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Heart-shaped sugar cookies with pink frosting and sprinkles, on a light pink, red, and yellow plate.

Valentine Cookies

Soft, buttery Valentine cookies with royal icing and sprinkles. Ready in 2.5 hours (mostly chilling). Perfect for gifting or hoarding.
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Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings 36 cookies
Calories 180 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Cookies:

  • 2 cups 4 sticks unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp almond extract
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt

For the Icing:

  • 4 cups powdered sugar sifted
  • 3 tbsp meringue powder
  • 6-8 tbsp warm water
  • Gel food coloring red, pink, or your choice
  • Sprinkles: Hearts glitter, or nonpareils

Instructions
 

  • Cream butter + sugar: Beat butter and sugar until fluffy (2-3 mins). Add eggs, vanilla, and almond extract. Mix until smooth.
  • Mix dry ingredients: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture. Mix until just combined.
  • Chill dough: Divide into 3 disks, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate 1 hour.
  • Roll + cut: Roll dough to ¼-inch thickness. Cut into hearts. Reroll scraps once.
  • Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake 8-10 mins until edges are lightly golden. Cool completely.
  • Decorate: Make royal icing (beat meringue powder + water, add powdered sugar). Tint with food coloring. Pipe borders, flood centers, and add sprinkles.