Description
These Marbled Heart Sugar Cookie Cutouts are perfect for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion. Featuring a delightful marbled effect with red or pink hues, these tender sugar cookies are soft, buttery, and visually stunning. Easy to make with simple ingredients, they combine classic vanilla flavor with a fun and festive twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Decoration
- Red or pink gel food coloring
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure they are evenly combined and aerated.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, approximately 2 to 3 minutes, creating a smooth base for the dough.
- Incorporate Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract into the creamed butter and sugar until fully combined, adding moisture and flavor to the dough.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually mix the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients until a smooth dough forms, carefully combining to avoid overworking.
- Divide and Color Dough: Divide the dough into two equal portions. Leave one portion plain and tint the other with a few drops of red or pink gel food coloring, kneading gently until the color is uniformly distributed.
- Create Marbled Dough: Take small pieces from each portion and lightly press them together, twisting gently to achieve a marbled and swirled effect without fully blending the colors.
- Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll the marbled dough to approximately 1/4-inch thickness, preparing it for cutting.
- Cut Hearts: Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut the dough into shapes and place them evenly spaced on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Chill Cookies: Refrigerate the cutouts for 10 to 15 minutes to help them maintain shape and prevent spreading during baking.
- Preheat Oven: Set the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the chilled cookies for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are just set and slightly golden, ensuring they remain tender inside.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, preserving their shape and texture.
Notes
- To achieve a more vibrant marbled look, avoid over-mixing the differently colored doughs to maintain distinct swirls.
- Decorate cooled cookies with icing or edible glitter for added flair and festive presentation.
- Ensure butter is softened but not melted for optimal creaming and dough texture.
- Chilling the dough cutouts helps cookies hold their shape during baking.
