Valentine's Day, Sugar!

Roses are Red

Violets are Blue

Sugar is Sweet

and so we get extra on Valentine's Day!

Whether you might enjoy this time with the love of your life by romance, watching Charlie Brown with family, sipping champagne and playing games with friends, or just having a sweet day (all of these are wonderful ideas and via experience, very successful)---everyone could use some extra sugar. I ran accross this recipe after baking with another that was very similiar. But, my recipe is more of a brownie texture and I was hoping for a sugar cookie feel to make cutouts. This delicious formula comes from the blog smittenkitchen (very fun-please check out!) and, as the author states, this recipe goes back to basics...and yumminess.

Ready? :)

3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup lightly salted butter, softened (baker's note: use one stick salted, one stick unsalted)

1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Mix dry flour, salt and baking powder in bowl and set aside. Combine butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla and cocoa in mixer. Gradually add flour mixture, and mix until smooth. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least one hour. (My note :/ DO NOT chill for too long. I chilled the dough overnight and when I brought it to room temp and attempted to roll it, it cracked the whole time, learn from my silliness)

Roll out cookie dough on floured counter. Cut into desired shapes, brushing extra flour off the top. (It does disappear once baked, though, so don’t fret if they go into the oven looking white.) Bake on a parchment-lined or sprayed baking sheet for 7 to 10 minutes until the edges are firm and the centers are slightly soft and puffed.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Another little note: don't be afraid to roll these thick, they are tough cookies and can take it...ohhh my :)

And, more importantly-- have fun, spill some flour, turn on music that you can sing to when no one is home and consistently taste test while decorating.

Here are a few of mine:

 

 I hope you enjoy this recipe and the decorating that follows! Have a beautiful day :)

xOxO