These soft Valentine's Day sugar cookies feature heart-shaped cutouts and a creamy strawberry frosting, a cherished family recipe passed down for 40 years. The combination of vanilla cookie dough and pink strawberry frosting makes them perfect for gifting or celebrating.
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In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the granulated sugar and 1 cup of softened butter until light and fluffy.
Add the egg, vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons of milk. Mix until well combined.
Gradually add the all-purpose flour and baking powder to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until a soft dough forms.
Divide the dough in half, form each half into a disc, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
On a well-floured surface, roll out one disc of chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.
Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the frosting, combine the powdered sugar and 1/2 cup of softened butter in a large bowl.
Add the strawberry extract, 3 tablespoons of milk, and one drop of red food coloring.
Using a hand mixer, beat the frosting ingredients until smooth and creamy.
Once the cookies are completely cool, spread a layer of frosting over each one.
Decorate with sprinkles and let the frosting set before serving or storing.
Store unfrosted baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days; frosted cookies keep for 1-2 days in the refrigerator.
heart-shaped cookie cutter · stand mixer (optional but recommended for creaming butter and sugar)
Yes. Bake and cool the cookies completely, then store unfrosted in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Frost and decorate up to 1 day before serving.
Don't overbake. Remove from the oven when edges are just set but centers still look slightly underdone. Store in an airtight container with parchment between layers.
Yes, but the flavor will be different. Use the same amount (1 tsp) and omit strawberry extract. Food coloring may be needed to achieve the pink color.
Use a standard 2-3 inch heart-shaped cutter. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly golden and centers are set.
Yes, double all ingredients. Mix in batches if needed and bake on separate sheets to ensure even browning.
