Easy Conversation Heart Cookies are perfect for Valentine’s Day parties at school or home. Crunchy and colorful, these are super fun to make!
These adorable Rolled Sugar Cookies are perfect for parties, bake sales, or simply indulging your sweet tooth. If you’re in the mood for more Valentine-themed dessert ideas, consider trying out our Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Cupcakes or Valentine’s Day Iced Strawberry Brownies for a fun and festive Dessert.
Sabrina’s Conversation Heart Cookies Recipe
These Conversation Heart Cookies not only taste amazing but are great to make with the whole family! Inspired by the classic conversation heart candies I used to give and receive a kid, the recipe starts with a straightforward process using common pantry staples to create buttery sugar cookies.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
Rolled Sugar Cookies:
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter , softened
- 3 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 5 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Royal Icing:
- 1/4 cup meringue powder
- 2/3 cup water
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- assorted food coloring 4-6 drops per color
Instructions
Sugar Cookies:
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth.
- Beat in eggs and vanilla.
- Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cover, and chill dough for at least 1 hour (or overnight).
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Roll out dough, using powdered sugar on the surface and rolling pin ¼ to ½ inch thick.
- Using assorted cookie cutters, stamp out the shapes you'd like to ice. (We used heart shape cookie cutters.)
- Carefully, with a spatula, place cookies 1 inch apart on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.
- Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.
Royal Icing:
- To a stand mixer add the meringue powder and water on medium speed for 3-4 minutes.
- Add in the powdered sugar and continue to mix on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until the mixture holds stiff peaks.
- Set aside ⅓ of the icing for piping.
- Add gel colors of your choosing and if you need to thin for thin piping add small amounts of water at a time.
- Using a #5 tip on your piping bag, pipe a border first then fill in with the desired color with a larger tip, leaving a 1/2″ border around the cookies.
- If layering colors allow the first layer to dry for 2 hours.
- Add white royal icing to piping bag and use to add writing on the cooking.
Nutrition
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Table of contents
About this Recipe
Cut these delicious cookies into charming heart shapes for that festive touch, bake them until they’re delightfully crisp without being overly hard. The crowning glory of these cookies is the royal icing, which adds a burst of vibrant color and an extra layer of sweetness. What’s especially wonderful about royal icing is that it sets and hardens as it dries, making it ideal for drawing and writing notes because the colors stay precisely where you want them on these iced cookies!
Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter: Begin with softened, unsalted butter to ensure a smooth creaming process with the granulated sugar. However, for the ideal cookie texture, it’s advisable to bake the cookies with chilled butter. To achieve this, it’s recommended to let the dough rest and chill for a couple of hours before baking, allowing the fat in the butter to firm up before it goes into the oven.
- Sugar: Sugar adds sweetness to the cookies
- Eggs: Large eggs provide structure and moisture to the cookie dough, helping bind the ingredients together.
- Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract enhances the flavor of the cookies, giving them a delightful aroma.
- Flour: Flour forms the main structure of the cookie dough. You can use all-purpose or pastry flour, but avoid self-rising flour.
- Baking Powder: Baking powder helps the cookies rise and become slightly fluffy.
- Salt: Salt enhances the flavor of the cookies and balances the sweetness.
Royal Icing Recipe:
- Meringue Powder: Meringue powder is essential for creating a stable and firm icing that can be piped and holds its shape well.
- Water: Water is used to dissolve the meringue powder and thin the icing to the desired consistency.
- Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar is the primary sweetener and thickening agent for the icing. Sift it to avoid lumps.
- Food Coloring (4-6 drops per color): Use gel or liquid food coloring based on your preference, adjusting the quantity for the desired color intensity.
Kitchen Tools & Equipment
- Cookie Cutters: Heart-shaped cookie cutters are central to this recipe. Ensure you have a variety of sizes for creative options.
- Parchment Paper: Line your baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent cookies from sticking and make cleanup a breeze. You can also use a silicone baking mat if preferred.
- Piping Bag and Tips: A piping bag with a #5 tip for outlining and larger tips for filling with icing is handy for decorating the cookies. If you don’t have a piping bag, you can use a resealable plastic bag with a corner snipped off as an alternative.
Can This be Made Ahead of Time?
Yes, these can be made ahead of time. You can prepare the cookie dough and chill it overnight in the refrigerator. Additionally, you can bake the cookies and store them in an airtight container for 2 days before decorating with royal icing to maintain freshness and flavor.
How to Store
- Storing: To keep your cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Layer parchment paper between the cookies to prevent sticking and maintain their texture. They’ll stay good in the fridge for about 7 days.
- Freezing: To freeze leftover cookies, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then, transfer them to an airtight container with parchment paper between layers. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. When ready to enjoy, let them thaw at room temperature for a few hours.
Ideas to Serve
- Family Baking Activity: These are a delightful baking project that the whole family can enjoy. Let your kids help prepare the classic sugar cookie dough, blending butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a stand mixer or you do it with beaters. Kids can sift the flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt, then you add it in to keep it mess free for a perfect cookie base. Kids of all ages will love shaping the dough into heart shapes and bake. Once you mix the icing, divide into bowls and let others add the food coloring for a fun, playful touch.
- Have a Cookie Decorating Station: This activity is a fun and engaging way for kids and adults alike to get creative at your Valentine’s Day party. Use piping to outline the cookies beforehand. Prepare the icing in different colors in bags and set out cookie decorations like candies, heart shaped decorations and edible glitter. Let guests fill in the cookie outline with their chosen colors and top them off with heart-shaped decorations. If you want to add decorative elements like a touch of glitter, do it before the icing sets. For edible decorations, use the icing as glue.
- Gift the Cookies: After baking and decorating, share these homemade treats at Valentine’s Day parties or package the decorated sugar cookies beautifully in plastic bags with ribbons to give as fun gifts.
FAQ’s
Yes, you can use salted butter, but remember to eliminate the additional salt in the recipe.
If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can use a hand mixer or even whisk the royal icing by hand. It might take a bit more effort, but it’s doable.
Yes, you can experiment with different extract flavors (e.g., almond, lemon, or orange) to customize the taste of the royal icing. Just be cautious with the quantity to avoid overwhelming the cookies with flavor. It’s recommended to start with 7-10 drops of flavoring fore each cup of icing before adding more if desired.
Variations
- Chocolate Chips: Add chocolate chips to the cookie dough for a delightful twist on the classic recipe. Fold in 1 cup of chocolate chips into the dough before chilling. Adjust the baking time, as the cookies may need an extra minute or two due to the added moisture from the chocolate.
- Gluten-Free: For a gluten-free option, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. Be sure to check the blend’s instructions for any necessary adjustments or additional binding agents, like xanthan gum.
- Vegan: Make these cookies vegan by replacing the eggs with flaxseed eggs (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 2.5 tablespoons water per egg). Use vegan butter and ensure your chocolate chips and food coloring are dairy-free. The rest of the recipe remains the same.
- Lemon-Flavored Royal Icing: Add a refreshing twist to the royal icing by incorporating lemon zest or a few drops of lemon extract. This variation adds a bright citrus flavor that pairs well with the sweet cookies. Adjust the quantity to your taste preference. Be sure to use Lemon Yellow food coloring for this icing!
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