Braided Sweetheart Cookies are soft sugar cookies shaped into pink and white striped hearts. They’re simple to make, delicate in texture thanks to powdered sugar, and so pretty you won’t need frosting.
Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to bake something special. These braided heart cookies are a lovely twist on classic sugar cookies: the dough is straightforward, but the pink-and-white braid creates an eye-catching heart that’s fun to make and share.
BRAIDED SWEETHEART COOKIES
These cookies stay tender because the recipe uses powdered sugar instead of granulated sugar. The dough is divided in two, with one half tinted pink using red food coloring. You roll each portion into ropes, twist a pink and white rope together, and shape the twist into a heart to achieve the braided look. Bake until the edges are lightly golden and allow to cool before serving.
INGREDIENTS IN BRAIDED SWEETHEART COOKIES
Butter: Use softened butter (salted or unsalted). Avoid margarine and do not melt the butter—soft but not greasy is best.
Powdered sugar: Powdered sugar gives these cookies their tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Egg: One egg binds the dough and helps the cookies hold together during baking.
Vanilla extract: A good-quality vanilla enhances the flavor.
Flour: All-purpose flour works well; bread or pastry flour can be used too. A gluten-free flour blend is a suitable alternative if needed.
Baking powder: Provides light lift—make sure it’s fresh for best results.
Salt: A small amount brightens the overall flavor.
Red food coloring: A few drops tint one portion of the dough pink so you can braid pink and white ropes together.
HOW TO MAKE BRAIDED SWEETHEART COOKIES
Prepare the cookie dough by creaming the softened butter with powdered sugar, then beat in the egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt, then add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix until combined.
Divide the dough in half. Add red food coloring to one portion and leave the other portion white. Wrap each portion in plastic and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight to make shaping easier.
To shape the cookies, form a 1-inch ball of each color, then roll each ball into an 8-inch rope. Place a pink and white rope side by side, press lightly to join, and twist them together.
Lay the twisted rope on a baking sheet and form it into a heart, pinching the bottom ends together so the shape holds. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 8–11 minutes, until the edges just begin to brown. Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
BRAIDED SWEETHEART COOKIES
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 6-8 drops red food coloring
Instructions
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Cream the butter and powdered sugar for 2–3 minutes until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
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Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; add to the butter mixture and combine.
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Divide the dough in half. Tint one half with food coloring and leave the other plain. Wrap both portions and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). For each cookie, roll a 1-inch ball of each color into an 8-inch rope. Place ropes side by side, press lightly, twist, then shape into a heart, pinching the bottom to seal.
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Bake 8–11 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Cool briefly on the sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Notes
Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
WHY DID MY COOKIES SPREAD?
If cookies spread too much, the dough was likely too warm. Warm dough or very soft butter will cause spreading. Chill the shaped dough in the freezer for 30–60 minutes before baking to firm it up and help the cookies keep their shape.
CAN I MAKE THE COOKIE DOUGH IN ADVANCE?
Yes. You can make the dough and keep it covered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, then shape and bake the next day. This makes preparing for gatherings easier while still serving freshly baked cookies.
MORE DELICIOUS VALENTINE’S DAY COOKIES TO TRY:
- VALENTINE’S DAY SUGAR COOKIES
- VALENTINE’S THUMBPRINT COOKIES
- CHOCOLATE HEART VALENTINE’S SUGAR COOKIES
- RED VELVET VALENTINE’S CAKE MIX COOKIES
- VALENTINE HEART COOKIES
- VALENTINE’S CAKE MIX COOKIES
- PINK SANDWICH COOKIES
- LINZER COOKIES
- STRAWBERRY COOL WHIP COOKIES
- VALENTINE HEART THUMBPRINT COOKIES
- CHERRY SHORTBREAD COOKIES
- CHOCOLATE SUGAR COOKIES
- STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE COOKIES
- VALENTINE’S WHOOPIE PIES
- STRAWBERRY CAKE MIX COOKIES
Braided Sweetheart Cookies are a pretty, simple way to celebrate — soft sugar cookie dough is braided into pink-and-white hearts for a charming treat that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion.