Description
Heart-shaped simple valentines day cookies sparkle with elegance and charm. Sweet royal icing creates delicate decorations that will enchant guests and celebrate love’s delightful moments.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.5 teaspoon almond extract
Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
Royal Icing Ingredients:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons meringue powder
- 3–4 tablespoons water
- Food coloring
Instructions
- Mix butter and sugar until creamy and light, creating a smooth base for your Valentine’s Day cookies.
- Gradually incorporate flour, salt, and vanilla, kneading the dough until it forms a uniform, pliable texture.
- Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up and enhance flavor development.
- Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to approximately 1/4-inch thickness, ensuring even consistency.
- Cut heart-shaped designs using cookie cutters, transferring delicate shapes onto parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, watching for gentle golden edges that indicate perfect doneness.
- Allow cookies to cool completely on wire racks, providing ample time for structural stabilization.
- Prepare royal icing by whipping egg whites and powdered sugar until achieving a glossy, smooth consistency.
- Divide icing into separate bowls, incorporating gel food coloring to create vibrant, romantic hues.
- Use piping bags with fine tips to outline and fill cookie surfaces with intricate, precise decorative patterns.
- Let decorated cookies dry at room temperature for 2-3 hours until icing becomes completely hardened.
- Store finished cookies in a sealed container, layering with parchment paper to prevent potential design damage.
Notes
- Use gel food coloring for intense, vibrant shades that won’t water down your royal icing.
- Let cookies dry completely at room temperature for at least 6-8 hours to prevent smudging or sticking.
- Create an airtight seal by letting the royal icing harden fully before storing cookies in a single layer.
- Experiment with different piping tips and techniques to add unique decorative details and personalize your Valentine’s Day treats.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg