Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These Slice and Bake Heart Cookies are the ultimate buttery, melt-in-your-mouth treats, perfect for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, or any time you want to add a little extra love to your baking!
✔ No Rolling Required: The slice-and-bake method makes these cookies super easy to shape.
✔ Beautiful Heart Design: A fun and festive way to impress guests or loved ones.
✔ Versatile & Customizable: Change up the colors, flavors, or even dip them in chocolate for extra flair!
✔ Perfect for Gifting: These cookies keep well, making them ideal for homemade gifts or cookie boxes.
Ingredients
For about 24 cookies, you’ll need:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or almond extract for a twist)
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Food coloring (pink or red for the heart layer)
Instructions
Step 1: Make the Dough
- Cream Butter & Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add Egg & Vanilla: Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add flour and salt, mixing just until the dough forms.
Step 2: Create the Heart Center
- Divide ⅓ of the dough into a separate bowl and tint it pink or red with food coloring.
- Shape the colored dough into a log about 1 inch thick, then flatten slightly.
- Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for 30 minutes (this makes cutting easier).
Step 3: Shape the Hearts
- Once firm, slice the colored dough into ¼-inch thick rounds.
- Use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out hearts from each slice.
- Stack the hearts on top of each other to form a long heart-shaped log.
- Freeze for another 20 minutes to hold the shape.
Step 4: Wrap with the Plain Dough
- Roll out the remaining plain dough into long strips.
- Wrap the plain dough around the heart log, smoothing the edges.
- Roll the entire log gently to create an even shape.
- Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 3 days.
Step 5: Slice & Bake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice the dough into ¼-inch thick cookies and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Nutrition Information (Per Cookie)
(Approximate values based on ingredients used.)
- Calories: 110
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Protein: 1g
- Fat: 5g
- Sugar: 5g
Tips & Tricks for Perfect Heart Cookies
✔ Chill the Dough: Keeping the dough cold makes slicing easier and helps maintain the heart shape.
✔ Customize Colors: Try different colors for seasonal themes—green for St. Patrick’s Day, orange for Halloween, etc.
✔ Dip in Chocolate: For an extra indulgence, dip half of each cookie in melted white or dark chocolate and add sprinkles!
✔ Make Ahead: The dough can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months before baking.
Leave a Reply