These Valentine’s Day sugar cookies are decorated with a simple royal icing and colorful sprinkles for a charming, homemade gift. Tie a ribbon or place them in a small muslin bag to create a thoughtful, bakery-style Valentine treat.
Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies
Valentine’s Day is a chance to celebrate love and kindness, and baking is a warm, creative way to share that feeling. These heart-shaped sugar cookies are quick to make, easy to decorate, and package beautifully when topped with a ribbon or placed in a little muslin bag.
I was inspired by a stacked cookie presentation and wanted to recreate that look with a simple home-baked approach: classic sugar cookie dough cut into two sizes of hearts, decorated with royal icing and sprinkles, then tied together with ribbon. The result looks polished but is easy enough to make with kids or to prepare for a classroom or neighborhood treat exchange.
I love adding small finishing touches—like black-and-white muslin bags or a coordinating ribbon—to make gifts feel special. Beautiful packaging elevates a homemade treat and makes recipients feel cherished without much extra effort.
These cookies are a great project for a cozy afternoon: roll the dough, cut heart shapes, bake, ice, and assemble. They keep well for a few days when stored in an airtight container, which makes them perfect for preparing ahead of Valentine’s Day.
Make a stack by placing a smaller heart cookie atop a larger one, then tie them together with a short length of ribbon. Slip the paired cookies into a waxed bag or a muslin sack for an elegant finishing touch. These make lovely gifts for coworkers, teachers, friends, and neighbors.
Whether you’re baking with children or preparing a batch to give out at parties, this recipe is straightforward and forgiving. The royal icing used here is a basic mix that sets well and can be tinted with food coloring for different looks.
shop this post
How to Make Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies:
Step 1: Prepare a classic sugar cookie dough. This version doesn’t require chilling and holds its shape well when cut.
Step 2: Roll the dough to about 1/2″ thickness. Use two different-sized heart cutters to create matching pairs. Use a straw to punch a small hole near the top corner of each cookie so you can thread ribbon later.
Step 3: Bake on a lined sheet at 350°F and remove the cookies just before the edges begin to brown—about 10 minutes, depending on your oven.
Step 4: While cookies bake, whisk together a simple royal icing using powdered sugar and milk, adjusting liquid to reach a slightly thicker-than-glue consistency.
Step 5: Let the cookies cool completely, then decorate with royal icing and sprinkles. Allow the icing to dry fully so it won’t smudge during packaging.
Step 6: Stack a small heart on a larger one, thread ribbon through the punched holes, and tie a neat bow. Place finished cookies in a muslin bag or small paper envelope for gifting.
More VALENTINE’S DAY recipes & IDEAS
Looking for more Valentine’s Day inspiration? Try other homemade treats and DIY projects such as:
Sweetheart Popcorn
DIY Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Straws
A Lovely Rose Sugar Scrub
DIY Valentine’s Day Treat Bag
Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies FAQ:
Room temperature butter for sugar cookies:
For the best texture when creaming butter and sugar, take the butter out of the refrigerator about an hour before you begin. It should be cool but soft enough to press with a fingertip and blend smoothly with the sugar.
How to frost with royal icing:
This simple royal icing uses powdered sugar and milk—no meringue powder or raw egg whites required. Start by sifting the powdered sugar for a smoother texture. Mix one cup powdered sugar with about 3 teaspoons of milk, adding milk a teaspoon at a time until the icing is slightly thicker than glue. Stir in vanilla if desired. Add a teaspoon of corn syrup for extra shine, and a few drops of red food coloring for Valentine hues.
To pipe the icing without special tools, use a small zip-top bag. Fill the bag, press the icing toward one corner, and snip a tiny hole—about the diameter of a toothpick. Pipe outlines, small dots, or polka dots easily. To flood a cookie, outline first, then fill the center with icing and use the back of a spoon to spread it smoothly.
The Recipe
Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- FOR THE DOUGH:
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2.5 cups flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- pinch of salt
- FOR THE ICING:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 4-6 teaspoons milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract optional
- 1 tsp corn syrup optional
- red food coloring optional
Instructions
-
FOR THE DOUGH: Start by making a classic sugar cookie dough. The recipe below doesn’t require chilling and the cookies keep their shape perfectly!
-
Roll out the dough 1/2” thick, and cut out heart shaped cookies using two different sized cookie cutters. Use a straw to cut out small holes in the top corner of each cookie.
-
Bake the cookies and remove just before they are golden brown, about 10 minutes.
-
While the cookies bake, prepare a simple royal icing using powdered sugar and milk.
-
Allow the cookies to cool completely, then decorate with royal icing and sprinkles!
-
Once the icing has completely dried, stack a small cookie on top of each larger cookie. Use ribbon to tie the cookies together and finish off with a waxed envelope or muslin baggie!
-
Place the cookies onto a lined baking sheet, and bake at 350 F for 10 minutes. Remove the cookie before the edges turn golden. Repeat with the remaining dough.
-
Allow the cookies to cool completely. Use piping bags or ziplock bags to frost the cookies with simple royal icing (see recipe below), add sprinkles if desired. Once the frosting has dried, use ribbon to attach two cookies together. Place in a muslin or waxed bag and give as Valentine’s Day treats!
-
FOR THE ICING: In a small mixing bowl, mix powdered sugar, vanilla, and 3 tsp. milk together.
-
Add milk in 1 tsp. increments, stirring well until your desired consistency is reached. It should be slightly thicker than glue.
-
Stir in a few drops of red food coloring and/or corn syrup if desired! The corn syrup will give the icing sheen but isn’t necessary.