In questo articolo, esploreremo una ricetta deliziosa e facile da preparare.

Heart-Shaped Cookies: A Sweet Gesture of Love

Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or just because—there are countless reasons to whip up a batch of heart-shaped cookies. These delightful treats are not only charming but also incredibly delicious, making them perfect for any occasion. With a soft, chewy texture and a rich buttery flavor, these heart-shaped cookies are sure to win over anyone’s heart. Let’s dive into how to create these lovely confections.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Before we embark on our baking adventure, gather the following ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter: Use cold butter for best results, preferably European-style for a richer taste.
• 1 cup granulated sugar: Provides the perfect level of sweetness.
• 2 large eggs: Helps bind the ingredients together.
• 1 tbsp almond extract or vanilla extract: Choose your favorite for a hint of flavor.
• 3 to 4 cups all-purpose flour: Adjust based on humidity levels.
• ½ cup cornstarch: Ensures a tender crumb.
• ½ tsp table salt: Enhances flavor.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparation

1. Prepare Your Baking Sheets: Line several baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside. This prevents the cookies from sticking and makes for easy cleanup.

Making the Dough

2. Cream the Butter: In a mixing bowl, beat the cold butter until it’s creamy. A butter paddle beater works best for this task.
3. Incorporate Sugar: Add the granulated sugar and beat until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
4. Add Eggs and Extract: Mix in the eggs and your choice of almond or vanilla extract until everything is well incorporated.
5. Combine Dry Ingredients: Gradually stir in the flour, cornstarch, and salt. Once mostly combined, increase the mixer speed and beat until the dough is smooth and starts pulling away from the sides of the bowl.

Shaping and Baking

6. Roll the Dough: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Use a rolling pin to flatten it to a ¼-inch thickness.
7. Cut Out Hearts: Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out the cookies.
8. Chill the Dough: Transfer the cut-out cookies to the prepared baking sheets. Chill them in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to prevent spreading.
9. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) during the chilling period.
10. Bake: Once chilled, bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes. They should look set around the edges but remain pale.
11. Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Storing and Decorating

• Once cooled, stack the cookies in an airtight container. They’ll stay fresh at room temperature for several days.
• For an extra touch, decorate with frosting or icing of your choice.

Notes and Tips

• Cornstarch vs. Corn Meal: Make sure to use cornstarch, which is white and powdery. Corn meal is yellow and gritty, which is not suitable for this recipe.
• Yield and Texture: This recipe makes approximately 26 cookies, depending on the size of your cookie cutters. The cookies are mildly sweet with a soft and chewy texture. Using European-style butter will give them a buttery shortbread-like quality.
• Chill Time: Minimal chilling helps the cookies maintain their shape, ensuring no spread during baking.

Nutrition Information

Each cookie contains approximately: – Calories: 156 kcal – Carbohydrates: 21g – Protein: 2g – Fat: 7g – Saturated Fat: 5g – Cholesterol: 19mg – Sodium: 46mg – Potassium: 19mg – Fiber: 0.4g – Sugar: 8g – Calcium: 4mg – Iron: 1mg

Conclusion

These heart-shaped cookies are a delightful way to express love and affection. Whether you’re celebrating a special day or simply want to surprise someone with a sweet treat, these cookies are sure to please. Enjoy the process of baking and decorating, and relish in the joy they bring to those you share them with. Happy baking!

Heart Shaped Cookies

These heart-shaped cookies are perfect for any occasion, offering a soft, chewy texture with a hint of almond or vanilla flavor.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 11 minutes mins

Chill Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 56 minutes mins

Servings: 26 cookies

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 156

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Heart Shaped Cookies

• 1 cup unsalted butter COLD, preferably European-style butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tbsp almond extract OR vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour up to 4 cups depending on the humidity level
• 0.5 cup cornstarch
• 0.5 tsp table salt

Equipment

• heart-shaped cookie cutters

Method

 

1. Line several baking sheets with parchment. Set aside.
2. Beat the cold butter in the mixing bowl until creamy. If you have the butter paddle beater – that will work best.
3. Add the sugar and beat until smooth.
4. Mix in the eggs and vanilla until well combined.
5. Slowly stir in the flour, cornstarch, and salt. Once mostly incorporated, increase the speed and beat until smooth. It should pull away from the sides of the bowl.
6. Transfer the dough onto a smooth (lightly floured) work surface.
7. Use a rolling pin to work the dough to a flat, ¼” thick. Then use the cookie cutters to cut out the cookies.
8. Transfer to the prepared baking sheets and then chill in the refrigerator for 15 min.
9. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
10. Once the cut dough has chilled, bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes or until the edges appear to have set. They will not be golden – they will maintain their pale color.
11. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for several minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely before storing or decorating.
12. Once the cookies are cool – you can stack them in an airtight container and keep them at room temperature for several days. OR you can decorate with a frosting or icing of your choosing.

Notes

These cookies are mildly sweet and soft with a tender crumble. Using European-style butter enhances the buttery flavor, similar to shortbread. Ensure you use cornstarch and not cornmeal.