Description
Soft, buttery, heart-shaped sugar cookies topped with smooth, easy-to-make royal icing, perfect for decorating with marbled patterns.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 9 tablespoons warm water
- Red gel food coloring
- Pink gel food coloring
- Assorted heart-shaped sprinkles
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set the mixture aside.
- Cream the softened butter and granulated sugar in a stand mixer on medium-high speed until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Beat until everything combines fully.
- Reduce the mixer speed to low. Gradually add the flour mixture until a soft dough forms.
- Place the dough between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll it to a 1/4-inch thickness. Chill the dough for 30 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Use a 3-inch heart cutter to cut out shapes. Place the cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared sheets.
- Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes. Look for edges that are barely golden and centers that are set.
- Cool the cookies completely on a wire rack before you begin decorating.
- Whisk the powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water for 5 minutes. The icing should reach a 15-second consistency.
- Divide the icing into three bowls. Tint one bowl red, one pink, and leave the third bowl white.
- Pipe an outline on each cookie and fill it in. Add dots of contrasting colors onto the wet icing. Drag a toothpick through the dots to create heart patterns.
Notes
- The royal icing uses a wet-on-wet technique for easy marbled designs.
- Bake until edges are just barely golden for a soft cookie texture.
- Cool cookies fully before applying icing.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking and Decorating
- Cuisine: American