Description
A delightful Valentine Sugar Cookie recipe featuring soft, buttery cookies with options for creamy buttercream frosting or a sweet glaze decorated with festive sprinkles. Perfect for sharing love with heart-shaped treats.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (unbleached)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup butter (salted, cold & cut into chunks, 2 sticks)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
Buttercream Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter (softened, 1 stick)
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp milk (or more as needed)
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1–2 drops liquid red food coloring
- Valentine’s Day themed sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350° F to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, stir together the all-purpose flour and baking powder; set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate large bowl, cream the cold chunks of butter with granulated sugar until smooth. Then stir in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
- Combine Dry and Wet: Gradually incorporate the flour mixture into the creamed butter mixture until a dough forms.
- Shape Cookies: Roll the dough out on a floured surface to just over 1/4″ thick. Use heart or X and O shaped cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Freeze Dough: Freeze the cut cookies for 5-7 minutes; this helps them maintain shape during baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool for 3 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Buttercream Frosting (Optional): In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine softened butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat to blend. Slowly add milk tablespoon by tablespoon while mixing until frosting is creamy and holds shape but spreads easily.
- Prepare Glaze (Optional): In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and red food coloring until smooth and runny.
- Decorate with Buttercream: Use a butter knife or spatula to spread the buttercream frosting onto cooled cookies.
- Decorate with Glaze: Alternatively, dip each cooled cookie into the glaze and place on a cooling rack to allow excess glaze to drip off.
- Add Sprinkles: Immediately sprinkle Valentine’s Day themed sprinkles onto the glazed cookies before the glaze sets.
- Dry Glazed Cookies: Allow the glaze to dry completely for 1-2 hours before serving or packing.
Notes
- Chilling the cookie dough briefly before baking helps cookies hold their shape better and prevents excessive spreading.
- Adjust milk quantities in frosting or glaze to reach desired consistency—frosting should be spreadable but firm; glaze should be smooth and runny.
- Use parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week.
- The almond extract enhances the flavor but can be omitted if you prefer a pure vanilla taste.
- For gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend designed for baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Valentine sugar cookies, heart-shaped cookies, buttercream frosting, glaze, Valentine's Day treats, sugar cookies
