How to make heart-shaped cookies with jam without a cutter, a cookie shortcrust that doesn’t deform, quick and easy Valentine’s cookies, trick for glossy jam on cookies.
Heart-shaped Valentine’s cookies without a mold: the foolproof recipe
The most common mistake in this recipe is using a dough that is too weak or an oven temperature that is too high, which makes the cookie “settle” and lose the heart shape during baking.
Also, many end up with jam that boils and overflows, making a mess.
My recipe solves these problems thanks to a technical shortcrust that doesn’t deform and the trick of pureed jam, which guarantees a smooth, glossy heart that’s perfectly contained.
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Inexpensive
- Rest time: 2 Hours
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Cooking time: 12 Minutes
- Portions: about 30 pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients for Heart-Shaped Valentine’s Cookies
- 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour (+ 1 teaspoon for the work surface)
- 3/4 cup butter (soft at room temperature or 5 tbsp sunflower oil (about 75 g))
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg (whole)
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup jam (strawberry or raspberry)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 lemon zest (grated)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
Tools
- Kitchen scale
- Hand mixer
- Bowl
- Spatula
- Fork
- Baking sheet
Heart cookies with jam
Start by whipping the soft butter with the sugar, salt and flavorings until you obtain a light, fluffy cream. Add the eggs one at a time while continuing to beat with the whisk. Only at the end incorporate the flour and baking powder in one go. Quickly bring the dough together with a spatula and then with your hands: do not overwork the dough! If you use butter, the dough log must rest in the fridge for 2 hours. If you use oil, you can roll it out immediately.
Roll the dough to a thickness of 5 mm (about 3/16 inch) and cut out circles of 7 cm (about 2 3/4 inches) using a glass. Now the magic touch: take the back of a small fork (or a teaspoon) and press the center obliquely to create the first half of the heart. Repeat on the other side to complete the shape. If you want a more defined point, lightly score the base of the heart with a small knife.
Puree the jam to make it smooth and free of pieces. Fill the heart-shaped indentation using a piping bag or a teaspoon. Arrange the cookies on the baking sheet and bake in a preheated static oven at 329°F–338°F for only 12 minutes. Warning: do not raise the temperature or extend the baking time! The cookies should remain pale; if they darken, the heart will deform.
Notes on Ingredients and Substitutions
Fats: Butter gives the classic crumbly texture, but if you prefer you can replace it with 5 tbsp sunflower oil (about 75 g). In that case, refrigeration is not necessary.
Flour: For a gluten-free version, replace the 00 flour with rice flour or a specific gluten-free blend.
Eggs: The addition of the two extra yolks provides that deep golden color and a texture that doesn’t crumble when cut.
Filling: You can replace the jam with Nutella or pistachio cream, but add them after baking to keep them creamy.
Storage
These cookies are great because they keep well: store them in a tin for up to 15 days, and they will retain their fragrance.
Recipe Variations
Choco-Love Cookies: Replace 30 g of flour with unsweetened cocoa powder in the dough.
Indulgent Heart: Use Nutella, but add it after baking to avoid it drying out in the oven.
Two-tone: Make half the circles with plain shortcrust and half with cocoa shortcrust, joining them before forming the heart.
Tips
Post-bake resting: Let the cookies cool on a rack for at least 30 minutes. The jam needs time to set and become glossy.
Advance preparation: If you need to gift them, prepare them 6 hours in advance; they will look perfect and the jam won’t “bleed”.
FAQ (Questions & Answers)
Why does my shortcrust crumble while I’m shaping the heart?
It’s probably too cold from the fridge. Soften it slightly with the warmth of your hands before rolling it out.
Can I use apricot jam?
Certainly, but for the “Valentine’s” effect the red of strawberry or raspberry is unbeatable.
The heart flattened in the oven, what went wrong?
Maybe you used too much baking powder or the oven wasn’t hot enough when you put the tray in. Make sure it is fully preheated.
