Love Letter Cookies
Love letter cookies are delicate, buttery treats with a paper-thin texture, often decorated with colorful icing and personalized messages. Made from a rich dough that is rolled out, cut into rectangles, and baked until crisp, they reveal tiny edible notes inside. Their final appearance is crisp, slightly crumbly, and charmingly decorated with handwritten or piped designs.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Rolling pin
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- optional food-safe markers or colored icing for decorating
Instructions
- Cream the softened butter and sugar together in a mixing bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy, and the sugar starts to dissolve, filling your space with a sweet aroma.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated, creating a smooth, cohesive dough with a slight sheen.
- Gradually add the sifted flour to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until the dough comes together into a soft, workable ball—avoid overmixing to keep it tender.
- Divide the dough into two portions, flatten each into disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to relax the dough and make it easier to roll out.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Take one chilled dough disk and lightly flour your work surface. Roll out the dough to about 1/8-inch thickness, aiming for an even, thin layer—this is key to their delicate structure.
- Use a sharp knife or a rectangular cutter to cut the rolled dough into uniform strips or rectangles that resemble sheets of paper, helping to achieve that authentic love letter look.
- Transfer the cut cookies to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart to give room for slight spreading during baking.
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for about 8-10 minutes, or until they are just golden around the edges and still tender — they firm up as they cool.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool on a wire rack until they are firm and completely cooled, which might take about 10 minutes.
- Once cooled, use food-safe markers or colored icing to carefully add handwritten messages or decorative details to each cookie, mimicking tiny notes or letters.
Notes
For best results, handle the dough gently to keep it thin and delicate. Decorations can be personalized for any occasion, making these cookies a charming, heartfelt gift or keepsake.