Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

Introduction

Few treats capture the spirit of Valentine’s Day (or any celebration of love) better than Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies decorated with royal icing. These cookies are buttery, soft yet crisp around the edges, and melt in your mouth with just the right amount of sweetness. What makes them truly special is the royal icing—smooth, glossy, and perfect for decorating. Whether you want to pipe elegant designs, write sweet messages, or keep it simple with a drizzle of color, these cookies are as fun to make as they are to eat.

These cookies are more than just a dessert; they’re an edible expression of love. From baking with kids to surprising your significant other, heart-shaped sugar cookies add a personal and heartfelt touch. Their festive shapes and colorful icing make them not only delicious but also incredibly Instagram-worthy, perfect for gifting, parties, or adding a romantic touch to your dessert table.

❤️ Why I Love This Recipe

I love this recipe because it takes something classic and makes it festive and personal. The sugar cookies are reliable and versatile—they hold their shape beautifully when baked, making them ideal for cutouts. The royal icing transforms them into little edible works of art.

I especially love how customizable this recipe is. You can play with colors, add sprinkles, or write special names and messages on each cookie. They’re not only fun to bake but also a creative outlet. Plus, they make an amazing homemade gift—something much more meaningful than store-bought sweets.

Why It’s a Must-Try Dish

• Perfect for Valentine’s Day, weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays.
• Combines classic flavor with customizable decoration.
• Fun to bake with kids, friends, or as a couple’s activity.
• Beautiful, giftable, and professional-looking with very little effort.
• Long shelf life—great for making ahead of time.

Preparation and Cooking Time

• Preparation Time: 25 minutes (plus 1 hour chilling dough)
• Baking Time: 10–12 minutes per batch
• Decorating Time: 30–40 minutes (depending on designs)
• Total Time: ~2 hours
• Servings: About 24 cookies
• Calories: ~140 kcal per cookie (with icing)

Cuisine and Course

• Cuisine: American / European-inspired
• Course: Dessert, Snack, Festive Treat

Ingredients

For the Sugar Cookies:

• 2 ¾ cups (345 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional, for flavor)
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt

For the Royal Icing:

• 3 cups (360 g) powdered sugar, sifted
• 2 large egg whites (or 4 tbsp meringue powder + 6 tbsp water)
• ½ teaspoon lemon juice or vanilla extract
• Gel food coloring (red, pink, white, etc.)

Step-by-Step Recipe Preparation

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
2. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Beat until combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms.

Step 2: Chill the Dough

• Divide the dough into two discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This helps cookies hold their shape.

Step 3: Roll and Cut

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. On a floured surface, roll out dough to about ¼-inch thickness.
3. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies.
4. Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Step 4: Bake

• Bake cookies for 10–12 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden.
• Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before icing.

Step 5: Make the Royal Icing

1. In a bowl, beat egg whites (or meringue powder mixture) until frothy.
2. Add powdered sugar gradually and beat until stiff peaks form.
3. Divide into bowls, add food coloring, and adjust consistency (thin for flooding, thick for piping).

Step 6: Decorate

• Pipe outlines, flood the center with icing, and use toothpicks for spreading.
• Add drizzle, dots, or lettering. Allow cookies to dry for several hours until icing sets.

How to Serve

• Arrange on a platter for parties or tea-time.
• Pack in gift boxes tied with ribbon for Valentine’s Day.
• Pair with coffee, tea, or hot cocoa for a cozy treat.

Additional Recipe Tips

• Chill dough properly to prevent spreading.
• Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without thinning icing.
• Dry completely before stacking or storing.
• If short on time, you can make the dough a day ahead.

Variations

• Chocolate Sugar Cookies: Replace ½ cup flour with cocoa powder.
• Glitter Cookies: Add edible glitter on top of icing for sparkle.
• Jam-Filled Hearts: Cut out small inner hearts and fill with jam before baking.
• Sprinkle Decorated: Add sprinkles right after flooding with icing.

Freezing and Storage

• Storage: Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
• Freezing Dough: Unbaked dough can be frozen for 2 months.
• Freezing Baked Cookies (without icing): Up to 2 months. Decorate after thawing.
• Iced Cookies: Store at room temperature (do not refrigerate, as icing softens).

Special Equipment Needed

• Heart-shaped cookie cutters
• Rolling pin
• Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
• Piping bags and tips (or ziplock bags with snipped corners)
• Toothpicks for fine details

Conclusion

Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing are the perfect festive treat for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, weddings, or anytime you want to show a little extra love. They’re buttery, delicious, and endlessly customizable, making them not just cookies, but edible gifts and sweet memories in the making. Whether you decorate them simply or go all out with intricate designs, these cookies are sure to bring smiles and warmth to anyone who receives them.

Print Recipe

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Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

Author: admin Cuisine: American Courses: Desserts

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 25 mins Cook Time 12 mins Total Time 37 mins

Servings: 24 Calories: 140 kcal

Description

Few treats capture the spirit of Valentine’s Day (or any celebration of love) better than Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies decorated with royal icing.

Ingredients

Scale

1/2x 1x 2x 3x

For the Sugar Cookies:

• 2 ¾ cups (345 g)
• 1 cup (225 g)
• 1 cup (200 g)
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional, for flavor)
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt

For the Royal Icing:

• 3 cups (360 g)
• 2 large egg whites (or 4 tbsp meringue powder + 6 tbsp water)
• ½ teaspoon lemon juice or vanilla extract
• Gel food coloring (red, pink, white, etc.)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Prepare the Dough : In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Beat until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms.
2. Step 2: Chill the Dough : Divide the dough into two discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This helps cookies hold their shape.
3. Step 3: Roll and Cut : Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). On a floured surface, roll out dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies. Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
4. Step 4: Bake : Bake cookies for 10–12 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before icing.
5. Step 5: Make the Royal Icing : In a bowl, beat egg whites (or meringue powder mixture) until frothy. Add powdered sugar gradually and beat until stiff peaks form. Divide into bowls, add food coloring, and adjust consistency (thin for flooding, thick for piping).
6. Step 6: Decorate : Pipe outlines, flood the center with icing, and use toothpicks for spreading. Add drizzle, dots, or lettering. Allow cookies to dry for several hours until icing sets.

Keywords: Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing