Description
These delightful Conversation Heart Cookies are perfect for Valentine’s Day or any occasion that calls for a sweet, heartfelt treat. Soft sugar cookies are flavored with vanilla and optional almond extract, baked to golden perfection, and decorated with pastel-colored icing. Once cooled, each cookie is personalized with charming messages using edible markers or gel icing, capturing the spirit of the classic conversation hearts in cookie form.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Icing
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk, plus more as needed
- Gel food coloring, assorted pastel colors
- Edible food marker or pink gel icing for writing
Instructions
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes about 3-4 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Extracts: Beat in the large egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) until fully incorporated.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms without overmixing.
- Chill Dough: Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disk, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to firm up.
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Roll and Cut Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are set but the cookies are not browned.
- Cool Completely: Remove the baking sheets from the oven and allow the cookies to cool completely on wire racks before decorating.
- Prepare Icing: In a bowl, mix powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of milk. Stir until thick but pipeable. Add more milk a few drops at a time if needed to reach desired consistency.
- Color the Icing: Divide the icing into smaller bowls and tint each with different pastel gel food coloring hues to mimic classic conversation hearts.
- Decorate Cookies: Spread or pipe the colored icing onto the cooled cookies evenly and allow the icing to set fully, which may take at least an hour.
- Add Messages: Once the icing is dry, write short, sweet messages such as “Be Mine” or “XOXO” on each cookie using an edible food marker or pink gel icing.
Notes
- For best results, let the iced cookies dry completely before stacking or packaging to avoid smudging.
- Classic conversation phrases like “Be Mine,” “XOXO,” or “Love You” work best with simple, clear lettering.
- If almond extract is not available, you can omit it without losing much flavor.
- You can store cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days; just be sure the icing is completely dry.
