Mini Valentine Shortbread Cookies
These mini Valentine shortbread cookies are the perfect treat for kids’ parties or your significant other. These buttery heart-shaped shortbread cookies are decorated with an easy icing and Valentine’s Day sprinkles for a festive cookie treat everyone will love.
It’s no secret that I love making holiday-themed treats, and Valentine’s Day is no different! Like any other holiday, when Valentine’s Day draws near, I start thinking of adorable treats to serve to family and friends, and these Valentine shortbread cookies are just the thing. They’re quick and easy to make, and they’re the perfect gift for friends, family, or your romantic partner. They just work for everyone, which is why I love making them so much. I can serve them at parties, as gifts for anyone, or as part of a romantic dinner for my hubby. They just work. And what works for me the most is how easy they are to make. Now, since this is a simple and basic recipe, you can use the dough year round for making other holiday cookies just by using any shape cookie cutter. You can even just use a plain round cookie cutter for a basic looking cookie. The sprinkles are an option, so use some or leave off. The cookies are just so delicious as is.
Mini Valentine Shortbread Cookies
These delicious little cookies start with a simple shortbread dough. It’s the classic shortbread dough we all know and love, and it comes together quickly. I roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thickness and then use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to make little hearts! After that, I bake the cookies until golden brown and let them cool. From there, I make the icing and drizzle it on top of the cookies followed by Valentine sprinkles or nonpareils. I let the icing harden and then watch them disappear. That’s all there is to it!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- These mini heart-shaped cookies make a great gift for anyone in your life.
- They’re rich and buttery with a sweet icing on top.
- They use basic baking ingredients you can find at any grocery store.
- They’re so easy to make!
Ingredients
This recipe uses basic baking ingredients that you can find in your kitchen or at any grocery store. It’s all basic stuff!
For the Cookies
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract, I used clear
- 1/4 teaspoon pure almond extract, you can use vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt, I used sea salt
- 1/8 to 1/4 cup Valentine’s sprinkles
For the Icing and Decoration
- 3/4 – 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3-6 tablespoons milk or cold water, start with 3 tablespoons, gradually add more if needed
- 1/2 teaspoon clear vanilla extract, if you can’t find clear, use 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 small pinch fine salt, I used sea salt
- 1/8 cup Valentine’s Day nonpareils or sprinkles, or both
How to Make Mini Valentine Shortbread Cookies
Making this recipe is no more difficult than any other shortbread cookie recipe. The basic process is the same, requiring a bit of mixing, rolling, and baking. After that, the icing comes together in a snap. There’s really nothing to it!
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
- Beat the butter, sugar, and almond extract until creamy in a large mixing bowl.
- Whisk the flour and salt together in a medium mixing bowl.
- Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until the dough forms.
- Mix up the Valentine sprinkles.
- Lightly flour a surface and roll the dough out into a 1/4-inch-thick rectangle.
- Using a small heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out mini heart cookies.
- Bake for 7 to 10 minutes until lightly golden brown.
- Let the cookies cool on the sheet for a few minutes, then slide the parchment paper onto a wire rack until the cookies are cool enough to handle.
- Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- When the cookies have cooled, whisk the powdered sugar, salt, milk, and vanilla until smooth in a medium mixing bowl.
- Drizzle the icing with a fork, spoon, or pipe the icing over the cookies.
- Sprinkle the nonpareils and/or sprinkles on top of the cookies while the icing is still wet.
- Let the icing harden. Enjoy!
Tips
- To pipe your icing onto the cookies easily, snip the tip of one corner of a resealable bag. Then, add the icing to the bag and pipe it onto the cookies.
- Add the dry ingredients slowly to the wet ingredients to ensure the dough is adequately mixed.
- It’s important to line your cookie sheets with parchment or a silicone baking mat to easily remove them when they’re ready to be cooled.
Substitutions and Variations
- Add a drop or 2 of red food coloring to the icing for a more festive Valentine look.
- Cut the cookies into different shapes and make the icing different colors for any holiday.
- Add a little red food coloring to the dough for pink or red cookies with white drizzle.
Equipment
- Measuring cups and measuring spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Cookie sheets
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
- 1 to 2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter
- Disposable piping bag or a Ziploc type bag with corner cut off, this is optional
Storage
Room Temperature: Store for up to a week in an air-tight container.
Freezer: Store for up to 3 months in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag.
What to Serve with Valentine Shortbread Cookies
Serve these cookies with a glass of milk for the kiddos or a cup of coffee or tea for the adults. They’re delicious as part of a larger dessert spread with all of your favorite sweet treats like cupcakes, cakes, wafers, and the like, or you can serve them with some fresh fruit.
More Valentine Recipes
If you love sweet Valentine’s Day treats, then I think you’re going to enjoy these recipes. Give them a try!
FAQ
What are shortbread cookies?
Shortbread cookies are buttery cookies with a buttery flavor and crumbly texture thanks to the higher amounts of butter and flour used to make them.
What do shortbread cookies taste like?
Shortbread cookies should be buttery and sweet, but not overly so, with a slightly gritty and crumbly texture.
Why are my shortbread cookies dry?
Shortbread cookies can come out dry if they don’t have enough moisture. While these cookies are traditionally more dry than regular cookies, they should never be so dry that they don’t hold together or are difficult to eat.
Mini Valentine Shortbread Cookies
These Mini Valentine Shortbread Cookies are easy to make, festive and full of the traditional shortbread cookie flavor.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened softened
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon pure almond extract, or use all vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt, I use sea or kosher salt
- 1/4 cup Valentine’s Day nonpareils sprinkles
Icing ingredients
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 3-5 tablespoons milk or cold water
- 1/2 teaspoon clear vanilla extract, you can use regular vanilla, just use 1/4 teaspoon
- 4 tablespoons Valentine’s Day nonpareils sprinkles
Instructions
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1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. 2. Set aside. Beat the butter, sugar, and almond extract until creamy in a large mixing bowl. Whisk the flour and salt together in a medium mixing bowl.
3. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until the dough forms. Lightly flour a surface and roll the dough out into a 1/4-inch-thick rectangle. 4. Using a small heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out mini heart cookies. 5. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes until lightly golden brown. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for a few minutes, then slide the parchment paper onto a wire rack until the cookies are cool enough to handle. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. 6. When the cookies have cooled, whisk the powdered sugar, salt, milk, and vanilla until smooth in a medium mixing bowl. Drizzle the icing with a fork, spoon, or pipe the icing over the cookies. Mix up the Valentine sprinkles. Sprinkle the nonpareils and/or sprinkles on top of the cookies while the icing is still wet. Let the icing harden. Enjoy!
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