Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to share something sweet with those you love, and what better way to do that than with homemade heart-shaped cookies? These Sourdough Valentine’s Sugar Cookies have the perfect balance of crisp edges and a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture, with the added depth of flavour that sourdough discard brings. Whether you're baking for a partner, family, or friends, these cookies are sure to spread the love!
Why Use Sourdough in Sugar Cookies?
If you’ve been keeping a sourdough starter, you know the joy of using up discard in creative ways. In these sugar cookies, sourdough discard adds a subtle tang, enhancing the sweetness of the cookie while keeping the texture tender. Plus, it’s a great way to minimise waste and make the most of your starter!
Ingredients:
- 250g Plain Flour
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 150g Granulated Sugar
- 170g Unsalted Butter, softened
- 1 Egg
- 5g Vanilla Essence
- 100g Sourdough Starter (or sourdough discard)
Instructions:
Step 1: Prepare the Dry Ingredients
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Set this aside.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a separate mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar using a hand or stand mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Step 3: Mix in the Wet Ingredients
Add the egg, vanilla essence, and sourdough starter to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat on medium speed until fully incorporated.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix—just combine until the dough comes together.
Step 5: Roll and Chill the Dough
Divide the dough into two balls and place each between two sheets of baking paper. Roll them out to about 0.5 cm thick. Transfer the rolled dough onto a flat baking sheet and place in the fridge overnight (or up to 48 hours). This step helps develop the flavours and makes the dough easier to handle. If you're short on time you can leave it in the fridge for just 1 hour.
Step 6: Cut and Bake
When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 180°C. Remove one sheet of dough from the fridge at a time and use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out your cookies. Place them on a baking sheet lined with baking paper, leaving a little space between each cookie.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, watching closely to prevent over-browning. The cookies should be set but not too golden.
Step 7: Cool and Decorate
Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, you can decorate them with icing, sprinkles, or enjoy them as is!
We used 1/2 cup powdered icing sugar per colour, added a few drops of our Dough Paints and a splash of milk. transfer to a piping bag to decorate.
Tips for the Best Sourdough Sugar Cookies:
- Chill the dough: Refrigerating the dough overnight enhances flavor and makes rolling and cutting much easier.
- Don’t overbake: These cookies should be soft and tender, so keep an eye on them as they bake.
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Decorate with love: Royal icing, melted chocolate, or a simple dusting of powdered sugar can add a special Valentine’s touch.
Gift These Cookies with Love!
Wrap these heart-shaped cookies in a decorative box or tin for a heartfelt, homemade Valentine’s gift. Whether enjoyed with a cup of tea or given as a token of appreciation, these Sourdough Valentine’s Sugar Cookies are a delicious way to share the love.
Happy baking, and Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️