - Mix the Dry Ingredients:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside. - Cream the Butter and Sugar:
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer or by hand until the mixture is light and fluffy. - Add the Egg and Extracts:
Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using). Continue mixing until fully combined. - Combine the Wet and Dry Ingredients:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. The dough should come together easily. - Chill the Dough (Optional but Recommended):
For best results, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to an hour. This will help prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking. - Roll and Cut the Dough:
On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter (or any desired shape), cut out cookies and place them onto the prepared baking sheets. - Coat the Cookies:
Gently roll the edges of each cookie in a shallow bowl of granulated sugar to give them a nice sparkly finish. - Bake the Cookies:
Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are lightly golden. Be careful not to overbake, as you want them to remain soft. - Cool the Cookies:
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. - Decorate with Royal Icing (Optional):
If you’re decorating the cookies, prepare the royal icing by whisking together powdered sugar, meringue powder (or egg white), and water. Add food coloring as desired and pipe the icing onto the cooled cookies using a piping bag or a small squeeze bottle. Add sprinkles while the icing is still wet. - Serve and Enjoy:
Once the icing has dried, your Valentine’s Sugar Cookies are ready to be enjoyed! Serve them for a special occasion or as a sweet gift for loved ones.
Notes
- If you prefer, you can skip the icing and enjoy the cookies as they are, or just sprinkle them with colored sugar before baking for a simple and festive look.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- For softer cookies, do not overbake them. They should be slightly golden around the edges but soft in the center.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 40mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg