Description
These Slice and Bake Heart Cookies are sweet, buttery shortbread-style vegan cookies with a pink heart center, naturally colored with beet or strawberry powder. They’re perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or any festive occasion.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 cup (2 sticks) vegan butter, softened
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
1/4 teaspoon salt
2–3 teaspoons beet or strawberry powder (for pink color)
Instructions
- Cream together softened vegan butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
- Add vanilla extract, almond extract (if using), and salt. Mix until well combined.
- Gradually mix in 2 1/4 cups of the flour to form a soft dough.
- Remove 1/3 of the dough and place it in a separate bowl.
- Mix the remaining 1/4 cup flour and beet or strawberry powder into the separated dough until uniformly pink.
- Roll pink dough into a 9-inch log and freeze for 15–20 minutes until firm.
- Slice the pink log into 1/4-inch rounds and cut heart shapes using a small heart-shaped cutter.
- Stack heart cut-outs upright to form a log and gently press together. Freeze for 20 minutes.
- Roll out plain dough into thin sheets and wrap around the heart-shaped log. Gently roll to smooth and form an even log.
- Wrap the entire log in parchment paper and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or freeze for 30 minutes).
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Slice the log into 1/4-inch thick cookies and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes until edges are just barely golden.
- Let cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
Use vegan butter sticks for better consistency.
Substitute beet powder with raspberry or food coloring if preferred.
Dough can be made 3 days ahead and refrigerated or frozen for longer storage.
Cookies hold shape best when dough is well-chilled before slicing.
Try other center shapes for different occasions—stars, trees, flowers, etc.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 55mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
