Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
For the Sugar Cookies:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract optional
For the Buttercream Roses:
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pink and red gel food coloring
Instructions
1️⃣ Make the Cookie Dough
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
- Add egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using), mixing until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
2️⃣ Chill & Roll the Dough
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Roll the dough out on a floured surface to ¼-inch thickness.
- Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies.
3️⃣ Bake the Cookies
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the cookies at least 1 inch apart.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating.
4️⃣ Make the Buttercream
- In a bowl, beat butter until creamy (about 2 minutes).
- Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing on low speed.
- Add heavy cream and vanilla extract, then beat on high speed until fluffy (about 3 minutes).
- Divide the buttercream into separate bowls and tint with pink and red gel food coloring.
5️⃣ Decorate with Buttercream Roses
- Transfer the buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a star tip (Wilton 1M or 2D works best).
- Pipe buttercream roses directly onto the cookies or onto parchment paper using a flower nail, then transfer them once set.
- Let the buttercream set before serving or packaging.
Notes
✅ For Crisp Edges – Chilling the dough before rolling helps cookies hold their shape while baking.
✅ Smooth Buttercream – For an extra smooth finish, sift the powdered sugar before mixing.
✅ Use Gel Food Coloring – This ensures vibrant colors without altering the texture.
✅ Piping Tip – If you’re new to piping roses, practice on parchment paper before decorating the cookies.
✅ Flavor Variations – Swap almond extract for lemon or rose extract for a different flavor twist!
✅ Smooth Buttercream – For an extra smooth finish, sift the powdered sugar before mixing.
✅ Use Gel Food Coloring – This ensures vibrant colors without altering the texture.
✅ Piping Tip – If you’re new to piping roses, practice on parchment paper before decorating the cookies.
✅ Flavor Variations – Swap almond extract for lemon or rose extract for a different flavor twist!