These Valentine Sugar Cookies are as fun to make as they are to eat. This easy roll-out sugar cookie dough requires no chilling and there is no spreading, so your cookies hold their shape perfectly every time. Cut them into hearts, Xs and Os, or your favorite Valentine shapes, then bake up soft, buttery cookies that look bakery-worthy with minimal effort. Perfect for classroom parties, cookie exchanges, gifting, or a sweet Valentine’s Day baking project, this foolproof sugar cookie recipe makes decorating simple and stress-free — and the results are absolutely adorable.Â
These sugar cookies are always an excited surprise! Involve the family and get everyone to help decorate with the easy pourable icing! If you are looking for more easy Valentine recipes try these Valentine M&M Cookie Bars!
Ingredients
- butter
- sugar
- egg
- vanilla
- flour
- baking powder
- salt
- butter
- evaporated milk
- almond extract
- powdered sugar
See exact quantities in recipe card below!
Instructions
To begin, preheat your oven to 375°F. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the first four ingredients until smooth. Next, add the dry ingredients and mix well until a dough forms. Roll out to the desired thickness. I personally like cookies to be ⅜". Then, press the cookie dough into your desired shapes and place them on an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake for 6–8 minutes, being careful not to over bake. You’ll know the cookies are done once the edges are set and the tops are no longer shiny.
For the icing, start by melting the butter and evaporated milk together in the microwave. After that, stir in the extract. Finally, gradually add powdered sugar until the icing reaches your desired consistency—I use about 3 ½ cups.
- Step 1: Make and roll out dough to desired thickness
- Step 2: Using cookie cutters cut out dough into desired shape
- Step 3: Bake and cool cookies
- Step 4: Decorate and Have Fun!
FAQs
YES! I actually like to use half and half sometimes!
I love mine to be ⅜" thickness. And I use the adjustable rolling pin so everything is the same!
I love to use squeeze bottles. You can find them in the baking supply aisle and the plastics area for condiments!
You are baking to long! Once these loose their shine they are ready. Do not wait for a golden edge. Mine are usually done at 7 minutes.
Equipment
I firmly believe that everyone needs the right equipment in their kitchen. It makes your time in the kitchen much more enjoyable! I LOVE this Rolling Pin! It is adjustable making every cookie you bake the exact same thickness!
I also LOVE this Baking Sheet. I can fit 20 or more cut out cookies on this XL sheet!
Check out more of my favorite baking tools HERE!
Storage
These keep for days! I love laying them in a single layer on a sheet pan and using this cover. Or I place them in an airtight storage container in a single layer. The icing is firm but soft. So stacking them can alter the decorative icing.
Icing Tip
The icing is super easy to pull together. Start by melting the butter and evaporated milk together in the microwave. After that, stir in the extract. I like to use half vanilla and half almond. Finally, gradually add powdered sugar until the icing reaches your desired consistency—it may take the entire bag. If you are adding the icing to the squeeze bottles you want a thick pourable consistency. Sometimes once I get them in the bottles I add a little more milk and stir with a knife or chopstick so that I can get the perfect consistency. It dries firm, but not crisp or hard.
Cookies to Try
- Reese's Thins Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Chocolate Chip CookiesÂ
- Chocolate Chip Cookie BarsÂ
- Snickerdoodles
Valentine Recipes to Try
- Valentine M&M Cookie Bars
- Peanut Butter Reese's Hearts Cookies
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Heart Cookies
- Hershey Bar Pie
Valentine Sugar Cookies
Equipment
- XL sheet pan this size can hold 20 cookies
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup butter softened
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 egg room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 ½ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Icing
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 6 Tablespoons evaporated milk
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3-4 cups Powdered Sugar* see note
Instructions
Cookies
- Preheat oven to 375℉. Cream together first 4 ingredients. Add dry Ingredients. Mix well. Place dough on a floured surface and roll out to desired thickness. Press cookies into desired shape. Bake for 6-8 min on ungreased cookie sheet or parchment lined pan. Do not over bake! Once edges are set and the cookies are no longer shiny they are done. Do not wait for golden edges... when the edges are set and there is no shine on top, pull them out because they are done. Let them cool on the baking sheet 3-4 minutes then gently remove with a thin spatula to a cooling rack.
Icing
- Melt butter and evaporated milk together in microwave. Add extract. Pour into a mixing bowl, then add powder sugar starting with 2 cups and mixing until desired consistency. If the icing can slowly stream off a spoon, this is a great consistency for a squeeze bottle. Separate into individual bowls and color as desire. Pour into squeezable bottles and squeeze out icing. If you get it into the squeeze bottle and it is to thick it is ok, just add a little bit of the evaporated milk until it is pourable. It just takes a a little practice to get the consistency. See notes for more tips!
Leanne says
These were so delicious! My kids could not get enough of them. Unfortunately, they ate so many before I could ice them all. Will make more when no one is looking 😉
Misty Tannery says
HAHA! I am so glad you liked them!
Eva says
These were so delicious, and your tips were all wonderful. Very appreciated.
Misty Tannery says
So glad you liked them!
maddy says
These are the perfect chewy sugar cookies! love the valentines twist.
Misty Tannery says
So glad you like them! I like that they are soft too! And you have to have heart cookies at Valentine's!
Abi says
Wow such a pretty heart shaped cookies, definately making them for this Valentines day season!
Misty Tannery says
I hope you love them! They are tender while still holding their shape!
Therese says
I made these at the weekend and they were so delicious. Thank you
Misty Tannery says
So glad you liked them!