Sweets for your Sweetie
February 13th, 2007 by Candace
In addition to being a craft-nazi, I also love to bake. So when you love to be in the kitchen and have limited funds, making food gifts is the way to go. With Valentine’s Day just a few days away, you can make some easy and delicious cookies, and package them in boxes and bags perfect for the holiday.
The box is made from posterboard and then covered in scrapbooking paper. The template I used I found here and just made it for how big I needed it. Then I glued scrapbooking paper to the outside once the box was assembled.
The cookies pictured here are sugar cookies and they are the easiest and yummiest cut-outs I’ve ever tried. The icing recipe that follows dries hard and shiny, making it a perfect recipe to stack your cookies. If you’re really not a fan of cooking or labor-intensive items, this cake cookie recipe is super easy, and takes no time and effort at all. Really really not a fan of cooking? Then head to your local bakery and snatch up some goodies and put them in homemade packaging. Your recipients will still thank you.
Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
1 cup butter, softened
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla and mix until smooth. Sift together the flour and baking powder and stir into the creamed mixture alternating with the heavy cream. Cover the dough and chill for 2 to 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters and place them 1 inch apart on the baking sheets. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, until bottoms and edges of cookies are light brown. Remove from baking sheet and cool on wire racks. Makes approx. 4 dozen cookies.
Sugar Cookie Icing
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tsp milk
2 tsp light corn syrup
1/4 tsp vanilla or almond extract
food coloring
Combine the sugar and milk until smooth, then add the corn syrup and extract until the icing becomes stiff. Add more sugar to thicken or more milk to thin. Divide into seperate bowls and tint with food coloring. Let dry atleast an hour before stacking.
February 13th, 2007 at 7:55 am
that is seriously adorable! So cute!
February 13th, 2007 at 8:41 am
Very cute! I will definitely try that icing - it looks like the perfect blend of sweet and stiff.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Cute!
February 14th, 2007 at 8:25 am
They are cute but for many might be difficult.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:26 am
YUM!
February 14th, 2007 at 9:35 am
ncf - they look like they might be, but making the actual cookie is easy. If you have difficulty decorating, then you can just dip the cookies into the frosting, or put in a ziplock bag, snip the end off and pipe onto the cookie. I just love decorating cookies, so I’ve got lots of experience under my belt. But those who are new to baking shouldn’t be intimidated - they really are easy!
February 14th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Candace, these are absolutely adorable.
February 15th, 2007 at 7:07 am
Thanks for sharing this. I made an attempt; the cookies turned out okay and so did the icing although my piping skills need some help!! Will have to keep practicing.
July 18th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Thank you! These are so cute! I will try the shiny frosting recipe soon.
December 22nd, 2007 at 10:44 am
i made these and they turned out great and i am by no means a pro baker, i think the last time i actually baked cookies was about 5 years ago. so they aren’t that difficult at all. the only problem i found was the recipe for the icing - when i used the exact measurements all i got was a bunch of lumpy icing sugar - i had to add a lot more milk. maybe it’s just me and i have no idea what i’m doing
but thanks for the recipe, they were a bit hit and everyone was impressed!
February 21st, 2008 at 3:48 pm
I’m glad you posted this. I was looking for a good baking recipe to use for Valentine’s Day. My girlfriend loves cookies and I wanted to make her a special dinner and then cookies for a dessert.
Anyway, she loves these cookies and I find myself returning to this recipe to make yet another batch. My girlfriend’s room mates also ate up the cookies extremely fast I heard. I was TOLD I needed to make more.
So one again thank you. I HIGHLY recommend this recipe to anyone.
Sincerely,
Royce
March 11th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
What a gorgeous way of giving baked cookies. Thanks for sharing the recipe! Just off to check out more of your blog—>