Sugar cookies are a staple of Valentine’s Day dessert.
Valentine’s Day is a time for love and sweetness; so when it’s time for dessert, there’s nothing better than sugar cookies! This style of cookie has several variations, and my absolute favorite version is by Sally McKenney. Each batch makes about 24 cookies, assuming each one is approximately three inches wide.
Ingredients (one batch):
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¾ cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg (room temperature)
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Frosting (optional)
Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions:
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
- Use a stand mixer (on high) to combine butter and sugar for three minutes. Mix in egg and vanilla extract.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix (on low) until combined.
- Wrap dough and place in the fridge, so it can retain a shape. Preheat the oven to 350 ℉
- After an hour, take dough out of the fridge and roll it so it is consistently ¼-inch thick. Use cookie cutters to make hearts shapes.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let the cookies cool for a few more minutes, then top with frosting and sprinkles.
This recipe also appears in our February 2025 print edition.
