Delicious Valentine’s Sugar Cookies Recipe

Bake love into every bite with these beautiful Valentine’s cookies!

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with a homemade Valentine’s sugar cookies recipe? These soft, chewy sugar cookies are the perfect treat for gifting or enjoying with your family. In this recipe, we’ll show you how to make Valentine’s Day cookies that are not only delicious but also beautifully decorated with smooth icing.

Ingredients:

For the cookies:

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional, but adds a lovely depth of flavour)
• 2-3 tablespoons milk (for adjusting dough consistency)

For the icing:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon meringue powder
• 1/4 cup water (adjust for consistency)
• Food colouring (red, pink, and white for a classic Valentine’s look)

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the Cookie Dough

Start by preheating your oven to 180°C (350°F). In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set this aside.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This should take about 2-3 minutes. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, mixing until well combined.

Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix until the dough comes together, but be careful not to overwork it. If the dough feels a bit dry, add milk, one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches a smooth, slightly stiff consistency.

Step 2: Roll and Cut the Dough

Lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin. Roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters (or any Valentine’s-themed shapes like stars or lips) to cut out your cookies.

Place the cut-out cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring they are spaced a little apart for even baking. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are just starting to turn golden. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 3: Prepare the Icing

While your cookies are cooling, prepare the smooth decorative icing. In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water until smooth. Add food colouring to your icing for that festive Valentine’s vibe! Use red, pink, and white for a beautiful contrast.

Step 4: Decorate Your Cookies

Once your cookies are completely cool, it’s time to get creative with your decorations!

• Outline and flood: Start by outlining the edges of each cookie with your coloured icing. Once outlined, use a thinner consistency icing (add a little more water) to flood the centre of the cookie. This creates a smooth, even layer of icing.
• Add details: Once the flood icing has set (it’ll take a couple of hours), you can use a piping bag with a finer tip to add fun decorations, such as hearts, polka dots, or initials, to personalise your cookies.
• Sprinkles and glitter: For an extra touch of magic, add edible glitter or heart-shaped sprinkles to the cookies while the icing is still wet.

Step 5: Let the Icing Set

Allow the icing to fully dry and set before packaging or serving the cookies. This can take anywhere from 2-4 hours, depending on the thickness of your icing.

Tips & Tricks for the Perfect Valentine’s Sugar Cookies:

• Chill the dough: If your dough feels too soft or sticky, pop it in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour before rolling. This helps it firm up, making it easier to cut and bake.
• Create your own colour palette: If you don’t have food colouring, get creative with different coloured sprinkles and icing techniques. Pastel shades are always perfect for Valentine’s.
• Package as a gift: These cookies make a thoughtful gift for family, friends, or coworkers. Package them in a cute box with a ribbon for an extra special touch.

Final Thoughts:

These Valentine’s sugar cookies are sure to spread love wherever they go. Whether you’re baking for a partner, your kids, or just treating yourself, these cookies are as sweet as the occasion. Enjoy baking, decorating, and most importantly, sharing the love with every delicious bite!

Happy Valentine’s Day from Delookies! 💕🍪