Happy Valentine's Day

I give you my heart

Here are some homemade Valentines that are fun to make and are a special gift for those you love. It's basically a sugar cookie dough that you form into a mold, remove and then bake. 

Here's the mold that I purchased in 1989
at Jordan Marsh.

Here's the tag to prove it!

Brown Bag Designs are the makers of these cookie molds.  You can still purchase molds, classic cookie stamps, and shortbread pans through these retailers and websites. 

Photo is from the inside cover of a Brown Bag Cookie Art recipe book.

This is my adaptation of a sugar cookie dough for use in the mold.

Sugar cookies

 with almond and nutmeg

1/2 c. butter, at room temperature

3/4 c. sugar

1 egg

1 TB milk

2 c. flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. almond extract

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, add egg, milk, and almond extract and beat well.  Mix the flour, salt and nutmeg and stir into the creamed mixure.  Press the dough into a mold that has been lightly greased and floured.  I find that it's best to fill the mold with small amounts and keep pressing in.  Fill the entire mold, being careful not to go outside the outer edge.  Flatten the dough so it's level with the mold.  Using a knife, encourage the cookie to come out of the mold by gently lifting one of its edges.  Then turn the mold upside down and remove the cookie completely.

Bake at 375 F until just done (about 17 minutes).  I like the cookies a bit soft, light in color - not brown.  Makes 5 large cookies from the heart shape mold that measures 5" wide by 5" long.

To really enhance the designs on the molds, when the cookies are completely cooled you can paint them with a confectioner's sugar glaze.  Just take some confectioner's sugar - start with a 1/2 cup or so, and add a tiny bit of milk and a couple of drops of food coloring until you get the right consistency.  Make a few different colors. I used a toothpick to paint my flowers, but a little paint brush can work, too.  The glaze will harden.  I really enjoy painting these cookies.  It's relaxing and they come out so pretty.  Your valentine will love you for it!