Sugar Cookies for Valentines!

Baked cookies, ready to frost.

I love Valentines Day. You see couples doing something extra special to remind the other they love them. I see things like that and I become an ooey-gooey mess, much like a chocolate bar that has melted in a pocket. Because Valentines is almost here I wanted to share my absolute favorite sugar cookie recipe.If you like the big, soft, pink sugar cookies, then this is the recipe for you. This recipe creates soft, tender sugar cookies. I like this recipe a little better than convenience store cookies because I like to add a little extra vanilla. What can I say? I am a vanilla junkie. (Psst. Did you know you can get a bottle of Vanilla Extract for free in any qualifying order? Request one in your next order!)

I am also including my all-time favorite Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe but don’t feel limited. You can use any type of of frosting that you like! I think these cookies would be great with a lemon flavored frosting! Yum!

Cookie Recipe:

Cookies – Ready to Decorate

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together sugar and shortening. Add sour cream and mix well. Add beaten eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl combine all dry ingredients. Stir dry mixture into creamed sugar mixture. Finished product will be like a big dough ball. The mixture should not stick to the sides of the bowl. If it does, add some more flour. You need to be able to pick it up and roll it with a rolling pin without the dough sticking to the pin. Lightly sprinkle flour onto a flat surface and separate the dough into thirds. Shape one piece of dough into a ball and place on floured surface. Flour your hands and flour dust the top of the dough so the rolling pin does not stick. Gently roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters for a regular circle. I love to eat the dough so make enough for dough cookies and baked cookies!!

I use parchment paper on top of my cookie pan. Place the shaped cookie dough onto cookie pan.

Place in oven and bake for 8 minutes!!! You do not want them to get brown at all. If they turn brown, the cookies will be hard and not soft and tender! When your timer goes off open the oven door and press gently on one of the cookies and if it feels somewhat firm, they are done. I have never had to bake them more than exactly 8 minutes. The thicker cookies might take more baking time though. Cool on wire racks or paper towels.

Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe:

Beat together cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar and beat until well blended. Gradually continue to add more powdered sugar until it has reached a consistency that you want. I usually only end up using 2 cups of powdered sugar, but feel free to add a whole bag if you like stiffer and sweeter frosting. If the mixture gets too thick, you can always add about 1 to 2 tbsp of milk. Then spread onto your cookies and you get to lick the bowl and the beaters clean.

Don’t forget to add colorful Valentine’s sprinkles to each cookie!

Spreading the frosting.

Frosting is ready.

Adding sprinkles

Another kind of sprinkles.

Ready for your sweetheart!