Description
Delightful heart-shaped cookies decorated with sweet royal icing, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 tablespoons meringue powder
- 3 tablespoons warm water, plus more if needed
- Gel food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a larger bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, then mix until combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix until a dough forms.
- Divide the dough in half. Flatten each piece into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Roll the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch in thickness. Use a cookie cutter to cut out heart shapes.
- Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the icing, combine powdered sugar, meringue powder, and warm water in a bowl. Beat on low until thick and smooth.
- Divide the icing and add gel food coloring as desired.
- Transfer the icing to pastry bags fitted with small round tips. Outline and flood each cooled cookie with icing. You can add dots, lines, or patterns as you like.
- Allow the icing to set completely—this takes at least 2–3 hours—before serving or packaging the cookies.
Notes
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg