VALENTINE’S DAY COOKIES

There is nothing wrong with a dash of superficiality, and let’s be honest, who doesn’t love sugar cookies?!?! As you get to know me, you’ll quickly learn I love sweets and baking. As a mom, I want recipes to be simple because my free time to bake is precious, limited, and a happy place reserved for joy. For those looking for the perfectly simple sugar cookie recipe, you’re in luck. No chilling of the dough is required, and you likely already have most of the ingredients at home. I made a confectionery-inspired batch for my son’s Valentine’s party at school, and they were a big hit…with the kids and adults! As always, reach out for my baking tips if you want to give these a try.

Recipe

Yields:
Approximately 2-3 dozen cookies (depending on size)

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)

  • 1 cup sugar  

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • ½ teaspoon almond extract

  • 1 egg

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350. In the bowl of your mixer, cream butter and sugar until smooth, at least 3 minutes. Beat in extracts and egg. In a separate bowl, combine baking powder and salt with flour and add a little at a time to the wet ingredients. 

Important Note: If the dough looks crumbly keep mixing for 30 seconds to 1 minute longer. The dough should be pulling away from the sides of the mixer. If the dough still looks too dry or stiff for your mixer, turn out the dough onto a countertop surface, flour surface as needed. Wet your hands and finish off kneading the dough by hand.

Do not chill the dough. Divide into workable batches (2-3 chunks), roll out onto a floured surface, and cut. You want these cookies to be on the thicker side (closer to 1/4 inch rather than 1/8).

Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet until firm enough to transfer to a cooling rack.

For the icing I used store bought cookie icing and added coloring from this great set ordered from Amazon.