Valentine's Day Cookies

Sweetheart Sugar Cookies

What You'll Need:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. meringue powder
• Pink sanding sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350. Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer at medium speed until fluffy. Add egg, beating until blended.

2. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating just until blended.

3. Divide dough into 2-equal portions; flatten each portion into a disc and chill 10 minutes.

4. Place one dough disk on a heavily floured surface, and roll to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Place 2 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Repeat procedure with remaining dough disk.

5. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let cool on baking sheets 5 minutes; transfer to wire racks, and let cool completely (approx. 30 minutes).

6. Whisk together meringue powder and 2 tbsp. water. Brush cookies with mixture, or dip cookies in mixture, and sprinkle with sanding sugar.

For a fun touch, make both big and little sized cookies!

Valentine Puzzle Cookie

What You'll Need:

• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 lb. confectioners sugar, sifted
• 2 1/2 tbsp. meringue powder
• 1/4 cup water
• red or pink food coloring

1. Preheat oven to 350. Beat sugar and butter until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla.

2. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then add to butter mixture. Mix well.

3. Place a handful of freshly made dough between two sheets of parchment paper, then roll to desired thickness. Repeat with rest of dough. Place rolled dough and parchment on cookie sheets and refrigerate for 10 minutes or longer.

4. Once chilled, cut dough with puzzle cookie cutter and place on lightly greased baking sheet.

5. Bake for 8-10 minutes, then cool.

6. Mix confectioners sugar, meringue and water until smooth a creamy; if icing is too thick, add more water. Once desired thickness is achieved add a drop or two of food coloring.

7. Once cookies are cool, begin piping icing around edges and then fill in. Once the layer has set (approx. 30 min.) add names and/or decorate further.

Sweetheart Sugar Cookie Lollipop's

These are so simple to make that it is unbelievable! Here you go:

1. Use one of the basic sugar cookie recipe's above and follow the instructions through the chilling.

2. Once chilled, roll out dough to 1/8 in. thickness. Cut with heart shaped cookie cutter.

3. When your cookies are cut, place them on a lightly greased cookie sheet far enough apart for the sticks to fit.

4. Gently place a chop stick down the center of the cookie. Place another cut cookie on top of the stick like a sandwich. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

5. Let cookies cool completely before decorating with you favorite icing concoction!