Valentine's Day Cookie Bouquet {Recipe}

Valentine's Day Cookie Bouquet

Prepare sugar cookie recipe as described below.

 

 Roll the dough into a ball and refrigerate for two hours so it will be easier to manage {less sticky}.

 

Roll the dough 3/8 of an inch thick {this is a little thicker than usual typical cutout cookie dough}.

Have your little sweeties help you cut out heart shapes from the dough.  They LOVE it when they get to be a part of what we're doing and are so proud when they can say they played a part in the beautiful results!!!  Holidays are all about making memories!!!

Place the heart shaped cookie dough on a pan lined in parchment paper.  This step may be redundant, but I didn't want to take any chances!  The cookies are suppose to need an ungreased pan!

I grew up when it was "okay" to eat cookie dough, this one was calling my name, but I restrained myself!!!  I knew it wouldn't go over well with my Sweet B's sitting right there wishing they could polish off the dough, too!

Once the cookies are lined up on the cookie sheet, place skewers into each uncooked heart-shaped cookie dough.

Spread a thin coat of icing on each cookie. 

Then have some fun decorating your pretty little "love" cookies, thinking about all the love and smiles you are going to spread with this special gift!

I placed a styrofoam ball at the bottom of a mason jar {this is one of the mason jars I used when I made my Anthropologie Inspired Snow Globes for my Vintage Chic Tablescape}.  Next I filled the jar with sugar.  Once these were in place it was simple to arrange my cookies into the jar, allowing a bit of each cookie to be displayed.  A few of my skewers needed to be cut shorter to get the depth I wanted.

 This is perfect treat for Valentine's day for anyone you love!

{teachers, grandparents, children, neighbors, friends...}

...it's a perfect gift for you, my sweet friends

...wish I could deliver it myself..I'd love to stay and visit awhile!!!

Sugar Cookie Cutouts
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 375.  Beat butter and shortening on medium to high for 30 seconds.  Add sugar, baking powder, and a dash of salt.  Beat until well combined.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Beat in the flour.  Chill dough until it's easy to handle {2 hours}.  Lightly flour your prep surface.  Roll the dough 3/8 inch thick.  Cut out cookies using a heart-shaped cookie cutter.  Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 8 minutes or until cookies are slightly golden brown.  Remove and cool on rack until completely cooled.  Decorate.

Spreadable Frosting
1/4 cup soft butter
1/4 cup white crisco
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup cream, gradually, as needed

Beat shortening, butter and lemon juice with an electric mixer for 30 seconds.  Add the powdered sugar, beating well.  Add 1/4 cup of cream and mix.  Gradually add the rest of the cream as needed, continuing to beat well.   {For a cookie bouquet you will want this to be somewhat thick}.

-adapted from better homes and garden cookbook-

Link to where I party!  {via}{via}{via}Dear Lillie