Slice and Bake Valentine’s Day Cookies Recipe

Introduction

Celebrate love with these charming Slice and Bake Valentine’s Day Cookies. Featuring delicate pink hearts nestled inside buttery cookie rounds, they are as delightful to look at as they are to eat. Perfect for gifting or sharing at a festive gathering.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Red or pink food coloring (natural food coloring recommended)

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
2. Step 2: Add eggs one at a time, mixing just until they are combined with the mixture.
3. Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Step 4: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in 3 to 4 batches, mixing until the dough forms. If the dough feels too wet, add 1 to 2 tablespoons more flour as needed.
5. Step 5: Remove about half to two-thirds of the dough and set aside. Add several drops of food coloring to the remaining dough and mix until evenly colored, adding more drops to reach your desired pink hue.
6. Step 6: Freeze the colored dough for 5 minutes, then roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle about 1/2-inch thick. Return it to the freezer for 20 minutes to firm up for easy cutting.
7. Step 7: Use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter (about 1.5 inches) to cut out hearts from the colored dough. Lightly moisten the floured side of each heart with a tiny bit of water before pressing another heart on top, which helps them stick. Continue until you have a log about 10 inches long.
8. Step 8: Freeze the log for at least 30 minutes until solid. Remove and press the plain dough onto and around the hearts, making sure to fill all gaps. Roll everything into a smooth log again.
9. Step 9: Wrap the log in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
10. Step 10: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
11. Step 11: Slice the chilled dough into 1/4-inch rounds, spacing them about 2 inches apart on the baking sheets. Bake for approximately 12 minutes or until the bottoms turn light golden brown. Remove and let cool before serving.

Tips & Variations

• Use natural food coloring to avoid synthetic dyes and achieve a lovely soft pink shade.
• If the dough is too sticky, chilling it longer will make slicing easier and cleaner.
• Try adding a teaspoon of almond extract for a subtle nutty flavor twist.
• For more color variety, divide the dough into portions and use different colors for the hearts.

Storage

Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. You can also freeze the sliced dough logs before baking for up to one month; just thaw in the refrigerator before slicing and baking. Reheat baked cookies gently in a low oven if you prefer them warm.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, the dough can be prepared and chilled or frozen before slicing and baking. This makes it convenient to bake fresh cookies on demand.

What if I don’t have a heart cookie cutter?

You can use any small cookie cutter shape you like or cut the dough into simple rounds without hearts for a tasty alternative.

Slice and Bake Valentine’s Day Cookies Recipe

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4.9 from 111 reviews

Delight in these charming Slice and Bake Valentine’s Day Cookies featuring buttery, tender dough shaped into adorable heart designs. Perfect for gifting or sharing during the Valentine’s season, these cookies combine classic sugar cookie flavors with a festive pink hue made from natural food coloring. The slice-and-bake technique ensures perfectly thick, evenly baked cookies every time.

• Author: Rita
• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: Approximately 30 cookies 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dough

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Red or pink natural food coloring, several drops

Instructions

1. Prepare the Butter and Sugar Mixture: Add butter, sugar, and vanilla extract to a large mixing bowl or stand mixer. Beat at medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, ensuring a smooth creamy base for the dough.
2. Add Eggs: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, mixing until just combined after each addition to maintain the mixture’s smoothness without overbeating.
3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure even distribution throughout the dough.
4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in 3 to 4 batches, mixing until the dough just comes together. If too wet, add 1 to 2 tablespoons more flour depending on egg size and consistency.
5. Divide Dough and Add Color: Remove about 1/2 to 2/3 of the dough and set aside. Add several drops of natural food coloring to the remaining dough and mix until evenly colored. Adjust hue with additional food coloring as desired.
6. Chill and Roll Colored Dough: Place the pink dough in the freezer for 5 minutes. Then roll it out into a rectangle about 1/2-inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Return it to the freezer for 20 minutes to firm up for cutting.
7. Cut Heart Shapes: Use a small heart cookie cutter (~1.5 inches across) to cut out hearts from the pink dough. Lightly wet your finger and dab it on the floured side of a heart before pressing another heart on top to help them stick, being careful not to add too much water.
8. Form the Log: Repeat cutting and sticking hearts together until you create a log about 10 inches long. Freeze the log for at least 30 minutes or until solid.
9. Adhere Plain Dough: Remove the log from the freezer and press the reserved plain dough evenly onto and around the pink heart log, eliminating gaps, then roll it into a smooth cohesive log.
10. Chill Wrapped Log: Wrap the dough log tightly in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes to firm up before slicing.
11. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350˚F (175˚C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
12. Slice and Bake: Slice the chilled dough log into 1/4-inch thick rounds, spacing them approximately 2 inches apart on the baking sheets. Bake for about 12 minutes, or until the bottoms turn a light golden brown.
13. Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets before transferring to a wire rack or serving.

Notes

• For best results, ensure butter is properly softened to room temperature before mixing to achieve a creamy texture.
• Use natural food coloring to avoid artificial dyes and maintain a more natural cookie.
• Chilling the dough at multiple points helps maintain shape and sharp detail in heart cutouts.
• Be cautious not to add too much water when adhering hearts together to prevent dough from becoming sticky or losing shape.
• Slice the dough while it is well chilled for clean edges and even baking.
• Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.

Keywords: Valentine’s Day cookies, slice and bake cookies, heart shaped cookies, sugar cookies, pink cookies, holiday cookies, easy cookie recipe