Perfect Brown Sugar Cutout Cookies for Your Valentine
- Nancy Naigle
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Valentine’s Day calls for sweet treats that show love and care. Brown sugar cutout cookies offer a rich, buttery flavor with a hint of caramel that makes them stand out from traditional sugar cookies. These cookies are perfect for decorating with flood icing techniques to create charming sweetheart designs for your Valentine’s celebration. This post will guide you through making the ideal brown sugar shortbread cutouts and decorating them beautifully with royal icing.
Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened
¾ to 1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
TOOLS
Large mixing bowl
Electric mixer or stand mixer
Rolling pin
Cookie cutters (heart shapes work great for Valentine’s)
Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
Baking sheet
Wire cooling rack
Having everything ready helps you focus on the baking and decorating steps without interruptions.
Brown Sugar Cutout Cookies
Step 1: Cream Butter and Brown Sugar
Start by creaming the softened salted butter with the packed brown sugar, vanilla extract.
Tips: Make sure your butter is softened but not melted. If it’s too soft, the dough will be greasy and harder to work with. And, if you are using unsalted butter...add a 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
Use an electric mixer on medium speed and beat for about 4 minutes until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This step is crucial because it incorporates air into the dough, giving the cookies a tender texture.
Step 2: Gradually Add Flour to Form Dough
Slowly add the flour to the creamed mixture. Beat on low speed or mix by hand until the dough just comes together. It may look crumbly at first, but keep mixing gently until it forms a smooth dough. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough cookies.
Step 3: Chill the Dough for Easier Rolling
Divide the dough into two disks, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, up to 2 hours. Chilling firms up the dough, making it easier to roll out without sticking to your rolling pin, and cut clean shapes without sticking or tearing.
Step 4: Roll Out Dough and Cut Shapes
Preheat your oven to 325-350°F (160-175°C). Lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin. Roll the chilled dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Use your cookie cutters to cut out shapes, pressing firmly and twisting slightly to release the dough.
Place the cutouts on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them 1 to 2 inches apart to allow for slight spreading.
Step 5: Bake Until Edges Are Lightly Golden
Bake the cookies for 8 to 12 minutes. Watch closely starting at 8 minutes because ovens vary. The edges should turn a light golden color, signaling they are done. Overbaking will dry out the cookies and reduce their tenderness.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents breakage and helps them firm up.
You are ready to decorate!
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE HOW TO DECORATE YOUR SWEETHEART VALENTINE COOKIE POST NOW.
ENJOY!
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