Recipes and Cooking Valentine's Day Cookie Cutouts Three Ways 4.0 (1) 1 Reviews One sugar cookie dough recipe using three distinct techniques yields endless sweet ways to say "I love you." Make them as Valentine's Day cookies or any other day of the year you want to spread love. By BHG Test Kitchen BHG Test Kitchen The Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen has been in continuous operation for nearly 100 years, developing and testing practical, reliable recipes that readers can enjoy at home. The Test Kitchen team includes culinary specialists, food stylists, registered and licensed nutritionists, and other experts with Bachelor of Science degrees in food science, food and nutrition, or culinary arts. Together, the team tests more than 2,500 recipes, produces more than 2,500 food images, and creates more than 1,000 food videos each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on January 1, 2020 Print Share Share Tweet Pin Email Hands On Time: 25 mins Total Time: 45 mins Servings: 48 Yield: 4 to 5 dozen cookies Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients 1 ½ cup butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar ¼ teaspoon baking powder 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional) ¾ teaspoon salt 3 ½ cup all-purpose flour Directions Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl beat butter with a mixer on medium to high 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and baking powder. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg, vanilla, and, if desired, almond extract until combined. Beat in salt and as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough to 1/8- to 1/4-inch thickness. Using 2- to 3-inch cookie cutters, cut dough into desired shapes. (Dip cutters in flour to prevent sticking.) Place cutouts 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Repeat with the remaining dough. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until edges are firm but not brown. Remove; cool on wire rack. Patchwork Prepare dough as directed in Step 1. Divide dough into two or three portions and add food coloring to portions as desired. Roll out each portion as directed. Use small cookie cutters to cut out shapes from each color and replace with cutout shapes of another color. Cut out and bake as directed. If desired, mix 1 teaspoon vodka with 1/2 teaspoon luster dust. Brush cooled cookies with luster dust. Painted Prepare dough as directed in Step 1. Roll out dough as directed. Combine a few drops of red or pink food coloring, 1 Tbsp. water and 1 egg white. Using a small pastry brush or clean paint brush, brush dough with swipes of color. Cut out and bake as directed. If desired, mix 1 teaspoon vodka with 1/2 teaspoon luster dust. Finish cooled cookies with a brush of luster dust mixture. Striped Prepare cookie dough through Step 1. Divide dough into four equal portions. Using food coloring, dye portions various shades of pink and/or red, leaving one portion of dough plain. Working in batches, roll out dough portions and cut into strips of varying widths. If desired, brush with egg white and sprinkle with colored sugar(s), pressing lightly to adhere. Arrange strips next to each other and push together; lightly roll over with rolling pin to seal. Cut out and bake as directed. If desired, mix 1 teaspoon vodka with 1/2 teaspoon luster dust. Finish cooled cookies with a brush of luster dust mixture. Scraps Dough scraps can be mixed together and rolled out to make marbled cookies. Bake as directed. Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 102 Calories 6g Fat 11g Carbs 1g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 48 Calories 102 % Daily Value * Total Fat 6g 8% Saturated Fat 4g 20% Cholesterol 19mg 6% Sodium 86mg 4% Total Carbohydrate 11g 4% Total Sugars 4g Protein 1g Calcium 5mg 0% Iron 0.4mg 2% Potassium 13mg 0% Folate, total 17.4mcg *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.