Valentine Sugar Cookies

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These Valentine Sugar Cookies could not be more perfect for Valentine’s Day! They are soft, thick, and chewy, with a light almond flavor that is my all-time favorite in a sugar cookie. Top with sprinkles, because everyone loves sprinkles! Based on my Classic Sugar Cookie Recipe and Sugar Cookie Bars, these festive Valentine’s Day Cookies are delicious with a simple glaze or my Vanilla Buttercream recipe.

 

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Sugar Cookie Recipe

This has been my go-to sugar cookies recipe because it’s reliable and always turns out perfectly. Whether it’s for the holidays, birthdays, or just getting a craving for really good sugar cookies, this should be your go-to recipe. You don’t need to plan ahead to soften butter, you don’t need to refrigerate the dough overnight, and they always bake up soft and chewy every time. 

This recipe makes a lot of cut-out cookies, so you might want to think about giving some away. These would be so fun for your kids’ class parties, or friend or neighbor gifts. You could bag these up in cellophane bags and some ribbon. So cute and easy!

Want more Valentine Treat Ideas? Try these recipes: Valentine’s Day Cake Pops, Valentine’s Day Brownies, Valentine’s Slice and Bake Cookies, Valentine’s Day Cream Puffs, Nutella Deviled Strawberries, Cheesecake Brownies.

Ingredients Notes For Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies

Just a few simple ingredients are needed to make these soft sugar cookies:

for the sugar cookies:

• all-purpose flour– I used unbleached; this is used to fill out the rest of the cookie and help bring all the ingredients together.
• salted butter– cold & cut into chunks
• baking powder– this is used for leavening.
• granulated sugar– to sweeten, this IS a sugar cookie recipe after all. You can also use vanilla sugar here.
• egg– used for texture and structure
• pure vanilla extract– for flavoring
• pure almond extract–  If you’re not a fan, leave this ingredient out and consider doubling up on the vanilla.

for the frosting:

• butter– softened
• vanilla extract– for flavoring
• confectioners’ sugar– aka powdered sugar, provides sweet flavoring, structure, and texture
• milk– helps bind everything together

if using a glaze:

• confectioners’ sugar– aka powdered sugar, provides sweet flavoring, structure, and texture.
• milk– helps bind everything together
• vanilla extract– for flavoring
• liquid food coloring– could divide up the glaze and use different colors too.
• Valentine’s sprinkles and jimmies– optional

How to Make Valentine Sugar Cookies

For ingredient measurements and full directions, scroll to the bottom of this post to view the printable recipe card. Here are step-by-step directions for making this sugar cookie recipe:

Step 1: Preheat + Prep

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.

Step 2: Make Dough

In the bowl of a stand mixer or large bowl, cream cold butter and sugar together using the paddle attachment or electric hand mixer. Stir in the egg and both extracts. In a small bowl, stir flour and baking powder together. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until a dough forms.

Step 3: Roll Out Dough + Cut

Roll out the dough with a rolling pin on a floured surface to be just about 1/3″ thick. Cut sugar cookies out using any Valentine cookie cutters you want to use and place onto parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Step 4: Freeze + Bake

Place the baking sheet with the cut-out cookies in the freezer for 5-7 minutes. Next, pull them out and bake 10-12 minutes, or until the bottoms have lightly browned but the edges of the cookies are still light in color. Bake time can vary slightly in every oven. Cool 3 minutes on the cookie sheet, then remove to wire racks.

How to Decorate Valentine Cookies

Decorated cookies can be a labor of love for sure. Don’t feel like you have to go above and beyond every time. After the cookies have been baked and cooled, you can decorate them with glaze or frosting. I love both ways, so I’ve included information about both.

Icing & Frosting: What’s the Difference?

Frosting is a thick, pipe-able topping you can use for cakes and cookies. My Vanilla Frosting and Chocolate Frosting (sometimes called buttercream) are simply powdered sugar mixed with softened butter, vanilla extract, and milk or cream. Sometimes, different extracts or flavoring agents, like cocoa, are added to make different kinds and flavors.

Icing is thinner in consistency and is made from powdered sugar, vanilla extract, milk, cream, or even water. You can glaze these Valentine sugar cookies with an icing for a smooth finish that looks really pretty. If you’re familiar with royal icing and prefer working with it, I have a great post all about Royal Icing made without meringue powder.

Making Icing

In a small bowl, stir powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and red food coloring together until the glaze is smooth and runny. Dip each cookie into the glaze, let it drip, then place onto a cooling rack to dry.

Making Frosting

I suggest heading over to my full post about making frosting to get a full recipe and details. This is a great resource. I obviously dyed half of the frosting pink and kept the other half white. Then, I used a disposable piping bag and piping tips for an easy way to decorate. I like to use the star or round tip for cookies. A zip-top bag with a corner snipped works just as well. Also, feel free to spread the frosting on with a butter knife.

Add Sprinkles and Jimmies (Optional)

Once each cookie is dipped in glaze or topped with frosting, be sure to add on colorful sprinkles immediately before it has a chance to dry to ensure the sprinkles stick! If you want to skip the sprinkles entirely, the cookies look really classy; just make sure to use a toothpick to pop the air bubbles on the icing. Because we were adding on some of these fun festive sprinkles, there was no need to pop any air bubbles beforehand. Allow to dry 1-2 hours if using the icing.

What You Need to Make This

You don’t need anything fancy to make this recipe, but having the right tools makes it easier and more consistent. Here’s what I recommend:

• Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer – Makes quick work of creaming the butter and sugar, then mixing the dough until everything is well combined. It helps create a smooth, evenly mixed dough with less effort.
• Valentine’s Cookie Cutters – Heart, X, and O shapes make these cookies festive and fun while giving them their signature look.
• Baking Sheet lined with Parchment Paper – The parchment paper prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier, while a sturdy baking sheet promotes even baking.
• Cooling Rack – Allows the cookies to cool completely without trapping steam, helping them stay crisp around the edges.

Tips for Success

Here are a few helpful tips and tricks I do with this recipe to get the most perfect Valentine’s Day Cookies every time.

Use Cold, Salted Butter

I know this may seem a little controversial, but I LOVE using not only cold butter, but salted butter for these cookies. My recipe doesn’t call for salt, so I like using salted butter. Also, using a stand mixer to cream cold butter with sugar helps the dough maintain its stability, so you can roll it out immediately without having to refrigerate it first.

If you only have room temperature butter for this recipe, you can definitely make this as written, but you might want to refrigerate the sugar cookie dough before rolling and cutting, just to make your life a little easier.

Almond Extract: To Add or Not to Add?

While I am a firm believer in always using Almond extract for any and all sugar cookies, there are people out there who strongly disagree with me. If you are one of these people, simply replace the almond extract with more vanilla extract and complete the recipe as written below.

Finding Valentine-Shaped Cookie Cutters

You can find these at various places, but Walmart or Michaels is generally a good place to find these, especially around February. Here is a link for a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Here is a link to the X&O cookie cutters. There are many decorating techniques out there. I like to keep it as simple as possible with simple designs.

Do I Have to Chill the Dough Before Cutting and Baking?

Yes and No. The two main reasons to chill a cookie dough you would cut out include (1) helping the cookies maintain their shape during the baking process, and (2) to make it easier to cut out. Gingerbread cookies are a great example of this. The dough is much wetter, so you would want to wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a good hour before rolling and cutting.

For these sugar cookies, the easiest way to work with the dough is right out of the bowl because I use COLD butter. So, you can cut your Valentine shapes out immediately and then freeze them for a few minutes before baking. This will help keep their shape.

What to Serve with Valentine Sugar Cookies

Turn these Valentine sugar cookies into a festive dessert spread by pairing them with a cozy drink, fruity treat, or another Valentine’s Day favorite.

• Crockpot Hot Chocolate – Warm and chocolatey, it’s perfect alongside a decorated sugar cookie.
• Strawberry Milkshake – A sweet, fruity drink that pairs well with buttery cookies.
• Cheesecake Ice Cream – Creamy ice cream makes a simple and delicious dessert pairing.
• Nutella Deviled Strawberries – Fresh strawberries and Nutella are a natural match for Valentine’s treats.
• Valentine’s Day Brownies – Rich brownies make a great addition to any Valentine’s dessert tray.
• Red Velvet Cupcakes – Festive and colorful, these cupcakes fit right in with Valentine’s Day sweets.

Storing Sugar Cookies

Store decorated or undecorated sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If stacking the cookies, place parchment paper between layers to protect the frosting and decorations.

For longer storage, keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. The cookies may become slightly firmer when chilled, but will stay fresh and delicious.

Freezing Directions

These Valentine’s sugar cookies freeze beautifully, making them a great make-ahead treat. You can freeze either the dough or the baked cookies.

Freezing the Dough

Prepare the dough as directed, then divide it into one or two discs. Wrap each disc tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 2 months.

When ready to bake, thaw the dough in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for 2–3 hours until soft enough to roll. Cut into shapes and bake as directed.

Freezing Baked Sugar Cookies

Allow the cookies to cool completely before placing them in an airtight container or freezer-safe container. Separate layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for about 1 hour, then decorate if desired.

FAQs

Variations

These Valentine sugar cookies are easy to customize with different flavors, decorations, and festive touches. Try one of these simple variations to make them your own.

• Use Different Cookie Shapes – While X and O cutters are fun, hearts, flowers, lips, and arrows are all great options for Valentine’s Day.
• Add Citrus Flavor – Mix a little lemon or orange zest into the dough for a fresh, bright flavor that pairs well with sweet frosting.
• Drizzle with Chocolate – Once the cookies have cooled, drizzle melted white, milk, or dark chocolate over the top for an easy finishing touch.
• Make Them Extra Festive – Top the frosted cookies with heart-shaped sprinkles, conversation heart candies, or colored sugar.
• Add Freeze-Dried Strawberries – Crush freeze-dried strawberries and mix them into the frosting for natural color and strawberry flavor.
• Use Cream Cheese Frosting – Swap the traditional frosting for cream cheese frosting if you prefer a tangy, less-sweet topping.
• Turn Them Into Cookie Pops – Insert lollipop sticks before baking and decorate after cooling for a fun Valentine’s party treat.
• Add a Personalized Message – Use frosting to write names, initials, or short Valentine’s messages on each cookie for a special homemade touch.
• Make Sandwich Cookies – Spread frosting between two cookies to create festive cookie sandwiches that are perfect for gifting.

Love Sugar Cookies? Try Some Variations:

• Lemon Sugar Cookies
• Copycat Swig Sugar Cookies
• Classic Sugar Cookies (scoop and bake sugar cookies)
• Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies
• Lemon Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
• Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

These Valentine’s sugar cookies are as fun to make as they are to share. With their festive shapes, soft texture, and sweet frosting, they’re perfect for parties, gifts, or celebrating with the people you love. Give them a try this Valentine’s Day and don’t be surprised when everyone asks for the recipe. The printable recipe is below! ❤️

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.