Go Back

Slice and Bake Heart Cookies – Buttery, Tender & Perfectly Shaped Every Time

These Slice and Bake Heart Cookies are the ultimate combination of simplicity and charm — buttery shortbread-style cookies that are irresistibly tender, lightly sweet, and shaped into adorable hearts without any cookie cutters. The magic is in the technique: you form a log of colored dough inside a contrasting dough, chill, slice, and bake. What comes out are perfect little hearts with clean edges and a vintage–bakery vibe. Think Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, Christmas cookie boxes, wedding showers, or anytime you want a cookie that looks like a gift all on its own. They’re elegant, nostalgic, customizable with colors and flavors, and surprisingly easy to make. Crisp at the edges, soft in the center, and full of buttery goodness — these cookies are the cutest treat you’ll ever bake.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Servings: 20 Cookies
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes
Jacky's Kitchen Icon

Get Our Best App for Daily Great Recipes 🍽️

Discover warm, delicious, home-style meals — fresh recipes added every day inside Jacky’s Kitchen.

Download on the App Store
Google Play Coming Soon

Ingredients
  

Base Shortbread Dough
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp almond extract optional but recommended
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp salt
For the Heart Center
  • Pink or red gel food coloring
  • Optional: ½ tsp strawberry extract or raspberry extract
  • Optional Coatings
  • Red or pink sanding sugar
  • Funfetti sprinkles
  • Freeze-dried strawberry dust
Jacky's Kitchen Icon

Get Our Best App for Daily Great Recipes 🍽️

Discover warm, delicious, home-style meals — fresh recipes added every day inside Jacky’s Kitchen.

Download on the App Store
Google Play Coming Soon

Equipment

  • Electric mixer
  • Mixing bowls
  • Parchment paper
  • Plastic wrap
  • Baking sheets
  • Sharp knife for slicing
  • Food coloring (gel preferred)

Method
 

Step 1: Make the Shortbread Dough
  1. Beat together:
  2. butter
  3. powdered sugar
  4. Cream until smooth and pale (2–3 minutes).
  5. Add:
  6. vanilla
  7. almond extract
  8. Mix again.
  9. Whisk flour + salt, then add to the butter mixture on low speed until a soft dough forms.
Step 2: Create the Colored Heart Dough
  1. Divide dough in two parts:
  2. 1/3 of the dough → tint with pink or red gel food coloring
  3. 2/3 of the dough → leave plain
  4. Knead the colored dough until color is uniform.
  5. If adding flavor (strawberry/raspberry extract), mix it into the colored portion now.
Step 3: Shape the Heart Log
  1. Roll the colored dough into a log about 1 inch thick.
  2. Pinch one side slightly to create the bottom point of a heart.
  3. Press a crease down the top center with a skewer or knife to form the top indentation of the heart.
  4. Smooth edges so it looks like a heart from all angles.
  5. Wrap and chill 20 minutes.
Step 4: Wrap the Heart with Plain Dough
  1. Roll plain dough into a rectangle large enough to wrap around the heart log.
  2. Place heart log in the center and gently fold the plain dough around it.
  3. Roll back into a smooth log (about 2–2.5 inches thick).
  4. If using sanding sugar or sprinkles, roll the outside in them now.
  5. Wrap tightly and refrigerate 2 hours or freeze 25 minutes.
Step 5: Slice & Bake
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Slice cookies ¼–½ inch thick using a sharp knife.
  3. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets.
  4. Bake 10–12 minutes, or until edges are just set but not browned.
  5. Cool completely.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Freezing

Room Temp: 1–2 weeks
Freeze dough log: 3 months
Freeze baked cookies: 2 months
These are PERFECT for make-ahead holiday baking.

🥄 Variations

Strawberry Heart Cookies
Add strawberry extract + freeze-dried berry powder.
Chocolate-Dipped Heart Cookies
Dip in melted chocolate + crushed freeze-dried berries.
Valentine Funfetti Hearts
Roll log in heart-shaped sprinkles.
Matcha Vanilla Hearts
Tint outer dough green with matcha; leave heart center plain.
Red Velvet Hearts
Add cocoa + red coloring to the inner dough.
Gluten-Free Version
Use 1:1 GF flour.
Elegant Almond Hearts
Add extra almond extract + roll edges in sliced almonds.
Christmas Heart Cookies
Use red heart center + green dough outside.
Chocolate Shortbread Outside
Add 2 tbsp cocoa to the plain dough.
Ombre Heart Logs
Blend lighter and darker pink strips for a gradient look.

❓ 10 FAQs

Why did my heart shape deform when slicing?
Dough too soft — chill longer.
Can I freeze the dough log?
Yes, slice straight from frozen.
Do I need food coloring?
Optional — but hearts look much better with color.
Why is my dough cracking?
Dough was too cold or too dry; warm slightly with hands.
Can I add sprinkles inside the dough?
Yes — funfetti hearts are adorable.
How thick should I slice them?
¼ inch for crisp cookies; ½ inch for soft.
My cookies spread — what happened?
Butter too warm — chill before baking.
Can I make them vegan?
Yes — use vegan butter + plant-based milk if needed.
Why powdered sugar instead of granulated?
Creates a more tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Can kids help shape the hearts?
Yes — it’s a perfect family baking project.

🏁 Conclusion

These Slice and Bake Heart Cookies are buttery, tender, and totally enchanting — beautiful to look at, delicious to eat, and unbelievably simple to make. With their sweet heart center and soft shortbread-style crumb, they’re perfect for holidays, Valentine’s Day, gifting, or just baking something adorable and delicious.
This recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and a repeat-worthy classic for your cookie collection.