The Best Valentine Sugar Cookies Recipe

I’m excited to share my Alice and Lois Best Valentine Sugar Cookies recipe. Combining 2 3/4 cups flour, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and hints of vanilla and almond extract creates pure delight. Smooth powdered sugar icing tinted with red food coloring crowns these Valentine Sugar Cookies, offering a charming treat.

I’ve always been a fan of experimenting in the kitchen, and The Best Valentine Sugar Cookies totally stole my heart. I stumbled upon this recipe while searching for something different that could be perfect for a fun Valentine treat.

I mix 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour with a teaspoon of baking soda and a half teaspoon of baking powder, alongside a pinch of salt, then cream one cup of unsalted butter with a cup and a half granulated sugar until it’s smooth. Then I fold in a large egg and add two teaspoons of vanilla extract (sometimes I sneak in half a teaspoon of almond extract too) to give it a nice twist.

The icing is made by whisking two cups powdered sugar with three to four tablespoons milk and a half teaspoon of vanilla extract, adding just enough red food coloring to give that perfect valentine pop. I tried decorating them into heart shapes and they turned out adorable even if they weren’t perfectly uniform.

Enjoy experimenting with your own version of these delightful treats!

Why I Like this Recipe

1. I really love how simple and straightforward this recipe is, and almost every ingredient is stuff i already have in my kitchen, so it makes it super easy to whip up a batch without any hassle.
2. The cookies bake really fast, and i like that even though the centers might look a little underdone, they still come out soft and delicious once they cool. Its perfect when i gotta make something yummy in a hurry.
3. The icing is crazy fun to work with, especially since i can adjust the red food coloring till i get that perfect valentine pop shade. That mix of sweet sugar and a hint of vanilla really makes the cookies feel special.
4. I enjoy that there’s room for customization with extras like almond extract if i’m feeling adventurous, giving me a chance to mix up the flavors and keep it interesting each time i make them.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour: Provides carbs, gives structure and forms the cookie’s soft base.
• Unsalted butter: Offers rich flavor and tenderness, though its fat isnt always the healthiest choice.
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens cookies, adding crisp texture and lots of energy from carbs.
• Powdered sugar: Makes the icing smooth, brightening the cookies with extra sweetness and pop.
• Vanilla extract: Enhances flavor with a subtle, warm hint that ties every ingredient together.
• Baking soda: Lightens the cookie dough, making cookies rise just enough on baking day.
• Egg: Binds ingredients and provides moisture, helpin create a perfect chewy bite.

Ingredient Quantities

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Optional: 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups powdered sugar (for icing)
• 3 to 4 tablespoons milk (for icing)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (for icing)
• Red food coloring, as needed (for that valentine pop)

How to Make this

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bowl, stir together 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

3. In a larger bowl, cream 1 cup unsalted butter (softened) with 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar until its light and fluffy.

4. Beat in 1 large egg (at room temperature) and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. If you’re into it, add 1/2 teaspoon almond extract for extra flavor.

5. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until everything is just combined, dont over mix.

6. Scoop small portions of dough and roll them into balls, then flatten slightly.

7. Bake in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes or until the edges start turning slightly golden; they wont look super done in the center, but thats fine.

8. While the cookies cool down, mix 2 cups powdered sugar, 3 to 4 tablespoons milk, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth.

9. Add red food coloring gradually to the icing until you get that perfect Valentine pop shade you want.

10. Once the cookies are completely cool, drizzle or spread the icing on top and let it set before serving. Enjoy your Valentine treat!

Equipment Needed

1. Oven with temperature control to preheat at 350°F along with at least two baking sheets and parchment paper
2. Medium bowl for mixing the dry ingredients
3. Large bowl for creaming the butter and sugar
4. Electric mixer or a sturdy whisk for blending the butter and sugar until light and fluffy
5. A set of measuring cups and measuring spoons to accurately measure the flour, sugars, and spices
6. A cookie scoop or a spoon to portion and shape the dough into balls
7. A cooling rack or a clean countertop space to let the cookies cool completely
8. A small bowl and a stirring utensil for mixing together the icing ingredients

FAQ

The Best Valentine Sugar Cookies Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• Instead of unsalted butter, you can use salted butter, just reduce the extra salt in the recipe; a solid option is also coconut oil for a subtle flavor change.
• If you don’t have regular granulated sugar, organic cane sugar works well too though it might change the taste just a bit.
• Don’t have an egg at room temperature? Mix 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal with 3 tablespoons water and let it sit for a few minutes to make a flax egg.
• If vanilla extract isn’t on hand, try using maple extract; it gives a different, sweet twist that’s pretty cool.
• Running low on red food coloring? A little beet juice concentrate can give you that same valentine pop, but be aware it might add a bit more moisture.

Pro Tips

1. Make sure your butter is softened just right – it should be soft enough to mix easily but not melted, because if its too soft the cookies might spread too much when baking.
2. When you add the dry ingredients to the wet mix, take your time and dont over mix it, since overdoing it can lead to tough cookies instead of that soft, chewy texture.
3. Keep an eye on your cookies, they should come out with the edges just turning a light golden color; even if the middle seems soft, it will set up fine as they cool.
4. For the icing, add the red food coloring a little at a time and mix well so you dont accidentally make it way too intense – you want that perfect Valentine shade without overdoing it.