Heart biscuits for Valentine's Day

These delicious heart biscuits are perfect for Valentine's Day, a wedding or even an anniversary. Whenever you make them, they're the perfect way to show you care!

They're soft and sweet sugar cookies, decorated with fondant and confetti hearts.

Despite many years of cooking and baking experience, I'm not particularly skilled at working with runny icing - the kind professional decorators use to pipe fine details onto their biscuits.

But I do love an iced biscuit, so this recipe uses my favourite decorating trick, which is to cover the biscuits in rolled out fondant (aka sugar paste).

It's a really simple technique, so the whole heart biscuit recipe takes very little time to put together, but the result is very pretty and extremely delicious!

My kids love getting involved with this, so it's definitely something to try with them on a rainy day. Even when they were toddlers, they were happy helping with the weighing, dough mixing and shape cutting with great success.

Here's what to do - you should get 21 Valentine's Day cookies.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 200C (180C fan-assisted, 400F, Gas mark 4).

Put the margarine, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.

Beat until light and fluffy.

Add the flour, baking powder, salt and bicarbonate of soda.

Mix until fully combined.

Turn out the dough onto a very well-floured board. Make sure it's a well-floured, not a lightly floured surface, as the dough is sticky.

Knead only as much as it takes to get a smooth ball of dough.

Chill for about 15 minutes until firm enough to roll out.

Roll out to approximately 7-8mm thick (approx 1/3 inch).

Cut out the heart shapes. Gather the offcuts back up and re-roll. You should get 21 heart biscuits in all.

Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.

Bake the cookies for 8 minutes or until pale golden at the edges. Cool on wire rack.

On a clean board, dusted with cornflour, roll out the icing, one colour at a time and cut out heart shapes.

Arrange the cooled cookies on a clean surface.

In a small container, mix the icing sugar with a tbsp of water until dissolved to make a watery 'glue'.

Brush a heart biscuit with the 'glue'.

Gently place a sugar paste heart on the cookie.

Grab a handful of the sprinkle hearts and dot the glue where you want one to go before pushing it gently into the icing. Use 8-10 per biscuit.

Repeat until all your cookies are decorated. Leave them to dry, then enjoy!

Or why not stack them, wrap them in cellophane and give them as a tasty Valentine's gift?

How to store your heart-shaped biscuits

Place any leftover biscuits in an airtight container and store in a cool place. They should keep for 3-5 days.

If you can't find a container or lunch box with a lid, a plate tightly covered in cling film (Saran Wrap) will work too.

More decoration ideas for your heart biscuits

Kids can help with every part of this easy heart biscuits recipe, but if they feel like getting even more creative, why not give them some writing icing tubs and let them create their own designs? It's great fun!

Pointers, tricks, and troubleshooting tips for the perfect heart biscuits for Valentine’s Day 

Are heart biscuits easy to make?

These super cute heart biscuits are so simple to make. The biscuits will be baked in a matter of minutes, so you and the kids can get to the fun part of decorating each biscuit.

Here we’re using sugar paste rather than runny icing, as I personally find it so much easier and a great way to get impactful and neatly decorated biscuits in no time!

I used sweet little heart sprinkles on top, but you could even try using icing pens to write a love note to your sweetheart! 

However you decide to make them, these heart biscuits are an easy and impressive treat to whip up for special occasions like anniversaries, weddings and of course, Valentine's Day!

Will I need any special equipment for this recipe?

You should be able to easily find most things you need in the average kitchen. To make the biscuits you need weighing scales, measuring spoons, a bowl, and a spoon, an electric whisk will make beating the sugar and margarine a little easier but you can also just use a mixing spoon.

You’ll need a rolling pin to roll out the biscuits and icing, lined baking trays to bake the biscuits on, and a wire rack for cooling.

I used a 7-8cm heart-shaped cutter, but you can use a different size or shape even if you like. Just remember your biscuit yield might be different if you’ve used a different size cutter. The full list of equipment can be found on the recipe card below

Where can I buy sugar paste?

Sugar paste, ready roll, or fondant icing can be easily found in most large supermarkets, in more colours than just the classic white.

I’ve used white, pink, and red to get into the romance of the day. You can also find a rainbow of different colours online which is handy.

Sugar paste keeps pretty well so if you have any leftover after decorating your biscuits, wrap it tightly in a freezer bag, squeezing out as much air as you can. Pop the bags into a sealed container and store them somewhere cool, dark, and ready for your next bake.

Are heart biscuits suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, these lovely heart biscuits are suitable for vegetarians as they contain no meat, fish, or poultry.

It’s important to check the icing and decorative elements are suitable for vegetarians as some food colours contain animal-derived products. 

Are heart biscuits suitable for vegans?

Unfortunately, this biscuit recipe is not suitable for vegans as it contains egg and dairy margarine, and the icing may contain animal products. 

Are heart biscuits gluten-free?

For these biscuits, I’ve used wheat-based flour, so they are not gluten-free.

That said, if you want to try and make these gluten-free you could give them a go with gluten-free flour. I haven’t tested this recipe with gluten-free flour yet, let me know how you get on in the comments below!

When cooking for someone who needs to avoid gluten, don't forget to also check all decorative elements and anything else you are planning to serve to make sure these are gluten-free as well. 

Are heart biscuits healthy?

These love heart biscuits are a sweet treat so should be enjoyed in moderation in a sensible portion. 

Are heart biscuits safe to eat while pregnant?

The advice regarding egg safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding can vary in different countries so please check information local to you. Other than that there isn’t anything in these biscuits that would usually pose a risk to a pregnant woman. Make sure the biscuits are made and decorated hygienically. 

If you have any questions or concerns please seek help from a qualified medical professional, A Mummy Too does not give medical advice. 

Are heart biscuits suitable for babies and toddlers?

The NHS advises not giving sugar to babies or small children, as these heart biscuits are a high sugar treat they are probably best saved for the grown ups or older children. 

What goes well with heart biscuits?

These love heart biscuits look beautiful stacked up and wrapped in cellophane to give as a gift, and of course, go perfectly with a good cuppa! 

Can I make heart biscuits without cornflour?

I like to use cornflour when rolling out sugar paste as I find it doesn’t dry out the fondant as much as when I use icing sugar.

The icing sugar is also sometimes harder to dust off. That said, you can of course use icing sugar if you prefer or don’t have any cornflour to hand.

If you are really getting into baking you can also get vinyl mats to roll things out in between which can save on mess too. 

I haven’t got vanilla extract, can I use a different flavour extract?

These are simple biscuits, and I find the vanilla extract really compliments the sweetness of the icing, do try and us it if you can.

I would proceed with caution if you want to use a different flavour, for example, mint biscuits might be a little odd. Something like orange or almond extract could work, just remember you only need a tiny bit.

The biscuits will still be nice without any flavouring extracts if you don’t have any.  

How should I store heart biscuits?

Once the decorations have all set, give them about an hour. You can just stack these biscuits up into a sealed container and store them somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sunlight. 

How long do heart biscuits keep?

When stored correctly these biscuits will keep for up to 5 days, but as with most homemade bakes, they are best enjoyed in the first day or two after baking.

You can also freeze these biscuits and they will keep up to 2 months in the freezer. 

Can I leave heart biscuits out on the counter?

No, other than for cooling and setting, it's not a good idea to leave these biscuits out on the counter. Make sure to cover them well or ideally keep them in a sealed container. 

Can I make heart biscuits ahead?

Yes of course, if you like you could break this up over two days, making the biscuits, cooling and storing in an airtight container, and then decorating the next day.

If you make the biscuits ahead make sure to cool them, and if they have been decorated as well, allow the decoration to set before storing them away. 

Can I keep heart biscuits in the refrigerator?

It's not really a good idea to keep these biscuits in the fridge unless you're thawing out frozen biscuits. The fondant icing and the biscuits themselves are best kept somewhere cool and dark, just in the cupboard will be fine, no need to take up space in the fridge. 

Can I freeze heart biscuits?

I haven’t tried freezing these heart biscuits, but similar bakes freeze well so they should too.

If you want to freeze some it's best to do so on the day they are made, to keep them at their best.

Freeze them on a single layer, and then transfer them into a suitable container when the biscuits have frozen. If you don't have space for this technique, layers of greaseproof paper can help to stop the biscuits from sticking together in the box.

Whatever container or freezer bag you choose to use, try and squeeze out as much air as you can. These biscuits should keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. 

What is the best way to defrost heart biscuits?

I find it best to just defrost the biscuits I need in a sealed container in the fridge. Ideally, you want to thaw them out slowly at a low temperature. If you’re in more of a rush you can leave them out on the counter, well covered for a few hours.

Once thawed the biscuits need to be eaten up within 24 hours so just get out what you need.

Can I make these heart biscuits in a different quantity?

Of course, if you need to make more or less of these heart biscuits then you can change the ingredient amounts on the recipe card below.

Keep in mind the size of your heart-shaped cutter will also affect how many biscuits you can make. With my 7-8cm heart, I’ve made 21 biscuits with the recipe set as it is.

On the recipe card you’ll see the number of servings is 21, click or hover over this number and a little slider will appear that you can move up or down to get the number of biscuits you want to make.

As you move the slider you’ll see the ingredients changing quantities automatically, it is a good idea to get things like eggs to a whole number as it's hard to use half an egg!

Can I make heart biscuits in a stand mixer such as a KitchenAid or Kenwood Mixer?

If you like you can use a stand mixer to beat the sugar and margarine, and then bring together the other ingredients. Be careful not to overwork the dough so use a low setting when you add the rest of the ingredients into the beaten sugar and margarine. 

How can I make sure my biscuits are perfectly cooked?

The biscuits only take about 8 minutes to bake to perfection, they will spread a tiny bit on the tray and you’ll be able to see that lovely pale golden halo around the edge. Cool completely on a wire rack before decorating. 

Why was my dough so difficult to roll out?

A key step with the dough is once it's all mixed together, and you’ve gently kneaded it into a smooth dough it needs to rest and cool in the fridge.

Give the dough at least 15 minutes in the fridge to rest before you attempt to roll out. I know it’s tempting to skip this step but it makes a world of difference to the biscuits, and importantly makes the dough much easier to roll out!

When you come to roll out your dough, dust the surface, and your rolling pin with flour, don’t be afraid to dust more flour as you go if the dough is beginning to stick. You might find it more manageable to split the dough in half, working with a smaller piece. 

Why did my biscuits turn out dry and burnt?

This could be a number of things, most likely they’ve been left in the oven too long, or the oven was too hot. These biscuits are really quick to bake so next time set a timer, 8 minutes can fly by! You can also keep an eye on the biscuits through the oven door. 

Oven temperature dials are not always an accurate representation of the temperature in the oven. If you find things burning a lot try setting the oven 10 degrees lower or investing in an oven thermometer to get a better idea of the temperature in the oven. 

Why did my biscuits turn out wet and undercooked?

As long as the ingredients have been weighed out carefully and not too much moisture added these biscuits shouldn’t turn out wet.

Make sure to chill your dough for at least 15 minutes in the fridge before attempting to roll it out.

It’s also a really good idea to preheat the oven, without this warming time the oven won’t be hot enough to cook the biscuits in just 8 minutes. So whilst the dough is chilling, turn the oven on so it can get up to temperature and be ready when the biscuits go in. 

How can I add/change the flavours in my heart biscuits?

The biscuits are subtly flavoured with vanilla extract, you could use a different flavour extract like almond or orange or create lemon biscuits by mixing in the zest of one lemon. You can also play around with different decorative elements and biscuit shapes!

What is the origin of Valentine's Day?

Valentine's day was traditionally a feast day in the Christian calendar added by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD to celebrate Saint Valentine. It's popularity and association with love and romance has been increasing since the 15th century.

The customs of sending cards and love tokens began sometime in the 19th century. Valentine's day is now celebrated in lots of different ways around the world.

Print this heart biscuits recipe

Here's the recipe for these Valentine's Day cookies again in an easy to print format.

Pin this Valentine's heart biscuits

More Valentine's recipes to try

For even more fun Valentine's Day ideas, try these 25 Valentine's Day treat ideas.