Holidays & Entertaining Holidays Valentine's Day 30 Valentine's Day Cookie Recipes That Are Seriously Delicious Show your love by baking something special for your sweetheart. By Ariel Klein Ariel Klein Instagram Ariel Klein is a freelance writer specializing in lifestyle, fashion, beauty, technology, home, cooking, and gardening topics. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Well+Good, Travel+Leisure, Better Homes and Gardens, and Food & Wine magazine. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on January 17, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Caitlin Bensel There are so many ways to say ‘I love you’ but nothing is quite as sweet as homemade baked goods, and more specifically, homemade cookies. While Valentine’s Day may be known as the holiday of overpriced boxed chocolates and silly teddy bears, we can assure you that there’s a more thoughtful way to express your love and admiration for your partner or friends. This year, skip the commercialized Valentine’s Day treats and make something irresistibly delicious. Whether you’re chocolate-obsessed or prefer something more basic and buttery, here’s a list of 30 Valentine's Day cookie recipes to choose from that are downright delicious.Spice up a romantic dinner at home by ending with chocolate Linzer cookies, or whip up some light and airy meringues for something more delicate. If you’re celebrating with the whole family, Nutella cones are a fun spin on dessert. And if you’re trying to use up leftover ingredients from the holidays, there are options with peppermint and gingerbread too. 13 Valentine's Day Cocktail Recipes to Enjoy on February 14 01 of 30 Peppermint Checkerboard Cookies The best part about sugar cookie dough is that it can be transformed into various types of cookies, like these fancy peppermint checkerboard delights. While the checkerboard design may seem complicated to replicate, it’s easier than it looks—though your friends don’t need to know that. get the recipe 02 of 30 Nutella Cones With Hazelnut Praline Johnny Miller These mini-cone cookies are anything but ordinary, and they’re such a fun way to end a delicious Valentine’s Day meal. Filled with creamy Nutella and roasted hazelnuts, and coated with luscious chocolate and pralines, your tastebuds will sing with every bite. get the recipe 03 of 30 Strawberry Dust Meringues Caitlin Bensel The combination of sugar and whipped egg whites creates a light, airy, melt-in-your-mouth experience. And these meringues are made for a Valentine’s Day celebration since they’re delicately dusted with freeze-dried strawberries or cranberries. get the recipe 04 of 30 Chocolate Peppermint Shortbreads Johnny Miller Use up your leftover peppermints from the holidays to make this delightful chocolate-covered shortbread. They’re soft and buttery on the inside, and coated with decadent chocolate and crushed peppermint. If you’re a fan of Peppermint Patties—you’re going to love this recipe. get the recipe 05 of 30 Chocolate Linzer Cookies Caitlin Bensel Originating from Linz, Austria, the Linzer torte is a buttery, delectable cookie filled with fresh jam and dusted with a generous coating of powdered sugar. This rendition is very similar to the original, except it calls for cocoa powder, which pairs perfectly with a sweet yet tart jam or marmalade. get the recipe 06 of 30 Salty-Sweet Chunkers Caitlin Bensel The best part of a kitchen-sink cookie is you can use up whatever you have on-hand. From chocolate chips and chopped nuts, to salty pretzels and fluffy marshmallows, this cookie will certainly hit the spot, especially when served with a coffee or a cold glass of milk. get the recipe 07 of 30 Raspberry-Almond Crumb Bars Greg DuPree While this isn’t exactly a cookie recipe, these fruity, crumbly dessert bars are still a great option for a Valentine’s Day celebration. They’re incredibly easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time, which is convenient for a busy schedule. get the recipe 08 of 30 Mini S'mores Cookie Cups Grace Elkus If you’re hosting a get-together, these bite-sized cookie cups are an excellent choice. The base uses a graham cracker cookie recipe, and then they’re topped with melted marshmallows and a Hershey’s Kiss, which is fitting for a day full of love. get the recipe 09 of 30 Chocolate-Cherry Biscotti Levi Brown Finish off a romantic meal with a cup of coffee or tea, paired with homemade biscotti. These twice-baked Italian cookies are flavorful but not too sweet, and contain morsels of dried cherries for an added bit of chewy tartness. get the recipe 10 of 30 Jam Sandwich Cookies Raymond Hom Just like the Linzer torte, these jam-filled cookies are light and delicate, and highly addictive. They may not look as fancy since they don’t have a scalloped edge, but they’re just as delicious and simple to make. get the recipe 11 of 30 Buckeyes Raymond Hom If your sweetheart is a big fan of peanut butter and chocolate, these are a must-make for Valentine’s Day. They’re soft peanut butter cookie balls dipped in silky chocolate, and they’re easily poppable, so it’s a good idea to make a double batch. get the recipe 12 of 30 Dark Chocolate Truffles Samantha Seneviratne Skip the store-bought chocolates and make these homemade, high-quality truffles. Choose from a variety of flavors like earl grey, lavender-raspberry, traditional chocolate, maple pecan, and more. Simply arrange them on a dish with fresh berries and you have the perfect after-dinner treat. get the recipe 13 of 30 No-Bake Almond Butter Thumbprints Jen Causey Thumbprint cookies are a classic, and this no-bake recipe will become a family favorite since the treats are perhaps the easiest dessert to make for any occasion. Fill them with your favorite jam, or make a combination using raspberry, strawberry, and mixed berry jams. get the recipe 14 of 30 Lace Cookies Greg DuPree Put on a flirty lace dress and pair them with these irresistible lace cookies to match. They may seem really complicated to make, but they only take about 10 minutes to throw together. Serve them on top of a bowl of ice cream, or add them to a bowl of fresh berries and whipped cream for a sweet bite. get the recipe 15 Easy Cake Recipes That Require Minimal Prep 15 of 30 Cinnamon Sugar Cookies Jennifer Causey This recipe is full of sugar and spice and everything nice. The secret behind these sinful cookies is buttery, flaky puff pastry, a delicious cinnamon sugar mixture, and pecans for added crunch. And since you can buy the puff pastry at the store, it may just be the easiest cookie recipe ever. get the recipe 16 of 30 Angeletti Cookies Victor Schrager They may be most consumed around the holidays, but Angeletti cookies are too delicious to only enjoy once a year. To make them suitable for Valentine’s Day, shape them into little hearts and add some red and pink sprinkles for a festive touch. get the recipe 17 of 30 Pecan Sandies Greg DuPree If you’re someone who loves a cookie with nuts, might we suggest these soft and chewy pecan sandies? It’s basically a butter cookie with chopped pecans, but walnuts or macadamia nuts would work nicely too. And if you want to omit the nuts altogether, you certainly can! get the recipe 18 of 30 Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies Victor Schrager Homemade chocolate chip cookies are always a good idea, and they’re the perfect dessert for any occasion. And the scent of fresh cookies baking? There’s just nothing like it. Serve these as is, or make them into ice cream sandwiches for a fun spin on a classic sweet treat. get the recipe 19 of 30 Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons Victor Schrager If you’re looking for a delicious dessert that’s also gluten-free, these macaroons are it! They’re super-simple to throw together, and only call for seven ingredients. And if you happen to have any leftovers (unlikely), you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. get the recipe 20 of 30 Chocolate Chip Meringue Kisses David Prince Spice up your Valentine’s Day dinner by ending it with some chocolate chip meringue kisses. Similar to the recipe above, meringues are the perfect indulgence when you just need a small, light sweet treat at the end of the night. get the recipe 21 of 30 Chocolate Pecan Fudge Balls Caitlin Bensel It may not be a traditional cookie, but these fudgy chocolate bites are so easy to make, you can whip them up on a whim. Chocolate and nuts are a combination that can’t be beat, and since they’re bite-sized, you can package up a few to give out as a little gift to show your love. get the recipe 22 of 30 Raspberry S'mores James Baigrie Who says you can only enjoy s’mores by a campfire? This creative twist calls for fresh raspberries, which is on brand for Valentine’s Day—plus, it adds the right amount of tartness. Once you’ve tried this recipe, we have a feeling you’ll be adding raspberries to your s’more from this day forward. get the recipe 23 of 30 Espresso Truffles Hector Sanchez Here’s another truffle recipe that you’ll want to try this Valentine’s Day. Flavors of chocolate and coffee are so decadent and satisfying—it’s the ideal way to finish off a romantic meal. Have a few alongside a frothy cappuccino, or pair it with an after-dinner drink while digesting. get the recipe 24 of 30 Salted Oatmeal Cookies With Dark Chocolate Roland Bello If you love an oatmeal raisin cookie, this slightly modified recipe is definitely worth trying. They’re soft, chewy, sweet, and salty, and pretty much the best of both worlds as far as classic cookies go. get the recipe 25 of 30 Gingerbread and Chocolate Sandwich Cookies Beatriz da Costa If you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to gingerbread, these sandwich cookies are just the thing to make. The best thing about this recipe is that you’re basically jazzing up store-bought cookies and putting your own spin on them with homemade frosting. If you can’t find gingerbread cookies in the store, any type will do! get the recipe 26 of 30 Cardamom Bun Cookies Caitlin Bensel Now you can enjoy a cookie and a cinnamon bun all in one bite. This recipe uses cardamom as a replacement for cinnamon, which gives the cookies a similar taste but with a warmer, earthier flavor. get the recipe 27 of 30 Chewy Salted Brown Butterscotch Cookies Dawn Perry Calling all butterscotch lovers! These cookies are rich in sweetness and are irresistibly chewy, as if they just came out of the oven. If you’re also a big chocolate lover, fear not—this recipe includes milk chocolate in addition to silky butterscotch feves. get the recipe 28 of 30 Triple Chocolate Cookies Alison Miksch The key to these cookies is a technique called ribboning. You’ll beat the eggs and sugar together until they’re lighter in color and about doubled in volume. This adds air and lightness to the cookies, without sacrificing any of that chocolatey flavor. get the recipe 10 Easy Pie Recipes to Try This Weekend 29 of 30 Double-Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies With Pecans and Cherries Greg DuPree Here’s another dessert that’s ideal for chocolate lovers. It’s chewy yet crunchy, sweet yet tart, and believe it or not, just one cookie may be enough to satisfy you after dinner. It’s a divine chocolate cookie that’s chock full of oats, dried fruit, and nuts. get the recipe 30 of 30 Brownie Batter Babka Bites Brie Passano Whether you're celebrating Valentine’s Day over a romantic dinner or planning a lovely brunch, these babka bites will undoubtedly be the star of the meal. The recipe uses store-bought crescent rolls and a mouth-watering chocolate mixture, and can conveniently be made in a muffin tin. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit