Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies

5 from 1 vote

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Who doesn’t love celebrating the day of love with sweetly decorated and even better tasting Valentine’s Day sugar cookies that are moist and decadent for all the loved ones who fill your life?!

They are totally easy and totally fun to make with (or for) all the folks who fill your world with sunshine, warmth, and love on Valentine’s Day or any day of the year!

stack of pink and red iced sugar cookie cutouts on white plate with small glass jug of milk with red and white paper straws
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Festive and Fun Valentine’s Sugar Cookies

Looking for the perfect sweet treat for your Valentine, whether that’s your spouse, kiddos, besties, or even just a teacher or neighbor in your life? No matter who you’re celebrating the day of love with this year, these cookies NEED to be made in your kitchen! They are so darn adorable, plus they’re simply the best sugar cookie texture and flavor ever: moist yet firm, sweet with hints of vanilla and almond, and perfect to top with festive frosting and sprinkles.

I would know because I sort of have a thing for incredible sugar cookies. I tested and played with recipes for years before perfecting this one, and do you want to know the secret? Using butter flavored shortening. I know, it’s not something we’d like to bake with all the time — and I don’t — but it really does add something special to these cookies and helps them hold their shape to perfection. You can’t skip it, and my philosophy is that eating something like shortening just a couple times a year balances out in the end. Happy baking and happy Valentine’s Day!

stack of iced valentine's sugar cookie cutouts on round white plates

How do you decorate sugar cookies?

Decorating sugar cookies is one of the best parts! I whip up a batch of this sugar cookie frosting (super simple) and color some of it red and some of it pink with food coloring, while leaving some of it white. Using a piping bag or a butter knife, add the frosting to the cooled sugar cookies however you see fit! I always say the messier the better. Add colored sprinkles soon after applying the frosting to that they stick.

Chill the dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. If you’re planning ahead, you can leave it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days… Just don’t forget about it in there!

woman holding iced sugar cookie cutout with pink rose icing

Over-mixing cookie dough can result in dry, crumbly, hard cookies. Make sure you just mix it enough to incorporate everything together.

Why do my sugar cookies taste like flour?

If your sugar cookies end up tasting dry, chalky, and too much like flour, it’s often because of measurements being off and using too much flour. This can happen when making the dough or when rolling out the cookie dough on a floured surface — use just enough so they don’t stick, but not too much.

How do you store decorated sugar cookies?

You can store decorated sugar cookies in airtight containers, separating levels with parchment paper so tops of cookies don’t stick to bottoms of others. They’ll keep for up to a week stored in the fridge.

Valentine's sugar cookie recipe how to collage image

How to make Valentine’s sugar cookies:

  1. Cream together the shortening and sugar. Beat until light and fluffy.
  2. Beat in eggs one at a time.
  3. Add the sour cream and vanilla.
  4. Add the baking soda, baking powder, flour, salt, and nutmeg if using, and mix all together.
  5. Refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes.
  6. Roll 1/4 of dough at a time out on a well-floured surface to ¼- to ½-inch thick.
  7. Use cookie cutters to make shapes, and transfer to a lightly greased baking sheet.
  8. Bake at 350 degrees F. for about 7 to 10 minutes.
  9. Repeat with remaining dough, gathering and re-rolling the scrap dough as you go along.
  10. Decorate cooled cookies with icing and sprinkles; the messier the better.
  11. This is my favorite frosting for sugar cookies if you need a recipe to go with this one.
valentine's day iced sugar cookies in heart shape lip shape and circle cutout cookies on cooling rack
stack of valentines day sugar cookies with piped pink and red or lips or even X&O's made of frosting
5 from 1 vote

Valentine’s Sugar Cookies

Who doesn’t love celebrating the day of love with sweetly decorated and even better tasting Valentine’s Day sugar cookies that are moist and decadent for all the loved ones who fill your life?!
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 7 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Servings: 4 dozen medium cookies

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup shortening, (I use butter flavored)
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 4 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Festive cookie cutters, (you can use hearts, X's and O's, and lips shapes)
  • Store-bought or homemade frosting, (this is my favorite sugar cookie frosting)

Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar. Beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  • Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.
  • Add the sour cream and vanilla.
  • Next, add the baking soda, baking powder, flour, salt, and nutmeg if using, and mix all together. The dough should be tacky without being sticky; adjust the flour as needed until you have a workable dough.
  • Refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes (and up to 2 days).
  • Working with ¼ of the dough at a time, roll it out on a well-floured surface to ¼- to ½-inch thick. Be generous with your flour on the rolling surface since the dough is very tender; it will stick easily.
  • Use cookie cutters to make shapes, and transfer to a lightly greased baking sheet.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F. for about 7 to 10 minutes.
  • Repeat with remaining dough, gathering and re-rolling the scrap dough as you go along.
  • Decorate cooled cookies with icing and sprinkles; the messier the better.
  • This is my favorite frosting for sugar cookies if you need a recipe to go with this one.

Notes

  • I don’t use shortening for a lot of recipes (this and My Favorite Pie Crust Recipe are about the only ones that I use it in), but it helps the cookies keep their shape and the end result is so much nicer. I figure if you’re just eating stuff like that a few times a year, it’ll balance itself out.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 of 48 medium cookies, Calories: 125kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 10mg, Sodium: 76mg, Potassium: 22mg, Fiber: 0.3g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 40IU, Vitamin C: 0.04mg, Calcium: 27mg, Iron: 1mg
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Valentine’s Day sugar cookies are the most perfect, simple, and fun sweet treat to celebrate this lovey-dovey holiday with all those you hold close!

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