Delightful heart-shaped sugar cookies perfect for celebrations like Valentine’s Day and weddings.

Scale

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter, softened (or coconut oil for dairy-free)

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar (or brown sugar for deeper flavor)

1 large egg (or flaxseed egg for vegan)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)

Colored sugar or sprinkles (optional)

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter with granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract to the butter and sugar mixture; beat until well-blended.
Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed without overmixing.
Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick and cut out shapes with a heart-shaped cookie cutter.
Place cookies on prepared baking sheets, leaving space between them.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly golden; cool on the baking sheets for a couple of minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

For a denser cookie, you can substitute all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour. Consider adding frosting or royal icing for decoration.

Keywords: sugar cookies, heart-shaped cookies, baking, dessert, Valentine's Day