Heart Cookies Recipe
I absolutely love this recipe because it takes me straight back to my childhood, baking cookies with my family and feeling like a creative artist as I add the colorful icing. Plus, it’s the perfect way to pause life’s chaos for a cozy, delicious moment, and treat myself with something both nostalgic and Instagram-worthy!
Making heart cookies is a really fun way to make someone’s day. The ingredients are pretty simple, but clever proportions give you the tender-but-sturdy texture that’s so essential for cookies.
It takes 2 1/2 cups of flour, but only 1 cup of unsalted butter, to get that perfect balance. The amount of sugar is unmentionable, and I’ll stick to that for now, but I will say that a pinch of salt goes a long way.
Ingredients
Universal flour: Delivers structure and elasticity; replete with carbs.
Butter, unsalted: Supplies moisture and richness; brings creaminess and fat.
Sugar in granular form: It is the one that is used to sweeten cookies, and it helps in their browning.
Binding ingredients, an egg does; contributing tenderness and richness, it does.
Extract of vanilla: Intensifies flavor with saccharine olfactory nuances.
Almond extract: Contributes a delightful, nutty aroma and flavor to the dish; this ingredient is optional.
Ingredient Quantities
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- Red or pink food coloring (optional, for decoration)
- Royal icing or glaze for decorating (optional)
Instructions
1. In a medium-size bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt, and whisk them together.
2. In a big mixing bowl, mix the soft butter and sugar until they are light and fluffy. They should look almost like whipped cream or frosting.
3. Combine the butter mixture with the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using). Beat well until combined.
4. Slowly incorporate the dry components into the wet mixture, just blending enough to come together into a dough.
5. Separate the dough into two equal portions. If you wish, add a few drops of red or pink food coloring to one of the portions and knead until the color is even throughout.
6. Plastic wrap each piece of dough and chill in the fridge for 1 hour or until firm.
7. Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) and prepare baking sheets with a lining of parchment paper.
8. On a surface dusted with flour, roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch thick. Use cookie cutters in the shape of hearts to make cutout cookies, and move them to the prepared baking sheets.
9. 8-10 minutes. Bake them until the edges are lightly golden. Let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
10. When the cookies are entirely cooled, you can adorn them with royal icing or glaze, should you wish. If you do wish, a word to the wise would be to allow the icing to set before moving on to the next step.
Equipment Needed
1. Medium-size bowl
2. Large mixing bowl
3. Whisk
4. Hand mixer or stand mixer
5. Spatula
6. Measuring cups
7. Measuring spoons
8. Plastic wrap
9. Baking sheets
10. Parchment paper
11. Rolling pin
12. Cookie cutters (heart-shaped)
13. Wire racks
14. Cooling racks
FAQ
- Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?You can use salted butter in this recipe. Just remember to decrease or even eliminate the salt that the recipe calls for, and you will have delicious cookies!
- Is the almond extract necessary?Almond extract is not necessary. It adds a subtle flavor that would nicely complement the vanilla, but the cookies would still be delicious without it.
- How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking?To stop the cookies from spreading, chill your dough for at least 1 hour before baking and make sure your baking sheet is not hot.
- Can I freeze the dough for later use?Indeed, freezing the dough is an option. It can be done by wrapping the dough tightly in plastic wrap and placing it in an airtight container. The dough can stay frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw it in the refrigerator before rolling it out and baking.
- How long do the decorated cookies last?Cookies that are decorated can remain viable for approximately 1 week at room temperature when stored in an airtight container. Make sure that the icing is set completely before you store the cookies.
- What type of food coloring is best for decoration?It is recommended to use gel food coloring because it provides vibrant color without altering the consistency of the dough.
- Can I use this recipe for other shapes?This dough is flexible and can be made into any shape using cookie cutters. If you cut it into larger or smaller shapes, just adjust the bake time accordingly.
Substitutions and Variations
All-purpose flour can be subbed with whole wheat flour when you want a nutty flavor, or use gluten-free all-purpose flour for a gluten-free option.
Coconut oil can be used in place of unsalted butter to make this a version free from dairy. Margarine can also be used when you need to substitute for unsalted butter.
Refined white sugar: For the best flavor, use coconut sugar or brown sugar. If you only have refined cane sugar on hand, it will work in a pinch.
Substituting a chicken egg with a flax egg: For a large egg, use a flax egg, which consists of 1 tablespoon of flaxseed meal mixed with 2.5 tablespoons of water, left to sit for a few minutes. This is a breast egg (without the shell); a chicken egg also has breast; hence the term breakfast.
Vanilla extract: For a more intense flavor, use the same amount of vanilla bean paste or half of a vanilla bean (scraped of its seeds).
Pro Tips
1. Chill Your Equipment: Before starting, chill your mixing bowl and beaters in the fridge for about 15 minutes. This helps to maintain the ideal consistency when creaming the butter and sugar, especially in warm environments.
2. Butter Consistency: Make sure the butter is at room temperature but not too soft. It should be soft enough to indent with a finger without being greasy or melting. This ensures proper creaming, leading to a lighter cookie texture.
3. Even Color: If using food coloring, mix it in gradually and thoroughly for even distribution. Gel food coloring works best as it doesn’t alter the dough’s consistency. Always use the minimum amount needed to achieve your desired color.
4. Even Rolling: To ensure consistent thickness when rolling out dough, use rolling pin guides or place wooden dowels of the same thickness on either side of the dough. This helps avoid thin edges that can lead to uneven baking.
5. Batch Bake Test: Bake a test cookie or two first to check for spreading, color, and texture. This allows you to adjust the oven temperature or baking time if needed before committing an entire batch to the oven.
Heart Cookies Recipe
My favorite Heart Cookies Recipe
Equipment Needed:
1. Medium-size bowl
2. Large mixing bowl
3. Whisk
4. Hand mixer or stand mixer
5. Spatula
6. Measuring cups
7. Measuring spoons
8. Plastic wrap
9. Baking sheets
10. Parchment paper
11. Rolling pin
12. Cookie cutters (heart-shaped)
13. Wire racks
14. Cooling racks
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- Red or pink food coloring (optional, for decoration)
- Royal icing or glaze for decorating (optional)
Instructions:
1. In a medium-size bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt, and whisk them together.
2. In a big mixing bowl, mix the soft butter and sugar until they are light and fluffy. They should look almost like whipped cream or frosting.
3. Combine the butter mixture with the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using). Beat well until combined.
4. Slowly incorporate the dry components into the wet mixture, just blending enough to come together into a dough.
5. Separate the dough into two equal portions. If you wish, add a few drops of red or pink food coloring to one of the portions and knead until the color is even throughout.
6. Plastic wrap each piece of dough and chill in the fridge for 1 hour or until firm.
7. Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) and prepare baking sheets with a lining of parchment paper.
8. On a surface dusted with flour, roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch thick. Use cookie cutters in the shape of hearts to make cutout cookies, and move them to the prepared baking sheets.
9. 8-10 minutes. Bake them until the edges are lightly golden. Let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
10. When the cookies are entirely cooled, you can adorn them with royal icing or glaze, should you wish. If you do wish, a word to the wise would be to allow the icing to set before moving on to the next step.