Valentine’s Day always seems to come with something food related, especially once kids are involved!
Between classroom parties, lunchbox treats, bake sales, and just wanting something sweet at home, cookies tend to cover a lot of ground.
I usually end up making a few different kinds so there’s something simple and something fun.
These ideas work well for sharing, packing up, or leaving on the counter for after school snacks.
Pick a couple that fit your time and energy and start with the one that feels easiest.
1. Chocolate Sugar Cookies
These start with a basic sugar cookie dough, but you add cocoa powder so they come out rich without being heavy.
Cream the butter and sugar, mix in the cocoa and dry ingredients, then chill the dough so it’s easier to roll and cut.
Roll it out on a floured counter and use heart cutters, since they keep their shape better after baking.
Bake just until the edges look set because you want soft centers for parties and snack trays.
Dust with powdered sugar, drizzle with melted chocolate, or add pink and red sprinkles before serving.
2. Lintzer Cookies
These take a little extra time, but they always look impressive on a Valentine’s tray!
Start with a buttery dough made with ground almonds or almond flour, then chill it so it’s easy to roll.
Cut solid hearts for the bottoms and hearts with small cutouts for the tops so the jam shows through.
Bake until lightly golden and let everything cool completely before assembling.
Spread raspberry or strawberry jam on the base cookies and gently press the tops on before dusting with powdered sugar.
3. Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
These come together like a soft brownie-style dough with cocoa powder and red food coloring mixed in.
Chill the dough until firm, then scoop and roll each ball in powdered sugar so you get those crackly tops.
Bake until the edges look set but the centers still feel soft when you tap them.
They spread just enough and stay chewy in the middle, which works great for snack tables.
Stack them loosely so the powdered sugar stays visible and doesn’t melt away.
4. Valentine’s Kitchen Sink Cookies
Make a simple cookie base with butter, sugar, and vanilla, then pull out whatever Valentine candy you have hiding in the pantry.
Think chocolate chips, chopped conversation hearts, pretzels, and sprinkles mixed right into the dough.
Scoop big portions so every cookie gets a little bit of everything.
Press extra candy pieces into the tops before baking so they look festive without extra effort.
Let them cool on the pan for a few minutes so they don’t fall apart when you move them.
5. Pink Chocolate Chip Cookies
For these, you’re basically making a classic chocolate chip cookie with a little color added.
Mix the dough as usual, then stir in pink food coloring until it looks right to you.
Fold in chocolate chips or white chocolate chips depending on what you have.
Scoop the dough onto baking sheets and bake just until the edges start to turn golden.
Add a few extra chips on top while they’re warm so they stick.
6. Cherry Blossom Cookies
Mix up a simple sugar cookie dough and add a little cherry extract along with pink food coloring.
Roll the dough into balls and gently flatten them on the baking sheet.
Press a big chocolate kiss (or even a cherry) into the center before baking so they look decorative without extra work.
Bake until the bottoms are set and the tops still look pale.
7. Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies
Grab a box of strawberry cake mix when you want something quick.
Stir the mix with eggs and oil until a thick dough forms.
Scoop the dough onto a lined baking sheet, keeping the cookies a little spaced out.
Bake until they puff and crack slightly on top.
Roll the dough in powdered sugar before baking if you want that crinkle look.
8. Love Bug Oreos
These ones are super cute!
Dip half of each Oreo in melted chocolate and lay them on parchment paper.
Drop some sprinkles on before it sets then add some candy eyes using extra melted chocolate like glue.
Let them set at room temperature or pop them in the fridge for a few minutes.
9. Heart Thumbprint Jam Cookies
Make a soft butter cookie dough and roll it into small balls.
Press a heart shape into the center using your thumb or the back of a spoon.
Spoon a little jam into the indent, sticking with strawberry or raspberry for Valentine’s Day.
Bake until the edges look lightly golden and the jam looks set.
Let them cool on the pan so the jam doesn’t slide out.
10. Red Velvet Sugar Cookies
Mix a sugar cookie dough with cocoa powder and red food coloring.
Chill the dough so it’s easier to roll and cut into shapes.
Bake until the cookies hold their shape but stay soft in the middle.
Dust with powdered sugar or add a light glaze once they cool.
11. Heart Sandwich Cookies
Roll out a basic sugar cookie dough and cut out hearts, keeping the thickness even so they bake the same.
Bake until the edges are set, then let them cool completely before filling.
Spread frosting, buttercream, or jam on the flat side of one cookie and press another on top.
Roll the edges in sprinkles if you want extra color on the tray.
12. Valentine’s Day Swirl Cookies
This one takes a little patience but looks fun once it’s done.
Divide sugar cookie dough into two or three bowls and tint each one a different Valentine color.
Roll each color into logs, press them together, and gently roll again to create a swirl.
Chill the log so the slices hold their shape when you cut them.
Slice and bake until the bottoms are just barely golden.
13. Lemon Ricotta Cookies
These Italian cookies are soft and cakey, which is a nice break from crunchy cookies.
Mix ricotta cheese into the dough along with lemon zest and juice for flavor.
Scoop the dough instead of rolling it since it’s sticky.
Bake until the tops look set but still pale.
Drizzle with a simple lemon glaze once they cool.
14. Frosted Crumbl Cookies
Go bigger than normal here so they feel like bakery cookies!
Make a thick sugar cookie dough and scoop large portions onto the baking sheet.
Bake until the edges are firm but the centers stay soft.
Let them cool completely before frosting so it doesn’t melt.
Spread a thick layer of pink frosting with a spatula instead of piping it.
15. Mexican Pink Cookies
These cookies have a soft crumb and a light vanilla flavor.
Mix up the dough, scoop it onto baking sheets, and flatten slightly.
Bake until the bottoms are set and the tops stay pale.
Dip the tops in pink icing while they’re still warm so it sticks.
Finish with colorful sprinkles before the icing sets.
(But honestly, they look just as good plain!)
16. Sprinkle Sugar Cookies
Mix a classic sugar cookie dough and roll it into balls.
Roll each ball in Valentine sprinkles before placing them on the baking sheet.
Flatten slightly with your palm so they bake evenly.
Bake until the edges look set and the centers stay soft.
17. Marbled Sugar Cookies
This one looks impressive without much extra effort.
Divide sugar cookie dough into two or three portions and tint each one a different color.
Gently twist the doughs together without fully mixing them.
Scoop or slice the dough so the colors stay visible.
Bake until the bottoms are lightly golden.
18. Raspberry Shortbread Cookies
This shortbread dough comes together fast with butter, sugar, and flour.
Roll it out and cut into simple shapes or slice it into rounds.
Press a small indent into the center of each cookie.
Add a spoonful of raspberry jam before baking.
Bake until the edges barely start to turn golden.
19. Red Hots Crinkle Cookies
These bring a little cinnamon heat to the cookie table.
Crush Red Hots candies and mix them into a soft cookie dough.
Chill the dough so it’s easy to roll.
Roll each ball in powdered sugar before baking.
Bake until they crack on top but still feel soft in the center.
20. Tie Dye Valentine’s Day Cookies
Go playful with color on these!
Divide sugar cookie dough into several bowls and tint each one pink, red, or purple.
Press small pieces of each color together without fully blending them.
Roll and slice or scoop the dough so the colors stay bold.
Bake until the cookies hold their shape and stay soft inside.
Cookies Everyone Grabs First on Valentine’s Day
When you’re putting together Valentine’s Day cookies for a party, it helps to mix a few easy wins with one or two that look a little extra.
And most of these cookies can be baked ahead, which makes party day way less chaotic!
Pick two or three, make a double batch, and set them out on a big platter with napkins and small tongs.
