Heart Shaped Sugar Cookies (Printable)
Tender sugar cookies in heart shapes decorated with crisp royal icing for special occasions.
# What You'll Need:
→ Sugar Cookie Dough
01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
→ Royal Icing
08 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
09 - 1 1/2 tablespoons meringue powder
10 - 3-4 tablespoons warm water
11 - Gel food coloring (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside for later use.
02 - Beat softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
03 - Mix in egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated into the butter mixture.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, beating on low speed until dough forms.
05 - Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On floured surface, roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut heart shapes and place 1 inch apart on prepared sheets.
08 - Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges begin turning golden. Cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
09 - Combine powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add 3 tablespoons water and beat on low until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Adjust consistency with additional water if needed.
10 - Divide icing and tint with gel food coloring as desired. Transfer to piping bags for decoration.
11 - Decorate cooled cookies with royal icing. Let set at room temperature until dry, approximately 1 hour.
# Cooking Tips:
01 -
- The dough is incredibly forgiving and rolls out beautifully every time
- Royal icing dries picture-perfect, so your cookies look bakery gorgeous
- These freeze beautifully undecorated for holiday prep weeks ahead
02 -
- Warm dough spreads into puddles, so don't skip the chilling step
- Royal icing consistency makes or breaks your decorating experience
- One minute too long in the oven transforms tender cookies into crispy ones
03 -
- Rotate your baking sheets halfway through for even browning
- Invest in gel food coloring, which won't thin your icing like liquid versions do