Looking to bake something for that special someone? Or just want to have a fun way to celebrate with the kids on valentine’s? Why not try this recipe for Valentines cookies?
Ingredients for Cookies:
- 200g all-purpose flour
- 100g unsalted butter, softened
- 100g granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- Heart Shaped Cookie-Cutter
Ingredients for Decorating:
- Royal icing (you can make your own by mixing powdered sugar with a little water until it reaches a thick, spreadable consistency)
- Valentine’s themed sprinkles, edible glitter, or edible pearls
- Food colouring (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add egg and vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt.
- Mix wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms. If desired, add a few drops of red food colouring to give the dough a pink tint.
- Chill the dough: Wrap the cookie dough in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Chilling the dough will make it easier to handle and help the cookies maintain their shape during baking.
- Roll out the dough: Once chilled, roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- Cut out shapes: Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out heart shapes from the dough. Place the cut-out cookies onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about an inch apart.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare the royal icing: If you’re making your own royal icing, mix powdered sugar with a little water until it forms a thick, spreadable consistency. You can also add a few drops of food colouring to achieve your desired colours.
- Decorate with icing: Use a small spatula or a piping bag to spread the royal icing onto the cooled cookies. You can cover the entire surface of the cookie with icing, or just drizzle it on in a decorative pattern.
- Add decorations: While the icing is still wet, sprinkle Valentine’s themed sprinkles, edible glitter, or edible pearls on top of the cookies to add some extra flair.
- Serve: Serve your Valentine’s cookies and enjoy!
This recipe should yield approximately 20-24 cookies, depending on the size of your cookie cutter. Adjust the quantities as needed to make more or fewer cookies. Happy baking and happy Valentine’s Day!