Valentine’s Stamp Cookies

Valentine’s Day, Galentines, Bridal Showers or just for fun, these ‘sweethearts’ style stamped conversation heart cookies are the perfect Afternoon Tea sweet treat or gift. Easy to make with a classic cookie dough that holds its shape beautifully, you can use the recipe not just for hearts but any shape that takes your fancy.

Kiss Me or Miss You ?

Inspired by the Sweethearts candies that have been produced since 1901, these Valentine’s stamp cookies are made with a buttery dough infused with vanilla and a little lemon zest then topped with a thin layer of pastel coloured fondant. I’ve used a cutter and stamp kit from Bake Boss to emboss each cookie with a selection of messages, however a simple lettering kit like this one from Wiltshire will also work well (and you can customise the message too). You will also need a heart cutter large enough to fit your messages.

Perfect edges everytime

This cookie recipe is the perfect blank canvas for so many different shapes (not just hearts). A small amount of beaten egg, combined with chilling the dough before rolling and again after cutting out your shapes, helps the cookies bake beautifully and hold their crisp outlines.

Pastels or Plain – It’s your choice

These Valentine’s Stamp Cookiesare covered in a range of pretty pastel colours however feel free to make just one colour if your prefer. I’ve included the recipe for a simple sugar syrup that makes it really easy to stick the fondant on to the cookies.

Freezer-Friendly Dough

This dough freezes beautifully for up to six weeks, so you can whip up fresh cookies whenever you need them. Just defrost the dough on the bench before rolling.

Double up for a big batch

If you need a larger batch, simply double the recipe—just use a whole egg (beaten) rather than measuring out 1.5 tablespoons of beaten egg.

Flavour Options

These cookies work well with a variety of flavours. Swap the vanilla and lemon for orange zest to create a bright, citrusy variation or add a teaspoon of cinnamon for a warming, wintery cookie.

Good to Know

• Chilling is essential: Don’t skip either chill—before rolling and after cutting. It makes all the difference in shape and texture.
• Bake one tray at a time: For best and consistent results bake one tray of cookies at a time.
• Fondant sticks best when brushed lightly with my sugar syrup before applying. Make ahead then store covered in the fridge.
• Roll evenly: Aim for a consistent dough thickness to ensure even baking.
• Storage: Once baked, they keep well in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Planning an Afternoon Tea at Home? Here are some handy links to get you started

Hosting an Afternoon Tea

Themes for Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea Timeline

Cheat’s Afternoon Tea

Make the Valentine’s Stamp Cookies

Place the softened butter, sugar. lemon zest and vanilla extract in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on the lowest speed until the mixture reaches the creamy stage.

Add 1.5 tablespoons of the beaten egg and mix until well combined.

Add the flour then mix again on the lowest speed until the dough comes together then turn off the mixer.

Chill the dough

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap then pat it into a flat disc shape and place it in the fridge to rest for 1 hour.

Make the sugar syrup (it will help stick the fondant on the cookies)

While the dough is resting make the sugar syrup for the cookies. Put the caster sugar and water together in a small saucepan. Bring to the boil then immediately remove from the heat. Stir then decant into a small heatproof bowl. Leave to cool then cover and refrigerate until required. Sugar syrup will keep for up to a week.

Roll out the dough

Remove the rested dough from fridge.

Line a two large cookie sheets with baking paper and set aside.

Dust the dough, a clean bench or board, as well as your rolling pin with a little extra plain flour and roll the dough out to a 40mm thickness. Bend down and check that the dough is as even as possible.

Cut out the hearts

Cut out the heart cookies then transfer them to your baking / cookie sheet with a small angled spatula leaving 2cm between each one.

Gather up the dough scraps and gently bring them together before rolling out again and cutting more hearts.

Chill again

Return the tray of cookies to the fridge for another 30 minutes.

Preheat your oven to 170 C fan / 340 F fan.

Bake the Valentine’s Stamp Cookies

Bake one tray of cookies at a time (keep the other tray in the fridge) for 9 to 10 minutes or until the heart cookies are just starting to brown on the edges.

Remove from the oven then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Colour the fondant

Divide the fondant into 6 equal sized pieces. Colour one piece at a time making sure you keep the rest of the fondant covered at all times so it doesn’t dry out. Here are the colours I used:

Colour Mill: Raspberry, Yellow, Lavender, Sage, Baby Blue (I used the raspberry for both the deep pink and the light pink shades).

Add the fondant to the Stamped Conversation Heart Cookies

Roll out one colour of fondant to 3mm thick on a silicone mat or bench (dust with a little icing sugar so it doesn’t stick) then cut out heart shapes. Cover with a sheet of baking paper so they don’t dry out and repeat with remaining colours.

Brush with sugar syrup

Important: Work with one cookie at a time.

Take a pastry brush and a heart cookie with a small amount of the sugar syrup making sure you cover the heart’s edges.

Using your angled spatula carefully lift a fondant heart onto the cookie – try to line up the point of the heart as best you can.

Stamp the cookies

Take a stamp and gently press onto the fondant and make an impression. Place on a wire rack to set the fondant then repeat the process with remaining cookies and fondant.

Note: Give the fondant at least two hours to set. This is especially important if you are placing the cookies in cello bags.

To Store

Once the fondant has set, store the Valentine’s Stamp Cookies (either iced or un-iced) for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container or seal in cello bags if gifting.

FAQs about my Valentine’s Stamp Cookies

I can’t find the stamp set you recommend. What can I use instead? I really love this inexpensive stamp set from Wiltshire. While you’ll have to change your messages the advantage of this set is that you can customise the messages to suit your guests (or the recipient!) The letters are also smaller than the set I’ve used so you can add a bit more detail or simply go with just one word to make a statement.