Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

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Looking for a sweet treat to share with your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day? Sugar cookies with royal icing are a classic choice. These cookies are easy to make and decorate, perfect for showing your love.

You can customize the shapes and colors to suit your style. Heart shapes are popular, but stars, flowers, or even conversation hearts work great too. Get creative with the icing designs – swirls, dots, and messages add a personal touch.

These cookies aren’t just for couples. Bake a batch to share with friends, family, or coworkers. They’re sure to bring smiles all around on February 14th.

Tool Requirements

You’ll need a few key items to make these sweet Valentine’s Day cookies. A large mixing bowl is essential for combining your ingredients. Grab a sturdy wooden spoon or electric mixer to blend everything smoothly.

Cookie cutters in heart shapes are a must for that festive touch. Look for various sizes to add variety to your batch. A rolling pin helps create an even dough thickness for consistent baking.

Don’t forget baking sheets – you’ll need at least two for rotating batches. Parchment paper or silicone mats prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.

For decorating, small piping bags and tips are crucial. They allow precise icing application for intricate designs. A thin spatula or butter knife works well for spreading base layers of icing.

Lastly, gather some food coloring to create pretty pink and red hues for your royal icing. With these tools on hand, you’re all set to bake and decorate delightful Valentine’s Day treats.

Preparing The Ingredients

Getting ready to make sugar cookies? Let’s go over what you’ll need. Grab all-purpose flour, sugar, plant-based butter, vanilla extract, and plant milk. Don’t forget baking powder and salt too.

For the royal icing, you’ll want powdered sugar, plant milk, and vanilla extract. Food coloring is optional if you want to add some pizazz.

Make sure your butter is softened before you start. Take it out of the fridge about 30 minutes early. This will make it easier to mix.

Measure out all your ingredients ahead of time. This way, you won’t forget anything once you start mixing. It also helps the process go smoother.

Have a clean workspace ready. You’ll need room to roll out your dough and decorate your cookies. A big countertop or table works great for this.

Don’t forget to preheat your oven. Most sugar cookie recipes call for 350°F (175°C). It’s best to have it ready before you finish making the dough.

Variations To Try

Want to mix things up with your Valentine’s Day cookies?

• Try adding a splash of almond extract to the dough for a nutty twist. You can also experiment with different food colorings in the royal icing to create eye-catching designs.
• For a fun texture, sprinkle some crushed freeze-dried strawberries on top of the wet icing. This adds a pop of color and a tangy flavor that pairs well with the sweet cookie base.
• Feeling adventurous? Replace some of the all-purpose flour with cocoa powder to make chocolate sugar cookies. These dark beauties look stunning when decorated with white or pink icing.
• You can also play with cookie shapes beyond the classic heart. Try stars, flowers, or even conversation heart shapes for a unique twist on the Valentine’s Day theme.
• For added flair, consider incorporating edible glitter or sprinkles into your royal icing designs. This gives your cookies a sparkly, festive look that’s perfect for the occasion.

Storage Tips

• Keep your sugar cookies fresh by storing them properly. Place them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay tasty for up to 5 days this way.
• For longer storage, pop them in the freezer. Wrap each cookie in plastic wrap, then put them in a freezer bag. They’ll keep for up to 3 months frozen.
• If you’ve decorated your cookies with royal icing, let it dry completely first. This usually takes about 24 hours. Once dry, store them in a single layer to prevent smudging.
• Avoid storing your cookies in the fridge. The moisture can make them soggy. Also, keep them away from strong-smelling foods. Cookies can absorb odors easily.
• When you’re ready to serve frozen cookies, thaw them at room temperature. This takes about 1-2 hours. Don’t microwave them, as this can affect their texture.
• Homemade cookies always taste best when fresh. Try to enjoy them within a few days for the best flavor and texture.

Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies With Royal Icing

No matter if you're looking for easy Valentine's Day treats or romantic dessert ideas for two, these heart-shaped Valentine's Day sugar cookies have got you covered! Also suitable as a completely vegan dessert if that's what you're looking for.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Resting time 15 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 2 servings

Calories 300 kcal

Ingredients

  

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• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1/4 cup of plant-based butter softened
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup of plant milk
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt

Royal Icing

• 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons of plant milk
• 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• Food coloring

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Instructions

 

• Soften the butter by taking it out of the fridge 30 minutes early.
• Measure out all ingredients ahead of time.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
• Add softened butter, plant milk, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
• Roll out the dough on a clean, floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness.
• Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly golden.
• Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
• Mix powdered sugar with plant milk and vanilla extract to make royal icing.
• Add food coloring to the icing if desired.
• Decorate cooled cookies with the icing.
• Let the icing set before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal

Keyword Vegan

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Stefan K.

Stefan has been vegan since 2019 and has been regularly working on his strength since the beginning of 2023. He’s on a mission to help other vegans get stronger and have all of them achieve the quality of life they deserve.