Heart Shaped Cookies with Pink and Red Royal Icing Recipe

If you’re looking to wow your friends and family with an adorable, delicious treat, I’ve got just the thing. My Heart Shaped Cookies with Pink and Red Royal Icing Recipe is perfect for any occasion where you want to spread some love—Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or just because. These cookies not only look stunning with their beautiful icing but also taste incredibly buttery and melt-in-your-mouth good. Trust me, once you try these, you’ll want to make them again and again.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

These ingredients come together to create the ideal cookie dough that bakes into a tender, buttery heart shape, plus perfectly smooth royal icing that hardens just right. I recommend using high-quality vanilla and sifting your confectioners’ sugar for the best results.

• All-purpose flour: The base of your cookie, giving it structure; make sure it’s fresh for best texture.
• Baking powder: Helps the cookies rise just enough, so they stay light without spreading too much.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavor; even a pinch can make a big difference.
• Unsalted butter: Room temperature for easy creaming; brings richness and softness.
• Confectioners’ sugar: Also called powdered sugar, it ensures the dough and icing have a silky-smooth texture.
• Egg: Adds moisture and binds the dough together perfectly.
• Pure vanilla extract: My secret ingredient for warmth and depth of flavor.
• Meringue powder: Essential for royal icing to hold its shape and dry hard; you can find this online or at specialty baking stores.
• Warm water: Activates the meringue powder and helps achieve the right icing consistency.
• Pink and red food gel: These concentrated gels give vibrant, true colors without affecting icing texture.

Variations

One of the things I adore about this Heart Shaped Cookies with Pink and Red Royal Icing Recipe is how easily you can customize the icing and flavors. Experimenting with different looks is part of the fun in my kitchen!

• Flavor Twist: I like adding a teaspoon of almond extract to the dough for a slightly nutty twist—it complements vanilla beautifully.
• Color Variety: You can swap the pink and red icing for pastels or even vibrant blues and purples, perfect for birthdays or other celebrations.
• Diet-Friendly: To make these cookies vegan, try using vegan butter and a flax egg, though the texture will be a bit different.
• Advanced Decorating: After icing dries, add edible glitter, gold leaf, or piped royal icing patterns to make them extra special.

How to Make Heart Shaped Cookies with Pink and Red Royal Icing Recipe

Step 1: Whip Up the Cookie Dough

Start by preheating your oven to 400°F and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper—this helps prevent sticking and ensures even baking. Then whisk your flour, baking powder, and salt together so they’re evenly combined. In a separate bowl, beat the softened butter with confectioners’ sugar until it’s soft, fluffy, and pale—take about 1 to 2 minutes for the perfect texture. Add the egg and vanilla, mixing till just combined—don’t overbeat here! Next, gradually mix in your dry ingredients on low speed, watching the dough come together with just a slight give when touched. If it’s too sticky, don’t hesitate to sprinkle in a bit more flour.

Step 2: Roll, Cut, and Chill the Dough

Flour your workspace lightly and roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness. This thickness keeps the cookies perfectly tender but sturdy enough for icing. Use a 2 ½ to 3-inch heart-shaped cutter to make your cookie shapes—this is where the fun really starts! Don’t worry about scraps; you can gather and re-roll dough as needed. If it’s a warm day or your kitchen feels a bit hot, pop those cut cookies into the fridge for 20 minutes before baking. This little chill time prevents the dough from spreading too much in the oven, keeping your hearts crisp and defined.

Step 3: Bake to Golden Perfection

Bake your cookies for 7 to 8 minutes, turning the baking sheets halfway through to ensure even color. When they come out, they might look slightly soft, but that’s perfect—the cookies will firm up as they cool. Let them rest on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool fully. This step prevents breakage and keeps their pretty edges intact.

Step 4: Mix Up Your Royal Icing

While cookies cool, let’s tackle the royal icing. Place your meringue powder and 5 tablespoons warm water in a large bowl and whip until foamy—about 3 minutes—this makes your icing nice and stable. Add vanilla and sifted confectioners’ sugar, then whip on medium speed until it’s thick enough to hold medium-soft peaks. Royal icing can get tricky if it’s too runny or stiff, so add tiny drops of water if you need to thin it. Divide the icing into two bowls—color one with rich red food gel and the other with soft pink. I always use gel food coloring because it gives vibrant colors without changing the texture.

Step 5: Decorate Your Heart Shaped Cookies with Pink and Red Royal Icing

Fill two piping bags, each fitted with a small round tip (I recommend Wilton #2), with your pink and red icings. Outline half the cooled hearts with pink icing first; then flood the centers with the same color. Let these dry completely before repeating the same steps with the red icing on the remaining cookies. Drying can take a couple of hours, so patience here is key. When the base layer is set, you can pipe additional decorations like dots, lines, or swirls on top for that extra wow factor. I love creating little dots around the edge—it’s such a sweet finishing touch!

How to Serve Heart Shaped Cookies with Pink and Red Royal Icing Recipe

Garnishes

I love keeping garnishes simple so the icing design shines. A light dusting of edible pearl dust adds a subtle shimmer that catches the light beautifully. Sometimes I sprinkle tiny edible silver or gold beads right before the icing dries for a festive touch. Fresh edible flowers around the serving platter also make the presentation feel extra special.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a warm cup of tea—Chamomile or Earl Grey bring out the sweet vanilla notes perfectly. For brunch or dessert tables, I often serve these alongside fresh strawberries or a light berry compote. They’re also a hit with cold milk, especially with kids around!

Creative Ways to Present

For gifting or parties, I arrange my heart cookies in gift boxes lined with pastel tissue paper. Tying a ribbon around the box really amps up the cuteness factor. You can also stick a cookie on top of a wrapped gift as a sweet edible accessory! For big groups, setting up a decorating station with extra icing and sprinkles lets everyone personalize their own hearts, which always gets great feedback.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store my cooled and fully iced cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay fresh and delicious for up to a week this way. To avoid any sticking, I place parchment paper between layers. My family loves grabbing one as an afternoon snack anytime!

Freezing

Freezing works great if you want to make these in advance. I either freeze the cookie dough balls or fully baked cookies. For baked cookies, once completely cooled and iced, I store them in a single layer wrapped tightly with plastic wrap and then inside a freezer-safe bag. They can freeze well for up to three months. Just thaw at room temp before serving.

Reheating

Because these cookies are best enjoyed at room temperature, I don’t recommend heating them in the microwave or oven after freezing since the icing can melt. Instead, remove them from the freezer and let them thaw naturally for about 20-30 minutes—it preserves that perfect texture and keeps your icing looking gorgeous.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

I absolutely love how this Heart Shaped Cookies with Pink and Red Royal Icing Recipe turns out every time. There’s something so rewarding about seeing those vibrant, glossy hearts lined up on a platter, knowing each bite is tender and full of flavor. When I first tried this recipe, I was surprised by how simple it was to get such a professional-looking finish—no fancy equipment needed, just a little patience and love. I hope you enjoy making and sharing these as much as my family and I do. Go ahead, bake these gorgeous cookies and watch everyone’s faces light up!

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