Heart Tree Cut Out Cookie Recipe
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Let me show you how to make a beautiful and festive Heart Tree for Valentines Day! This Heart Tree Cut Out Cookie Recipe makes up to three marvelous edible trees to use as centerpieces or give as gifts.
I’ve got a fun cut out cookie recipe and heart tree tutorial for you today. Eeeek!
Sorry for the momentary lapse of composure… but I’m really excited about my Valentine Heart Tree craft.
You see, I love doing crafty things, but rarely find time to create anything outside of the kitchen. So this heart tree project brought two passions together, cooking and crafting. It’s a pretty craft you can eat!
I started with my very best cut out cookie recipe, a sturdier version of my favorite sugar cookie recipe that stands up to rolling and cutting.
You don’t want your cut out cookies falling off the heart tree.
It’s best to use small heart shaped cookie cutters that are 1-2 inches wide, so the cookies can easily overlap as they are fastened around the heart tree.
Once I cut the cookies out, I used a straw to cut a hole in the tip of each heart to make them easier to hang.
After baking, I dipped each cookie into a thin strawberry glaze and covered them with Valentine sprinkles.
Stop right there and just think of all the things you could make with these: heart cookie garland, heart cookie necklaces, heart cookie earrings…
Once the cut out cookies are dipped, sprinkled, and dried, it’s time to start making your first heart tree.
Eeeeek! Sorry, again.
I used a styrofoam craft cone as the base of each heart tree. You can use any size of cone, but I found this cut out cookie recipe makes enough heart cookies for 3 8-12 inch cones.
Start at the bottom. Secure the cookies, point up, to the base of the cone by pressing a pin or toothpick through the hole in each heart. The edges should overlap a little for good coverage.
(If you plan to allow little ones to remove the cookies later, use toothpicks.)
Then continue attaching cut out cookies to the cone. Overlap the intersections to create volume and offer the best coverage.
Before you reach the top, insert a heart cookie pop (directions on making those below) into the top of the cone. Then finish covering the cone completely.
Wasn’t that easy? And FUN??
Our Heart Tree Cut Out Cookie Recipe/Project is a winner on many levels. This is not only a fabulous family project; the heart trees make gorgeous gifts and centerpieces as well.
Oh… and the cut out cookies taste amazing. Just so you know.
XOXO
Heart Tree Cut Out Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
For the Cut Out Cookie Recipe:
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter softened (3 sticks)
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs + 1 egg yolk
- 3 3/4 cups all purpose flour + extra for rolling
For the Strawberry Glaze:
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon strawberry extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
Heart Tree Supplies:
- 2-3 styrofoam craft cones 8-12 inches tall
- Small heart cookie cutters
- 5 lollipop sticks
- Pink or red pearl head pins or fancy toothpicks 100+
- 4 + varieties/colors of Valentine sprinkles or dusting sugars
Instructions
- Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy—5 minutes. Then add the salt, vanilla extract, and eggs with the extra yolk. Beat to combine. With the mixer running, slowly add the flour until the dough is smooth. Then separate the dough and wrap it in 4 separate pieces. Place in the fridge and chill for at least one hour. (This dough could be made weeks in advance.)
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line several cookie sheets with parchment paper. Remove one disk from the refrigerator at a time to keep the dough cold as long as possible. Flour a work surface and roll the disk out to 1/8-inch thick. Using 1- to 2-inch heart cookie cutters, cut out the cookies. (You can use multiple sizes if desired.) Work fast and cut the cookies as close together as possible. The more times you roll out the dough, the tougher it gets. Then use a straw to cut out a hole close to the bottom point of each heart. With a thin spatula, transfer the cookies onto the baking sheets 1 inch apart. Repeat with remaining dough. For the toppers: Insert lollipop sticks into 3-5 of the largest cookies. Press down a little to insure the cookies adhere to the sticks while baking. (I like to make extras just in case one breaks.) Bake the cut out cookies for 6-9 minutes, until just cooked through. Cool completely on the cookie sheets before moving.
- For the Strawberry Glaze: Whisk the milk, strawberry extract, and powdered sugar together until smooth. Dip and face of each cookie into the glaze. Allow the excess to drip off the tip, then scatter sprinkles over the top. Place the cut out cookies back on the parchment paper to dry.
- Once all the cookies are dipped, sprinkled and dried, start building your heart tree(s). Pin the largest hearts at the base of the cone with the point up. Push the pin (or toothpick) through the hole you cut in each cookie, and press firmly into the styrofoam cone. It's best if the edges of each cookie overlap just a little. Then start the next row with the center of each heart lined up with the overlap. Continue moving up the cone, using the smallest cut out cookies at the top. Before you cover the top of the cone, press one of the heart cookie pops down in the center as a decorative topper. Then finish covering the top of the styrofoam. Repeat with the remaining cookies and cones. If you roll your dough thin, then cut the cookies out very closely together, you should have enough for three 12-inch heart trees. **If you plan to allow children to remove cookies from the heart tree later, it's best to use toothpicks instead of pins.
Nutrition
Making this recipe? Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!
More Edible Valentine Projects:
Chocolate Message Cupcakes with Red Velvet Frosting
Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Pops
Red Velvet Cookie Pops with Free Printable Tags
Chocolate and Roses Truffle Spoons
Heart Linzer Cookies – Cooking Classy
Strawberry Jello Hearts – Weelicious
The instructions don’t indicate that the flour should be sifted. Do you sift the flour before or after measuring?
Thank you very much. Looking forward to using this recipe for Christmas cookies.
Hi Debora!
I always stir and “fluff” the flour in the bag before measuring it into cups. If you do that, you do not need to sift. Happy Baking!
Best sugar cookies ever!!
I made these for my shaped Christmas cookies, and they actually had really good flavor! I’ve had too many bland sugar cookies in my twenty four years… thanks for the great recipe. 😄 I’ll definitely be making these again. They stood up well to the shaping process, I’ll have to make the more delicate circular ones next!
Hey there are these crunchy cookies or soft?
My husband likes a crunch. Pleas let me know this recipe sounds Great.
Kate
Hi Kate,
Yes, these are firm and crisp. :)
Hi, amateur baker here. I followed the recipe, but even after a couple hours in the fridge, the dough was too wet to work with. I had to add so much flour to roll them out that the first batch ended up tasting like biscuits.
I was gifted a vintage rolling pin with designs hand carved into it. So I’m trying to make a stable dough that I can roll. Please- any help would be appreciated!
Hi Kyla!
Hmmm… In order to help figure this out, tell me exactly how you are measuring out your flour. Did you stir the flour in the bag, sift it before measuring, or just scoop straight out of the bag?
These were so EASY, delicious and FUN! 100 stars. Made these for Christmas Eve everyone loved them. Used left over dough for great nieces Initials. They LOVED that. My niece said no gifts, so I made they best ‘gift’ ever! ❤️❤️
I didn’t even have to refrigerate dough. Made 1/2 recipe and added a couple drops of almond flavoring. Added a few sprinkles of flours on top and bottom of dough and lightly rubbed rolling pin with flour. Make sure to follow measurements carefully— they will be perfect!
Hi. My niece and I made your sugar cookies, and they are wonderfully, delicious! We want to make your version of cut out sugar cookies for Christmas.
Can they be frozen after they are baked? Thank you, for your response.
Hi Cynthia,
They can! However, I might suggest freezing the unbaked dough. Then rolling and baking them as needed.
Delicious! Thanks for sharing! To make it slightly healthier, I used half all purpose flour and half whole wheat flower. Still tasted great!
The BEST cookies ever! I am celiac so I followed this recipe but substituted a store bought gluten free baking flour mix for regular flour. My oven is finicky so I stuck the cut out cookies in the freezer for a few minutes before placing inthe oven. This will be my sugar cookie recipe for life! Thank you 🧡
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Awesome tree :) I rolled mine out with powdered sugar instead of flour though :D thanks for the recipe <3
Gah this is so adorable!
Very fun idea! I included this to my Valentine’s Day blog post as well as one of my favorite Valentine’s gift idea. Great post, thank you!
What a cute and creative idea!
The funnest! :) What a tasty project :)
That is such a fun and tasty way to celebrate Valentine’s Day! I love it!
A pretty sight on a cold winter day – you’re super talented, my friend!
Such a fantastic idea! I’m loving these cutie patootie heart trees <3 If I can get my act together in time, these are happening!
This is such beautiful edible decoration for Valentines day!
This is the cutest idea, Sommer! What a great present this would make for my kids’ teachers.
These are so adorable!! What a fun activity for the kids too!
Adorable!
Soooooo cute! What a great gift or way to cheer up someone’s day. I love it!
Talk about super cute!!! Such a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day!
This would be a great Valentine’s Day craft for the kids. Plus you get to eat it too.
This is so much fun Sommer!! Perfect for Valentine’s Day!!
This is so adorable Sommer!! I love it!