Heart Cookies
Heart-shaped butter cookies with a rich vanilla flavor and a hint of almond, these are a straightforward cut-out cookie well suited to Valentine's Day or any occasion that calls for a homemade gift. They bake up crisp at the edges with a slightly softer center. Allow extra time if you plan to decorate them with icing.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Electric Mixer
- Rolling pin
- Heart-shaped cookie cutter
- Baking Sheets
- Parchment Paper
- Cooling Rack
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour sifted
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 9-24 drops red food coloring (optional) or as desired; for tinting dough
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Whisk Together Dry Ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat softened butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Incorporate Egg and Extracts: Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract to the butter mixture, beating until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Mix in Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. If using, add a few drops of red food coloring for a pink tint and mix until the color is evenly distributed.
- Chill Dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until firm.
- Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to a thickness of about 1/4 inch.
- Cut Out Shapes: Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies and place them on prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden. The aroma will be invitingly sweet and buttery.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets briefly before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For more intense almond flavor, you can double the almond extract.
- Consider adding melted chocolate drizzle for added flair.
Nutrition
Calories: 143kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 37mgPotassium: 20mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 248IUCalcium: 10mgIron: 1mg
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