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Freshly baked cookies on a cooling rack set on the white marble cooktop. Vibrantly colored royal icing is being piped onto the cookies using a piping bag, creating intricate and festive designs

Valentine’s Day Cookies Recipe

These sweet sugar cookies with royal icing are perfect for any occasion. Easy to make, fun to decorate, and delicious, they will delight friends and family with their festive colors and charm.
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Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 12 minutes
Additional Time 4 hours
Total Time 6 hours 12 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 20
Calories 200 kcal

Equipment

  • medium mixing bowl
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Handheld or stand mixer with paddle attachment
  • Sifter
  • Rolling Pin
  • Cookie cutter
  • Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
  • Baking sheets
  • Wire Rack
  • Small bowls for icing
  • Hand mixer or stand mixer with whisk attachment
  • Piping bags and tips

Ingredients
  

  • 2 and 1/4 cups 281g all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled), plus more as needed for rolling and work surface
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup 12 Tbsp; 170g unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 3/4 cup 150g granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon almond extract optional, but makes the flavor outstanding*
  • Royal Icing
  • 4 cups 480g confectioners’ sugar, sifted (I use and recommend Domino brand)
  • 3 Tablespoons meringue powder not plain egg white powder
  • 9 –10 Tablespoons room-temperature water
  • gel food coloring kit for tinting or any gel food coloring

Instructions
 

  • Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
    A glass mixing bowl on a white marble cooktop containing flour, baking powder, and salt. A small hand whisk is blending the ingredients together, while leveled flour and measuring spoons rest nearby, ready for use
  • Beat butter and sugar until smooth. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract.
    A glass bowl on a white marble cooktop with softened butter and granulated sugar being creamed to a smooth consistency using a hand mixer. A cracked egg and a vanilla extract bottle sit beside the bowl, ready to be added.
  • Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until dough forms.
    The dry ingredients are being slowly incorporated into the creamed butter and sugar mixture in a glass bowl on the white marble cooktop. A spatula folds the mixture into a soft and uniform cookie dough.
  • Divide dough, roll out on parchment paper to 1/4-inch thickness. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
    Cookie dough rolled out evenly on parchment paper placed on the white marble cooktop. A rolling pin lies to the side, and the dough is flattened to a 1/4-inch thickness, prepared for chilling.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C) and bake cookies for 11-12 minutes.
    Uniformly cut cookie shapes arranged neatly on a parchment-lined baking sheet. The sheet rests on the white marble cooktop, ready to be transferred to the oven for baking
  • Make royal icing by mixing powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water.
    A glass bowl on the white marble cooktop holds sifted confectioners' sugar, meringue powder, and water being mixed into a smooth royal icing. Bright gel food coloring bottles are arranged neatly next to the bowl.
  • Color icing and decorate cookies. Allow them to set for 2 hours before writing on them.
    Freshly baked cookies on a cooling rack set on the white marble cooktop. Vibrantly colored royal icing is being piped onto the cookies using a piping bag, creating intricate and festive designs
  • Store cookies at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the fridge for 10 days.