679
This post is all about the best Valentine’s Day cookie ideas.
There’s something about heart-shaped cookies that instantly fills the air with love and sweetness. If you’re looking to add a tasty twist to the classic sugar cookie, we’ve got the perfect Valentine’s Day cookie ideas for you: heart-shaped peanut butter cookies adorned with decadent chocolate icing.
These cookies don’t just taste amazing; they bring the love with peanut butter goodness and chocolate decadence.
Let’s bake together and add a touch of love to your treats!
Valentine's Day Cookie Ideas
Best Valentine's Day Cookie Recipe:
Peanut Butter Cut Out Cookies
Yield: 12 cookies (3 inches wide)
Ingredients
- 1¼ cups (130g) all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup creamy unsalted peanut butter (for best results, peanut should be the only listed ingredient)
- ½ cup vegetable shortening
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon water
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a separate mixing bowl, using an electric stand or hand mixer, beat the following wet ingredients until combined: peanut butter, vegetable shortening, vanilla extract, and water. Add brown and white sugar and beat until combined.
- While beating at low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Beat until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. If the dough is too dry or crumbly, gradually add extra water in very small increments, about ½-1 tablespoon at a time, until it comes together.
- Place the dough in between two large sheets of parchment paper. Roll the dough until it is ¼ inch thick. Chill the dough in the freezer for 10 minutes (or in the refrigerator for 30 minutes).
- Preheat the oven to 350℉.
- Cut out cookie shapes using your chosen cutter. Transfer the shapes onto a baking sheet that is lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until the bottom edges are lightly browned, rotating half-way through. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Serve as is or decorate.
Valentine's Day Cookie Ideas
Best Chocolate Coating Recipe:
Easy Chocolate Coating
Yield: 3 cups
Ingredients
- 3 cups Merckens Coating Melting Wafers (Milk Chocolate Cocoa or White Chocolate)
Instructions
- Set up a double boiler by filling a pot with water, ensuring the water level will not touch the bottom surface of the top bowl. Heat water over high heat until it boils. After it reaches a boil, lower the heat to a simmer and place a heat-resistant bowl on top of the pot, creating a double boiler.
- Pour the chocolate wafers into the heat-resistant bowl. As the water in the double boiler heats, the steam will gently melt the wafers in the bowl. Stir the wafers to ensure even melting.
- Keep an eye on the chocolate to prevent overheating. Maintain a low simmer heat setting. Be careful not to allow the chocolate's temperature to rise above 90℉. Once the chocolate wafers have completely melted into a smooth consistency, carefully remove the bowl from the pot. Wipe off any water condensation on the bottom surface of the bowl. Discard the water.
- Transfer chocolate to a piping bag or squeeze bottle for decorating, or use chocolate as is directly from the bowl for dipping and coating.
Favorite Coating Ingredients
Valentine's Day Cookie Ideas
Best Royal Icing Recipe:
Easy Royal Icing
Yield: 3 cups
Ingredients
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 tablespoons warm water (plus more for thinning)
- food color gel (optional)
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl of an electric stand mixer, using a paddle attachment, stir powdered sugar and meringue powder at low speed.
- While stirring, add water to the mixture. Stir until stiff peaks form. Add vanilla extract and beat at medium speed until combined. If you are only making white icing, skip to step 5.
- Divide the icing into separate bowls that are designated for each color. Allocate a larger amount of icing for the colors that will be used most frequently. Cover the icing with plastic film directly on the icing's surface when not in use to prevent premature hardening.
- Working with one bowl of icing at a time, create a desired color by mixing food coloring gel gradually into the designated icing bowl.
- After the shade of color is achieved, add water in small amounts (⅛-¼ teaspoon at a time) gradually and stir until a thick outlining consistency is achieved. Divide the icing in two parts by transferring one portion into a piping bag for outlining. Leave the remaining icing in the bowl as it will be transformed into thin flood icing in the next step.
- Add small amounts of extra water gradually to the remaining icing and stir until the desired thin consistency for flooding is achieved. Transfer to a piping bag or squeeze bottle for flooding.
Favorite Royal Icing Ingredients
Valentine's Day Cookie Ideas
Best Chocolate Outline Icing Recipe:
Fast Chocolate Outline Icing
Ingredients
- 4 ounces Sweet Tooth Fairy Meltables Chocolate (sold at Michaels)
- ½ tablespoon Wilton EZ Thin Dipping Aid (optional)
Instructions
- For thick outlining consistency: microwave 2 ounces of chocolate Meltables in a small bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval in the microwave, until it melts (about 1 minute total microwave time). Let the chocolate cool to 100-110℉ and then transfer to a piping bag. It is ready for use.
- For medium consistency: in a separate bowl, combine 2 ounces of Meltables and the EZ Thin dipping aid. Microwave in 30-second increments. Stir after each round in the microwave (about 1 minute total melting time). Let the chocolate cool to 100℉ and then transfer to a piping bag.
Favorite Outline Ingredients
Summary
These heart-shaped peanut butter cookies with chocolate icing are a tasty way to show love. Whether you're baking or decorating for fun or to share with someone special, these cookies are sure to make everyone smile on Valentine's Day. Let's spread some love with these delicious homemade treats!