Description
Sparkle Sweetheart Cookies: Butter, sugar, and sprinkles create these quick, crowd-pleasing treats that are perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2¾ cups (344g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- Red or pink food coloring (gel preferred)
- ⅓ cup (67g) sanding sugar or sparkling sugar for coating
Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside while you prepare the wet ingredients. This pre-mixing ensures even distribution of the leavening agents throughout your Sparkle Sweetheart Cookies.
- Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Don’t rush this step – proper creaming incorporates air into the mixture, creating the perfect foundation for tender cookies. You’ll know it’s ready when the mixture looks notably paler than when you started.
- Step 3: Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract to your butter mixture. Beat until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. The mixture should look smooth and uniform before moving on.
- Step 4: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed just until combined. Add a few drops of pink or red food coloring and mix gently until you achieve your desired shade of pink. Remember that the color will lighten slightly during baking, so go a touch darker than your target shade.
- Step 5: Pour the sparkling sugar into a small bowl. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, portion the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in the sparkling sugar until completely coated, then place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Step 6: To create the heart shape, gently press each sugar-coated ball with your finger to flatten slightly, then use the back of a knife to create an indentation at the top. Pinch the bottom slightly to form the point of the heart. Your Sparkle Sweetheart Cookies should now have their characteristic lovely shape!
- Step 7: Bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 9-11 minutes. The cookies are done when the edges are set but the centers still look slightly soft. They’ll continue cooking slightly on the hot baking sheet after removal from the oven.
- Step 8: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. This brief resting period helps the Sparkle Sweetheart Cookies set properly without overcooking.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 30mg