Best Tasting Valentine Cookies

Even though Valentine’s Day is only one day, I like to make it special because it’s those little traditions that my kids will remember.

It’s not about grand gestures or fancy gifts. Instead it’s about the fun of baking together, covering the kitchen in flour, and sneaking bites of cookie dough when no one’s looking.

And I do that by making these popular Valentine cookies every year because they’re always a huge hit in my house.

The kids get excited to help, and honestly, I love any excuse to pull out my heart-shaped cutters and go all in on the pink and red sprinkles.

There’s something about decorating these cookies that makes the whole day feel festive, and I swear, they taste even better when we make them together.

These cookies are soft, buttery, and just the right amount of sweet—basically, they melt in your mouth.

They’re the kind you can’t stop eating, and I always have to set a few aside before they magically disappear.

And the best part?

They actually hold their shape, so all those cute hearts and scalloped edges look just as perfect after baking.

The dough is easy to work with (no sticky mess or crumbling apart), and the royal icing?

Smooth, sweet, and fun to decorate with. Whether we’re going for classic pink hearts or over-the-top sprinkle explosions, every cookie turns out adorable.

If you want a no-fuss recipe that’s as good as the bakery ones, grab the sprinkles—let’s bake!

Valentine Sugar Cookies – What You Need

• Unsalted butter – Cold, sliced into tablespoon portions
• Sugar – white granulated sugar
• Half and Half – Cold
• Vanilla Extract– Can use almond extract
• Eggs – Cold
• All-purpose flour
• Baking Powder
• Kosher Salt
• Powdered Sugar
• Sprinkles – Valentine’s-themed
• Electric Mixer – Use the paddle attachment
• Cookie Sheets
• Parchment Paper
• Heart-Shaped Cookie Cutter

How to Make These Valentine Cookies

Making these Valentine cookies are totally easy to make.

You don’t need a lot for these cookies so let’s get ready.

Mix the Dough

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the cold butter and sugar together on medium speed until the mixture is creamy and slightly fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. The cold butter will make the cookies more tender and help them hold their shape.
• Add the cold eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• Mix in the vanilla or almond extract and cold half and half until just combined.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and kosher salt.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until a dough forms. The dough may seem slightly stiff, but this helps keep the cookies from spreading.

Chill the Dough

• Divide the dough in half, shape each half into a flat disc, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (this helps firm up the butter and make rolling easier).

Roll & Cut the Cookies

• Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the dough to ¼-inch thickness.
• Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out shapes, then transfer them to the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch of space between cookies.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set and just barely golden.
• Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Make the Icing

• In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and half and half until smooth. Adjust consistency by adding more half and half 1 teaspoon at a time if needed.
• Transfer the icing to a piping bag (or use a ziplock bag with a small corner snipped off).

Decorate & Add Sprinkles!

• Decorate the cooled cookies with the icing, using swirls, outlines, or full coverage.
• While the icing is still wet, sprinkle on Valentine’s-themed sprinkles for extra cuteness.
• Let the cookies sit for about 2-3 hours for the icing to fully set before stacking or storing.

Extra Tips

• For extra softness, store the cookies in an airtight container overnight before serving.
• Want more flavor? Use almond extract for a bakery-style taste or peppermint for a festive twist.
• Don’t overbake! They’ll look slightly underdone when you take them out but will firm up as they cool.

These Valentine’s Sugar Cookies are a must-bake as they are soft, buttery, perfectly shaped, and fun to decorate!

Ready to make a batch?

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