Recipe Roundup

39 Valentine’s Day Cookies to Spread the Love Far and Wide

Skip the big box treats. Instead, show some love by baking up a batch of homemade Valentine’s cookies.
Heartshaped linzer cookies with apricot and raspberry jam topped with powdered sugar.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Mira Evnine

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Here’s an idea: Instead of passing out boxed Conversation Hearts or flimsy cards, show ’em you care with a platter of Valentine’s Day cookies. Baking is the ultimate expression of love, after all, and these portable treats let you share the sentiment with family, friends, and neighbors. Whether you’re planning a Galentine’s party or a romantic dinner for two, these festive sweets would be welcome at any love-themed celebration.

Our collection of Valentine’s cookies includes plenty of rich, chocolaty sweets, like cream-cheese-stuffed brownie cookies and vegan double-chocolate chippers. We’ve also got pretty-in-pastel confections, like vibrant pink grapefruit sugar cookies and swirly peppermint meringues. (Psst: They’ll pair well with one of these pink drinks.) And there’s nothing more romantic than splitting a giant skillet cookie still warm from the oven. It’ll be love at first bite.

More Valentine’s Day desserts, right this way →

  • Black bottom brownie cookies topped with flaky salt on a plate with a bite out of one of the cookies.
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    1/39

    Black Bottom Brownie Cookies

    Your new favorite Valentine’s Day cookie recipe starts with…a batch of brownie batter? Hear us out: Instead of spreading it in a 9x9 pan, you’ll freeze it, scoop it, and fill each ball with cream cheese to make these chubby brownie cookies. Finish them with a sprinkle of flaky salt.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne & Jason Schreiber
    2/39

    Pastel Butter Cookies

    For a pretty pink hue, dust these almond shortbread cookies with a mixture of powdered sugar and pulverized freeze-dried raspberries.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by M. Pearl Jones
    5/39

    Grated Shortbread Bars With Rose Jam

    Break out the box grater. Grating shortbread dough directly into the baking pan gives these jam-filled cookies a light, crumbly texture. Rose jam ups the Valentine’s ante, but if you can’t find it, raspberry works just as well.

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  • Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht
    6/39

    Tutti-Frutti Thumbprint Cookies

    Feel free to mix and match your fruity sugars and jams for these festive thumbprint cookies. We like a combination of strawberry, raspberry, pomegranate, and other ruby-hued fruits for Valentine’s Day.

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  • Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Mira Evnine
    7/39

    Linzer Cookies

    Thought to have originated in the city of Linz, the Linzer cookie is based on the Linzertorte, one of Austria’s most famous and beloved confections. Cut the classically round cookies into hearts for Valentine’s Day and absolutely fall in love with them.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks
    8/39

    Classic Snickerdoodle Cookies

    Cream of tartar gives snickerdoodles their distinctive tang, while a roll in cinnamon sugar brings the sweet and aromatic spice.

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  • Photograph by Emma Fishman. Food styling by Pearl Jones.
    9/39

    Pink Grapefruit Sugar Cookies

    Pink grapefruit zest brings a touch of citrusy bitterness to these grocery-store-style sugar cookies. It tempers their usual over-the-top sweetness while keeping all the nostalgia of the store-bought version.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    10/39

    Sweet Palmiers

    Assemble these classic, heart-shaped French cookies with the one you love while your Valentine’s Day dinner is in the oven. You only need two ingredients and a baking sheet to make them.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    11/39

    Vegan Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Non-dairy butter and a flax “egg” make these extra-chocolaty cookies entirely vegan. We like to use whole wheat pastry flour for a more delicate crumb, but you can swap in gluten-free or all-purpose flour.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    12/39

    Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

    One easy way to upgrade a plate of chocolate chip cookies? Just add brown butter. It brings toffee-like depth to an otherwise classic cookie recipe.

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  • Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
    13/39

    Chocolate-Covered Marshmallow Cookies

    Want to try your hand at confectionery? Make these chocolate-covered marshmallow cookies your Valentine’s project.

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  • Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh
    14/39

    Italian Rainbow Cookies

    These bakery-style Italian cookies have layers—seven, to be exact. Three layers of colorful almond sponge, two layers of apricot preserves, and shiny melted chocolate on the top and bottom. Swap the green food coloring for pink to make a Valentine’s ombre.

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  • Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh
    15/39

    Butter Cookies

    Package these simple butter cookies in a cute tin for a thoughtful, homemade Valentine’s Day gift. Just remember to leave those sticks of unsalted butter on the counter a few hours in advance so they can come to room temperature.

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  • Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
    16/39

    Grapefruit-Vanilla Shortbread

    Decorate these buttery shortbread triangles with any adornments you desire: Himalayan pink salt, dried hibiscus flowers, red sprinkles or sanding sugar, dried rose petals, and/or cracked pink peppercorns

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  • Photo by Ellis Parrinder
    17/39

    3D Cookie Cats

    For the cat-lovers, there is no better bake than these adorable 3D kitty cookies. Decorate them to look like your favorite furry friend.

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  • Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Stevie Stewart
    18/39

    Whoopie Pies With Whipped Marshmallow Filling

    Sandwiched with whipped marshmallow cream, these chocolate whoopie pies taste like a mug of hot chocolate. If you like chocolate-on-chocolate, they’d also be great with a Nutella filling.

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  • Photo by Ted Cavanaugh, Chelsea Cavanaugh, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton
    19/39

    Tie-Dye Butter Cookies

    Natural, plant-based food coloring powder gives this simple powdered sugar glaze its vibrant hues. The dough itself is very simple, and you can use any shape of cookie cutter you like—might we recommend heart-shaped cookies?

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  • Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Mira Evnine
    20/39

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

    Don’t have much time to bake, but still want a sweet Valentine’s snack? These cookie bars come together in just 45 minutes—no chill time or rolling pin required.

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  • Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Zoe Denenberg & Mira Evnine
    21/39

    Peppermint Meringue Cookies

    Swirly, twirly, and striped, these red-and-white peppermint meringues are all dressed up for the party. A touch of vanilla extract complements the peppermint flavor.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
    22/39

    Classic Sugar Cookies

    No matter the holiday, cut-out cookies are a classic. Punch the rolled-out dough into any shapes you please—hearts, stars, or maybe even flying Cupids—then decorate with royal icing.

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  • Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh
    23/39

    Italian Fig Cookies (Cuccidati)

    It’s never too early to start testing recipes for your holiday cookie boxes. Stuffed with a nutty, spiced filling, these Italian fig cookies are an excellent contender—and they make a great Valentine’s Day treat too.

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  • Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    24/39

    Blondies

    Our best blondies are stuffed with a few mix-ins—semisweet chocolate chips and pecans—but you can customize them to your taste. Skip the nuts or swap in white chocolate chips (or even chopped ruby chocolate) if you’d like.

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  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Jesse Szewczyk, prop styling by Hazel Zavala and Caroline Newton
    25/39

    Baklava Cookies

    For this ingenious recipe, you’ll stuff cookie dough balls with a nutty, baklava-inspired filling. Dust the baked cookies with rose petals for a pretty finish.

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  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Jesse Szewczyk, prop styling by Hazel Zavala and Caroline Newton
    26/39

    Buttery Jam Diagonals

    Regular thumbprint cookies are cute, but who has the time to shape and fill each one individually? These large-format jam diagonals are just as cute and low-maintenance.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton
    31/39

    Pistachio-Rose Shortbread Squares

    Pistachios and rose-blend tea (such as Meadow by Smith Teamaker) bring delicate flavors to these slice-and-bake shortbread cookies. Roll the dough log in raspberry-infused sanding sugar for a festive and colorful touch.

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  • Photo by Sarah Kieffer
    32/39

    Raspberry Rye Cookies

    Brown sugar and rye flour add depth to these fruity raspberry sugar cookies, loaded with both fresh and freeze-dried raspberries.

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  • Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    33/39

    Any Tea or Coffee Shortbread Cookies

    For the coffee-lover in your life, infuse these shortbread cookies with espresso powder. If they prefer tea, swap in matcha, chai, or Earl Grey instead.

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  • Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    34/39

    Anything Goes Biscotti

    Dried cranberries or hazelnuts? Dark chocolate or white chocolate? Have your pick—these twice-baked cookies are entirely customizable.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
    35/39

    Mexican Wedding Cakes

    These “cakes” are actually festive cookies, dusted with a mixture of powdered sugar and cinnamon.

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  • Photo by Kristin Teig
    36/39

    Chocolate Dynamite Cookies

    These wheat-free, entirely whole grain cookies are reminiscent of a fudgy brownie loaded with chocolate chips.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
    39/39

    Spritz Cookies

    What’s the difference between Christmas cookies and Valentine’s Day cookies? Well, the February holiday gives you an excuse to bake all your favorite holiday cookies one more time.

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Zoe gained her culinary education in kitchens quite literally spanning the country: She’s worked at an artisanal ice cream shop in Alabama, an organic farm-bakery in Maui, and a Michelin-starred restaurant in NYC. Now, she’s putting all that knowledge to use at Epicurious, where her primary objective is to help ... Read More
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