Heart Shaped Frosted Sugar Cookies Recipe
Delight in these charming Heart Shaped Frosted Sugar Cookies, perfect for Valentine's Day or any special occasion. Soft, buttery sugar cookies are rolled out and cut into heart shapes, then chilled to maintain their form before baking. Once cooled, they're generously topped with a smooth, creamy vanilla buttercream frosting tinted a lovely pink and sprinkled with festive Valentine's decorations. Yielding around 40 cookies, this recipe combines classic flavors with a fun, romantic twist.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 40 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Frosting
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3-4 drops pink gel food coloring (optional)
- 2-3 tablespoons heavy cream (as needed)
- Valentine's sprinkles (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the room temperature butter and granulated sugar until fully combined and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Egg and Extracts: Add in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using), mixing until the mixture is smooth and fluffy.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, baking powder, and kosher salt.
- Form the Dough: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until the dough comes together into a soft, non-sticky ball.
- Chill Dough: Divide the dough in half, shape each half into a disc, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight or at least 2 hours.
- Prepare for Baking: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Roll and Cut: On a lightly floured surface, roll each disc of dough to about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut the dough into shapes.
- Chill Cut Cookies: Place cookies 1-2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Refrigerate or freeze for at least 20 minutes to help maintain shape during baking.
- Bake: Bake cookies on the middle rack for 8-12 minutes until edges are set and lightly golden. Rotate pans halfway through baking for even cooking.
- Cool: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
- Prepare Frosting: In a clean stand mixer bowl, cream softened butter and powdered sugar together until smooth and creamy.
- Add Flavor and Color: Add vanilla extract, pink gel food coloring, and heavy cream. Beat on high speed for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy, adding more cream if needed for desired consistency.
- Frost Cookies: Dollop about 1 tablespoon of buttercream on each cookie and spread evenly with an offset spatula.
- Decorate: Garnish the frosted cookies with Valentine's sprinkles as desired.
Notes
- Chilling the dough before baking is crucial to prevent spreading and help the cookies keep their heart shape.
- Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth mixing and a tender cookie texture.
- If you don't have pink gel food coloring, you can omit it or substitute with any preferred color.
- Cookies must be completely cool before frosting to avoid melting the buttercream.
- Store frosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze unfrosted cookies for longer storage.
