Description
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with these adorable Conversation Heart Cookies! These buttery, pastel-colored sugar cookies are easy to customize with sweet messages, making them the perfect festive treat for gifting or enjoying at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Gel food coloring (pastel shades)
Royal Icing:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp meringue powder
- 4 tbsp water
For Writing Messages:
- Edible food markers or piping gel
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough:
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using), mixing until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually mix dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until a soft dough forms.
- Color the Dough:
- Divide the dough into portions based on desired colors.
- Add a small amount of gel food coloring to each portion and mix evenly.
- Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Roll and Cut:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
- Cut out heart shapes and place on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake:
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly golden.
- Cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
- Decorate with Royal Icing:
- Mix powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water until smooth.
- Divide icing into small bowls and color to match cookie dough shades.
- Use a piping bag to outline and flood cookies; allow icing to dry completely.
- Add Messages:
- Once icing is set, write messages using edible food markers or piping gel.
- Let the writing dry before storing or serving.
Notes
- Chocolate Twist: Add 1 tbsp cocoa powder to the dough.
- Citrus Zest: Incorporate lemon or orange zest for a bright flavor.
- Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
- Different Shapes: Try stars or flowers for other occasions.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Valentine's cookies, heart cookies, sugar cookies, royal icing, edible messages