Family birthdays are a special time. Not just because they mark the day someone we love entered into this world. But, mostly because they are an excuse to break out all of our glitter, sprinkles, and colorful icing. And these heart cupcake cookies made with multi-colored dough won’t disappoint!
To make birthday cupcake cookies with heart centers you will need:
- Cookies made from your favorite sugar cookie recipe
- Cupcake cookie cutter
- Heart cookie cutter (slightly smaller than the cupcake cookie cutter)
- Red or pink food coloring
- Royal icing in white and brown
- White sugar pearls
- Icing bags or bottles, couplers, and a #3 decorating tip
- Rainbow disco dust
- Clear almond extract
- Two small, clean (used for baking only) painting brushes
After making your dough using your favorite sugar cookie recipe, separate it into two sections, one for the cupcake part and one for the heart part of your cupcake cookies. Since the hearts are smaller, reserve most of the dough for the cupcakes.
Add a small amount of red food coloring to the dough you separated out for the hearts. Knead the dough together until the red food coloring is blended throughout, creating pink cookie dough. Add more food coloring a little bit at a time if needed.
Using a small amount of red food coloring gives the dough a delicate salmon pink color. I used Americolor Super Red Soft Paste Food Coloring. If you would like a brighter pink color, I suggest using Wilton’s Rose Gel Food Coloring. You can see the bright pink color it turned the dough on my multi-colored cookie press flowers.
Once your dough is the pink color you are after, roll out the dough to your desired cupcake cookie thickness and cut out the hearts.
Then, roll out your un-dyed dough and cut out your cupcake cookies, cutting a heart out of the center of each cupcake shape. Replace each un-dyed heart with a pink heart. Bake your heart cupcake cookies according to the directions of your sugar cookie recipe.
Let the decorating begin! If you would like the centers of your cupcake cookies to have a sparkly look, it’s easy to do. Simply brush a small amount of clear vanilla extract (or a mixture of half meringue power and half water) onto the pink heart. Then, dip the end of a clean, dry paint brush into rainbow disco dust. Hold it above the cookie, tapping it with your finger so the disco dust falls lightly onto the wet surface of the heart. Gently shake off any excess dust and continue this process for each heart cupcake cookie.
Using white royal icing that is a 20-count consistency, pipe a border around the top of your cupcake cookies. (For more information about icing consistency, see Royal Icing Consistency by The Bearfoot Baker.) While the icing is wet, cover it with white sugar pearls. Work with a few cookies at a time, giving a few minutes for the icing to set on each one before gently shaking of any excess sugar pearls. Next, pipe the bottom border on the cupcake cookies using brown piping consistency (30-count) royal icing.
Let the cookies dry for 24 hours before packing or shipping. I used my heart cupcake cookies in a birthday gift basket with heart cupcake pops. Lucky for me there were extras of everything!
For more sweet inspiration for heart birthday treats check out these ideas:
1. Heart Candle Lollipops by Le Jardin de Monia (Okay, maybe they’re not sweet but they would be a great addition to something sweet!)
2. Heart Cake Batter Bark by Sugar & Cloth
3. Pancake Heart Doily via More Design Please
4. Heart Super Brownie Cake by Dozen Flours
5. Heart Sugar Cookies by sugarkissed.net
For more sweet inspiration, check out the link parties that I love.
Cute as can be, Janine!
Blessings, Donna B.
Awwww.. thanks so much, Donna!
These are adorable!! I love the colored dough in the middle of the cupcake! Such a cleaver idea! I think I have a new favorite Icing- Sugar Pearl Icing sounds yummy!!!!
The BearFoot Baker recently posted..Shabby Chic Cookies
Thanks, Lisa! I saw some super cool black sugar pearls at Michael’s today. With Halloween coming up surely can I work those into a design!
Oh these are too cute, I need to get me some of those cupcake cookie cutters too cute!
Pamela recently posted..Heavenly Treats Sunday Link Party #13
Thanks, Pamela! Cupcakes are one of those fun shape where the possibilities are endless because you can do so many colors and patterns!
That’s so cute, love it!
Stopping by from SITS Sharefest.
Alison recently posted..Thirty Six
Thanks for stopping by, Alison! And happy belated birthday!
I love these! I pinned them and I showed my daughter. She wants to make them NOW!
Regina recently posted..Ambrosia Fruit Salad
Thanks, Regina! I hope you get the chance to make these with your daughter. And thanks for showing me how easy it is to make ambrosia salad! Yum!
These are adorable. I love the pink hearts in the middle and the pearls on the outside. The glitter is a perfect finishing touch to them too. Cute!
Lisa {Sweet 2 Eat Baking} recently posted..Raspberry Yogurt
Thanks, Lisa! Gotta love disco dust! It’s almost as cool as those diamonds in your crown cookies… almost.
These are so cute, Janine! Thanks for sharing, and co-hosting, at Marvelous Mondays!
Julie recently posted..New Blog Name!
Thanks, Julie! It was my pleasure!
These cookies are so cute! I would love to invite you to share this at Mom’s Test Meal Mondays! I’m also hosting a giveaway this week with 10 amazing prizes! Hope you can join the party!
Jaime @ Mom’s Test Kitchen
Jaime @ Mom’s Test Kitchen recently posted..Mom’s Test Meal Mondays #4 + A GIVEAWAY!!
Thanks, Jaime. I’ll check it out!
These are so stinking cute!! I love cupcakes, so these are totally perfect for me. Pinning for later!!
I would love it if you would link up Martha Mondays, open now through Wednesday night!
http://www.watchoutmartha.net/2012/08/marthday-mondays-link-up-party-features.html
Amanda
http://www.watchoutmartha.net
Amanda recently posted..Marthday Mondays Link Up Party & Features (8/20)
Thanks, Amanda. I will check it out!
These are ADORABLE!!! My daughter would fall in love with these Thanks so much for sharing at Mix it up Monday, I hope you’ll stop by often and share some more!
Lisa @ Flour Me With Love recently posted..Strawberry Crumble Cake
Thanks, Lisa! I will definitely be back by!
These are so cute! I just love them!
Amy | Amy’s Cooking Adventures recently posted..Garlic-Thyme Steak
Thanks, Amy!
Very cute!! Love the disco dust – every cookie is better with a little sparkle
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma’s Cookie recently posted..Chistery’s Peanut Butter Banana Bites
Thanks, Jennifer! And I totally agree with you about the sparkle!
These are adorable!! I may have to try and make them!!
Audra recently posted..Tuesday Tutorials Link Party {No. 45}
Thanks, Audra! I hope you give them a try and have fun!
Your cupcakes are just wonderful!!! I love the heart inside!
Erin @ Making Memories recently posted..Double Chocolate Snowball Cookies {Secret Recipe Club}
Thanks, Erin! The sparkly heart is my favorite part!
Cute…cute…cute…I love your recipe! Would you come over to Cast Party Wednesday at Lady Behind The Curtain and share it with us?
Thanks, I hope to see you there! ~Sheryl~ http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/?p=33671
Absolutely! Thanks, Sheryl!
These are super cute and amazingly beautiful
I really looooooooooooooove them
Very creative of you
Winnie recently posted..עוגת שוקולד עשירה עם קישוטי מרשמלו
Thanks so much, Winnie!
those are so cute!
sue @ cakeballs, cookies and more recently posted..S’more Chocolate Chip Cookies
Thanks, Sue! I’m gonna be on the lookout for the swirled chocolate chips you used in your cookies. I don’t think I’ve seen those before… super cool!
Janine everytime I see these cookis I smile. They are so cute. I love the “less is more” look of these (if that makes sence)
Dawn @ DJ’s Sugar Shack recently posted..Whatcha Whipped Up #13
Thanks so much, Dawn! That does make sense… that’s one of the things that I love about them too!
I love them! They look so nice tucked into the gift basket, what a wonderful way to show someone you care! Thanks for linking.
Printabelle recently posted..Wonderful Wednesday Link Party #16
Thank you!
These are adorable!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted..Whatever Friday
Awe… thanks, Dorothy!
These are beautiful!! Thanks for linking up to Tasty Thursdays on The Mandatory Mooch. This tutorial will be FEATURED this week. I hope you will link up again. The party will be live tonight. http://www.mandatorymooch.blogspot.com
Thanks, Nichi
Nichi – The Mandatory Mooch recently posted..No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
Thanks so much, Nichi!
Just too cute to eat!!
Angie recently posted..10 #Disney Paper Crafts | #Free Printables
Never, Angie! Eating is the best part!
I love all your cookies, thanks for sharing!!!!
Rhonda recently posted..Help me Choose!
Thanks, Rhonda!
These cookies are cute,cute, cute!! Stopping by from Sweet Sharing Monday~ All of your cookies are so adorable! Lynn H @ Turnips 2 Tangerines
Lynn H recently posted..Banana Brownies with Chocolate Peanut Butter Glaze
Thanks so much, Lynn! Banana brownies sound right up my alley… I’ll have to check out your recipe!
These are sooo adorable! Thanks for sharing ‘em at our Sunday Show and Tell!
Kelly – Two Kids Cooking & More recently posted..Sunday Show and Tell! (Week 16- Plus Featured from Week 15)
Thanks, Kelly!
What elegant cookies! Pinned them so others can see. Found your link on Pin Me #17. Would love it if you’d stop by my Wednesday blog hop on Ducks ‘n a Row.
Sinea Pies recently posted..Kitchen Cleaning – "The Counter Attack"
Thanks for pinning, Sinea! I will definitely stop by.
oh these are fantastic! thanks for sharing.
trish @ tales from …
Thanks, Trish!
These are so adorable! Thanks for sharing at this week’s Pin Me Linky Party.
Diana Rambles recently posted..Bloggers Against Captcha
Thanks for stopping by, Diana!
These cookies are so pretty! My daughter would love them! Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday!
Ericka recently posted..Spicy Bowtie Pasta with Smoked Sausage
These are sooo incredibly adorable! What a “sweet” treat!
Brenda @ChattingOverChocolate.blogspot.com recently posted..Flower Pen Bouquet Tutorial
Thanks, Brenda!
Pingback: Sunday Show and Tell: Series Finale Featured | Two Kids Cooking and More
Thanks for stopping by and sharing these at our Sunday Show and Tell…we featured you and this is our Final Show and Tell so we especially thank you!
Kelly – Two Kids Cooking & More recently posted..Sunday Show and Tell: Series Finale Featured
Thanks for the feature, Kelly. Sorry to hear that this will be the last one.
What a CUTE idea. You are very talented.
New follower.
Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile
Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile recently posted..Cheesy Green Chili Enchiladas
Thanks, Wanda Ann! I hope you find a lot of sweet inspiration here at sugarkissed.net. Please let me know if you have any questions or requests!
I love these!! ♥ Pinned them to my baking board
Hannah ♫ recently posted..It’s your Birthday and it’s the Super Bowl!!
Thanks so much for pinning, Hannah!
These are soooo cute! I love them! What a great idea! I would never have thought about doing this to get the heart in the middle! Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca recently posted..Hungry Caterpillar Shopper Bag
Thanks so much, Rebecca!
What!! These are amazing – the presentation is gorgeous!! I really want to get better skilled at making cute cookies and cupcakes and other cute baking dishes. Love love love this.
Rachel recently posted..Free Valentine’s Day Chalkboard Printables
Thanks so much, Rachel! The great thing is these were super easy to make!
ok once again I am in love with your cuteness!!! Thanks for Linking up at Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s!
Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen recently posted..Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s #9
Thank you, Chandra!
These are darling Janine! So glad so shared them.
Hugs,
Marcie
I Gotta Try That recently posted..Valentine Stove Burner Covers
Thanks, Marcie!
My daughter LOVES cupcakes and so I know that she’ll LOVE this. More on my kitchen to make list! I’m so glad you shared this at Loving Valentines Day!
TGIF!
Marilyn
Thanks, Marilyn. I hope you get the chance to make these for your daughter!
I’ve already commented on these before and my comment still stands; they’re so pretty and I love the subtle touch of glitter.
Your Cupcake Cookies have been featured on Sugar & Slice Sunday. Hope to see you at the new Valentine’s Day special link party.
Lisa {Sweet 2 Eat Baking} recently posted..Sugar & Slice Sunday Link Party #14
Thanks for the feature, Lisa!
Janine, this is lovely. It would be great if you linked it to Food on Friday: Muffins & Cupcakes. The showcases from this Food on Friday have not yet been selected. This link will take you to my home page where you will find a sidebar with links to all the different Food on Fridays. So that I know you have linked and can be sure to pin to the board I have for each one, please do leave a short comment. Cheers
Thanks for the invite to the link party, Carole. I will definitely check it out!