40 Easy Valentine's Day Cookie Recipes to Say 'I Love You'
These heart-shaped desserts and red velvet treats are better than a box of chocolates!
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Did you use up all your best Valentine’s Day gift ideas last year? Wondering what to get your Valentine that will show you put some actual effort in? Never fear: homemade Valentine’s Day cookies are here to save the day. While there are tons of great Valentine's Day desserts to choose from, cookies are one of the easiest and most fail-proof options. Not only are they simple to make — even for the novice baker — but they also make for a transportable, relatively mess-free gift.
Whether your significant other is a chocolate addict, a peanut butter lover, or likes their dessert a little more fruity, we’ve got plenty of options for you to choose from. Take your pick of recipes like adorably cheesy heart-shaped foods; gooey, chocolatey homemade moon pies; and delicate jasmine-scented butter cookies. We’ve even got a few (delicious) vegan and gluten-free options. If you’ve got a little extra time on your hands, you could even make a few of these for a sweet selection to whip out after your Valentine’s Day dinner, maybe along with additional Valentine’s Day treats.
This year, ditch the overly complicated gift idea and swap in some of these homemade cookies instead. Because even though there are many ways to say, "I love you,” our money is on whatever version involves the most butter and sugar.
Heart-Shaped Cookies
Use a dash of edible luster dust on royal icing to give these sugar cookies an adorable watercolor effect.
Get the Heart-Shaped Cookies recipe.
Red Velvet Cookies
Don't let the color of these cookies fool you — with semi-sweet chips and cocoa powder, they're a chocolate lover's dream.
Get the Red Velvet Cookies recipe.
RELATED: 20 Best Red Velvet Recipes That Will Become Your New Favorite Desserts
Chocolate Caramel Cookies
The caramel surprise inside makes these decadent cookies look quite impressive, but the secret is simply store-bought caramels wrapped in a double-chocolate dough.
Get the Chocolate Caramel Cookies recipe.
RELATED: 25 Easy and Creative Chocolate Desserts That You Haven't Tried Yet
White Chocolate and Lavender Madeleines
Yes, buttery lemon cookies taste just as delicate and airy as they look!
Flourless Chocolate-Walnut Cookies
Don't sweat it if your sweetie is gluten-free — these chewy, chocolatey cookies are delicious and flourless.
Get the Flourless Chocolate-Walnut Cookies recipe.
RELATED: 25 Gluten-Free Desserts That Will Be the Hit of Any Party
Pecan Pie Bars
Do pie bars count as cookies? Well, when they have a rich, brown sugar base with hints of caramel and bourbon, we're willing to make an exception.
Get the Pecan Pie Bars recipe.
Chunky Nut Butter Cookies
Opt for creamy peanut, almond or cashew butter with this recipe. Each will have a slightly different taste.
Get the Chunky Nut Butter Cookies recipe.
Jam Sandwich Cookies
Replace the notes that say, "Merry Christmas" with "I love you," and you've just turned this Christmas dessert into a treat fit for Valentine's Day.
Get the Jam Sandwich Cookies recipe.
Shortbread Squares
With recipes for Toffee-Pecan Shortbread Squares, Red Currant Crumble and Chocolate-Peppermint Shortbread Squares, we don't know which to try first.
Get the Shortbread Squares recipe.
Marshmallow-Chocolate Cookie Sammies
Instead of going out to buy a Moon Pie, make one at home. We promise it tastes even better than the store-bought kind.
"Candy" Bars
Are they cookies? Are they candies? Call them anything you'd like, but with pretzel, coconut, toffee, chocolate and caramel melted into a shortbread cookie — we'll be calling them delicious.
Get the "Candy" Bars recipe.
Chocolate-Almond Tea Cookies
If you're serving tea after dinner, these simple almond cookies will make your post-dinner cup so much better.
Get the Chocolate-Almond Tea Cookies recipe.
Cookie Shooters
Instead of a glass of milk, how about a shot? The chocolate lining will give it a sweet, cocoa flavor.
Get the Cookie Shooters recipe.
Ginger and Cream Sandwich Cookies
Spicy ginger meets velvety cream with these easy-to-make cookies.
Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
No diary needed for these rich and indulgent cookies. Just dip into some (non-dairy) milk and enjoy!
Get the Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.
RELATED: 26 Best Vegan Desserts That Taste Like the Real Deal
White Chocolate Raspberry Thins
You can thank raspberry powder for this cute cookie's seasonally appropriate pink hue.
Black and Red Crinkle Cookies
Red velvet cookie dough rolled in dark black cocoa powder creates a molten lava effect that's perfect for your burnin' love.
Get the Black and Red Crinkle Cookies recipe.
No-Bake Waffle Dippers
These five minute, bake-free waffle "cookies" are just as sweet as the real thing.
Get the No-Bake Waffle Dippers recipe.
Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies
Now this our type of sandwich! Sweet, buttery caramel holds together two mini cinnamon cookies.
Lemon Thyme Coin Cookies
Herbs on cookies? These light, lemon treats are about to make you rethink everything you know about dessert.
Get the Lemon Thyme Coin Cookies recipe.
As an Editorial Fellow for Good Housekeeping, Katie covers health, beauty, home, and pop culture. Outside of the office, you can find her killing it on the karaoke machine or listening to true crime podcasts.
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