Heart Shaped Sugar Cookies (Printable View)

Tender buttery sugar cookies shaped into hearts, finished with sweet, colorful icing for festive occasions.

# Ingredient List:

→ Cookie Dough

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
08 - 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

→ Decorative Icing

09 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
10 - 2-3 tablespoons milk
11 - 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
12 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
13 - Food coloring as desired
14 - Sprinkles optional

# How to Prepare:

01 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly blended.
02 - Beat softened butter and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes until pale and fluffy.
03 - Add egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Mix until fully incorporated and smooth.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to butter mixture, mixing on low speed just until flour disappears. Do not overmix.
05 - Divide dough in half, shape into disks, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour until firm.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - Roll dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut heart shapes and place 1 inch apart on prepared sheets.
08 - Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges just begin turning golden. Cool on sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
09 - Whisk powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, corn syrup, and vanilla until smooth. Add more milk as needed for desired consistency.
10 - Divide icing, add food coloring, and spread or pipe onto cooled cookies. Top with sprinkles if desired. Let set completely before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The dough is incredibly forgiving and rolls out like a dream, even if you are new to cutout cookies
  • That hint of almond extract makes people ask what your secret ingredient is every single time
02 -
  • Cold dough is absolutely essential here, or your cookies will spread into blob shapes instead of holding those crisp heart edges
  • Let the icing set completely before stacking or packaging, otherwise you will end up with a sad stuck together mess
03 -
  • Rotate your baking sheets halfway through baking time for evenly golden cookies
  • Use gel food coloring instead of liquid for the most vibrant icing colors without thinning the consistency

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