I have a perfectly delicious recipe for roasted cauliflower with orange and soy ready to go, but it just doesn't seem to be right for Valentine's Day. Isn't the picture of cookies just a bit more appealing? My youngest is in Junior Kindergarten and we are having the whole class over before school (which starts at noon) to make cards for the teachers. My little one and I made heart cookies for the party - sprinkled with pink and red sugar for the kids and drizzled with melted milk chocolate for the adults.
I have tried so many different sugar cookie recipes, but my go-to one makes a fabulous buttery dough and is from Fancy Flours. It was given to me by a friend who is an excellent baker and I absolutely love it. This makes a large batch of sweet, supple dough (enough for 64 3 inch cookies) that is so easy to work with. The cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious and versatile. Top with sprinkles, chocolate, royal icing, whatever works for you.
Last year, I sandwiched two thin heart cookies with chocolate ganache and served them for dessert at my daughter's eighth grade dance.
Today, we're having them with sprinkles. Have a lovely Valentine's Day!
Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies
1 recipe Fancy Flours - No Fail Sugar Cookies
Egg wash - 1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon half and half or milk
4 ounces milk or dark chocolate, finely chopped, melted with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
Make cookies according to recipe. I rolled mine about 1/4 inch thick and transferred the rolled dough on parchment to a sheet pan. I usually don't have the time to complete the whole cookie making process in one day, so I covered the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerated it overnight. When I was ready to bake, I let the dough sit for about 10 minutes at room temperature to soften, then cut out my hearts. At 1/4 inch thickness, the cookies baked for 12 minutes. I took them out of the oven when they were firm, but still pale, then slid the parchment paper right onto a wire rack to cool.
If you'd like sprinkle cookies, brush with egg wash and cover in sprinkles before baking.
If you'd like chocolate cookies, cool completely. Melt chocolate in microwave on 30% power for 1 minute. Drizzle in 1 teaspoon vegetable oil. Stir until melted (you may need to microwave for another 30 seconds until almost melted). Place cookies close to each other on parchment - this way, most of the chocolate will go onto the cookies and not be wasted on the paper. Dip a fork into melted chocolate and shake over the cookies. Let sit for until chocolate is set.
