Vegan Jam Heart Cookies

Feb 17

If I’m being honest…these were supposed to be ready on February 14th.

Instead, sickness has been living rent free in our house, so we made them on February 15th. Which honestly feels more realistic anyway.

Between school germs, lingering coughs, and the general February fatigue that seems to settle into New England this time of year, Valentine’s baking got pushed by exactly one day.

And you know what? They were still perfect.

These vegan jam heart cookies are soft, lightly almond-flavored, filled with homemade strawberry jam (made from frozen berries — because it’s February), and dusted with powdered sugar. They look bakery-level impressive but are surprisingly simple to make, even with kids helping.

Flour on the counter included.

Why You’ll Love These Vegan Jam Heart Cookies

Completely egg-free and dairy-free
Made with simple pantry ingredients
Frozen strawberries work beautifully for the jam
Perfect for Valentine’s Day… or February 15th
Soft, tender texture with a bright jam center

They feel special without being complicated — which is exactly the kind of baking I want this time of year.

Homemade Strawberry Jam

Using frozen strawberries in winter is not just convenient — it’s smart. They’re picked at peak ripeness and break down beautifully when simmered.

Ingredients

1 lb frozen strawberries
½ cup organic cane sugar
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Instructions

Add frozen strawberries and sugar to a saucepan.
Cook over medium heat until thawed and juicy (about 5–8 minutes).
Reduce to a simmer and cook 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and glossy.
Stir in lemon juice.
Cool completely before using.

For cookie filling, simmer until slightly thicker than traditional jam — you want it spreadable but not runny.

Vegan Almond Heart Cookies

These cookies are tender thanks to almond flour and have just a hint of almond extract that pairs perfectly with strawberry.

Ingredients

1 cup vegan butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp almond extract
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup almond flour
½ tsp salt

Instructions

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes).
Add almond milk, vanilla, and almond extract.
Mix in flour, almond flour, and salt just until combined.
Form into a disk, wrap, and chill for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Roll dough ¼-inch thick and cut heart shapes. Cut a small heart window in half of them.
Bake 8–10 minutes, just until edges are lightly golden.
Cool completely.

To assemble:

Spread jam on the bottom cookies.
Dust cut-out tops with powdered sugar.
Gently sandwich together.

Baking With Kids (The Real Version)

The hearts may not all be symmetrical. There may be powdered sugar in places powdered sugar should not be. Someone might eat jam with a spoon.

But that’s kind of the point.

These cookies felt simple, cozy, and exactly right for a slightly delayed Valentine’s celebration.

Because sometimes love looks less like perfect timing and more like making heart cookies on February 15th when everyone is finally feeling human again.