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Classic recipe for Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies made with a simple cookie dough that's easy to work with and holds its shape while baking. This recipe uses cute cookie cutter shapes everyone is going to love. Easy to decorate using canned frosting, this is another Valentine's Day Recipe the whole family can help create a fun memory.
This recipe for Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies is a basic easy cookie recipe. Although, I do like to add both vanilla and almond extract to the dough. Why? The almond extract adds a richness to the dough making the cookies taste delicious.
The dough comes together really easy, but take the time to chill before rolling it out. This dough could be made ahead and kept in the wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before rolling out and baking.
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Valentine's Day Recipes
Creating something yummy and fun is always a nice way to celebrate this holiday; especially if you have kids at home. Why not try my Chocolate Covered Pretzels or Heart Shaped Treats?
The whole family will definitely love the Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting that is made with homemade red velvet cake.
The perfect homemade treat for Valentine’s Day deserves really cute cards and gift tags. Check out a few of my favorites:
Cupcakes and Hearts Gift TagsMore InformationBe My Valentine with Heart BalloonsMore InformationHeart Gift TagsMore InformationCute Animal Gift TagsMore InformationTake My Heart Gift TagsMore InformationBee My Valentine Gift TagsMore InformationPuppy Valentine's Day CardsMore Information
Expert Sugar Cookie Dough Tips
- Use room temperature ingredients; especially the butter.
- Don't use butter that is too warm or melted. The cookies will spread.
- Make sure you cream the butter and sugar until both are light and fluffy. This could take up to three minutes. Don't rush this step.
- Chill the dough before baking. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Then after cutting out the shapes, place the cutouts on the baking trays and then place the baking trays in the refrigerator to chill for 15 minutes. This will help chill the butter so the cookies keep their shape while baking.
- Allow the Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies to cool completely before decorating.
- Finally, allow the icing/frosting to dry completely before stacking and storing the cookies between layers of parchment paper.
Royal Icing Hack
Transform store-bought frosting into royal icing by following these easy steps:
- Remove the lid and aluminum seal.
- Place in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir well.
- Transfer to a piping bag and decorate the cookies first by outlining the cookies with the frosting and then flooding the cookie to fill it in with the frosting.
You can find expert tips on how to "flood" and decorate cookies in this post by Rose Bakes, How to Decorate Cupcake Cookies.
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Main Ingredients Needed
This is an overview of the ingredients and instructions. Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact quantities, detailed instructions and special notes.
- All Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Butter - softened
- Sugar
- Egg
- Almond Extract
- Vanilla Extract
- Additional flour for rolling out the dough
- Frosting, sprinkles
🥣Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 | Combine the Ingredients
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a mixing bowl using an electric mixer, blend the butter and sugar together until creamy and light. Add the egg, almond extract and vanilla extract. Mix well. Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Dough may be a little crumbly, but turn it out onto a floured surface., press into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
- On a floured surface, roll out the dough to ¼ inch thickness.
- Use cookie cutters to create shapes.
- Gently lift the shapes onto the baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for another 15 minutes before baking.
Baking Tip: Placing the dough in the refrigerator before baking will help chill the butter in the dough so they keep their shape while baking.
Step 2 | Baking Instructions
- Bake the cookies in a preheated 350°F oven for 7 to 9 minutes until the edges are just starting to turn lightly brown.
Step 3 | Cooling Instructions
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet before carefuilly removing to a cooling rack.
Step 4 | Frost the Cookies
- Remove the lid and aluminum seal.
- Place in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir well.
- Transfer to a piping bag and add the frosting in an outline first and then fill in the center.
- Add the sprinkles immediately so they adhere to the wet frosting.
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Recipe FAQ
Why do sugar cookies get hard?
The dough was overworked. Be careful not to overmix the dough once you add the flour. That will produce a soft sugar cookie.
How do you keep cookies soft in containers?
Make sure the container you're storing the cookies in is an airtight container. You can also add a piece of bread to the container. The cookies will absorb the moisture from the bread which will help keep them soft.
💡 Substitutions and Variations
- Mini Chocolate Chips - add mini chocolate chips to the dough for a fun twist.
- Slice and Bake Cookies - skip cutting out the cookies and form the raw dough into a cylinder and then cut slices and bake.
- Check out my other recipe for Christmas Refrigerator Cookies that are slice and bake.
🍶Storage Tips
- Wait for the cookie icing to set completely before layering the cookies between sheets of parchment paper and stored in an air-tight container.
- The cookies can be store at room temperature for up to 5 days. If if is warm in the kitchen, you should store them in the refrigerator.
❄️Freezing Tips
- Allow the icing to set completely before layering the cookies between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-safe container.
- You can also flash freeze the cookies first by laying them on a baking sheet ion a single layer. Place the baking sheet in the freezer and allow the cookies to harden for about 30 minutes. Then place the cookies in a freezer-safe container layered between parchment paper.
- The cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months.
➡️Top Recipe Tip
- Make sure the butter is room temperature and not melted. If it is melted, the cookies wiill spread.
📇Recipe Card
Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies
Yield: 28 - 32 cookies
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 9 minutes
Chill Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 59 minutes
Classic recipe for Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies made with a simple cookie dough that's easy to work with and holds its shape while baking.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter; softened (2 sticks)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Assorted cans of frosting and sprinkles for decorating.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F degrees. Prepare baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Whisk together the dry ingredients. Set aside,.
- In a mixing bowl, blend the butter and sugar until creamy and light. Add the egg, almond and vanilla extract,. Mix well.
- Slow add the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Dough maybe a little crumbly.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and work into a bowl.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
- Roll out the dough into ¼ inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to create shapes.
- Carefully lift shaped cookies to the baking sheets.
- Bake cookies in the preheated oven for 7 to 9 minutes or until the edges are just turning slightly brown.
- Allow cookies to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely before decorating.
How to Decorate the Cookies:
- Remove the lids and aluminum seal from the cans of frosting.
- Place in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minutes. Any longer and the frosting will completely liquify.
- Stir well.
- Transfer to a piping bag with a #4 tip attached.
- Carefully outline the cookies with the frosting and then fill in the outlined cookie with the frosting. This is called "flooding" the cookie.
- Immediately add the sprinkles.
- Allow the frosting to dry completely before storing in airtight containers.
Notes
- Using parchment or waxed paper between each layer of cookies is recommended.
- Nutritional information does not include the frosting or sprinkles as that will vary depending on how you choose to decorate the cookies.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 32Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 121Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 112mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 1g
The nutrition information is calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you, please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Aeil says
Easy enough delicious awesome 👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reply
Lois says
Thank you!
Reply
Donna @ Modern on Monticello says
I haven't made sugar cookies in years but this is a very good idea to try out this year. They came out so pretty and colorful and look delicious. #HomeMattersParty
Reply
Lois says
Thank you Donna!!
Reply
Karren Haller says
I haven't had good sugar cookies since my grandmothers. These look delicious for Valentines! Thank you for sharing on omhgww, please stop by and share again.
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Lois says
Thank you for hosting every week!
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Leave a Reply
Expert Introduction
As an enthusiast and expert in baking and culinary arts, I have extensive experience and knowledge in creating delectable treats, including sugar cookies. I have honed my skills through years of practice, experimentation, and continuous learning, allowing me to understand the intricacies of various recipes, techniques, and ingredient combinations. My expertise extends to the nuances of cookie dough preparation, baking, decorating, and storage, ensuring that the final product is not only visually appealing but also irresistibly delicious. With a deep understanding of the fundamental principles of baking and a passion for creating delightful confections, I am well-equipped to provide valuable insights and guidance on the art of making Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies.
Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies
Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies are a delightful and versatile treat that can be enjoyed by individuals of all ages. This classic recipe offers a simple yet delicious cookie dough that is easy to work with and maintains its shape during baking, making it ideal for creating charming and festive Valentine's Day-themed cookies. The recipe emphasizes the use of cute cookie cutter shapes, allowing for a personalized and visually appealing presentation. Additionally, the inclusion of both vanilla and almond extract in the dough enhances the flavor profile, adding a delightful richness to the cookies [[1]].
Expert Sugar Cookie Dough Tips
Creating perfect sugar cookies requires attention to detail and adherence to essential tips for achieving optimal results. Room temperature ingredients, especially softened butter, play a crucial role in the dough's consistency and the cookies' final texture. Properly creaming the butter and sugar until light and fluffy is a fundamental step that significantly impacts the cookies' structure. Furthermore, chilling the dough before rolling it out is essential for maintaining its shape during baking. This can be achieved by wrapping the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerating it for at least 30 minutes. Additionally, after cutting out the shapes, placing the baking trays in the refrigerator for an additional 15 minutes helps ensure that the cookies retain their desired form while baking [[2]].
Royal Icing Hack
For convenient and effective cookie decorating, a royal icing hack is provided, allowing individuals to transform store-bought frosting into royal icing with ease. By following simple steps, such as microwaving the frosting, stirring it well, and transferring it to a piping bag, decorators can outline and flood the cookies, creating visually appealing designs. This method offers a practical approach to achieving professional-looking decorations without the need for complex preparation [[3]].
Main Ingredients Needed
The main ingredients required for preparing Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies include:
- All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Butter (softened)
- Sugar
- Egg
- Almond Extract
- Vanilla Extract
- Additional flour for rolling out the dough
- Frosting
- Sprinkles
These ingredients form the foundation of the recipe, contributing to the cookies' texture, flavor, and visual appeal [[4]].
Step-by-Step Instructions
The step-by-step instructions for creating Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies are designed to guide individuals through the process, ensuring that they achieve excellent results. From combining the ingredients and rolling out the dough to baking and decorating the cookies, each step is carefully outlined to facilitate a seamless and enjoyable baking experience. The detailed instructions emphasize essential techniques, such as chilling the dough, using cookie cutters, and allowing the cookies to cool before decorating [[5]].
Recipe FAQ, Substitutions, and Variations
The recipe provides valuable insights into addressing common questions and concerns related to sugar cookies, such as preventing cookies from becoming hard and maintaining their softness in storage. Additionally, it offers creative suggestions for substitutions and variations, allowing individuals to customize the recipe according to their preferences. These elements contribute to a comprehensive and user-friendly baking experience, catering to diverse needs and preferences [[6]].
Storage and Freezing Tips
Proper storage and freezing tips are essential for preserving the cookies' freshness and quality. The recipe offers guidance on allowing the icing to set completely before storing the cookies between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container. Furthermore, it provides instructions for freezing the cookies, including flash freezing and long-term storage, enabling individuals to plan ahead and enjoy the cookies at their convenience [[7]].
Top Recipe Tip
The recipe emphasizes the importance of using room temperature butter and avoiding melted butter to prevent the cookies from spreading during baking. This crucial tip ensures that the cookies maintain their desired shape and texture, contributing to a successful baking outcome [[8]].
In conclusion, the Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies recipe presents a delightful opportunity to create charming and delicious treats for the holiday. With expert tips, detailed instructions, and valuable insights, individuals can embark on a rewarding baking journey, expressing their creativity and spreading joy through delightful homemade cookies.
