Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookie Recipe
Last Updated on January 16, 2026 by Jamie Saechao
Jump to RecipeThese heart-shaped Valentine’s day sugar cookies are soft on the inside and firm on the outside- the perfect cut out cookies for decorating with icing!
This simple recipe makes baking with kids easy, and you can top the cookies with either buttercream or royal icing.
My classic cut out sugar cookies give you the perfect texture and flavor for sugar cookies- plus it rolls out super easily and makes for thick, delicious cookies!
If you are planning a Valentine’s party, make these cookies along with truffles, fudge, or chocolate-covered strawberries!
My daughter, Cecelia, and I tested this recipe 7 times- bringing you the perfect cookie to share at Valentine’s day parties or as a treat for your family!
*This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
For more classic cookie recipes try my family’s snickerdoodles, chocolate chip cookies, thumbprint cookies, and classic gingersnaps.
Ingredients
- All purpose flour – if you are not using a scale, use the scoop and level technique to measure- scoop the flour into your measuring cup with a spoon, then level it off with the back of a butter knife.
- Salt
- Baking powder
- Butter- Salted or unsalted works, if you use salted you may omit the added salt
- Granulated sugar – the key ingredient in sugar cookies
- Egg- room temperature
- Vanilla
- Almond extract *optional, but adds flavor dimension!
Make ahead tip: You can make this easy dough ahead of time and freeze it for several months. Just make sure to store it in an airtight container!
Recipe Tips
- Make sure to chill the dough for 2 hours for a great rolling experience.
- When rolling dough, use firm, even pressure.
- Do not over mix or you will end up with tough cookies!
- If you like crispy cookies, bake them for an additional 1-2 minutes.
- Make sure to cover the baking tray with a silicon mat or parchment paper so the cookies don’t stick during baking!
Buy heart-shaped cookie cutters in multiple sizes here.
How To Cut Out Sugar Cookies For Valentine’s Day
Whisk together the baking powder, salt, and flour in a large bowl.
Cream together the butter and sugar just until the mixture starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl in a stand mixer. You can also use a hand-held mixer.
Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract to the sugar mixture and mix until combined. The dough will have a slightly “coddled” look.
Slowly add the flour, a little at a time to the wet ingredients. Mix until just incorporated. The dough should be pulling away from the bowl when you are done mixing.
Divide the dough into two portions, shaping each portion into a flat rectangle. Wrap tightly with parchment paper or plastic and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
Once the dough has chilled, preheat the oven to 350 and pre-line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Flour your work surface and roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thick.
Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the cookies.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cookies are firm on the top. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let cool completely before frosting.
Storage
Make sure cookies are completely cool before storing!
- Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 7 days.
- To freeze, line all cookies up on a baking sheet and freeze for 30 minutes to flash freeze them. Then, transfer to a freezer safe storage bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
Heart Shaped Sugar Cookies For Valentine’s Day
Ingredients
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the baking powder, salt and flour.3 cups all purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt
- Cream together the butter and sugar just until the mixture starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl in a stand mixer. You can also use a hand-held mixer for this step.1 cup unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract to the wet ingredients and mix until incorporated.1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mix until combined. Then add the remaining wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Divide the dough into two portions, shaped like flat rectangles. Wrap tightly with parchment paper or plastic and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll the dough out to 1/4 quarter of an inch thick, and cut out your cookies.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cookies are firm on the top. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let cool completely before frosting.
Notes
- Chill the dough for 2 hours for a great rolling experience.
- Use firm, even pressure on the rolling pin when rolling out the dough.Â
- Do not over mix the dough or the cookies may end up tough.Â
- If you like crispy cookies, bake them for an additional 1-2 minutes.
- Make sure to cover the baking tray with a silicon mat or parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking during the bake.
