Valentine’s Cut Out Cookies

It’s almost February!

I don’t know about you, but in our world, the holiday is quickly approaching.  Between the class parties that I’m signed up to help with, the Valentine cards we have to write, the teacher’s door I have to decorate (Ha!  How did I get signed up for that?!), we have Valentine’s Day on the brain.  Over the weekend, my girls helped me bake these easy cut out cookies and then my big three helped me decorate them.  Not only were they fun to make together, they were delicious too!

After they cooled, they decorated them.

This easy little recipe is my cousin Casey’s.  We use it any time we want to cut out cookies.  Your kiddos will love it too!

We were able to get 12 heart cookies from this dough.

Shopping List
1 cup of sugar
1/2 a cup of butter flavored shortening
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
pinch of salt
2¼ cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons milk

For the icing:
1/3 cup butter, softened
pinch of salt
3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1½ teaspoons vanilla
red and pink food coloring, optional
Valentine’s sprinkles, optional

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper or spray it with cooking spray.  Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat together your sugar and shortening.  Beat in each egg followed by your vanilla and pinch of salt.  Slowly beat in your flour.  Finally, beat in your baking powder and your milk.

Cover your mixing bowl and refrigerate 30 minutes.

Dust your counter with just a bit of flour and place your dough on top.  Using a rolling pin, roll out your dough.  Take your cookie cutter and cut out your shapes before putting them on your prepared baking sheet.

When you’re ready to bake, pop your cookies in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned on the bottom.

Remove and cool completely before icing.

To make the icing, beat your butter, salt, powdered sugar and milk together.  Beat in your vanilla.  At this point, you can divide your icing between three bowls and color them appropriately (one red, one pink and keep one white).  Frost cooled cookies and then decorate.

Little sweets for your sweeties! xo