Make an adorable bunch of conversation heart cookies for your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day using simple store-bought ingredients! This canned frosting hack will give you the look of bakery cookies in no time.
Why this recipe works
Whether you choose to use store-bought cookie dough or whip up a batch of homemade sugar cookies to use for these conversation heart cookies, it’s the frosting hack that’s key here.
Working with royal icing can be tricky and time-consuming, but we can show you how easily you can make “faux” royal icing using canned white frosting straight from the grocery store.
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions
COOKIE – Store-bought refrigerated sugar cookie dough or homemade sugar cookies will work perfectly in this recipe.
DECORATION – You simply need 1 can of white frosting (not vanilla). You’ll separate and add pink, yellow, green, and violet gel food color to the frosting to get those soft pastels that match the theme of classic conversation heart candies. I highly recommend gel food coloring over liquid as it produces beautiful vibrant colors.
How to Make Conversation Heart Cookies
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Roll, cut, and bake cookies according to package directions. Use a 3-inch heart shaped cookie cutter for perfectly shaped cookies.
- Transfer baked cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely before decorating.
- Divide frosting into 4 microwave-safe bowls. Using a toothpick, tint each bowl of icing with a different color.
- When the cookies are completely cool begin covering them with your base icing.
- Begin with one color and 3 cookies at a time. Microwave your icing for 5 seconds, stir, and then microwave for up to 5 seconds more. The consistency should be smooth but the oils should not be separated.
- Spoon a tablespoon of the icing in the center of the cookie and then tilt from side to side until the cookie is evenly filled. You may have to guide your icing with the back of your spoon. Working quickly set the cookies back on the cooling rack to fully dry. You may have to reheat icing in between cookies. 5 seconds at a time.
- Continue with remaining cookies and icing colors until each cookie is filled. Each color will fill 3 cookies. Allow cookies to cool for 1 hour to set.
- Using the red icing tube fitted with a writing tip, pipe your favorite Valentine messages on the cookies!
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
You can store your cookies in an airtight container kept at room temperature for 3-4 days.
White frosting will allow for brighter colors. If you use vanilla frosting, you may end up with a muddier looking frosting.
You can freeze decorated sugar cookies. Be sure the icing is completely set. Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper and place cookies in a single layer on the sheet. Place sheet in freezer for 2-3 hours, or until cookies are frozen. Remove from freezer and carefully wrap frozen cookies in waxed paper and place in zipper freezer bags or an airtight container with a lid. Cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months. To thaw, remove from freezer and unwrap. Allow to thaw at room temperature.
Serving Suggestions
How sweet would these conversation heart cookies be wrapped in little cellophane baggies to hand out to friends, family, or neighbors? The kids will love helping with these! We originally used this frosting hack on our easy decorated sugar cookies for Christmas, and it was a big hit – so play with different cookie cutters, colors, and themes for any holiday or party!
More Valentine’s Day Recipes
- Pink Mudslide
- Valentine Cherry Hand Pies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts
- Valentine’s Day Heart Cupcakes
- Chocolate Covered Fruit Truffles
- Valentine Muddy Buddies
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Conversation Heart Cookies
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 16.5 oz sugar cookie dough 1 tube
- 16 oz white frosting 1 can
- 1 tube red frosting for writing
- gel food color in pink, yellow, green, and violet
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- Getting the right icing consistency may take a few tries. Use one cookie as a practice cookie. You can always scrape it off and start over. Every microwave is different so you may need to figure out the correct melting time for your particular microwave.
- A little bit of gel color goes a long way, add a little gel at a time to reach your desired color. You can always add more but can’t remove it if you’ve put too much. You can reserve a bit of the white icing in the event that you need to lighten colors.
- Keep toothpicks handy to straighten icing or clean up lettering or to clear the icing tip if it becomes clogged.
Instructions
- Roll, cut, and bake cookies according to package directions.
- Transfer baked cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely before decorating.
- Divide frosting into 4 microwave-safe bowls. Using a toothpick tint each bowl of icing with a different color.
- When the cookies are completely cool begin covering them with your base icing.
- Begin with one color and 3 cookies at a time. Microwave your icing for 5 seconds, stir, and then microwave for up to 5 seconds more. The consistency should be smooth but the oils should not be separated.
- Spoon a tablespoon of the icing in the center of the cookie and then tilt from side to side until the cookie is evenly filled. You may have to guide your icing with the back of your spoon. Working quickly set the cookies back on the cooling rack to fully dry. You may have to reheat icing in between cookies. 5 seconds at a time.
- Continue with remaining cookies and icing colors until each cookie is filled. Each color will fill 3 cookies. Allow cookies to cool for 1 hour to set.
- Using the red icing tube fitted with a writing tip, pipe your favorite Valentine messages on the cookies!
Nutrition
Amanda Davis
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