Sweetheart Tender Butter Cookies (Print Version)

Tender buttery heart-shaped cookies glazed and decorated for special occasions or sharing.

# What You Need:

→ For the Cookies

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

→ For the Glaze

08 - 1 cup powdered sugar
09 - 2-3 tablespoons milk
10 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - Food coloring (optional)
12 - Sprinkles or colored sugar (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 with electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
03 - Add egg and vanilla extract to butter mixture, mixing until fully incorporated.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture on low speed until smooth dough forms.
05 - Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for minimum 1 hour.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut heart shapes and transfer to prepared sheets.
08 - Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges begin turning golden. Cool 5 minutes on sheet before transferring to rack.
09 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add food coloring if desired.
10 - Spread or drizzle glaze over completely cooled cookies. Add sprinkles and allow glaze to set before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The dough is incredibly forgiving and roll out so smoothly that even first time bakers feel like pros
  • That perfect tender crisp edge while staying soft in the middle makes them impossible to stop eating
02 -
  • Cold dough is non negotiable because warm dough spreads too much and you lose those crisp heart shapes
  • Over mixing the flour makes tough cookies so stop as soon as the dough comes together
03 -
  • Rotate your baking sheets halfway through baking so every cookie browns evenly
  • Use room temperature ingredients to prevent the dough from separating or becoming lumpy

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