With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about all things related to love. And what better way to do that than with some red, and pink, and white simple sprinkle cookies?

You’re going to love the sweet-vanilla-buttery-goodness that are these festive little sugar cookies cookies. With their crisp edges and soft centers, these cookies are the perfect treat to sweeten up your Valentine’s Day.

Step-By-Step Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line three baking sheets with parchment paper. This will ensure your cookies bake evenly and prevent any sticking mishaps.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. You can use an electric mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes. That should do it.
3. Next, beat in the egg and vanilla extract, and mix for an additional minute. This step adds richness and flavor to the cookie dough – that vanilla, buttery goodness.
4. Incorporate the dry ingredients. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt to the bowl, and mix until just combined. Be careful not to over-mix here – we want our cookies to be tender and delicate.
5. Using a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop, portion out the dough and gently roll the tops of each cookie in sprinkles. I like to use several different colors so the cookies coordinate, but aren’t all identical.
6. Place the sprinkled cookies on the lined baking sheets, making sure to leave a couple of inches of space between each cookie to allow for some spreading during baking.
7. Pop those little babies into the oven and bake for about 10 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through to ensure even baking.
8. Once baked to golden perfection, let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This step is crucial for achieving the perfect texture – crispy on the outside, soft on the inside.
9. Now, all that’s left to do is indulge in these sprinkle cookies.

Recipe Tips & Notes

• Use softened butter (not melted). This helps the cookies hold their shape and gives you that soft, tender texture.
• Don’t overmix the dough. Mix just until combined to keep the cookies light and soft.
• Use a cookie scoop. This keeps the cookies uniform so they bake evenly and look clean and consistent.
• Press sprinkles on top (don’t mix in). This keeps the colors bright and prevents them from bleeding into the dough.
• Pull these cookies out when the edges are set and the centers still look soft—they’ll finish setting as they cool.

Storage Recommendations

Store sprinkle sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4–5 days. They’ll stay soft as long as they’re well covered. Freeze baked cookies or dough balls in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving or baking.