VALENTINE COOKIES

Recipe below is the one that I used for the cookies pictured above:

Classic Cut-Out Butter-Sugar Cookies

1 c. unsalted butter
1 c. granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 c. all-purpose flour

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone sheet
(If you don't have parchment paper, spray with Pam)

3) In large bowl, cream butter & sugar for 2 min.
4) Stop & scrape the bowl, & cream for 1 minute longer.
5) Beat in the egg & vanilla. Continue beating until well combined.
6) Sift together bak. powder & flour.
7) Add flour mixture 1 c. at a time to the creamed butter & sugar mixture.
Mix thoroughly after each addition.
Blend in the last cup of flour by hand.
The dough will be stiff.
8) Divide dough into two balls. Wrap w/plastic wrap & refrigerate
for at least 1 hour.
9) Roll out 1 ball of dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper
(or waxed paper) until dough is about 1/4" thick. Remove top
sheet of parchment paper.
10) Cut out cookies with cookie cutters of your choice. Dip cutter in
flour before each use.
11) Carefully place the cut-out cookies onto prepared cookie sheets.
12) Bake cookies 8-10 min. or until just barely starting to brown.

Let them rest on the cookie sheet for 5 min. before removing them
to a cooling rack. Repeat process with second ball of dough.

Glaze:

1# box of 10x sugar
1/3 to 1/2 c. milk (I use fat free half & half)
1 egg white, beaten slightly
1/2 t. vanilla

Optional: for more flavor, beat in 2 T. softened butter)

Stir all together, then blend with a mixer until smooth. Divide it
into portions in separate bowls, & add to each bowl the food
coloring of your choice. (If frosting is too soupy, add a little more
powdered sugar. If too dry or stiff, add a little more milk.)
Frosting should be thin enough to spread smoothly over the
top of the cookie.

*If you're planning to put sprinkles, colored sugars, etc., on the cookies,
do this right after putting the frosting on. Don't wait until it drys.
*Don't stack cookies on top of each other until frosting has glazed over
firmly.
*This recipe makes approx. 3 doz., but can be more or less,
depending on the size of the cookie cutters used.

I took this platter to church last Sunday, as it was our week to furnish refreshments. Sadly, my hubby (who's diabetic) can't enjoy these. S: (

Feel free to copy recipe, if you like. It's a very easy, workable dough.