Heart Shaped Sugar Cookies (Printable Version)
Buttery, heart-shaped sugar cookies with crisp royal icing, perfect for celebrations or gift-giving.
# What You'll Need:
→ Sugar Cookies
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 - Add egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, mixing until fully incorporated.
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 lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut heart shapes and place 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
08 - Bake for 8–10 minutes until edges begin to turn golden. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Combine powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add 3 tablespoons water and beat on low speed 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 decorating.
11 - Decorate cooled cookies with royal icing. Let set at room temperature until dry, approximately 1 hour.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The dough is incredibly forgiving and rolls out beautifully without sticking
- Royal icing creates that professional bakery look anyone can achieve at home
02 -
- Chilling the dough is not optional or the cookies will spread too much and lose their heart shape
- Royal icing consistency matters more than you think for flooding versus outlining details
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients incorporate better and prevent the dough from separating
- Sift your powdered sugar before making royal icing to avoid lumps that clog piping tips