If you’re looking for a way to fill your home with the warm, sweet ambiance of Valentine’s Day, let me share a true gem with you: the Slice and Bake Valentine’s Day Cookies Recipe. This delightful treat combines buttery dough with charming pink heart shapes that will melt your heart before they even hit your taste buds. Simple enough for even beginner bakers but impressive to serve at a cozy celebration, these cookies deliver that perfect balance of crisp edges and tender centers, making every bite feel like a hug. Get ready to make your Valentine’s Day extra special with a batch that’s as fun to create as it is to eat!
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of the Slice and Bake Valentine’s Day Cookies Recipe lies in its straightforward, everyday ingredients—each carefully chosen to create a rich, tender dough with a festive pop of color. These basics come together to provide a perfect texture and a lovely vanilla-scented sweetness that will make your kitchen smell divine.
- Unsalted butter (3/4 cup): Softened to room temperature to ensure a smooth, easily blended dough that lends richness and moisture.
- Granulated sugar (1 cup): Adds just the right level of sweetness and helps with that delightful crisp edge.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Enhances the flavor subtly, bringing warmth and depth to every bite.
- Large eggs (2): Bind the ingredients and add to the tender crumb texture.
- All-purpose flour (2 1/2 cups): The backbone of the dough, providing structure while still allowing softness.
- Baking powder (1 teaspoon): Gives just a little lift to keep cookies from being too dense.
- Salt (1/2 teaspoon): Balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
- Red or pink food coloring: We love using natural food coloring to create those adorable Valentine hearts without any artificial aftertaste.
You’ll find the full ingredient list, instructions, and print option in the recipe card below.
How to Make Slice and Bake Valentine’s Day Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Cream the Butter, Sugar, and Vanilla
Start by adding the softened butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract to a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer. Beat these together on medium speed until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. This step is the foundation for a tender, melt-in-your-mouth cookie, so don’t rush it!
Step 2: Add the Eggs
Next, incorporate the two eggs, adding them one at a time and mixing until just combined. This careful mixing helps keep the dough’s texture just right and prevents it from becoming too dense or tough.
Step 3: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. This ensures that the leavening agent and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour, which is vital for an even bake and balanced flavor.
Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients with Wet
Add the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients in three to four batches, gently mixing until the dough just comes together. If the dough feels too wet or sticky, sprinkle in an extra tablespoon or two of flour. This can depend on factors like egg size or humidity, so trust your hands here.
Step 5: Separate and Color the Dough
Remove about half to two-thirds of the dough and set it aside plain. To the remaining portion, add several drops of red or pink food coloring and mix well until the color is even and vibrant. Feel free to add more drops for your desired hue. This colorful dough becomes the heart of our cute Valentine’s cookies!
Step 6: Chill and Roll Out the Colored Dough
Pop the pink dough into the freezer for 5 minutes, then roll it out on a lightly floured surface to about half an inch thickness in a rectangle. Return this to the freezer for another 20 minutes—this chill time is key so your heart shapes cut out neatly without warping.
Step 7: Cut Out Hearts and Assemble the Log
Use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter just about 1.5 inches wide to punch out hearts. Lightly moisten the back side of each heart with a tiny amount of water so another heart can stick to it, and carefully layer these hearts to form a log roughly 10 inches long. This building step is what makes these cookies stand out so beautifully.
Step 8: Freeze and Add Plain Dough
Freeze the heart log for at least 30 minutes until it is solid. Then press the plain dough onto and around the hearts, making sure there are no gaps, and roll into a smooth solid log. This wrapping adds a lovely contrast when you slice the cookies.
Step 9: Chill Again
Wrap the log tightly in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 more minutes. This final chill gives you clean, easy slices when you’re ready to bake.
Step 10: Bake Your Cookies
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Slice the dough into quarter-inch rounds and space them about two inches apart. Bake for around 12 minutes until the bottoms turn a light golden brown. Let them cool on the sheets, then delight in the cuteness and buttery deliciousness!
How to Serve Slice and Bake Valentine’s Day Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
While these cookies shine on their own, adding a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of white chocolate turns them into an extra-special treat. Fresh edible flower petals or a sprinkle of colored sugar crystals can add a whimsical touch perfect for Valentine’s Day celebrations.
Side Dishes
These sweet delights pair beautifully with a cup of rich hot chocolate, a cozy latte, or even a fruity herbal tea. Consider serving alongside a bowl of fresh berries or a small plate of whipped cream to complement the sugary crunch with freshness and creaminess.
Creative Ways to Present
For gift-giving or a festive dessert table, arrange these cookies in a heart-shaped tin or wrap them individually in cellophane tied with a satin ribbon. You can also layer them in a clear jar with a cute label, making for an irresistible, heartfelt present.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Your slice and bake cookies will keep wonderfully in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Placing wax or parchment paper between layers prevents sticking and keeps them looking as lovely as the day they were baked.
Freezing
Want to get ahead? The cookie dough log freezes beautifully before baking—wrap it tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to bake, thaw overnight in the fridge, then slice and bake as usual. This makes it easy to enjoy homemade Valentine’s Day cookies anytime!
Reheating
If you prefer warm cookies, reheat slices in a single layer on a baking sheet at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes or until warmed through. Avoid microwaving as it can soften the crisp edges and alter the texture.
FAQs
Can I use other colors for the dough?
Absolutely! While red or pink is perfect for Valentine’s Day, you can customize the dough with any food coloring you like to suit different occasions or moods.
What if I don’t have a heart-shaped cookie cutter?
No worries! You can use any small shape cutter, like stars or circles, or even cut the dough into strips or squares and decorate with icing for fun variations.
Is it necessary to chill the dough multiple times?
The chilling steps help the dough firm up, making it easier to cut and maintaining the shape of the hearts while baking, so they’re highly recommended for the best results.
Can I make this recipe vegan?
You can experiment by substituting plant-based butters and egg replacers. However, texture and flavor may vary slightly from the original recipe.
How should I store baked cookies if I want to keep them fresh longer?
Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature with a slice of bread to help maintain moisture for longer freshness.
Final Thoughts
This Slice and Bake Valentine’s Day Cookies Recipe is truly a joy to make and share. Its charm lies in the simplicity of the ingredients paired with the thoughtful process that brings those adorable heart shapes to life. Whether you’re baking for a loved one or treating yourself, these cookies are a sweet way to celebrate love all month long. I can’t wait for you to try them—you’re going to love how special these cookies make your Valentine’s Day feel!
PrintSlice and Bake Valentine’s Day Cookies Recipe
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with these charming Slice and Bake Valentine’s Day Cookies. This classic cookie recipe features soft, buttery sugar cookies with adorable heart cutouts embedded inside, created by layering colored and plain dough. The dough is chilled and sliced into perfect rounds that bake to a light golden brown. Fun to make and beautiful to serve, these cookies are a sweet treat for your loved ones.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 22 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings (about 24 cookies)
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Cookie 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 food coloring (natural preferred)
Instructions
- Cream Butter, Sugar, and Vanilla: In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, beat softened butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add Eggs: Incorporate eggs one at a time, mixing just until combined after each addition to ensure a smooth batter.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together all purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute baking powder and salt.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in 3-4 batches, mixing until dough comes together. If the dough feels too wet, add 1-2 tablespoons more flour as needed.
- Divide and Color Dough: Remove around 1/2 to 2/3 of the dough and set aside plain. Add several drops of red or pink food coloring to the remaining dough and mix until fully blended and vibrant in color.
- Chill and Roll Colored Dough: Place the colored dough in the freezer for 5 minutes to firm up. Roll it out into a rectangle about 1/2 inch thick on a lightly floured surface, then return to the freezer for 20 minutes to help hold shape during cutting.
- Cut Hearts and Assemble Core: Use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter (~1.5 inches wide) to cut hearts from the colored dough. Lightly moisten the flour side of a heart with water to help stick another heart on top, forming a heart log approximately 10 inches long.
- Freeze Heart Log: Freeze the log for at least 30 minutes or until solid.
- Encase Hearts in Plain Dough: Remove the frozen heart log from the freezer and press the reserved plain dough onto and around the hearts firmly, making sure to eliminate any gaps and rolling it into a smooth log.
- Chill Assembled Dough: Wrap the assembled log in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes for firmness before slicing.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pans: Preheat oven to 350˚F (175˚C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Slice and Bake Cookies: Slice the chilled dough log into 1/4-inch thick rounds and arrange them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for approximately 12 minutes, until cookie bottoms are lightly golden brown.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely on the baking sheets before serving to maintain their shape and texture.
Notes
- Adjust flour quantity as needed based on egg size and dough consistency to avoid overly wet dough.
- Chilling the dough and hearts at multiple stages is crucial to maintain crisp shapes when slicing and baking.
- Use a gentle touch with water when sticking hearts together—too much moisture can cause dough to become sticky and difficult to handle.
- Natural food coloring is preferred for a healthier alternative, but use stovetop or gel food coloring if desired for more intense color.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
