Monday, February 14, 2005

A Sweet Treat For Your Valentine

Valentine Cookies (Recipe courtesy marthastewart.com)



Makes 22 dozen 1 1/2-inch cookies
This recipe makes a lot of cookies, but it can be halved, or you can freeze a portion of the dough for up to three weeks.

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
4 2/3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup pale-pink or white sanding sugar(optional)
Petal dust in pink, orange, and violet tones(optional)
2/3 cup apricot or strawberry jam, slightly warmed (optional)


1. In bowl of electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Sift flour, baking soda, and salt into large bowl. On low speed, gradually add flour mixture to mixer bowl, alternating with buttermilk, until combined. Wrap dough in plastic; chill until firm, 1 hour or overnight.

2. To color white sanding sugar, if using: Place a few tablespoons in a small bowl. Mix in petal dust with a toothpick, a bit at a time, until desired shade is reached. Colored sanding sugar will last indefinitely.

3. Heat oven with two racks centered to 350ยบ. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. On lightly floured surface, roll chilled dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut out hearts using any 1- to 3 1/2-inch heart cookie cutters. If desired, cut centers out of some hearts. Transfer with spatula to baking sheets. Chill for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with sanding sugar, if using. Bake until just golden but not too brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to rack. Continue with dough; reroll scraps.

4. To make sandwich hearts: Brush bottom heart lightly with jam; cover with a second heart with center cut out; jam will adhere hearts. Fill cut-out area with more jam. Cookies will keep, in an airtight container, at room temperature for 1 week.

7 comments:

Micah said...

Is one allowed to eat these Valentine's cookies alone...in the dark...weeping softly?

Kate The Great said...

Oh sweetheart, that's what MARTHA's doing in prison today.

Seriously, no weeping allowed. Once you're done with this whole exam thingy... you're gonna have to put yourself up there and pick up some paralegal hottie.

spydrz said...

Paralegal? Not another attorney?

Kate The Great said...

Hmm. By everything I see on Boston Legal... the two attorney romance rarely works. And I think that everything that happens on TV is an accurate and appropriate portrayal of real live. Riiiight.

Micah said...

Based on the women I went to school with, I don't want to date a lawyer. Call me old-fashioned, but I want a lady that will take my last name. :)

Nah, they're not all like that, but I haven't ruled out paralegals. Or burger flippers at BK. Guys could really care less about occupation.

It would be nice to find someone to pay my student loans, though.

Kate The Great said...

Micah, I'll pay your loans off when I get my big time book deal. Or at least the centerfold of Playboy.

Micah said...

Cool beans!