Valentine sugar cookies strawberry icing (Printable Version)

Tender buttery sugar cookies cut into romantic shapes with sweet natural strawberry icing for sharing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Sugar Cookies

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

→ Strawberry Icing

08 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
09 - 2 to 3 tablespoons strawberry purée from fresh strawberries
10 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
11 - Pinch of salt
12 - Pink or red gel food coloring, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
03 - Add egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Beat until fully combined.
04 - Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
05 - Divide dough in half and flatten each portion into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour until firm.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into heart shapes or desired romantic forms using cookie cutters.
08 - Place cut cookies 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
09 - Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until edges are just golden. Cool completely on wire racks before decorating.
10 - Blend fresh strawberries into a smooth purée. In a bowl, whisk powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons strawberry purée, lemon juice, and salt until smooth. Adjust consistency with additional purée for thinner icing or more sugar for thicker. Add food coloring if desired for enhanced color.
11 - Apply strawberry icing to cooled cookies using a piping bag or offset spatula for neat application. Allow icing to set completely before serving or storing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The dough is impossibly tender and holds intricate shapes without spreading, so your hearts and cupids stay beautifully defined.
  • Strawberry icing has a natural blush that needs no pretense—it's pink without being artificial, and tastes like actual berries.
  • These come together faster than you'd expect, which means you can make a batch the night before and feel prepared rather than frantic.
02 -
  • Don't skip the chilling step—room temperature dough spreads into flat puddles instead of holding the shape you worked to cut.
  • Fresh strawberries make all the difference in the icing; frozen berries release too much liquid and make it watery and thin.
  • Powdered sugar must be sifted, or your icing will have tiny lumps that catch on the piping bag and ruin the flow.
03 -
  • Add 1/2 teaspoon almond extract to the dough if you want a deeper, more complex buttery flavor that pairs beautifully with strawberry.
  • Use a piping bag with a small round or flat tip for neater, more controlled icing application, or spread with a small offset spatula for a more rustic, intentional look.
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