Valentine’s Day Slice and Bake Cookies

These Valentine’s Day slice and bake cookies are the cutest treats you can make for the holiday. Each cookie has a bright red heart right in the center and a soft, sweet sugar cookie base. They look fancy, but they are fully homemade and easier than they seem. Forget store-bought cookie dough — once you serve these, your friends and family will be amazed you made them yourself.

Do not feel nervous about the heart design. This recipe has been tested many times, and you will find helpful tips throughout to make sure your cookies turn out clean, neat, and picture-perfect every time.

Why You’ll Love This Heart Cookie Recipe

These heart slice and bake cookies are a fun twist on classic sugar cookies. You may have seen store-bought slice and bake dough with holiday shapes, but homemade cookies always taste better. This recipe gives you the same cute look with a richer flavor and softer texture.

They may look fancy, but the steps are simple. Once baked, expect lots of compliments — and yes, you can happily take the credit.

Fun Slice and Bake Holiday Cookie Variations

This slice and bake cookie recipe works for many holidays, not just Valentine’s Day. You can easily change the colors or shapes to match the season.

• St. Patrick’s Day: Dye the dough green and use a shamrock cookie cutter
• Easter: Use light food coloring for pastel dough and cut bunny or egg shapes
• Christmas: Skip the center design and roll the dough edges in red, green, and white sprinkles
• Fourth of July: Use red, white, and blue sprinkles for a festive look
• Halloween: Color the outer dough purple, black, or orange and keep the center plain
• Different extracts: Change the flavor with almond extract, or use peppermint extract for Christmas cookies

Ingredients Needed for Slice and Bake Cookies

• All-purpose flour: Unbleached flour helps give structure to the cookies
• Granulated sugar: White sugar for sweetness
• Pure vanilla extract: Adds flavor. Use pure vanilla for best results
• Red food coloring: Liquid or gel food coloring works
• Pantry staples: Butter, baking powder, and a large egg

How to Make Slice and Bake Cookies

For exact ingredient amounts, see the printable recipe card below. Follow these step-by-step instructions to make Valentine’s Day slice and bake cookies.

Make Sugar Cookie Dough

In a small bowl, mix the flour and baking powder. Set aside. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix well. Slowly add the dry ingredients until the dough forms.

Add Red Food Coloring to Smaller Portion of Dough

Once the dough comes together, remove about one-third and place it in a separate bowl. Mix red food coloring into this smaller portion until the color is even.

Roll Out Red Dough

Roll the red dough to about 1 inch thick. Use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out hearts. Line the hearts up carefully and gently press them together to form stacks. You should end up with several heart stacks.

Freeze Red Heart Stacks (Optional but Recommended)

Freezing the heart stacks for about 30 minutes helps them keep their shape. Lightly cover them with plastic wrap and place them on a baking sheet in the freezer.

Pro Tip: Keep the plain dough soft at room temperature. Soft dough sticks better to the frozen hearts and helps avoid gaps between colors.

Roll Remaining Dough Around Heart Stacks

Divide the plain dough into equal parts to match the number of heart stacks. Carefully wrap the plain dough around each heart stack until fully covered.

Pro Tip: Rolling the dough into long strips and pressing them onto the sides is the fastest and easiest method.

Wrap and Refrigerate

Gently roll each dough log to smooth the edges. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.

Preheat Oven and Slice Cookies

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Remove the dough logs from the fridge. Using a very sharp knife, slice into ½-inch rounds. Place cookies on the baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch of space between each one.

Bake Heart Cookies

Bake for 8–10 minutes, until the bottoms are just lightly golden and the tops are no longer shiny. Do not overbake. Let cookies cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheet, then move them to a wire rack.

Pro Tip: For perfectly round cookies, place a large round cookie cutter around each hot cookie and gently swirl it. This trick is called cookie scooting and smooths the edges.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

To freeze for later, prepare the dough through the chilling step. Wrap the dough logs, place them in a freezer-safe bag, and freeze. When ready to bake, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then slice and bake as directed.