Ultimate Valentine’s Day Cookies Recipe

There is something incredibly nostalgic about the little pastel conversation hearts that appear in stores every February. I wanted to recreate that charm with homemade Valentine’s Day Cookies that taste much better than the chalky candies we grew up with.

The buttery vanilla dough creates a tender base that stays soft in the center while keeping crisp edges. I find that decorating these hearts with sweet messages is a fun way to personalize treats for friends and family.

Why You’ll Love These Valentine’s Day Cookies

The dough is incredibly forgiving and holds its shape beautifully in the oven without spreading into unrecognizable blobs. You get sharp, defined hearts every single time you bake a batch.

My royal icing recipe dries hard enough to stack the cookies in gift bags but stays soft enough to bite into easily. It is much more pleasant to eat than traditional rock-hard cookie icing.

These treats are buttery and rich with just the right amount of sweetness from the vanilla and almond extracts. You can customize the colors and messages to make every single cookie unique for your loved ones.

If you enjoy baking festive cut-out treats, you need to try my Perfect Pumpkin Spice Cut Out Sugar Cookies next. My Hearty Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Recipe is another crowd-pleaser that always disappears fast.

Everything You Need for Valentine’s Day Cookies

Here are the pantry staples I grab before getting started:

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for the cookies so spoon and level it carefully.
• Baking Powder: Gives just a tiny bit of lift to keep the texture soft rather than dense.
• Salt: Balances the sugar and enhances the butter flavor.
• Unsalted Butter: Needs to be softened to room temperature for proper creaming.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cookie dough and helps create crisp edges.
• Egg: Binds the dough together and adds richness.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds classic warm flavor to the cookie base.
• Almond Extract: Gives that bakery-style flavor profile that makes these special.
• Confectioners’ Sugar: The base for the smooth royal icing.
• Meringue Powder: Essential for royal icing that sets up properly without using raw egg whites.
• Gel Food Coloring: Creates vibrant colors without watering down your icing consistency.

My Method for Perfect Valentine’s Day Cookies

Let’s get baking with this straightforward process:

1. Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl until well combined.
2. Beat the softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl on high speed for about 3 minutes until smooth and creamy.
3. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract to the butter mixture and beat for 1 minute until fully combined.
4. Mix in the dry ingredients on low speed just until the dough comes together, adding a tablespoon more flour if it is too sticky.
5. Divide the dough in half and roll each portion out to 1/4-inch thickness between two pieces of parchment paper.
6. Refrigerate the rolled dough sheets for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days to firm up.
7. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper.
8. Cut the chilled dough into heart shapes and arrange them 3 inches apart on the baking sheets.
9. Bake for 11 to 12 minutes until the edges are very lightly browned.
10. Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheets before transferring them to a wire rack.
11. Whisk the confectioners’ sugar, meringue powder, and water together on high speed for 2 minutes to make the royal icing.
12. Tint the icing with gel colors and decorate your cooled cookies with outlines, flooding, and piped messages.

My Best Tips for Perfect Valentine’s Day Cookies

Always roll out your dough between sheets of parchment paper before chilling it in the fridge. This saves you from using too much extra flour and makes cutting out shapes incredibly easy.

Keep your Valentine’s Day Cookies cold right up until they go into the hot oven to maintain those sharp edges. If the dough warms up while you work, pop the baking sheet back in the fridge for ten minutes.

If the royal icing feels too thick for writing delicately, mix in water one drop at a time until it flows smoothly. A slightly thinner consistency helps your piped letters look neat rather than jagged or broken.

Serving Your Valentine’s Day Cookies

These treats look adorable packaged in clear cellophane bags tied with red or pink ribbon for gifts. I love handing them out to friends or sending them to school for classroom parties.

I also enjoy arranging them on a platter for a festive dessert spread at holiday gatherings. The colorful hearts brighten up the table and pair wonderfully with a cup of hot coffee or milk.

Be sure to follow me on Pinterest for more holiday baking inspiration and simple homemade recipes that make every occasion feel special and festive.