Delicious Heart-Shaped Valentine Cookies with Royal Icing
A delightful recipe for heart-shaped cookies decorated with royal icing, perfect for Valentine's Day.
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- electric mixer
- Cookie cutters
- Baking sheets
- Piping bag
- Wire racks
Ingredients
Essential Ingredients for the Cookies
- 2 3/4 cups All-purpose flour This is the base of your cookies, providing structure.
- 1 teaspoon Baking soda This helps the cookies rise and become fluffy.
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking powder It works alongside baking soda for a perfect texture.
- 1 cup Unsalted butter, softened Butter adds richness and flavor to the cookies.
- 1 1/2 cups White sugar This sweetens the cookies and helps them brown.
- 1 large Egg Eggs bind the ingredients together and add moisture.
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract This enhances the overall flavor.
- 3/4 teaspoon Almond extract It adds a lovely nutty flavor that complements the vanilla.
- 1 teaspoon Salt A pinch of salt balances the sweetness.
- 1 cup Powdered sugar (for decoration) This is used for the royal icing and adds sweetness.
Key Ingredients for Royal Icing
- 3 large Egg whites They provide the structure needed for the icing.
- 4 cups Powdered sugar This sweetens the icing and gives it a smooth texture.
- 1 teaspoon Lemon juice It helps stabilize the icing and adds a hint of tartness.
- Food coloring Optional. Use this to create vibrant colors for your decorations.
Instructions
- Gather your dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set this mixture aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and white sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, and beat until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry mixture to the butter and sugar mixture. Stir gently until well blended. Divide the dough into two halves, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thick and cut out heart shapes with cookie cutters. Place on ungreased baking sheets.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let cool on wire racks.
- Prepare the royal icing by beating the egg whites until frothy. Gradually add powdered sugar and lemon juice, beating until stiff peaks form.
- If desired, divide the icing into bowls and add food coloring to create different shades.
- Once the cookies are cooled, decorate with royal icing using a piping bag or spatula. Allow the icing to dry completely before adding any additional details.
Notes
Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness. Decorated cookies can be stored for about 1 week at room temperature.