Valentine Cookies

Thank you to all my readers for your kind get well wishes for my grandchildren.  They seem to have recovered from the flu and are doing well.  Valentine's Day will soon be here.  I originally posted this recipe back on February 7, 2013  but since it's a favorite of mine, I thought you might enjoy seeing it again (or maybe if you're a new reader, you'll see it for the first time).  And, I'm joining in with Amy over at Five on Friday.

 

Here's how they look when they're decorated.  They make a great sweet gift for your friends.

I have such fond memories of making these cookies for my children.   I bought the cookie cutter from the Hallmark store about 30 years ago.  It's marked 75 cents!  The recipe is great as the dough does not break like many sugar cookies recipes.  I think this is because it's made using powdered sugar.

So, here is the recipe:

1 cup butter (I use margarine or half butter &  half margarine)
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 tsp salt

In large mixing bowl blend butter and sugar until creamed.  Add in egg and vanilla and blend well.  Add dry ingredients and mix (with mixer or by hand) until well blended.

Take about 1/4 of the dough and roll out on a floured board.  Cut with cookie cutters of your choice.  Repeat with remaining dough.  I like to gather the used dough and replenish a little at a time with the fresh dough.  That way the dough doesn't get too stiff from the flour added on the board.    Place cookies on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees approximately 10 minutes.
Remove from cookie sheet and let cool.

The cookie cutter will produce a large heart and a smaller companion heart...

I came across this recipe years ago from the Dairy Farmers of Washington.  It can be doubled but do not double the soda or cream of tartar.

The solid heart cookies that are a result of this cookie cutter, make a cute little companion when decorated to the larger cookie.  You can wrap these up as a set in a cute goodie bag or just display on your cookie plate.  I make a simple icing with powdered sugar and milk, tint with red and green food color and put in a decorator tube to decorate.

I hope you enjoy this recipe.  And, I'd love to hear from you if you make this recipe!

Before I sign off, I wanted to share with you one more Valentine themed idea; a felt shaped heart ornament...

To make one of the above you will need:
1.  Red felt
2.  Stuffing
3.  White crochet thread
4.  White embroidery floss (or substitute similar thread)
5.  Sharp needle/crochet hook/ beads are optional

I found the pattern for this lovely little crocheted heart at Teresa's blog.  She was gracious to share such a beautiful pattern on her website.  For the felt heart, I just cut out the heart shape free hand and stitched the crocheted heart to one side of the felt heart.  I did a blanket stitch around the outer edge and filled with stuffing (before sewing up the outside).  You can add beads or other embellishments as you wish.  It took me about 45 minutes to make one of these.

To all my dear friends and readers, I hope you have a lovely Valentine's Day.  As for me and my beloved husband, we will be staying home that day.  We'll probably celebrate the day before as I dislike the crowds and hiked up restaurant prices that occur on this holiday.

Hugs,

Pat