There’s something truly special about baking Valentine’s Day cookies for the ones you love. The sweet aroma of freshly baked sugar cookies fills the kitchen, while the fun of decorating with royal icing makes it an activity the whole family can enjoy.
I first started making these cookies years ago as a fun tradition with my kids. We’d roll out the dough, cut heart shapes, and decorate them with swirls, dots, and romantic messages. Now, it’s one of my favorite Valentine’s Day traditions, perfect for gifting, sharing, or enjoying with a cup of tea.
These buttery sugar cookies are crisp on the edges and soft in the center, with a smooth royal icing that hardens into a beautiful, glossy finish. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro at decorating, you’ll love how easy and fun these are to make!
Why You’ll Love These Valentine’s Day Cookies
These cookies are more than just adorable treats—they’re irresistibly delicious and fun to make!
1. They’re easy to make.
The sugar cookie dough comes together in minutes with just a few pantry staples. Plus, no chilling required!
2. Perfect for decorating.
Royal icing allows you to create intricate designs, whether you want simple outlines, romantic messages, or elaborate patterns.
3. They stay fresh for days.
Unlike some cookies that dry out quickly, these stay soft and delicious, making them great for gifting or preparing ahead of time.
4. Great for making memories.
Baking and decorating these cookies with loved ones is a fun Valentine’s tradition that everyone can enjoy!
Whether you’re making them for a special someone, a classroom party, or just for yourself, these cookies are sure to spread the love.
Ingredients Notes

The magic of these Valentine’s Day cookies comes from simple ingredients that work together to create the perfect flavor and texture.
For the Sugar Cookies:
- Unsalted butter – Softened to room temperature for a smooth, rich dough.
- Granulated sugar – Sweetens the cookies and helps with structure.
- Egg – Adds moisture and binds everything together.
- Vanilla extract – Enhances the flavor with a warm, sweet aroma.
- All-purpose flour – The base of the dough, giving it structure.
- Baking powder – Helps the cookies rise slightly for a soft texture.
- Salt – Balances the sweetness and enhances the flavors.
For the Royal Icing:
- Powdered sugar – Creates a smooth, glossy icing.
- Meringue powder – The key to firm, quick-drying royal icing.
- Water – Adjusts the icing consistency.
- Gel food coloring – For vibrant, festive Valentine’s colors like pink, red, and white.
Optional Equipment:
- Heart-shaped cookie cutters
- Piping bags and tips
- Toothpicks for fine detailing
How To Make These Valentine’s Day Cookies

Baking these cookies is a straightforward process, and decorating them is where the real fun begins!
Step 1: Make the Cookie Dough
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This helps create soft cookies. Next, beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms. If the dough feels sticky, add a little more flour.
Step 2: Roll and Cut the Cookies
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Using heart-shaped cookie cutters, cut out your cookies and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Step 3: Bake and Cool
Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Be careful not to overbake—they will continue to set as they cool! Transfer to a wire rack and let them cool completely before decorating.
Step 4: Prepare the Royal Icing
In a mixing bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water until smooth. Beat for about 2-3 minutes until the icing forms stiff peaks. Add a few drops of food coloring to create different shades of pink and red.
Step 5: Decorate the Cookies
Fill piping bags with royal icing and outline each cookie first. Let the outlines set for a few minutes before flooding the center with icing. Use a toothpick to spread and smooth the icing evenly.
For extra flair, add sprinkles, edible glitter, or write messages like "Be Mine" or "XOXO"!
Let the cookies sit at room temperature for at least 6-8 hours to allow the icing to fully dry.
Storage Options
These cookies store beautifully, making them perfect for gifting or making ahead of time.
- At room temperature: Keep cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- In the fridge: Store in a sealed container for up to 10 days.
- In the freezer: Freeze undecorated cookies in a zip-top bag for up to 3 months. Decorate after thawing!
To keep cookies fresh, place parchment paper between layers to prevent smudging.
Variations and Substitutions
One of the best things about these cookies is how customizable they are!
1. Change the flavor.
Swap vanilla extract for almond, lemon, or even rose extract for a unique twist.
2. Try different shapes.
Hearts are classic, but you can use circles, lips, or XOXO cutters for more variety.
3. Use a glaze instead of royal icing.
If you prefer a softer finish, use a simple powdered sugar glaze instead of royal icing.
4. Add sprinkles or edible pearls.
For extra sparkle, top the cookies with festive Valentine’s sprinkles, sugar pearls, or edible glitter.
5. Make them chocolate!
Replace ¼ cup of flour with cocoa powder for a delicious chocolate sugar cookie version.
Feel free to get creative—there’s no wrong way to decorate these Valentine’s treats!
Final Thoughts
Baking these Valentine’s Day cookies with royal icing is a delicious and heartfelt way to celebrate love. They’re simple, fun to make, and perfect for sharing with family, friends, or that special someone.
So grab your mixing bowls, roll out some dough, and have fun decorating! Whether you're making these with kids or surprising a loved one, these cookies are sure to sweeten the day. ❤️
Let me know how your cookies turn out in the comments! What designs did you create? Happy baking! 🍪💖
PrintSimple Valentine’s Day Cookies With Royal Icing Recipe
These simple Valentine’s Day cookies with royal icing are perfect for celebrating love. Made with a buttery sugar cookie base and decorated with smooth, glossy royal icing, these treats are both delicious and beautiful. Ideal for gifting, parties, or enjoying at home!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes (includes chilling time)
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract (optional)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking powder
For the Royal Icing:
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp meringue powder
- 5–6 tablespoon warm water
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Gel food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Cookies: In a mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract, mixing until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder. Gradually add to the wet ingredients, mixing until dough forms.
- Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out dough on a floured surface to ¼-inch thickness. Cut into heart shapes.
- Place cookies on a lined baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes, until edges are lightly golden. Let cool completely.
- Make the Royal Icing: Whisk powdered sugar, meringue powder, vanilla, and warm water until smooth. Adjust consistency as needed.
- Divide icing into bowls and add gel food coloring. Transfer to piping bags.
- Decorate cooled cookies with icing, allowing it to set before serving.
Notes
- Chill the dough to prevent cookies from spreading.
- Adjust icing consistency by adding more water (for flooding) or more sugar (for piping details).
- Let icing dry completely before stacking cookies.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 50mg
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