# Liven Up Your Valentine’s Day with Colorful and Fun Heart Cookies
These Heart Cookies are tender, rich sugar cookies inspired by the traditional Conversation Hearts that appear every Valentine’s Day. The cookie dough is prepared, chilled, and shaped into hearts before being baked just right. They are adorned with vibrant royal icing and personalized messages for your special someone. You’ll adore how chewy and soft these cookies are, topped with a lively and sweet royal icing to brighten anyone’s day.
## Recipe Ingredients
– **Food Coloring** – To mimic the classic hues of the conversation heart candies.
– **Almond Extract** – Imparts a subtle almond taste that makes these cookies delightful.
– **Confectioner’s Sugar** – The foundation for the smooth and sweet royal icing.
For a comprehensive list of ingredients and their quantities, refer to the recipe card below.
## How to Prepare Heart Cookies
### Step #1:
In a medium bowl, combine the flour and baking powder and whisk until blended.
### Step #2:
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar at high speed for 3 minutes.
### Step #3:
Then, add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract, beating at high speed for 1 minute. Scrape down the edges as necessary.
### Step #4:
Incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and stir until a dough forms.
### Step #5:
Divide the dough into two parts and, using a rolling pin, roll out each half on lightly floured parchment paper to about ¼ inch thickness.
### Step #6:
Transfer the dough onto a baking sheet and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
### Step #7:
After chilling, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
### Step #8:
Take the chilled dough from the fridge, and with a 3.5-inch heart cookie cutter, shape the dough into hearts. Reroll the scraps and continue to cut until no dough is left. Note: If the dough becomes too sticky while rerolling, you may want to chill it for a little while.
### Step #9:
Arrange the cut cookies on your prepared baking sheets and bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow the cookies to cool completely before decorating.
### Step #10:
While the cookies cool, prepare the royal icing. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to whip together the confectioner’s sugar, meringue powder, and water until fully blended.
### Step #11:
Then, divide the icing into 6 bowls, with 5 larger for the heart colors and one small for writing. Tint each icing bowl to your desired color, then transfer each into a piping bag. For the heart colors, a piping tip #4 is recommended. Outline each cookie and flood the center until smooth. Use a cookie scribe or a toothpick to eliminate any bubbles in the icing if necessary.
### Step #12:
Allow the cookies to set for 1-2 hours before you write on them.
### Step #13:
Fill a piping bag with red icing using a round piping tip #2 and inscribe your chosen words onto the cookies. The writing will take 1-2 hours to set.
### Step #14:
Finally, serve and enjoy!
## Expert Tips
– **Cookie Dough Consistency** – If the cookie dough is too sticky, incorporate an additional tablespoon of flour until you achieve your desired texture.
– **Chilling the Dough** – I suggest chilling the dough after each reroll until all heart cookies are cut out. This will make it less sticky and easier to manage.
– **Royal Icing** – If your royal icing appears too runny, mix in more powdered sugar until you achieve a thicker consistency. You might also want the red icing for writing to be thicker than the icing for the cookies to help the letters maintain their shape better.
## FAQs
**Can I prepare these heart cookies in advance?**
Definitely! These heart cookies can be made a week ahead and will still taste fresh!
**Do I need to cut these cookies into heart shapes?**
Not at all. If you have other shapes you’d prefer to use for your cookies, feel free! Note this recipe uses a 3.5-inch heart cookie cutter; if you choose a smaller size, reduce the baking time by a few minutes.
**Can I stack these heart cookies on top of each other after decorating?**
Yes. Wait for them to dry completely and place parchment paper in between each layer to stack neatly.
## Storage Information
You can **store** any remaining conversation heart cookies in an airtight container on your countertop at room temperature for up to a week. Avoid refrigerating them.