These Valentine’s Day Cookies are sweet, buttery sugar cookies perfect for decorating and gifting. There’s something special about turning simple ingredients into colorful, homemade tokens of love.
This Valentine’s Day Cookies recipe uses a roll-out dough that’s easy to shape into hearts and topped with smooth royal icing for a colorful, festive finish. If you enjoy fun, festive baking projects, you might also love our Christmas Cookies, another joyful classic perfect for sharing and decorating.
They’re a holiday favorite for school parties, gifts, or simply sharing homemade love in edible form. And if you’re looking for another sweet, simple treat to round out your celebration, our French Vanilla Ice Cream makes a creamy, classic pairing.
✅ Recipe Summary
- Prep Time: 30 minutes (+ chill time)
- Cook Time: 10 minutes per batch
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Servings: 24–30 cookies
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
🧾 Ingredients
For the Sugar Cookie Dough:
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1½ teaspoons (7.5ml) vanilla extract
- 2½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon (3g) baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon (1g) salt
For the Royal Icing:
- 3 cups (360g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 2 tablespoons (15g) meringue powder
- 5–6 tablespoons (75–90ml) warm water
- Gel food coloring (optional)
👩🍳 Instructions
Make the Dough:
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla, and mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing just until combined.
- Divide dough in half, shape into disks, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour.
Cut and Bake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment.
- Roll dough to ¼-inch (6mm) thickness on a floured surface.
- Cut with heart-shaped cutters and transfer to prepared trays.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden.
- Cool completely before decorating.
Make the Royal Icing:
- In a bowl, combine sugar and meringue powder.
- Add water gradually, beating until the icing holds soft peaks.
- Tint with food coloring as desired.
- Decorate cookies with piping bags or squeeze bottles. Let dry several hours until set.
📌 Notes
- Gel food coloring gives vibrant color without thinning the icing.
- For a smoother base, outline with icing first, then “flood” the center with thinner icing.
- Let each color layer dry before adding new designs.
🔄 Variations & Add-ons
- Add ½ teaspoon almond or lemon extract to the dough for extra flavor.
- Use pink sanding sugar or edible glitter for sparkle.
- Swap shapes for other holidays — stars, flowers, or initials.
🥄 Estimated Nutrition Information (Per Cookie)
- Calories: 160 kcal
- Total Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
- Sodium: 40mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 23g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 14g
- Protein: 1g
🌍 The Story Behind Valentine’s Day Cookies
Decorated sugar cookies have long been a staple of holiday baking in the U.S. and Europe.
For Valentine’s Day, heart-shaped cookies became popular in the early 20th century as a handmade expression of affection — more personal than chocolate, and fun for families to make together.
Today, they’re a creative and delicious way to say “I love you.”
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Serve these cookies with coffee, tea, or milk.
Wrap them in cellophane bags and tie with a red ribbon for homemade gifts.
They also make great party favors or classroom treats.
❓ FAQs
Can I make the dough ahead?
Yes — it can be chilled up to 2 days or frozen for 2 months.
How long do the decorated cookies last?
Up to 1 week in an airtight container at room temperature.
What’s the best way to decorate with kids?
Use squeeze bottles with colored icing — they’re easier to handle than piping bags.
✨ Final Thoughts
These Valentine’s Day Cookies are a joyful way to bake and share something meaningful.
Easy to make, fun to decorate, and impossible not to love — they’re a perfect part of any heartfelt celebration.
