Valentines Day Cookies Recipe

This cookie dough produces a cookie with a nice texture that is easy to work with and you can cut into whatever cookie shapes you wish. What better way to say I LOVE YOU than with a valentine cookie!

Ingredients

Makes about 18 medium size cookies

3/4 cup butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Directions

Plan ahead as this cookie dough does need to be chilled for one hour before cutting out the cookies for baking.

Place the butter into a large mixing bowl and using an electric mixer, beat until creamy smooth. Add the sugar and beat for 3 to 4 minutes, until light and fluffy.

Add the egg, vanilla and almond extracts and beat for about 2 minutes on high speed until fully combined.

In another bowl stir the flour and baking powder together then with the mixer on low speed slowly add half of the flour mixture to the creamy mixture. Beat until just barely combined.

Add the remaining flour.If the dough seems too soft you can add a tablespoon of extra four. You want the dough to hold together for a rolling consistency.

Divide the dough in 2 equal parts.

Have ready a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roll out each dough half to 1/4 inch in thickness.

Place the first piece of rolled dough onto the parchment paper. Put a second piece of parchment paper on top and place the second rolled piece of dough on top. Cover with another piece of parchment paper and place into the refrigerator for one hour.

Remove from the refrigerator.

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Working with one rolled section at a time, cut your cookie shapes and place them onto the prepared baking sheet. Leave space between the cookies.

Re-roll any remaining dough and continue to cut your shapes until you have used up the dough.

Before baking you can apply candies to the dough directly or if you plan to ice them, just cook them plain.

Place one sheet at a time onto the middle rack and bake 8-11 minutes until lightly colored on the tops and edges.

Baking time will vary with ovens. Rotate the baking sheet 1/2 way through the baking time.

Remove to a cooling rack and allow to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before icing.

Make sure they are cool before you ice them. You can put them into the refrigerator to speed up the chilling if you like.

Make the icing and decorate the cooled cookies.