These Slice and Bake Heart Cookies are a delightful treat perfect for any occasion, especially when you want to show a little extra love. With their crisp edges, soft centers, and cute heart shape, these cookies are a fun project for the whole family. The best part? You can prepare the dough ahead of time, slice it, and bake whenever you’re ready!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple and Fun: This recipe is easy to follow and a fun project to make with kids or as a gift.
- Make-Ahead Convenience: The dough can be prepared in advance, allowing you to bake fresh cookies on-demand.
- Customizable: You can change up the colors, flavors, and shapes to suit any occasion.
- Delicious Texture: These cookies offer the perfect balance of crispiness and softness.
- Festive Appeal: The heart shape makes these cookies perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or any time you want to share some love.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- All-purpose flour
- Unsalted butter
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Egg
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Red food coloring (optional, for heart design)
Directions
- Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing well. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients to form a smooth dough.
- Divide and color the dough: Divide the dough into two portions. Add red food coloring to one portion to create the heart design. Knead until the color is evenly distributed.
- Shape the heart: Roll the colored dough into a log with a heart-shaped cross-section. You can create the shape by hand or use a small heart-shaped mold for precision. Chill the dough for about 30 minutes.
- Wrap with plain dough: Roll out the plain dough into a flat rectangle. Wrap it around the heart-shaped dough log, making sure the heart is fully enclosed. Chill the dough again for another 30 minutes to an hour.
- Slice and bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Slice the dough log into 1/4-inch thick slices and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Cool and serve: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Servings and Timing
- Servings: This recipe yields about 24 cookies, depending on the thickness of your slices.
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Chill time: 1 hour
- Bake time: 10-12 minutes
- Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Variations
- Change the shape: Instead of hearts, you can create stars, circles, or any other shape that suits the occasion.
- Add flavors: Try adding a bit of almond extract, lemon zest, or cocoa powder to the dough for a different flavor twist.
- Color variations: Use different food coloring for different holidays, like green for St. Patrick’s Day or orange for Halloween.
Storage/Reheating
- Room temperature: Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Freezing the dough: You can freeze the dough log for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, thaw in the fridge for a few hours, then slice and bake as directed.
- Reheating: These cookies are best enjoyed fresh, but you can warm them up in the microwave for a few seconds if desired.
FAQs
How far in advance can I make the dough?
You can prepare the dough up to 3 days in advance and keep it chilled in the refrigerator. Alternatively, you can freeze the dough for up to 3 months.
Can I skip the chilling step?
Chilling is essential to help the dough hold its shape while slicing. Skipping this step may result in misshapen cookies.
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?
Yes, but if you use salted butter, reduce or omit the added salt in the recipe.
What if I don’t have food coloring?
The food coloring is optional. You can make the cookies without it, or use a natural coloring alternative like beet juice or turmeric.
Can I use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour?
You can substitute whole wheat flour, but the texture will be denser, and the flavor will be slightly nutty.
How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much?
Ensure that the dough is properly chilled before slicing and baking, and avoid over-creaming the butter and sugar, as that can cause excess spreading.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes, you can use a 1:1 gluten-free flour substitute. The texture may vary slightly, but they should still hold up well.
Can I make these cookies vegan?
To make these cookies vegan, use a plant-based butter and an egg substitute, such as flaxseed meal mixed with water.
How can I decorate these cookies further?
You can drizzle melted chocolate, add sprinkles, or ice the cookies with royal icing for extra decoration.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes, you can easily double or halve the recipe depending on how many cookies you need.
Conclusion
Slice and Bake Heart Cookies are a versatile and charming treat that’s perfect for any special occasion or simply when you want to indulge in some homemade goodness. With the ability to prepare the dough ahead of time and customize the design and flavors, these cookies are sure to become a favorite. Enjoy them fresh or share them with loved ones for a sweet gesture!
Print
Slice and Bake Heart Cookies
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour (including chilling time)
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Slice and Bake Heart Cookies are perfect for Valentine’s Day or any occasion that needs a touch of sweetness. With a simple dough that’s easy to shape and bake, these cookies are buttery, soft, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The heart-shaped design adds a festive charm to every bite, and you can customize the colors to suit your theme.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Food coloring (pink or red for hearts)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla extract, almond extract (if using), and salt, and mix until combined.
- Add Flour: Gradually add in the flour, mixing just until the dough forms.
- Divide and Color Dough: Split the dough into two portions. Leave one portion as is and add a few drops of red or pink food coloring to the other portion. Mix until the color is evenly distributed.
- Shape into Logs: Shape the uncolored dough into a cylinder (about 2 inches in diameter) and wrap it in plastic wrap. With the colored dough, form a smaller log and use your hands to shape it into a heart by pressing the sides and creating a point at the bottom. Wrap in plastic and chill both logs for 1-2 hours.
- Combine the Logs: Once the dough is firm, cut the heart-shaped dough into thin slices (about 1/8 inch thick) and press them along the top of the cylinder of uncolored dough. Wrap the combined log in plastic wrap and chill again for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Slice and Bake: Unwrap the dough and slice into ¼ inch thick rounds. Arrange the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- You can adjust the heart size depending on how thick or thin you shape the colored dough.
- Try using different colors or shapes for various holidays or events.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
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