Perfect Heart-Shaped Mothers Day Sugar Cookies
These heart-shaped sugar cookies are easy to make, with a perfect balance of crisp edges and tender centers, ideal for Mother’s Day or any special occasion.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ¾ cups (345 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- Royal icing or simple powdered sugar glaze (for decorating)
- Colored sanding sugar or sprinkles (for decorating)
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 ¾ cups (345 g) all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat 1 cup (226 g) softened unsalted butter and 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add egg and vanilla: Beat in 1 large room temperature egg, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract, and optionally ¼ teaspoon almond extract until combined.
- Combine wet and dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed or folding gently with a spatula until just combined. The dough should be soft but not sticky.
- Chill the dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll and cut: Lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin. Roll the dough to about ¼ inch (6 mm) thickness. Use heart-shaped cutters to cut out shapes and transfer them to baking sheets.
- Bake: Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes until edges are just starting to turn golden and centers look slightly soft.
- Cool: Transfer cookies to a wire rack immediately after baking to cool completely before decorating.
- Decorate: Use royal icing, glaze, or sprinkles to add your personal touch. Let icing set completely before stacking or gifting.
Notes
Keep butter softened but not melted for best dough consistency. Chill dough for at least 1 hour to prevent spreading. Avoid overbaking to keep cookies soft. Use powdered sugar glaze as a quick decorating alternative to royal icing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Protein: 2
Keywords: sugar cookies, heart-shaped cookies, Mother's Day cookies, easy sugar cookies, homemade cookies, vanilla sugar cookies, baking for beginners