Heart Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies have a way of making everyone in the room stop and smile before they even take a bite. Maria came up with the idea one winter afternoon when she wanted to make something that looked like a real gift without spending the whole day in the kitchen. She pulled out the butter, the strawberry jam, and her favorite heart-shaped cutter, and within two hours the kitchen counter was covered in the prettiest pink cookies we had ever seen.
Heart Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies are the kind of bake that says everything words sometimes cannot. Buttery and tender with a sweet strawberry glaze on top and a little pocket of jam tucked inside each sandwich, they are delicate without being difficult and beautiful without being complicated. We made them for Valentine’s Day, then again for a friend’s birthday, then again just because it was a Tuesday and the kitchen needed something lovely in it. If you love beautiful recipes like this one, follow us over on Pinterest where we share something new from our kitchen every single week.
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love This Heart Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe
This Heart Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies recipe is everything we look for in a special occasion bake. It looks like you spent your entire afternoon doing something complicated and impressive, but the truth is the dough comes together in minutes and the whole thing is completely beginner friendly. The shortbread itself is that perfect combination of crumbly and melt-in-your-mouth that makes people reach for a second one before they have finished the first.
The strawberry glaze is pink and glossy and gorgeous. The jam filling adds a little burst of fruity sweetness in the center that makes each bite feel like a complete experience. And because the dough can be made ahead and chilled overnight, you can spread the work across two days and arrive at your gathering feeling calm and entirely put together. If you love cookies that look as good as they taste, our Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes carry that same beautiful presentation energy and are just as easy to pull off.
Ingredients Needed for This Heart Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe
For the Shortbread Dough:
- 4.8 oz Unsalted Butter, softened and cubed
- 2.1 oz Sugar
- 1.25 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 6.5 oz All-Purpose Flour
- ¼ tsp Salt
For the Strawberry Glaze:
- 4.2 oz Powdered Sugar, sifted
- 2.5 tbsp Strawberry Puree
- 1 tsp Butter
- 1 fl oz Milk
- ½ tsp Lemon Juice
For the Filling:
- 6 oz Strawberry Jam
How to Make This Heart Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Start by sifting your powdered sugar for the glaze and setting it aside. Cut the butter into small cubes and let it come to room temperature so it creams smoothly. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. In a separate bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture is pale, light, and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and mix until fully combined.
Add the flour and salt mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed just until a smooth cohesive dough forms. Stop the moment it comes together, cara mia. Overworking the dough is the one thing that will steal that beautiful crumbly shortbread texture from you.
Roll the dough out between two sheets of parchment paper to about half a centimeter thick. Cut out heart shapes with your cookie cutter and transfer them carefully to a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Cover the tray with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. This step keeps your hearts looking like hearts once they come out of the oven.
Preheat your oven to 335°F while the dough chills. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until they are set and just barely golden at the edges but still pale and soft. Do not overbake them. Remove from the oven, cool on the tray for 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely before touching them again.
For the glaze, combine the sifted powdered sugar, strawberry puree, butter, milk, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Mix until completely smooth and glossy. It should be thick but pourable. Add a drop more milk if it is too stiff or a little more powdered sugar if it runs too thin.
To assemble, separate your cooled cookies into two equal groups. Dip the top of one group into the strawberry glaze, letting any excess drip back into the bowl, and set on a rack to dry. Spread about 1 teaspoon of strawberry jam onto each cookie from the second group. Once the glaze has set slightly, gently press a glazed cookie and a jam-topped cookie together to create the most beautiful little sandwich. Let the assembled cookies rest for 15 to 20 minutes before serving so everything settles into place perfectly.
How to Serve This Heart Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Arrange these cookies on a white plate or a tiered stand and let them speak for themselves because they truly will. They are perfect alongside a pot of afternoon tea or a cup of strong coffee. For Valentine’s Day or a brunch table, set them out with fresh strawberries and a small bowl of whipped cream on the side. They also make the most charming gift packed into a small box lined with tissue paper and tied with a ribbon. Pair them with our Fluffy Strawberry Shortcake Puppy Chow for a full strawberry themed dessert table that will have everyone talking.
How to Store This Heart Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Store the assembled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Make sure the glaze is fully set before stacking them and place a small piece of parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. To freeze, store the baked unglazed cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes then add the glaze and jam fresh before serving. The raw dough can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
Tips to Make This Heart Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Never skip the refrigeration step. Cold dough holds its shape beautifully in the oven and the difference between a chilled heart and an unchilled one is the difference between a perfect cookie and a spreading blob. Mix the dough only until it just comes together and stop there. More mixing means more gluten and more gluten means tough cookies, and tough shortbread is a heartbreak.
Always let the cookies cool completely before glazing. A warm cookie will drink up the glaze and leave you with a sticky uneven surface instead of that gorgeous glossy pink finish. And be generous with the jam filling but not too generous. About one teaspoon per cookie is the perfect amount for a neat, beautiful sandwich.
Helpful Notes for This Heart Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe
For the strawberry puree in the glaze, fresh strawberries blended smooth work beautifully but thawed frozen strawberries that have been well drained are equally good. The lemon juice in the glaze is a small detail that makes a big difference. It brightens the strawberry flavor and keeps the glaze from tasting flat or one-dimensionally sweet. If you prefer an almond flavor in your shortbread, swap half the vanilla for almond extract. It adds a lovely warmth that pairs beautifully with the strawberry jam filling. Just use half the amount since almond extract is significantly stronger than vanilla.
Variation of This Heart Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Lucia once made these with raspberry jam instead of strawberry and the deep red color peeking out from the sides of each sandwich was absolutely stunning. Teresa tried a lemon version by adding a tablespoon of lemon zest to the dough and using a lemon glaze instead of strawberry. It was bright and elegant and disappeared even faster than the original.
You can also cut these into other shapes depending on the occasion. Stars for Christmas, rounds for everyday, little flowers for spring. The shortbread dough is the same and it is always perfect. Our Vegan Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes make a wonderful companion at any gathering where these cookies are on the table and together they create the most beautiful dessert spread imaginable.
FAQs About This Heart Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Why did my cookies spread and lose their shape?
The dough was most likely not cold enough when it went into the oven. Always refrigerate for the full 30 minutes and make sure your oven is fully preheated before the tray goes in. Chilled dough in a hot oven is the formula for cookies that hold their shape beautifully.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Absolutely. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Let it soften at room temperature for a few minutes before rolling so it is pliable and easy to cut.
What jam works best for the filling?
Any good quality berry jam works beautifully here. Strawberry is our favorite but raspberry, mixed berry, and even apricot are all lovely. Just make sure the jam is not too runny or it will slide out of the sandwich instead of staying neatly in place.
Conclusion
These Heart Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies are one of those recipes that makes the whole act of baking feel like a love language. They are beautiful, they are delicious, and they carry something warm and personal in every bite. We hope they bring as much joy to your kitchen and your table as they have brought to ours. Make them, gift them, share them, and come back to tell us all about it. We read every single message and it fills our hearts every time. With all our love, Maria, Lucia, and Teresa.
Print
Heart Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies The Most Beautiful Valentine Bake
- Total Time: 1 hour 52 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Buttery, tender, and filled with strawberry jam and a gorgeous pink strawberry glaze, these Heart Shaped Strawberry Shortbread Cookies are the most beautiful and delicious cookies you will ever bake.
Ingredients
4.8 oz Unsalted Butter, softened and cubed
2.1 oz Sugar
1.25 tsp Vanilla Extract
6.5 oz All-Purpose Flour
1/4 tsp Salt
4.2 oz Powdered Sugar, sifted
2.5 tbsp Strawberry Puree
1 tsp Butter
1 fl oz Milk
1/2 tsp Lemon Juice
6 oz Strawberry Jam
Instructions
1. Sift powdered sugar and set aside. Cube butter and bring to room temperature.
2. Whisk flour and salt together in a medium bowl.
3. Cream butter and sugar for 2 to 3 minutes until pale and fluffy. Add vanilla and mix.
4. Add flour mixture and mix on low just until dough comes together. Do not overmix.
5. Roll dough between parchment paper to half a centimeter thick. Cut out heart shapes.
6. Transfer to lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes.
7. Preheat oven to 335°F. Bake cookies 10 to 12 minutes until just set and pale golden at edges.
8. Cool on tray 2 to 3 minutes then transfer to wire rack and cool completely.
9. Combine sifted powdered sugar, strawberry puree, butter, milk, and lemon juice. Mix until smooth.
10. Separate cookies into two equal groups. Dip one group into glaze, set on rack to dry.
11. Spread 1 tsp strawberry jam on each cookie from second group.
12. Press a glazed cookie and a jam cookie together to form sandwiches. Rest 15 to 20 minutes before serving.
Notes
Never skip the refrigeration step for cookies that hold their shape.
Mix dough only until it just comes together to keep shortbread tender.
Always cool completely before glazing.
Use about 1 tsp jam per cookie for a neat sandwich.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 96
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 20mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 13mg
Keywords: heart shaped strawberry shortbread cookies, strawberry shortbread, valentines day cookies, shortbread sandwich cookies
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