Description
A visually striking treat perfect for expressing creativity and love through food, ideal for special occasions like Valentine’s Day and weddings.
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Royal icing in various colors (for decorating)
- Food coloring (optional, for icing colors)
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In another large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms. Divide the dough into two equal portions, flatten them into discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least an hour.
- Once chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out one disc of dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out cookies, and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are just starting to brown. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.
- While the cookies cool, prepare the royal icing. Divide the icing into bowls and add food coloring to create your desired shades for decorating.
- Once the cookies are cool, pipe a border around the outline of the hearts with one color of icing. Quickly fill the center with a different color, allowing the icing to spread and blend. Use a toothpick to create marbled designs or connect different colors.
- Allow the decorated cookies to dry completely before storing or serving, which may take several hours or overnight.
Notes
Keep icing consistency in mind while decorating. Use piping bags for better control.
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American