Celebrate love and sweetness with these adorable heart-shaped strawberry shortbread cookies! Made with buttery shortbread, fruity strawberry jam, and a pretty pink glaze, these cookies are perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or any occasion where a touch of romance is in order.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Delightfully Buttery: Classic shortbread with a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Fruity Sweetness: Strawberry jam and glaze add a burst of fruity flavor.
- Beautiful and Festive: Perfect for special occasions or as edible gifts.
- Simple Ingredients: Easy to make with pantry staples.
- Customizable: Switch up the jam or glaze to suit your preferences.
Ingredients
(Tip: You can find the complete list of ingredients and their measurements in the recipe card below.)
For the Shortbread Cookies:
- 125 g unsalted butter, softened
- 60 g caster sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 180 g plain flour
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
For the Filling:
- 170 g strawberry jam
For the Strawberry Glaze:
- 2 tablespoons strawberry purée
- 110 g powdered sugar (icing sugar)
- 1 teaspoon unsalted butter, melted
- 30 ml milk
Directions
1. Make the Shortbread Dough
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and caster sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the flour and salt, mixing until the dough comes together. Form the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
2. Roll and Cut the Cookies
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll the Dough: Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness.
- Cut Heart Shapes: Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies. For half of the hearts, use a smaller heart-shaped cutter to create a “window” in the center. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets.
3. Bake the Cookies
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
4. Assemble the Cookies
- Add Jam: Spread a thin layer of strawberry jam onto the full heart-shaped cookies.
- Top with Windows: Place the heart-shaped cookies with cutouts on top, gently pressing to sandwich the jam.
5. Make the Strawberry Glaze
- Mix the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the strawberry purée, powdered sugar, melted butter, and milk until smooth and slightly thickened.
- Decorate: Drizzle or pipe the glaze over the cookies and let it set for 10-15 minutes.
Servings and Timing
- Servings: 12 cookies
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
Variations
- Different Jams: Use raspberry, apricot, or cherry jam instead of strawberry.
- Chocolate Drizzle: Swap the strawberry glaze for melted chocolate for a decadent twist.
- Lemon Shortbread: Add 1 teaspoon of lemon zest to the dough for a citrusy flavor.
- Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for a gluten-free version.
- Festive Shapes: Customize for other holidays with themed cookie cutters (stars, circles, etc.).
Storage/Reheating
- Storage: Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Freeze unassembled cookies (no jam or glaze) in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Thaw before decorating.
- Reheating: These cookies don’t require reheating but taste best fresh.
FAQs
1. Can I use store-bought jam?
Yes, any high-quality store-bought jam works well for this recipe.
2. How do I make strawberry purée?
Blend fresh or frozen (thawed) strawberries in a blender or food processor until smooth.
3. What if I don’t have a heart-shaped cutter?
You can use any cookie cutter shape or cut the dough into squares or circles with a knife or glass.
4. Can I skip the glaze?
Yes, the cookies are delicious with just the jam filling, but the glaze adds an extra layer of sweetness and decoration.
5. How do I prevent the dough from sticking while rolling?
Lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin, and chill the dough if it becomes too soft.
6. Can I use salted butter?
If using salted butter, omit the added salt in the recipe.
7. How do I keep the cookies crisp?
Store in an airtight container to maintain crispness. Add a layer of parchment paper between cookies to prevent sticking.
8. Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, prepare the dough up to 2 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Let it soften slightly before rolling.
9. Can I make these cookies vegan?
Use vegan butter and a plant-based milk for the glaze to make this recipe vegan-friendly.
10. How do I make the glaze thicker?
Add more powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.
Conclusion
Heart-Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies are as delightful to look at as they are to eat. Buttery, flaky shortbread paired with fruity jam and a delicate glaze makes these cookies the perfect treat for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion. Easy to make and endlessly customizable, these cookies are sure to win hearts!
Print
Heart-Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies
- Total Time: 1 hour 2 minutes
- Yield: cookies
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Make Valentine’s Day extra special with these Heart-Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies! Featuring buttery shortbread, fruity strawberry jam, and a beautiful pink glaze made from strawberry puree, these cookies are as lovely as they are delicious.
Ingredients
Shortbread Dough:
- 125 g unsalted butter (softened)
- 60 g caster sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 180 g plain flour
- 1/4 tsp fine salt
Filling:
- 170 g strawberry jam
Strawberry Glaze:
- 2 tbsp strawberry puree (fresh or store-bought)
- 110 g icing sugar (powdered sugar)
- 30 ml milk
- 1 tsp unsalted butter (melted)
Instructions
Make the Shortbread Dough:
- Cream the butter and sugar:
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and caster sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined.
- Add dry ingredients:
- Gradually sift in the flour and salt, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Chill the dough:
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Shape and Bake the Cookies:
- Preheat oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll and cut:
- Roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies. For half the cookies, cut a smaller heart in the center to create a “window.”
- Bake:
- Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Assemble the Cookies:
- Add the filling:
- Spread a small amount of strawberry jam on the solid cookies. Top with the “window” cookies to create a sandwich.
Make the Strawberry Glaze:
- Prepare the glaze:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the strawberry puree, icing sugar, milk, and melted butter until smooth.
- Decorate:
- Drizzle or spread the glaze over the top of the cookies. Let the glaze set before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh strawberries to make the puree by blending and straining them for a smooth consistency.
- Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Add a pinch of food coloring to the glaze for a more vibrant pink hue.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- chill time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Valentine’s Day