Valentine Heart Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

These Valentine Heart Sugar Cookies are soft, buttery cut-out cookies decorated with smooth royal icing in beautiful shades of pink and blush. They’re perfect for Valentine’s Day parties, cookie boxes, gifting, or just a fun baking project. The cookies hold their shape perfectly, while the icing dries glossy and firm, making them easy to stack and store.

Ingredients

For the Sugar Cookies

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt

For the Royal Icing

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons meringue powder
• 5–6 tablespoons warm water
• Gel food coloring (pink, blush, white)
• Optional sprinkles or sugar pearls

Preparation Steps

Step 1: Make the Cookie Dough

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until fully combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix just until a soft dough forms.

Step 2: Chill the Dough

Divide the dough into two portions, flatten into discs, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to make rolling easier and prevent spreading.

Step 3: Roll and Cut

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll the chilled dough out on a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies and place them on the prepared baking sheets.

Step 4: Bake

Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until the edges are just set and the tops are pale. Do not overbake. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 5: Prepare the Royal Icing

In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add warm water a little at a time until the icing reaches a thick but pipeable consistency. Divide into bowls and tint with gel food coloring. Adjust with more water for flood icing and keep thicker icing for outlines.

Step 6: Decorate

Outline each heart cookie with thicker icing, then fill (flood) with thinner icing. Use a toothpick to smooth the surface. Add sprinkles or sugar pearls while the icing is still wet. Allow cookies to dry completely for 6–8 hours or overnight.

Variations

• Add almond extract for a bakery-style flavor
• Use lemon extract for a fresh citrus note
• Create marbled icing designs with multiple colors
• Add edible glitter for sparkle
• Use chocolate sugar cookie dough for contrast

Serving Suggestions

• Package in clear treat bags for gifts
• Serve on Valentine dessert platters
• Add to cookie boxes or bake sales
• Pair with hot cocoa or tea
• Use as edible table décor

Prep Time / Cooking Time / Total Time

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour
Cooking Time: 10 minutes per batch
Total Time: About 1 hour 40 minutes

Nutritional Information (Per Cookie)

Approx. 180 calories
8g fat
25g carbohydrates
2g protein

Conclusion

Valentine Heart Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing are a classic, elegant treat that never goes out of style. With soft, buttery cookies and beautifully decorated icing, they’re perfect for celebrating love, sharing gifts, or creating sweet memories in the kitchen.