Conversation Heart Cookies

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Remember those Valentine’s day candies of your youth? Today they’re transformed into conversation heart cookies with messages that will really make your heart flutter!

Treat your valentine with these conversation heart cookies inscribed with messages that really hit home…

…”You’re right”

…”Laundry’s folded!”

…”Those pants make you look so thin!”

…”I’ll cook”

The meaning of Valentine’s Day changes over the years. I remember sitting at my desk in elementary school on Valentine’s Day, getting ready to exchange cards with my classmates.

It was so exciting to open all of those little cards, some scratch n’ sniff, others featuring fuzzy little puppies and kittens and sometimes I was lucky enough to find a few conversation heart candies tucked inside the envelope.

I especially loved those little conversation heart candies and reading the message stamped on the them…”Be Mine”, “XOXO”, “Kiss Me”. They were sweet and thoughtful and depending on the giver, a little thrilling. 

Valentine’s Day goes from candy and stuffed animals as a teenager, to romantic dinner dates as a young adult, and maybe the gift of sleeping in when the kids are babies. Often it’s an afterthought, should we make a reservation for dinner or just stay in?

When you’re in it for the long haul, the expression of love can be pretty simple: emptying the dishwasher, noticing a new haircut, or actually listening to the other person’s story.

It’s actively complimenting and consciously ignoring each other’s annoying adorable idiosyncrasies. Maybe a back rub after a long day or agreeing to a rom-com instead of the latest shoot em up flick? 

Roses and jewelry and fancy dinners are great, but sometimes getting to sit down and watch your favorite show while he tackles the dishes is worth far more.

It got me thinking that they need to update the messages on those conversation hearts with grown up expressions of love. So I took the liberty of doing it myself in cookie form.

I whipped up these chocolate cut-out cookies and decorated them with tinted royal icing. I used flood icing to fill the hearts and a thicker consistency to pipe the words with a #1 Ateco round tip. I decided on chocolate heart cookies, because c’mon, it’s Valentine’s Day and we all need a little chocolate.

So whether you’re eating in your sweats on the sofa or strapping on your best heels and heading to a fancy restaurant for Valentine’s Day, try to remember the little things.

And not just on Valentine’s Day, but throughout the year. Maybe instead of a sharp elbow to the ribs next time he snores, just a gentle tap. Now that’s love.

Tips for success

• Be sure to chill the cut-out cookies before baking to ensure that they maintain their shape.
• Cool the cookies completely before decorating with royal icing.
• Meringue powder is a great substitute for raw egg white in royal icing and is safe to eat!
• Be sure to sift the confectioners sugar before beating so you don’t have any lumps in your royal icing. Even tiny lumps can clog your decorating tips and make decorating a hassle.
• Beat the royal icing until you have stiff peaks. Add the water very gradually (think a teaspoon or two at a time) until you reach your desired piping consistency.
• The icing will darken as it hardens, so don’t go crazy with the food coloring. I recommend gel food coloring for the best results in color and consistency.
• Allow the icing to harden for several hours (overnight is ideal) before storing or serving.

Valentine’s Day sweets

• Apple Rose Cupcakes
• Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
• Red Velvet Cupcakes
• Raspberry Triple Chocolate Cheesecake in a Jar
• Tart Cherry Pie
• Valentine’s Day Cookie Pops

5 from 5 votes

Print

Conversation Heart Cookies

Prep Time

2 hrs

Cook Time

12 mins

Setting Time

12 hrs

Total Time

14 hrs 12 mins

 

Remember those Valentine's day candies of your youth? Today they're transformed into conversation heart cookies with messages that will really make your heart flutter!

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chocolate cut-out cookies, conversation heart cookies

Servings: 30 cookies

Calories: 191 kcal

Author: Cathy Roma | What Should I Make For…

Ingredients

Chocolate Cut-Out Cookies

• 2 1/2 cup AP flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder (dutch-process)
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 8 oz unsalted butter softened (2 sticks)
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Royal Icing

• 1 lb confectioners sugar (SIFTED)
• 1/4 cup meringue powder
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp clear vanilla
• Gel food coloring

Instructions

Chocolate Cut-Out Cookies

1. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, and salt together, set aside.

2. Cream the butter with the sugars until light and fluffy. Add the egg and mix to combine.

3. Add the flour mixture in two batches and blend until the mixture just holds together.

4. Add vanilla and mix to combine.
5. Roll out between two sheets of wax paper and cut out shapes with cookie cutters.
6. Place shapes on baking trays lined with parchment paper and put in freezer for about 10 minutes before baking.

7. Bake at 350 degrees until cookies are set, about 10-12 minutes, depending on the shape/size of the cookie.

Royal Icing

1. Combine confectioners sugar, meringue powder and cream of tarter in large mixing bowl.

2. Add water and clear vanilla and beat on high speed with paddle attachment until stiff peaks form, but mixture is not dry.

3. Add drops of gel food coloring to reach desired color, but keep in mind the color will deepen and darken as the icing dries.

Decorate the Cookies

1. Fill piping bags fitted with round metal tips and ice the cookies. I divide the icing into two bowls, 2/3 reserved for flood icing (a thinner consistency ideal for covering the entire cookie) and 1/3 reserved for decorating (a little thicker and used for piping designs).

2. Allow the base to dry for a couple hours before piping designs.Let completed cookies dry for at least 12 hours before storing in air tight containers.

3. Cookies will keep for several days stored at room temperature.

Recipe Notes

Recipe Yields: 30 – 2 inch cookies

 

• Be sure to chill the cut-out cookies before baking to ensure that they maintain their shape.
• Cool the cookies completely before decorating with royal icing.
• Meringue powder is a great substitute for raw egg white in royal icing and is safe to eat!
• Be sure to sift the confectioners sugar before beating so you don’t have any lumps in your royal icing. Even tiny lumps can clog your decorating tips and make decorating a hassle.
• Beat the royal icing until you have stiff peaks. Add the water very gradually (think a teaspoon or two at a time) until you reach your desired piping consistency.
• The icing will darken as it hardens, so don’t go crazy with the food coloring. I recommend gel food coloring for the best results in color and consistency.
• Allow the icing to harden for several hours (overnight is ideal) before storing or serving.

Nutrition Facts

Conversation Heart Cookies

Amount Per Serving

Calories 191 Calories from Fat 63

% Daily Value*

Fat 7g11%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Cholesterol 22mg7%

Sodium 69mg3%

Potassium 71mg2%

Carbohydrates 31g10%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 22g24%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 197IU4%

Calcium 9mg1%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Update Notes: This post was originally published in February 2016 but was republished with tips in February 2020.