Delight in the simplicity and charm of these Easy Red Heart Cut Out Valentine’s Day Cookies! These Linzer-style cookies are not only incredibly straightforward to prepare but also boast a taste that will captivate your heart and palate. Perfect for expressing affection, these beautiful treats combine tender, buttery cookies with a sweet, vibrant filling, making them an irresistible symbol of love for Valentine’s Day.
Bake Love: Enchanting Red Heart Valentine’s Day Cookies
My kitchen often serves as a canvas for sweet creativity, and on one particular day, as I was busily crafting these adorable Red Heart Valentine’s Day Cookies, something quite amusing unfolded. My husband, John, walked in, took a glance at the charming heart-shaped creations, and exclaimed, “Oh, how sweet! These are wonderful!”
For a split second, a wave of pure panic washed over me. I mean, the kind of deep-seated, “oh my goodness, did I completely forget a significant date?” panic that makes your stomach drop. Instantly, my mind began racing through calendars: our anniversary is in September, his birthday is in May… what monumental occasion could I possibly have overlooked?
I must have worn a look of utter distress, because John, noticing my sudden shift, burst into laughter. He asked what was wrong, and slightly embarrassed to admit my forgetfulness (or potential forgetfulness), I simply offered a sheepish smile. As it turned out, he genuinely just thought the cookies were delightful and perfectly suited for the upcoming Valentine’s Day celebration. What a relief! I was immensely grateful not to have missed a big day, saving myself from an entire year of good-natured teasing about my memory.
Now that we’ve cleared up that little misunderstanding, let’s shift our focus to these truly remarkable Red Heart Valentine’s Day Cookies. These aren’t just any cookies; they’re a celebration of flavor, texture, and visual appeal, embodying the spirit of Valentine’s Day in every bite. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting your culinary journey, this recipe offers a delightful and stress-free experience, culminating in treats that look as professional as they taste.
These cookies truly are amazing! They’re incredibly easy to whip up and bring so much joy to both the baker and the recipient. The secret to their charming design lies in using a specialized Linzer Cookie Cutter, which effortlessly creates the perfect layered cookie shape with a neat heart cutout in the middle. This simple tool transforms basic sugar cookies into elegant, festive masterpieces. The ease of use of this cutter, combined with the straightforward recipe, ensures fantastic results every time, even for those new to baking.
Linzer cookies, traditionally Austrian, are renowned for their delicate, buttery texture and the beautiful peek-a-boo center revealing a luscious filling. While classic Linzer cookies often feature a nut-based dough and raspberry jam, our Valentine’s Day rendition simplifies the process with a tender sugar cookie base and a vibrant red filling. This makes them widely accessible and appealing, offering a comforting familiarity with an extra touch of festive flair. The contrast between the crisp cookie, the soft powdered sugar dusting, and the sweet, tangy filling is simply divine, creating a multi-sensory experience that delights with every bite.
More Irresistible Valentine’s Day Recipes to Love
If you’re looking to expand your Valentine’s Day menu, we have an array of delightful recipes that perfectly complement these heart-shaped cookies:
- Cherry Cheesecake Dip: A sweet and creamy indulgence, perfect for sharing.
- Crockpot Red Velvet Hot Chocolate: A cozy, rich beverage that’s ideal for a romantic evening.
- RumChata Fudge: An adult-friendly treat with a hint of warmth and spice.
- Creme Brulee Cheesecake Bars: Elegant and decadent, these bars are sure to impress.
- Crockpot Cherries Jubilee: A classic dessert made easy with the convenience of a slow cooker.
- Crockpot Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake: A rich, fruity, and incredibly simple dessert.
- Valentine’s Day Muddy Buddies: A fun, snackable treat that kids and adults adore.
These additional recipes provide a wonderful range of flavors and textures to ensure your Valentine’s Day is filled with deliciousness. Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner, a casual get-together, or simply treating yourself, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Crafting Love: The Red Heart Valentine’s Day Cookie Recipe
Essential Ingredients for Your Sweet Creation
Gathering your ingredients is the first step towards baking these delightful cookies. You’ll need simple pantry staples to create a perfectly tender and flavorful dough:
- Butter: Unsalted butter, softened, is crucial for a rich flavor and tender crumb.
- Sugar: Granulated white sugar contributes to the cookies’ sweetness and helps with browning.
- Large eggs: These bind the ingredients together and add moisture to the dough.
- All-purpose flour: The foundation of your cookie, providing structure.
- Salt: A pinch of salt balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
- Baking soda: Acts as a leavening agent, giving the cookies a slight lift and tenderness.
- Cream of tartar: Works with baking soda to create a soft, chewy texture.
- Vanilla extract: Essential for that classic, comforting cookie flavor.
For decorating, you’ll want festive Valentine’s Sprinkles and a vibrant filling. I used red icing to fill the cookies, which creates a striking contrast with the pale cookie. Alternatively, strawberry jam or raspberry jam would also be fantastic, offering a burst of fruity flavor – a perfect choice if you happen to have some on hand.
Necessary Equipment for Easy Baking
Having the right tools can make your baking experience even more enjoyable and efficient:
- Linzer Cookie Cutter: This is key to achieving the distinctive heart cutout and layered effect.
- Cookie sheet: For baking your cookies evenly.
- Parchment Paper: My absolute favorite for baking cookies! It prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze, ensuring your beautiful cookies lift off the pan perfectly.
- Red Serving tray: These cookies would look absolutely stunning presented on a festive red serving tray, adding to the Valentine’s ambiance.
- White Rectangle Tray: For a more rustic, farmhouse-inspired presentation, these white rectangle trays are super cute and versatile.
- Red Heart Shaped Valentine’s Day Tray: A fun plastic tray, especially great for kids’ parties or casual celebrations.
Don’t forget to explore these great last-minute Valentine’s Day ideas and our collection of easy cookie ideas for more inspiration!
Do you adore discovering new recipes? Be sure to check out our extensive collection of copycat recipes, delightful dessert recipes, and our incredibly convenient CrockPot Recipes.
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Red Heart Valentine’s Day Cookies
Super cute Red Heart Valentine’s Day Cookies that are super easy to make!
Rated: 5 out of 5 stars based on 6 votes.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 28 minutes
Servings: 24
Calories: 180 kcal
Author: Tammilee Tips
Ingredients
- 1 cup Butter, softened
- 1 cup White Sugar
- 3 Large Eggs
- 3 ¾ cups All Purpose Flour
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 2 Teaspoon Cream of Tartar
- 1 ½ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- Sprinkles and icing (or jam) for decorating the cookies
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and white sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined. This step incorporates air, making the cookies tender.
- Add the 3 large eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is fully incorporated.
- In a separate medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Sifting helps to remove lumps and ensures even distribution of the leavening agents.
- Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the creamy butter and sugar mixture in your mixing bowl. Mix on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies.
- Stir in the vanilla extract until evenly distributed. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Chilling the dough is crucial as it prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking and makes it easier to roll and cut.
- Once chilled, remove the dough from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to an even thickness of about ¼-inch. Use your Linzer cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Remember that you’ll need two cookies for each finished treat: one solid bottom and one with a small heart cutout for the top. Cut an equal number of each.
- Carefully place the cut-out cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet (or one lined with parchment paper for easy release). Bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit (160 degrees Celsius) for 6-8 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden. Watch them closely, as baking times can vary, and you want them to be tender, not overly crispy.
- Once baked, allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from breaking. Once entirely cool, dust the top cookie halves (those with the heart cutout) with powdered sugar. Then, spread a thin layer of red icing or your chosen jam (like strawberry or raspberry) onto the flat side of the bottom cookie halves. Gently place a dusted top half over each filled bottom half, pressing lightly. For an extra festive touch, decorate with Valentine’s sprinkles if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Red Heart Valentine’s Day Cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 180 • Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 5g 31%
Cholesterol 41mg 14%
Sodium 170mg 7%
Potassium 72mg 2%
Carbohydrates 23g 8%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 8g 9%
Protein 3g 6%
Vitamin A 266IU 5%
Calcium 8mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Originally posted January 2014