Can I make these without cream cheese?

While the cream cheese makes these cookies extra soft and gives them that special texture, you can substitute with an additional 6 tablespoons of butter if you need to. The texture will be slightly different – a bit more like traditional sugar cookies – but they'll still be delicious.

Do I have to chill the dough?

Chilling is optional! It makes the dough much easier to handle and helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, but if you're short on time, you can skip this step. I've done it both ways, and both turn out great.

Can I use salted or unsalted butter?

This recipe calls for salted butter, which is what I typically keep in my fridge. But unsalted works perfectly too. If you're using unsalted butter, just add ¼ teaspoon of salt to the dough so the cookies don't taste flat.

Why are my cookies spreading too much?

This usually means the dough is too warm. Pop the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes and make sure your butter was soft but not melted when you started. Also, check that you're measuring your flour correctly – spoon it into the measuring cup and level it off with a knife rather than scooping directly from the bag.

Can I make these cookies without almond extract?

Absolutely! Simply use 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract total instead of the combination. The cookies will still taste wonderful, just with a more straightforward vanilla flavor.

How many cookies does this recipe make?

Using a medium cookie scoop (about 1.5 tablespoons), this recipe makes approximately 24 cookies. If you make them larger or smaller, you'll get a different yield.

Can I make a variety box with different cookies?

Absolutely! Some of the nicest Valentine's cookie boxes include 2 to 3 varieties. Try pairing these sprinkle sugar cookies with chocolate chip Valentine cookies and brownies for a mix of flavors and textures. It makes the gift feel extra special.

Easy Valentine's Day Cookies (Soft Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles!)

Colorful sugar-coated Valentine's cookies with sprinkles.

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These easy Valentine's Day cookies are incredibly soft sugar cookies rolled in festive pink and red sprinkles. Made with a secret cream cheese ingredient for melt-in-your-mouth texture, these simple Valentine cookies require no cookie cutters, no rolling pin, and no frosting. Just roll the dough into balls, coat in colorful sprinkles, and bake for perfectly tender cookies that stay soft for days. Ready in just over an hour, they're perfect for classroom parties, cookie exchanges, or sharing with loved ones!

Author: Sophie
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill time: 1 hour (optional)
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 27 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Category: cookies
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 cup (226g) salted butter, softened to room temperature
3 ounces (85g) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 cup (200g) granulated sugar, plus extra for rolling (optional)
1 large egg, room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 to 2 3/4 cups (315-345g) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 to 1 cup Valentine sprinkles or pink/red sanding sugar, for coating

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Instructions

Cream the butter and cream cheese: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
Add sugar: Add 1 cup granulated sugar and continue beating for another minute until the mixture is creamy and well combined.
Mix in wet ingredients: Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Beat until fully incorporated and smooth.
Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together 2½ cups flour and baking powder. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until combined. If the dough is too sticky to handle, add the remaining ¼ cup flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough is soft but workable.
Chill the dough (optional): Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. This makes the dough easier to roll, but you can skip this step if you're short on time.
Preheat and prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place your Valentine sprinkles or sanding sugar in a shallow bowl.
Shape the cookies: Using a medium cookie scoop (about 1.5 tablespoons), scoop the dough and roll between your palms to form smooth balls. Roll each ball in the sprinkles or sugar until completely coated.
Flatten and arrange: Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Gently press down on each cookie with the bottom of a drinking glass to flatten slightly.
Bake: Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the bottoms are lightly golden. The tops may look slightly underbaked, but they will firm up as they cool.

Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Notes

Butter and cream cheese temperature: Make sure both are softened to room temperature (about 65-70°F). They should be soft enough to leave an indent when pressed but not melted.
Chilling is optional: While chilling makes the dough easier to handle and reduces spreading, you can skip it if you're in a hurry. The cookies will still taste delicious.
Flour measurement: For best results, spoon flour into your measuring cup and level with a knife rather than scooping directly from the bag, which can pack too much flour.
Don't overbake: These cookies are done when the bottoms are lightly golden. They may look slightly soft on top, but they'll continue to firm up as they cool.
Coating options: Use Valentine-colored sprinkles for a fun, festive look, or pink/red sanding sugar for an elegant, sparkly finish. You can also mix both!

Make ahead: Cookie dough can be made, shaped, and frozen for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding 1-2 extra minutes to the baking time.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 182
Sugar: 12g
Sodium: 125mg
Fat: 9g
Carbohydrates: 23g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 32mg

Find it online: https://allcookierecipes.com/easy-valentines-day-cookies/