Valentine Sugar Cookies Strawberry (Print-Friendly)

Buttery cookies shaped into hearts, topped with smooth natural strawberry icing for a sweet treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Sugar Cookies

01 - 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 0.25 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 0.75 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
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 dry ingredient 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 out dough to 0.25 inch thickness. Cut into heart shapes or desired shapes using cookie cutters.
08 - Place cut cookies 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until edges are just golden. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
09 - Blend fresh strawberries into smooth purée. In a bowl, whisk powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons strawberry purée, lemon juice, and salt until smooth. Adjust consistency with additional purée or sugar as needed. Add food coloring if desired.
10 - Spread or pipe icing onto cooled cookies. Allow icing to set completely before serving or storing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The dough is forgiving and almost impossible to mess up, even if you've never rolled cookies before.
  • Fresh strawberry icing tastes nothing like the artificial stuff, and people notice immediately.
  • You can make the dough days ahead and bake whenever the mood strikes.
02 -
  • Don't skip the chilling step; warm dough spreads all over the baking sheet and you'll lose your heart shape entirely.
  • Fresh strawberry purée can make your icing thinner than expected, so start with 2 tablespoons and add more gradually if you want a thinner consistency.
03 -
  • If your icing is too thick, add strawberry purée a teaspoon at a time; if it's too thin, sift in more powdered sugar until you reach the right consistency.
  • A small offset spatula makes decorating faster and neater than a spoon, and it gives you more control than a piping bag if you're not comfortable with one.
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