Heart Jam Valentine Cookies are sweet, soft cookies with a bright burst of jam right in the center. They are perfect for celebrating love and friendship, with a tender cookie surrounding a gooey, fruity heart-shaped jam filling. These cookies look adorable and taste even better, making them a great treat for Valentine’s Day or any time you want to share a little sweetness.
I love making these cookies because they bring a smile to everyone’s face. The jam makes the cookies a bit special and colorful, and choosing different flavors like raspberry or strawberry lets me mix it up depending on my mood or what I have on hand. Plus, they are simple enough to bake with kids, which makes the whole process feel even more fun and cozy.
My favorite way to enjoy these cookies is fresh out of the oven with a warm cup of tea or milk. They are just the right size to share with friends or leave in little care packages to brighten someone’s day. These Heart Jam Valentine Cookies remind me that simple ingredients and a little love in the kitchen can create something really sweet and heartfelt.
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
Butter: Unsalted butter gives the best control over the cookie’s flavor and texture. If you only have salted butter, reduce the added salt slightly. I like using room temperature butter to get a smooth dough.
Jam: Raspberry and strawberry are classic choices for Valentine’s Day, but you can swap in any red or pink fruit jam you like. Apricot or mixed berry jams also taste great. Thicker jams hold better between cookies.
Vanilla and Almond Extracts: Vanilla is essential for warmth and depth, while almond extract adds a subtle nutty twist if you want. Both are optional, so you can skip the almond if you prefer a simpler flavor.
Royal Icing or Fondant: These decorate the cookie tops. I’m a fan of fondant for smooth, shiny finishes and easy texture creation, but royal icing works if you like piping and a matte look. You can color them with gel food coloring.
How Can You Make the Jam Center Stay in Place Without Spilling?
Keeping the jam neatly inside the heart window is key to a beautiful cookie. Here’s how I do it:
- After baking and cooling, spread a thin, even layer of jam on the solid cookie base. Don’t overload it or it will spill out during baking or handling.
- Gently press the top cookie with the cut-out heart onto the jam layer without sliding it around. This creates a seal around the jam.
- Allow the cookies to rest so the jam sets a bit before moving or decorating. This helps prevent leakage.
- If the jam feels too runny, you can gently heat it to reduce liquid or use a thicker jam or fruit preserves instead.
With patience and a light touch, your jam will stay bright and beautiful inside each heart-shaped window!
Equipment You’ll Need
- Mixing bowls – for combining your dough and icing separately without making a mess.
- Electric hand mixer – makes creaming butter and sugar quicker and easier.
- Rolling pin – helps roll the dough evenly to get neat, flat cookies.
- Heart-shaped cookie cutters (two sizes) – these create the cookie base and the jam window perfectly.
- Baking sheets lined with parchment paper – prevent cookies from sticking and allow even baking.
- Wire cooling rack – lets cookies cool evenly without getting soggy underneath.
- Spoon or small spatula – for spreading jam evenly on the cookies.
- Fork or decorating tool – to add stripes or texture to icing or fondant if you want to.
Flavor Variations & Add-Ins
- Swap raspberry or strawberry jam for apricot or cherry jam for a new fruity twist.
- Mix a bit of lemon zest into the cookie dough for a fresh, bright flavor.
- Try almond or orange-flavored icing instead of vanilla for a different sweet taste.
- Add finely chopped nuts like pistachios to the cookie dough for a subtle crunch.
How to Make Heart Jam Valentine Cookies
Ingredients You’ll Need:
For The Cookies:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract (optional)
- ¼ tsp salt
For The Filling and Decoration:
- ½ cup raspberry or strawberry jam (or your favorite red fruit jam)
- Pink or red royal icing or colored fondant for decorating (about 1 cup)
- Edible gold dust or glitter (optional, for decoration)
How Much Time Will You Need?
This recipe takes about 20 minutes to prepare, 8-10 minutes to bake, and at least 1 hour to let the decorated cookies set and firm up before serving. Plan about 1 hour 30 minutes in total from start to finish.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Prepping the Dough:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using), beating until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour and salt together. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until you form a soft dough.
2. Cutting the Cookies:
Divide the dough in half. Roll out one portion on a floured surface to about ¼ inch thick and cut out large heart-shaped cookies. Place these on the baking sheets. Roll out the second dough portion and use a smaller heart cutter to cut out the centers from the hearts, creating a heart window that will hold the jam. Place these cut-out cookies on the baking sheets as well.
3. Baking the Cookies:
Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes or until the edges just turn golden. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
4. Assembling and Decorating:
Once cooled, spread a thin layer of jam onto each whole heart base cookie. Gently press a heart-window cookie on top to sandwich the jam inside. Decorate around the jam window with pink or red royal icing or colored fondant. You can create a striped texture by pressing a fork gently onto the icing or fondant. For a festive touch, brush edible gold dust or sprinkle edible glitter on top. Let the cookies set for at least 1 hour before serving to allow everything to firm up nicely.
Enjoy sharing these lovely and tasty Heart Jam Valentine Cookies with friends and family!
Can I Use Store-Bought Jam or Should I Make My Own?
You can definitely use store-bought jam for convenience. Just pick a thicker variety like seedless raspberry or strawberry preserves to prevent it from running. If using homemade jam, make sure it’s cooled and slightly thickened before spreading.
Can I Make These Cookies Ahead of Time?
Yes! You can bake and assemble the cookies a day ahead. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Avoid refrigerating as it may soften the cookies and jam.
How Do I Keep the Jam From Spilling Out While Baking?
These cookies are baked separately before adding jam, so the jam isn’t baked inside, which helps prevent spilling. Make sure you spread thin layers of jam and gently press the top cookie to seal it well.
What Can I Use Instead of Royal Icing or Fondant?
If you prefer, you can decorate with colored buttercream frosting or simply dust the cookies with powdered sugar. Just keep in mind that buttercream may not firm up as much, so handle the cookies carefully after decorating.
