17 Easy Valentine's Day Cookie Recipes for Sweethearts

Top Tips

1. Chill your cookie dough before cutting shapes - Cold dough holds its shape much better when you're cutting out hearts and other Valentine designs, so refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes before rolling. Warm dough spreads too much in the oven and you'll lose those crisp edges and defined shapes.
2. Use parchment paper for easy cleanup and even baking - Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup a breeze. The parchment also helps cookies bake more evenly since it creates a barrier between the hot pan and the dough.
3. Let cookies cool completely before decorating - Frosting will melt and slide right off warm cookies, so be patient and wait until they're totally cool. Set them on a wire rack so air circulates around them and they cool faster than sitting on the baking sheet.
4. Make extra dough for the freezer - Cookie dough freezes beautifully, so double your batch and freeze half for last-minute treats. You can freeze it in a log to slice and bake later, or freeze cut shapes on a tray then transfer to a bag once solid.