Description
Valentines Day Slice and Bake Cookies featuring buttery dough, vibrant sprinkles, and a sweet surprise inside. Perfect for a quick, festive treat!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- Red or pink food coloring (gel preferred)
- Valentine sprinkles or sanding sugar
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Dough In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. In a separate large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Don’t rush this step – proper creaming incorporates air for tender cookies. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using), then beat until well combined. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing on low speed just until incorporated. Be careful not to overmix, which can develop gluten and make your Valentines Day Slice and Bake Cookies tough.
- Step 2: Color and Shape Divide the dough in half if you want two-toned cookies. Add food coloring to one portion, starting with a small amount and increasing until you achieve your desired shade of pink or red. For a marble effect, twist the colored and plain portions together gently. Shape the dough into a heart-shaped log about 2 inches in diameter. The log should look like a heart when viewed from the end. Wrap tightly in parchment paper or plastic wrap.
- Step 3: Chill and Prepare Refrigerate the dough log for at least 2 hours or overnight. This crucial step solidifies the butter, allowing for clean slices and helping the cookies maintain their shape during baking. When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it sit for 5-10 minutes to slightly soften for easier slicing.
- Step 4: Slice and Bake Using a sharp knife, slice the log into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart. If desired, sprinkle the edges with Valentine-themed sprinkles or sanding sugar, gently pressing them into the dough. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. The centers will still appear soft but will firm up as they cool.
- Step 5: Cool and Decorate Let the Valentines Day Slice and Bake Cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely. Once cooled, you can enhance your cookies with a drizzle of melted chocolate, royal icing, or a light dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant finishing touch.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 25mg