Description
Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies are soft, buttery treats perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or any sweet celebration. Easy to cut and decorate, they’re fun to make and even more fun to eat.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Optional: royal icing, buttercream, or glaze for decorating
- Optional: food coloring and sprinkles
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, cream softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using); mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture until a soft dough forms.
- Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out dough on a floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness.
- Cut out heart shapes with cookie cutters and place on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes, until edges are just golden. Let cool on the sheet for 2 minutes.
- Transfer to wire racks to cool completely before decorating.
Notes
Chill the dough to prevent cookies from spreading.Add citrus zest to the dough for a refreshing flavor twist.Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for a gluten-free version.Substitute 1/4 cup flour with cocoa powder for chocolate sugar cookies.Store decorated cookies with parchment between layers to avoid sticking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
