Description
These Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies are the perfect treat to celebrate love! Soft, buttery, and perfectly sweet, these cookies are easy to make and ideal for decorating with pink and red icing, sprinkles, and more. Whether you’re gifting them to loved ones or serving them at a party, these cookies are sure to bring smiles all around!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Sugar Cookies
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 1/4 cup colored sprinkles (optional, for rolling)
For the Icing (Optional)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Food coloring (pink, red, or any color you prefer)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Prepare the dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla extract (and almond extract, if using) and beat until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until the dough comes together. If the dough feels too soft, chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Form the cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and, if desired, roll them in colored sprinkles for a festive touch. Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. Gently press each ball down with the bottom of a glass or your fingers to flatten them slightly.
- Bake the cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Be careful not to overbake; the cookies will firm up as they cool.
- Cool the cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the icing (optional): In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add a few drops of food coloring if desired. Once the cookies are completely cooled, use a spoon or piping bag to decorate the cookies with the icing.
- Serve and enjoy: Allow the icing to set before serving or storing the cookies.
Notes
- You can use heart-shaped cookie cutters for extra Valentine’s Day flair!
- These sugar cookies are perfect for decorating, so feel free to get creative with icing, sprinkles, or even edible glitter.
- To store, place the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- If you want softer cookies, take them out of the oven slightly earlier to keep the centers soft and chewy.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Valentine’s Day Treats
- Method: BakedBaked
- Cuisine: American
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