Marbled Pink Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies
These Marbled Pink Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies are buttery, no-spread cutout cookies with a beautiful baked-in pink marble effect. Made from a classic vanilla sugar cookie dough, they hold their shape perfectly and require no icing, making them an elegant yet easy Valentine’s treat.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Hand Mixer
- Rolling Pin
- heart-shaped cookie cutters
- Baking Sheets
- Oven
Ingredients
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
- 0.25 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp baking powder
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- pink or red gel food coloring
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla, then add salt and baking powder. Gradually mix in flour until a smooth dough forms.
- Divide dough evenly in half. Leave one half plain and tint the other with pink gel food coloring until evenly colored.
- Pinch off small pieces of both doughs and gently knead together just until marbled swirls form. Do not overmix.
- Shape dough into a disc, wrap tightly, and refrigerate for 30–60 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll dough to ¼-inch thickness and cut with heart-shaped cutters.
- Place cutouts on a lined baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes to prevent spreading.
- Bake for 12–14 minutes until edges are set. Cool briefly on the pan, then transfer to a wire rack.
Notes
Use gel food coloring only—liquid coloring can affect dough texture and cause spreading. Chill and freeze steps are essential for sharp-edged cutouts. Knead the colored dough gently to preserve the marbled look.