Description
Celebrate love and sweetness with these melt-in-your-mouth Valentine Butter Cookies! They’re buttery, soft, and beautifully decorated to make the perfect edible gift for your loved ones. With a hint of vanilla and a sprinkle of love, these cookies are easy to bake and even more fun to decorate.
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Ingredients
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For the Cookies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional, for extra flavor)
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
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For Decoration:
- Royal icing or glaze (store-bought or homemade)
- Red, pink, and white sprinkles
- Edible glitter or sanding sugar (optional)
- Melted chocolate for drizzling (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together using a hand or stand mixer until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) and mix until fully combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until a dough forms.
- Divide the dough into two portions, flatten into disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Step 2: Roll and Cut the Cookies
6. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
7. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.
8. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them on the prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart.
Step 3: Bake the Cookies
9. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are just starting to turn golden.
10. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Step 4: Decorate the Cookies
11. Once cooled, decorate the cookies with royal icing, sprinkles, edible glitter, or melted chocolate drizzles.
12. Let the decorations set for at least 1 hour before serving or packaging.
Notes
- Chill the Dough: Chilling prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking, ensuring crisp edges and perfect shapes.
- Don’t Overbake: Watch the cookies closely and remove them as soon as the edges start to turn golden for a soft, buttery texture.
- Customize Your Flavors: Add a hint of lemon zest or cinnamon to the dough for a unique twist.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Chilling Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Cuisine: American