Valentine’s Day Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies

These Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies aren’t just a festive treat, they are made using my favorite sugar cookie recipe. And man, do they come out tasty! They’re perfectly soft, buttery, and sweet with an easy cookie icing that makes decorating with family so much fun.

Why You’ll Love These Heart-Shaped Cookies

If you’ve tried my Best Damn Chocolate Fudge Cookies or Giant Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie, you know that when it comes to cookie recipes, I don’t mess around! And these heart-shaped cookies are right up there in the top 3. 

The key to these cut-out cookies is omitting the egg whites and only using the egg yolk. This keeps the cookies from rising too much and losing their shape while baking. It results in the perfect flat heart shape, making it an effortless canvas for decorating.

I encourage you to round up the family on this one! The best thing about a classic sugar cookie recipe is the fun of decorating them, whether it’s with the kids or your sweet Valentine. I kept it classic and decorated these beauties with pink frosting, but you can let your imagination run wild and create your own unique designs. Enjoy!

Ingredients for Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies

• Unsalted butter: Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature for easy mixing.
• Granulated sugar: This adds the perfect amount of sweetness to the heart cookies.
• Egg yolk: I like to leave out the egg whites to keep the heart sugar cookies from rising too much and losing their shape while baking.
• Vanilla extract: A touch of vanilla extract adds the perfect flavor to these fun cookies. Almond extract is another good option.
• All-purpose flour: This is necessary for the texture and structure of the cookies.
• Baking powder: This helps the cookies rise slightly and become light and airy.
• Salt: Just a pinch will do to balance out the sweetness in these Valentine’s Day cookies.
• Powdered sugar: This is the base for the glaze and adds sweetness.
• Milk: This is necessary to thin out the glaze and make it spreadable. If you want a lighter glaze, use water instead.
• Gel food coloring (optional): Add a few drops of your favorite food coloring to make the perfect Valentine’s Day color for your glaze.

Preparation

In a medium bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to beat the softened butter and sugar together on medium speed until it’s light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. 

Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure even mixing. Then mix in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.

In a separate large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. 

Shape the sugar cookie dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.

Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about ¼ inch thick. Use heart cookie cutters to cut out 12 cookies.

Baking

Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet about 1 inch apart and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden brown. 

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Serving

While the baked cookies cool, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Divide the glaze into smaller bowls if you want multiple colors, and tint with gel food coloring as desired.

Use a spoon or piping bag to apply the glaze to the cooled cookies, spreading with the back of the spoon or leaving it smooth for a shiny finish. Add decorations like sprinkles or edible glitter before the glaze sets. 

Let the decorated cookies sit for 30 minutes to allow the glaze to harden before serving or storing. Enjoy!

Other Fun Ways to Decorate Your Cookies

The perfect Valentine’s Day sugar cookie is what you make of it! Here are a few other fun ideas for decorating your heart-shaped sugar cookies:

• Sprinkles: Add some festive sprinkles to your cookies before baking for a touch of color and crunch.
• Frosting: Use different colors of frosting to create unique designs on your cookies. 
• Edible glitter: For an extra special touch, sprinkle some edible glitter on top of your cookies after glazing.
• Candy accents: Use small candies such as conversation hearts or M&Ms to add texture and flavor to your cookies.

What Goes Well with Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies

Nothing beats the classic combo of cookies and milk! But other tasty treats pair well with heart-shaped sugar cookies, like hot cocoa or a cup of tea.

If you want to take your dessert game up a notch, try making ice cream sandwiches with your cookies. Place a scoop of your favorite ice cream between two heart-shaped cookies and gently press together. I know… try to get that mouthwatering image out of your head now! I’ve been trying to resist the temptation all week.

Storage & Reheating

To keep your heart-shaped sugar cookies fresh and delicious, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you want to make them ahead of time, you can freeze the cookies after they are baked and cooled. Just be sure to thaw them before decorating.

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