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image of flour butter sugar egg vanilla extract baking powder salt almond extract cream cheese sprinkles royal icing buttercream frosting food coloring gluten free flour margarine powdered sugar glaze arranged on a white marble kitchen counter with healthy clear glass bowls and rustic brown wooden kitchen sets under soft diffuse daylight
Benjamin

Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies

This easy heart shaped sugar cookies for Valentine's day recipe is an absolute staple in our household because it combines simplicity with pure, heartfelt joy.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 150
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups 3
  • 3 cups 3
  • All-Purpose Flour The foundation of our cookie structure. Ensure you measure by leveling off the cup for consistency.
  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter softened to room temperature. This provides that rich, melt in your mouth quality.
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar For sweetness and that classic sugar cookies crunch on the edges.
  • 1 Large Egg Acts as the binder to hold our hearts together.
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract Use the good stuff if you can. It makes a world of difference.
  • 1/2 tsp Almond Extract This is my secret ingredient. It adds a professional bakery depth to the heart shaped sugar cookies.
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder Just enough to give them a little lift without making them cakey.
  • 1/4 tsp Salt To balance the sweetness and enhance the butter flavor.
  • 2 tbsp Cream Cheese (optional) A tablespoon of this makes these the most soft sugar cookies you have ever tasted.

Equipment

  • oven
  • Mixing bowl
  • Heart Shaped Cookie Cutters
  • Rolling Pin
  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • Wire rack

Method
 

Prepare the Dough
  1. Divide the dough into two discs, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour. This is crucial for cut out sugar cookies. It prevents the dough from sticking to your rolling pin and helps the hearts keep their shape.
  2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. This ensures your Valentine's day sugar cookies don't stick or burn on the bottom.
  3. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to about a quarter inch thickness. Use your favorite heart shaped cutters. Jana always picks the smallest ones, while Adams goes for the giant hearts.
  4. Place the cookies on the prepared sheets and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. You are looking for the edges to be just barely set. They should not be brown. Let them cool on the baking sheet for five minutes before moving them to a wire rack.
  5. Once completely cool, you can transform these into marbled heart sugar cookies by dipping them into a glaze, or go the classic route with royal icing heart cookies. We often use a simple buttercream frosting and let the kids go wild with sprinkles.

Nutrition

Calories: 150kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 2gFat: 7g

Notes

If you find the dough getting too soft as you work with it, just pop it back in the freezer for five minutes. Proper storage is the key to keeping your soft sugar cookies tasting fresh. Once they are fully cooled and the icing has set, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay delicious for up to five days. If you want them to last longer, these cookies freeze beautifully. You can freeze the baked, undecorated cookies for up to three months. Just place parchment paper between the layers so they don't stick. When you are ready to eat, let them thaw at room temperature for an hour.
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