Description
Valentine’s Day sugar cookies are soft, buttery, and perfect for decorating with hearts, pastel icing, and playful designs. This simple recipe creates a smooth, sturdy cookie that holds its shape while baking, making it ideal for viral-style decorating. Inspired by quiet Kansas kitchens, this dough uses basic ingredients and dependable steps for consistent results. Whether you decorate with minimalist hearts, conversation messages, or marbled icing, these cookies bake up tender inside with lightly crisp edges. They work beautifully for gifting, parties, and cozy February baking traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl.
- Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy using a mixer.
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, then mix until smooth.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
- Divide dough into two discs, wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll dough to ¼-inch thickness and cut into Valentine shapes.
- Place cookies on prepared sheets and bake for 8–10 minutes.
- Cool completely before decorating with icing.
Notes
- Chill dough fully to prevent spreading.
- Do not overbake; cookies should stay pale.
- Decorate only after cookies cool completely.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 70mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg