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57 Valentine's Day Cookies That Are Better Than A Box Of Chocolates

Nothing says "I love you" like homemade.

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strawberry palmiers with pink and white icing
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

You know what's better than any corny card? Cookies. And not just any cookies. Especially when you're trying to find a new way to impress this Valentine’s Day, you’ve simply got to go homemade. Sure, you could just go with another store-bought box of chocolates or candy for your boo, but there’s nothing better than freshly baked cookies, and that goes double on this romantic holiday. Honestly, whether you’re wooing a lover, are baking for a V-Day party crowd, or just want to show your friends how much you care, these 57 Valentine’s Day cookie recipes are the best way to do it. Bonus: Everyone loves and appreciates a batch of cookies, especially hard-to-shop-for friends and lovers.

Whether you’re a master baker or a kitchen novice, we’ve included options for you here. We’ve got the classics, of course, like chocolate chip, snickerdoodles, heart-shaped sugar cookies, and chocolate crinkle cookies. If you’re looking for something that’ll take even the most average cookie recipe to the next level, may we recommend browning your butter? You won’t believe the depth of flavor it adds. Check out our brown butter snickerdoodles or our brown butter chocolate chip cookies as proof of concept, then try it out on your own.

Speaking of chocolate chip, you could also make that classic cookie extra exciting with a number of different mix-ins. Our cherry chocolate chip cookies, our peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, olive oil chocolate chip cookies, or our potato chip cookies are all good examples, but feel free to get creative.

We’ve also got some recipes here that admittedly do take a bit of extra time and effort. Trust us when we say that our French macarons, our Italian rainbow cookies, our lace cookies, our tiramisu cookie cups, and our creme brûlée sugar cookies are totally worth it.

Want even more Valentine’s Day inspiration? Check out our favorite Valentine’s Day cakes, our best romantic dinners for two, and our favorite Valentine’s cocktails too.

1

Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies

heart shaped sugar cookies iced with red, white, and pink frosting and sprinkles
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

What could be sweeter than baking the cutest heart-shaped cookies for your special someone (or yourself) this Valentine's? We went with a cream cheese frosting, but feel free to go with buttercream if you like. Dye the frosting any colors you wish and use any sprinkles your heart desires.

Get the Heart Cookies recipe.

2

Tiramisu Whoopie Pies

chocolate whoopie pies with cream sandwiched between
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Whoopie pies have endless possibilities, and this tiramisu version might be one of our favorites. The filling is a mascarpone and coffee whipped cream, giving it all of the flavors you’d normally find in a tiramisu and also that silky, whipped texture that makes it so decadent. These treats are great for cold-weather gatherings, but no one will complain about them in the heat of the summer either.

Get the Tiramisu Whoopie Pies recipe.

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3

Strawberry Palmiers

strawberry palmier dipped in chocolate
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

These little palmiers are simple to make with ingredients you likely have on hand, making them an ideal last-minute surprise if you forgot to order flowers. Puff pastry is rolled in a generous amount of granulated sugar, sprinkled with freeze-dried strawberry powder, and dipped in white chocolate. The result is flaky, jam-filled bites that will outshine any box of chocolates.

Get the Strawberry Palmiers recipe.

4

Cookie Brittle

cookie brittle
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Cookie brittle is a particularly great hack for the holidays or any time you’re entertaining when you don’t have time or the oven space to bake multiple trays of cookies. Think of it like a faster, easier way to make a big batch of chocolate chip cookies. 😍

Get the Cookie Brittle recipe.

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5

Best-Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

chocolate chip cookies
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

We've made our fair share of variations on the chocolate chip cookie over the years, from chewy to brown butter, but this recipe takes the cake: They’re the most classic, least-fussy version—exactly what you want when you’re looking for a no-frills, soft, and fudgy cookie.

Get the Best-Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.

6

Strawberry Love Notes

strawberry jam filled cookies that are folded and baked to look like love notes
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: FRANCESCA ZANI

Valentine's Day doesn't need to be over-the-top lovey dovey or seriously sad and depressing. Instead, February 14 should be fun! These strawberry "love notes" are the most fun—to make, to give, and to eat.

Get the Strawberry Love Notes recipe.

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7

Oreo Cookie Cake

cookie cake with oreos mixed in and on top with chocolate frosting
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This version of our OG cookie cake takes things to the next level by putting cookies INSIDE the "cake". It’s packed with chopped Oreos (in place of chocolate chips), decorated with a rich Oreo buttercream (in place of plain chocolate or vanilla), and crowned with even more Oreos. 😍

Get the Oreo Cookie Cake recipe.

8

French Macarons

yellow, pink, and green macarons lined up together
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

These delicate French cookies are somehow simultaneously crispy, chewy, soft, and light as air. This makes them the perfect blank canvas for creative flavors and colors. Make sure all your ingredients are room temperature to achieve the greatest success.

Get the French Macarons recipe.

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9

Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies

chocolate chip cookies topped with flaky sea salt
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Those who say that butter makes everything better are, well, not wrong, but we’re willing to bet they haven’t been brave enough to sub in olive oil instead. Enter: these secretly healthy, but no less delicious olive oil chocolate chip cookies.

Get the Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.

10

Classic Linzer Cookies

We love the combination of the flavorful, rich cookie and the sweet fruity jam. Linzers are a classic sandwich cookie, which means they're not the fastest to throw together—patience is key, but we can guarantee these are well worth the wait.

Get the Classic Linzer Cookies recipe.

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11

Cannoli Cookies

If you love cannoli, but making them from scratch seems daunting, let us introduce you to these cookies. They have all of the flavors you love in a cannoli, like ricotta, orange zest, mini chocolate chips, and pistachios, yet they require just a fraction of the effort (perfect for a busy Valentine's Day!).

Get the Cannoli Cookies recipe.

12

Chocolate Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies

Move over peanut butter blossoms, there's a new flavor in town. You’ll fall in love with hazelnut flour once you realize how nutty it makes these gianduja-inspired cookies. Melted chocolate adds extra cocoa punch to the dough, while rich and creamy Nutella tops them off.

Get the Chocolate Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies recipe.

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13

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

strawberry shortcake cookies
PARKER FEIERBACH

It took many, many rounds of testing to get these cookies just right. Our biggest piece of advice is to not be afraid of mess. Covering the cream cheese with cookie dough is a messy task (especially with the fresh strawberries!), but we promise you it's worth it a million times over.

Get the Strawberry Shortcake Cookies recipe.

14

Cake Mix Cookies

cake mix cookies topped with colored sprinkles
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

If you’re looking for a last-minute homemade dessert this time of year, this recipe will give you festive cookies with just a few ingredients. All you need is a box of cake mix (any flavor!) and sprinkles.

Get the Cake Mix Cookies recipe.

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15

Copycat Crumbl Sugar Cookie

copycat crumbl sugar cookie frosted pink
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Crumbl’s chilled sugar cookie may no longer be on their permanent menu, but now you can make it at home to have any time you want. Their signature giant cookie is an almond sugar cookie with a pretty pink frosting. It doesn't traditionally have sprinkles, but we think they're fun, especially for V-Day!

Get the Copycat Crumbl Sugar Cookie recipe.

16

Italian Rainbow Cookies

recipe photo

In this Italian classic, almond-flavored cakes are sandwiched between chocolate with layers of raspberry and apricot jam. It's true these do take some patience, but we promise, it's VERY worth the effort.

Get the Italian Rainbow Cookies recipe.

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17

Lemon Shortbread Cookies

lemon shortbread cookies
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: RILEY WOFFORD

It doesn't get more classic and understated than shortbread, and here they have a hint of lemon to brighten up the classic melt-in-your-mouth buttery cookie. Just a tablespoon of lemon zest infuses these cookies with lemon punch since all the fragrant oils of a lemon live in the peel.

Get the Lemon Shortbread Cookies recipe.

18

Potato Chip Cookies

potato chip cookies
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Love chocolate chip cookies? Prepare to meet your new obsession. Sweet and salty, crunchy on the outside and chewy in the center, these potato chip cookies take everything we love about the classic chocolate chip cookie and crank up the volume—big time.

Get the Potato Chip Cookies recipe.

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19

Sugar Cookies

sugar cookies piled on a counter
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Here at Delish, we love all cookies *equally*—but we hold a special place in our hearts for soft sugar cookies. Crisp around the edges and soft and chewy in the center, these simple, classic treats are hard to beat.

Get the Sugar Cookies recipe.

20

Nutella-Stuffed Cookies

nutella stuffed cookies
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

This genius hack is similar to the one we use in our peanut butter stuffed cookies—freezing the balls of Nutella before rolling cookie dough around them helps prevent an explosion while baking.

Get the Nutella-Stuffed Cookies recipe.

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