50 Valentine’s Day Cookie Recipes We Adore

Strawberry Pillows

Make Valentine’s Day cookie trays extra special with these mini pie look-alikes stuffed with sweet strawberry preserves. Yum! —Amy Sauerwalt, Columbia, Maryland

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Dipped Cherry Cookies

Our seven children and four grandkids voted this festive, flavorful Valentine’s Day cookie a “keeper.” We gave a batch to our mail carrier, in thanks for trudging through so much snow, and she asked for the recipe. —Ruth Anne Dale, Titusville, Pennsylvania

Want a bigger treat? Try these Valentine’s Day cupcake recipes.

Peanut Butter Cutout Cookies

I used peanut butter in place of the butter in my take on a traditional cutout cookie, which turned out super nutty and soft. My children love to decorate the cookie for Valentine’s Day with frosting, sprinkles and some creativity. —Cindi Bauer, Marshfield, Wisconsin

Raspberry Pistachio Thumbprints

Thumbprint cookies are a Christmas classic, and I especially like my updated version with pistachios. The rich, buttery bites are not only delicious, but they are also pretty enough to give for gifts—if you manage to share them! —Laura Murphy, Columbus, Mississippi

Editor’s tip: Pair sweet treats with a few savory Valentine’s Day appetizers for a balanced holiday spread.

Be-Mine Sandwich Cookies

These simple cookies are the first thing to disappear from dessert tables. They’re cute, colorful and extremely fast to make.
—Darcie Cross, Novi, Michigan

Your sweetie will love these Valentine’s Day cake recipes.

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Everyone gets a kick out of this fun take on the popular red velvet cake. Take a shortcut and use packaged cream cheese frosting for the filling. —Judi Dexheimer, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Find more Valentine’s Day dessert ideas.

Marbled Meringue Hearts

Pretty pastel cookies are a fun way to brighten Valentine’s Day or any special occasion. Replace the vanilla with a different extract for a change of flavor. —Laurie Herr, Westford, Vermont

Sweetheart Cookies

These rounds filled with fruit preserves were blue-ribbon winners at the county fair two years running. A family favorite, they never last beyond February 14! —Pamela Esposito, Smithville, New Jersey

Shortbread Hearts

These flaky cookies melt in your mouth. Dipped in chocolate, they look festive for Valentine’s Day. —Barbara Birk, St. George, Utah

By the way, this is the best Valentine’s Day baking gear you can buy.

Berry-Cream Cookie Snaps

My mom and I made up this recipe by combining two others. These cute cookies are crispy on the outside and light and fluffy inside. You could also bake the cookies flat and serve the filling as a cookie dip if you like. —Crystal Briddick, Colfax, Illinois

Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies

Although these cookies require a little extra effort, they’re worth it. I make them for Valentine’s Day and every family gathering—and they never last long! —Marie Kinyon, Mason, Michigan

Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies

These festive sugar-coated red velvet cookies are perfect for Valentine’s Day. They’re just as delicious as they are beautiful. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia

Bake up these Valentine’s Day breads and pastries.

Strawberry Wedding Bell Cookies

To ring in a joyous occasion like Valentine’s Day, a bridal shower or wedding, I’m often asked to make these festive cookies. You can use different flavors of jam to suit your tastes. —Laurie Messer, Bonifay, Florida

Sweetheart Slices

You get the flavor of a snickerdoodle plus the texture of a shortbread in these cute cookies. Bake them for your sweeties, or make the cookies together to create fun memories! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Raspberry Coconut Balls

My family loves Hostess Zingers, especially the raspberry flavor coated with coconut, inspiring this treat to make for school bake sales. We can make about four dozen in 30 minutes, and they sell out fast! —Pam Clark, Wheaton, Illinois

Peppermint Cream Sandwich Cookies

My mother and I made these crisp chocolate peppermint sandwich cookies together. They are a perfect addition to any Valentine’s Day party. —Donna Williamson, Round Rock, Texas

Secret Kiss Cookies

Here’s a recipe that’s literally sealed with a “kiss.” This cookie’s bound to tickle any sweet tooth. —Karen Owen, Rising Sun, Indiana

Chocolate Chip Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Baking a fun treat is a must when my four grandchildren come to stay for “Grandma Camp.” Sometimes the grandkids help by piping the cake batter. —Linda Schend, Kenosha, Wisconsin

Hazelnut Macarons

You don’t have to be an expert in French cooking to whip up these sandwich cookies. The crisp, chewy macarons take attention to detail, but they’re not hard to make—and they’re simply a delight, both for personal snacking and giving as gifts!
—Taste of Home Test Kitchen

White Chocolate Raspberry Thumbprints

When I pass around the cookie tray, all eyes land on these fancy thumbprints. The white chocolate filling and dab of jewel-toned jam will satisfy even the most discriminating sweet tooth. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario

Chocolate Marshmallow Cutouts

I make rich, fudgy cookies that taste like brownies with a marshmallow filling. I usually use heart-shaped cutters, but I've also left them uncut and filled with pink marshmallow creme.—Kelly Ward, Stratford, Ontario

Honey-Peanut Butter Cookies

When my husband wants a treat, he requests these chewy peanut butter honey cookies. —Lucile Proctor, Panguitch, Utah

Cranberry Lime Macaroons

It wouldn’t be the holidays for my family and friends if I didn’t make these chewy lime-flavored macaroons. I usually make several batches a week during the season..—Alisa Costa, Chatham, New York

German Chocolate Tassies

My son and I love chocolate, so I made this brownie-like recipe to satisfy any chocolate lover. The pecans add a welcome crunch. —John Williams, Beaumont, Texas

Jeweled Coconut Drops

Red raspberry preserves add a festive flair to these tender coconut cookies. Perfect for Valentine’s Day and cookie exchanges, these shaped cookies never last long when I make them for my husband and two sons. —Ellen Marie Byler, Munfordville, Kentucky

Butter Cookies

This great butter cookie recipe is a favorite of my nephews, who love the creamy frosting. —Ruth Griggs, South Hill, Virginia

Chocolate-Dipped Cranberry Cookies

These pretty pink cookies always turn out so tender. They are the hit of my holiday! —Barbara Nowakowski, North Tonawanda, New York

Mexican Chocolate Walnut-Cherry Biscotti

I love to combine flavors and spices from different cultures. These cookies have ground cinnamon in them, which is a classic flavor in Mexican chocolate. They are very crunchy and are loaded with maraschino cherries and toasted walnuts. —Nancy C. Evans, Phoenix, Arizona

Strawberry Cookie Cups

I learned to bake beside my mom and grandmother. When I was on break from college, I knew just how to entertain myself: I made cookies. Sharing this recipe with my mom and grandmother was a proud moment.—Andrea Zulauf, Livonia, New York

Double-Dipped Shortbread Cookies

My mom and her friend did a lot of cookie swaps together. They were always finding new recipes to share, including this one. There's something about a dipped cookie that makes it seem so special, so we usually save these for the holidays. —Ginger King, Big Bear Lake, California

Raspberry Ribbons

I make these attractive, buttery cookies to serve at our remote guest lodge, and all the cooks in the kitchen are addicted to them! —Patsy Wolfenden, Golden, British Columbia

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

When I baked this moist, fudgy chocolate crinkle cookie recipe for the first time, my three preschool children went wild over them! But I like them because they're lower in fat and easy to mix and bake. —Maria Groff, Ephrata, Pennsylvania

Red Velvet Spritz Cookies

I had never come across a red velvet spritz recipe, so I decided to create one for Valentine’s Day. The hint of cocoa makes these taste like red velvet cake. Add peppermint flavoring for a little extra kick. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado

Jumbo Brownie Cookies

Take these deeply fudgy cookies to a party, and you're sure to make a friend. A little espresso powder in the dough makes them over-the-top good. —Rebecca Cababa, Las Vegas, Nevada

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

Strawberry shortcake is one of my favorite desserts. I thought it would be great to capture all that wonderful flavor in a cookie. The pastry-like cookie is topped with pink strawberry frosting. —Allison Anderson, Avondale, Arizona

Cherry Kisses

Cookies that melt in your mouth and are practically fat-free—is it any wonder these crispy meringue morsels disappear as fast as I can whip them up? Friends and family love them. —Jo Ann Blomquest, Freeport, Illinois

Chocolate-Raspberry Whoopie Pies

I’ve saved this jam-filled whoopie pie recipe for years after cutting it out of a newspaper. It’s one of my grandson's personal favorites. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania

Cherry Pinwheel Cookies

A crisp, light textured cookie with a mild cherry flavor will add great color to your holiday cookie tray.—Jenn Reagan, Maple Valley, Washington

Raspberry-Almond Crescent Cookies

My flaky, two-bite crescent cookies are sensational treats. Filled with raspberry preserves, coconut and almonds, they might remind you of rugelach.—Kelly Williams, Forked River, NJ

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Meringue Roses

Eat these pretty treats as is or crush them into a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream. Readers of my blog, utry.it, went nuts when I posted that idea.—Amy Tong, Anaheim, California

Frosted Red Velvet Cookies

My student job in college was in the bakery. These dreamy morsels take me back to that special place and time. Red velvet lovers will appreciate this fun take on the cake. —Christina Petri, Alexandria, Minnesota

Mint Chocolate Wafers

My grandmother gave me a cookbook stuffed with recipes. This is a slight twist on one of the first—and best—recipes I made from the book. It's best to store these in the refrigerator. —Mary Murphy, Evansville, Indiana

Cherry Kiss Cookies

Topped with a chocolate kiss, these cherry-flavored cookies look super cute on a dessert tray. Share them with family and friends. —Joy Yurk, Grafton, Wisconsin

Truffle-Filled Cookie Tarts

I made chocolate truffles as a holiday tradition for many years. I created this recipe to incorporate my truffles into the center of fudgy cookies. It was a hit with friends and family.—Patricia Harmon, Baden, Pennsylvania

Glazed Strawberry Cookies

I learned to bake with my grandmother and mother. I knew I was giving them a sweet new family tradition when I shared this recipe with them. —Andrea Zulauf, Livonia, New York

Chocolate-Cherry Sandwich Cookies

I make these often at Christmastime or around Valentine’s Day, but they’re a winner for summer parties, too. Chilling the cookies before you dip them into chocolate is important because it firms up the filling. —Amy Sauerwalt, Columbia, Maryland

Easy Cinnamon Thins

When a co-worker’s husband came home from Iraq, we had a potluck for him. These cookies with coarse red sugar matched our patriotic theme. —Janet Whittington, Heath, Ohio

Sweetheart Coconut Cookies

Ruby red jam and coarse sugar add a festive look to these crisp sandwich cookies that are the perfect gift for loved ones. My husband likes coconut, so I make these for his birthday. —Jo Ellen Helmlinger, Columbus, Ohio

Cherry Almond Delights

A tender cream cheese dough filled with homemade almond paste and maraschino cherries makes an elegant cookie tart fit for a party.—Gilda Lester, Millsboro, Delaware

Linzer Heart Cookies

This specialty cookie takes a little extra effort, but the delectable results are well-worth it. I bake the tender jam-filled hearts when I need something fancy to serve for Valentine's Day or other special occasions. —Jane Pearcy, Verona, Wisconsin