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Heart-shaped cookies in a wooden bowl.

heart cookies

Chef Julia
Bake love today with heart cookies that spark joy! Easy to make and heart-shaped, these soft sugar cookies are perfect for Valentine's. Chill the dough!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
1 hour 30 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 120 kcal

Ingredients
  

Core Ingredients

  • Unsalted Butter 1 cup, room temperature
  • The foundation for rich flavor and texture
  • Using room temperature butter ensures proper creaming
  • For salted butter users: omit the salt from the recipe
  • Powdered Sugar 1 cup
  • Creates a finer crumb than granulated sugar
  • Helps achieve that classic soft and chewy texture
  • Also called confectioners' sugar
  • Large Egg 1
  • Binds ingredients while adding moisture
  • Always use fresh eggs for best results
  • Vanilla Extract 2 tsp
  • Pure extract delivers superior flavor
  • Can substitute with almond extract for variation

Dry Ingredients

  • All-Purpose Flour 2½ cups
  • The structural backbone of your cookies
  • Measure properly by spooning into measuring cup and leveling
  • Baking Powder ½ tsp
  • Provides slight lift without excessive spreading
  • Ensure it's fresh for maximum effectiveness
  • Salt ¼ tsp
  • Balances and enhances flavors
  • Omit if using salted butter

Instructions
 

Step 1: Cream Together the Butter & Sugar

  • In your large bowl, combine room temperature unsalted butter and powdered sugar
  • Using a stand mixer or electric mixer, beat on medium speed for 3 minutes until light and fluffy
  • Pro Tip: Proper creaming incorporates air for ideal texture

Step 2: Incorporate Wet Ingredients

  • Add 1 large egg and 2 tsp vanilla extract (or almond extract)
  • Mix just until combined (about 30 seconds)
  • Watch for: A smooth, homogeneous mixture with no streaks

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients

  • In separate bowl, whisk together:
  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt (omit if using salted butter)
  • Gradually add to wet ingredients on low speed
  • Key Technique: Mix just until dough comes together to avoid toughness

Step 4: Chill the Dough

  • Divide dough in half, flatten into 1-inch thick discs
  • Wrap tightly in plastic wrap
  • Chill the dough in the fridge for 1 hour OR dough in the freezer for 20 minutes
  • Why This Matters: Chilling prevents spreading and makes rolling easier

Step 5: Roll & Cut Shapes

  • Preheat oven to 350°F
  • Prepare lightly floured surface
  • Roll one dough portion to ¼-inch thickness
  • Use heart cookie cutter to cut shapes
  • Pro Move: Dip cutter in flour between cuts for clean edges

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

  • Arrange cookies on parchment-lined baking sheet
  • Bake 8-10 minutes until edges are barely golden
  • Doneness Test: Centers should look set but not browned
  • Remove from the oven and let cool 5 minutes on sheet

Step 7: Cool Completely

  • Transfer to wire rack to finish cooling
  • Important: Cookies firm up as they cool
  • Repeat process with remaining dough

Step 8: Decorate (Optional)

  • Once completely cool, decorate with:
  • Royal icing
  • Food coloring-tinted frostings
  • Sprinkles or edible glitter

Notes

Nutrition Information (per serving)
Calories Total Fat Saturated Fat Protein Total Carbs Sugars Fiber Cholesterol Sodium
120 kcal 6g 3.5g 1g 15g 8g 0.3g 20mg 35mg
Nutritional values are estimates and may vary based on specific ingredients used.
Keyword Heart cookies