Heart Shaped Sandwiches | 3 Adorably Easy Versions

Get the best tips to make these three adorable heart shaped sandwiches for Valentine’s Day. They make the perfect kids’ lunch or easy party recipe!

“Oh, I like that!”

Those were my 9-year-olds exact words when she sat down for lunch the other day and saw her Valentine’s Day heart sandwich. 

Guys, that’s a big deal from a tween!

Actually, all three of my kids couldn’t wait to chow down on their lunch. And that’s a big deal for any parent.

My 3-year-old son just couldn’t wait to eat the jelly heart in his peanut butter and jelly Valentine’s Day sandwich, and my super sweet, but oh so picky middle child beamed when she saw her favorite sandwich presented with love.

Maybe they were just super hungry…but I like to think that it was the heart-shaped sandwiches. 

Best of all, it only took a couple extra minutes to make them. So we were all happy!

Heart Shaped Sandwiches – 3 Easy Variations

First off, I’m going to be honest and let you know that weekends are the only time I will actually make each kid what they want for lunch. When it comes to dinner or school lunches, they get what they get!

So I came up with each of these variations based on my kids’ three very different requests.

 

Tips for Cutting Bread and Meat with Cookie Cutters

If you try to move too quickly, you can end up tearing your food with your cookie cutters, and that just makes everyone unhappy (none of us want to remake a sandwich!) Here are a couple tips to get a good clean cut each time:

• It seems obvious, but it’s worth saying: you need to press the cookie cutter firmly down through your food. Fingertips might not be enough, use your whole hand and press HARD.
• If you still don’t have a clean cut after pressing down firmly, then you may want to lift your food and gently press it through with your fingers on the bottom of the cookie cutter. Be gentle doing this, as it can cause the food to tear.
• And if all else fails, you can gently tear the food away from the cookie cutter, or use a paring knife to trace the cookie cutter.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Heart in Heart Shaped Sandwiches

My son just LOVES PB&J. Well, it’s mostly the jelly he loves. So I knew that doing something special with the jelly portion of his sandwich would make him smile. So this heart in heart shaped sandwich was the perfect choice. 

Directions:

1. Lay two slices of bread next to each other. Spread peanut butter on one slice and jelly on the other. 
2. Before putting slices together, use a medium to large cookie cutter to cut a large heart in the jelly side of the sandwich. Do not remove the cookie cutter yet.
3. Next, use a small cookie cutter to cut out a heart from inside the bigger heart. Remove the little heart first, and then very carefully remove the larger heart.
4. Lay the peanut butter slice on top of the jelly slice and then flip the sandwich over.
5. Finally, add the little heart inside the opening of the big heart, jelly side up.

Tip: Be careful not to use a cookie cutter that is too big, otherwise, your sandwich bread may break. 

Toasted Cheese Heart Shaped Sandwiches

Okay, well, my middle child technically asked for grilled cheese…but I wasn’t in the mood to mess up a pan. Cookie cutters, sure, but not a pan. And toasted cheese sandwiches are a great alternative if you’re ever feeling the same way. 

Directions:

1. Start by lightly toasting the sandwich bread.
2. As the bread toasts, soften a teaspoon or so of butter in the microwave at 10% power at 10 second intervals until it’s spreadable, but not melted.
3. While the toast is still warm, spread the softened butter onto both slices of bread. Add your child’s favorite cheese and then put the sandwich together. 
4. Use a large cookie cutter to cut the sandwich into a heart and you’re done!

It’s the classic heart shaped sandwich, made with love.

Open Heart Ham and Cheese Sandwich

This one is a little different. But possibly my favorite of all three sandwiches. My 9-year-old has been having trouble gaining weight, so we’re trying to get as much nutritious food in her belly as possible.

I didn’t want to remove any of the bread or fillings for her sandwich. She needs it all! 

But of all my kids, she’s the most likely to appreciate the extra mile of making heart shaped sandwiches, so there’s no way I was going to leave her out.

Directions:

1. I started with toasted bread, but this is completely optional.
2. Spread your child’s favorite condiment on each slice of bread. 
3. On the bottom slice, add whatever meat, cheese, and other toppings you may want. 
4. Before adding the top layer of bread, cut a medium sized heart into the bread at an angle. Remove the heart and set aside. Place the top layer of bread onto the sandwich.
5. Next, use the same cookie cutter to cut an equal sized heart out of meat or cheese (I used ham). Set aside.
6. Replace the heart shaped piece of bread into the sandwich with the mayonnaise (or other condiment) side up* and place the meat or cheese heart on top.

*You will need some sort of condiment on this piece of bread to help the meat or cheese stick to the top. If your child doesn’t like mayonnaise or mustard, you can try lightly brushing the bread with butter or olive oil. 

More Fun Valentine’s Day Ideas

• Valentine’s Day Dinners for Families
• 20 Heart Shaped Valentine’s Day Sweet Treats
• Adorable Valentine’s Day Crafts for Kids
• Easy Heart-Shaped Cupcake Toppers Even Your Kids Can Make
• Heart-Shaped Sandwiches, 3 Ways
• Valentine’s Day Treat Bag Toppers
• See all my Valentine’s Day printables here!

Now It’s Your Turn

Heart shaped food is so much fun to make for kids. And you don’t have to get complicated with your recipes either.

With a good set of cookie cutters and some creativity you can make a quick lunch or easy weeknight dinner your kids will love! 

Which of these variations is your favorite?
What kind of heart shaped sandwich would you make for your kids?

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