These conversation heart cookies are heart shaped sugar cookies decorated like the classic conversation heart candies! They're a cute and sweet Valentines day treat, perfect for parties, snacks or bake sales.
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Yum in the Kitchen.
Ready to get a little sweet and creative in the kitchen? We're making Conversation Heart Cookies today – you know, like those cute little candies with messages, but even better because they're homemade.
These cookies are super simple and a lot of fun to make. You don't need to be a pro baker to nail these; just a love for sweet treats and maybe a sweet message or two to share.
So, let's grab those aprons and get started. It's time to bake some love and spread smiles with these adorable, tasty cookies!
We decorated our conversation hearts with popular texting phrases. But you can write whatever you like on your heart cookies!
Jump to:
What You'll Love About This Recipe
- Customizable Messages: Each cookie can carry a unique, personalized message, making them perfect for all your loved ones.
- Fun to Make: Whether baking with family or preparing a surprise, the process is as enjoyable as it is simple.
- Perfect for All Occasions: Ideal for Valentine's Day, anniversaries, bridal showers, or just to spread some love.
- Delicious Taste: The combination of buttery cookie and sweet frosting is irresistible.
- Engaging Activity for Kids: Kids will love cutting out the shapes and decorating with colorful frosting.
Ingredients
Salted Butter: The foundation of our cookie dough, giving richness and flavor. Make sure it's softened for easy mixing.
Granulated Sugar: This sweetens the cookies and helps create that classic, slightly crisp texture.
All-Purpose Flour: It's the main building block of our cookies, giving them structure. A little extra for rolling out is helpful.
Almond Extract: This adds a lovely, sweet nutty flavor, making our cookies extra special. If you're not into almond, vanilla extract works great too.
Large Egg: This binds our ingredients together, so the cookies hold their shape.
Vanilla Frosting: The creamy canvas for your colorful messages. Store-bought is fine, but you can always make your own if you feel fancy!
Food Coloring: Pink, yellow, green, and purple to bring those hearts to life. Feel free to pick your favorite colors!
Decorating Bags or Sandwich Bags: For frosting the cookies. If you don't have decorating bags, just snip the corner off a sandwich bag.
Equipment
- Electric Mixer: To cream your butter and sugar, though a whisk and some elbow grease can do the trick too.
- Rolling Pin: For evenly rolling out your dough. A wine bottle can be a makeshift alternative.
- Baking Sheets: For baking the cookies. No baking sheet? Use an oven-safe pan instead.
- Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mat: To prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Decorating Bags: For frosting the cookies. In a pinch, a snipped corner of a sandwich bag works too.
Instructions
Begin by heating your oven to 325°F (163°C). To prevent sticking and ensure easy removal, line your baking sheet with either parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
In a large mixing bowl, combine your softened butter and sugar. Beat them together until they become light in color and fluffy in texture. This process incorporates air into the batter, making your cookies light and tender.
Next, add in the egg and almond extract to your butter and sugar mixture. Blend them thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and uniform. The egg binds the ingredients together, while the almond extract adds a delightful flavor.
Now, gently mix in your flour. Do this gradually to avoid a floury mess and to ensure it's evenly mixed. Continue to mix until you form a thick dough. The dough should be firm enough to roll out but still pliable.
Sprinkle a little flour on your rolling surface to prevent sticking. Roll out your dough to about ¼ inch thickness. It's important to keep the thickness uniform for even baking.
Use your heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes and transfer them to your prepared baking sheet. If the dough sticks to your rolling pin, dust the pin with a bit more flour.
Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the cookies for about 8 minutes. Keep an eye on them as ovens can vary; they're done when they're just set and not overly brown. Overbaking will lead to hard cookies.
While the cookies cool, separate your vanilla frosting into different cups, adding food coloring to each to create various colors. One portion should be left white for writing. If the frosting is too thick, a little milk or water can thin it out for easier piping.
Scoop the colored frosting into decorating or sandwich bags. Snip a small tip off the end of each bag for precision.
Decorate each cookie with a base layer of colored frosting.
Use the white frosting to write short, sweet messages on top. If you're new to piping, practice a few phrases on parchment paper first.
And that's it. Cute and easy conversation heart cookies that aren't perfect, but will be well loved any way!
Top Tip
For the best results with your Conversation Heart Cookies, pay special attention to the consistency of your dough. It's the foundation of your cookies, so getting it right is key. After adding the flour, your dough should be firm yet pliable, not too sticky or too dry. If it's too sticky, add a bit more flour, a tablespoon at a time. If it's too dry and crumbly, a tiny splash of milk can help. This ensures your cookies will roll out smoothly, hold their shape when cut, and have a perfect texture after baking. Remember, the quality of your dough directly influences the final outcome of your cookies!
Substitutions
Different Extracts: Swap almond extract for vanilla, lemon, or orange for varied flavors.
Homemade Frosting: Instead of store-bought, make a simple buttercream or royal icing.
Color Variations: Use any food coloring shades you prefer or have on hand.
Variations
- Chocolate Conversation Hearts: Add cocoa powder to the dough for a chocolate version.
- Mini Hearts: Use a smaller cutter for bite-sized treats, adjusting the baking time accordingly.
- Glazed Cookies: Instead of frosting, use a simple sugar glaze tinted with food coloring.
Storage Instructions
You'll want to keep these cookies as fresh as the day you baked them. Here's how:
- At Room Temperature: Keep your cookies in an airtight container. They'll stay fresh for about a week. Just make sure they're completely cool before you close the lid.
- Freezing Unfrosted Cookies: If you want to bake ahead, you can freeze the unfrosted cookies. Wrap them well and they'll be good for up to 3 months. Just thaw and decorate when you're ready.
- Avoid Moisture: Humidity is not a friend to these cookies. Keep them in a cool, dry place to maintain their crispness and prevent the frosting from getting runny.
Remember, these cookies are best enjoyed within a week, so share them with friends, family, or anyone who could use a little sweet message in their day!
Recipe
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Yum in the Kitchen.
Conversation Heart Cookies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup salted butter softened
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour + 2 tablespoons
- 1 tablespoon almond extract
- 1 egg large
- 16 ounces vanilla frosting 1 can
- Food coloring pink, yellow, green, and purple
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Line baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat.
- In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix in egg and almond extract.
- Gradually add flour, mixing until a thick dough forms.
- Roll dough to ¼ inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut with heart cookie cutter. Place on baking sheet.
- Bake for 8 minutes. Let cool.
- Divide frosting into cups, color with food coloring. Fill decorating bags.
- Frost cookies and add messages with white icing.
Notes
Nutrition
Leave a Reply