Edible Valentines (/Sugar Cookies)

Andy Williams' "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" is technically a Christmas song but I think it should be played during the month of February as well. It is for selfish reasons but I can't help it, I love it. It is my birth month and the month of love. Color wise, everything is pink and red. Pink being my favorite individual color, whereas pink and red is my favorite color combination. Add a lot of flowers and a box of chocolates, I am a happy gal. This recipe isn't chocolate but it obviously represents February very well. These are delicious and pretty. Make these for someone you love! (Which can also be yourself, don't forget.)

Cookies

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• a splash of vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon water
• 3 cups of flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• a sprinkle or 2 of salt
• Have the powdered sugar handy for sprinkling the pin and dough.

1. The oven needs to be at 375 degrees.
2. In a large bowl cream the butter, sugar and extract for a couple minutes until everything is fulled mixed.
3. Add the egg and water. Mix again until light and fluffy.
4. Grab another large bowl and add the flour, baking powder and salt. Grab a whisk or fork and mix everything until combined.
5. Add the dry mixture to the butter mixture until a dough forms. Place into a container with a lid or put some type of covering onto the bowl. Put into the fridge for an hour or the freezer for 15-20 minutes.
6. Pull the dough out and let it sit on the counter for a bit so it is easier to handle.
7. Using a large spot on your counter or the kitchen table, grab your rolling pin and add some powdered sugar to the pin and the dough so it doesn't stick. You can use flour if you want but powdered sugar will add a sweeter taste.
8. Roll out the dough to whatever thinness or thickness you want. I prefer a thicker sugar cookie, totally up to you though.
9. Use a heart cookie cutter and cut out the dough, place onto a cookie sheet with parchment paper or silpat.
10. I then put the cookie sheet back into the freezer or fridge for a bit so they go into the oven cold. They will bake up, not spread out. Which is what you want.
11. Once the dough is cold again, put into the oven and bake for 6-8 minutes. The edges can have a tiny bit of brown but you don't want these to be in the oven for too long.
12. Pull them out to cool. These need to be cool before icing them. Scroll on for the icing recipe.

Icing

• 2 cups of powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon of melted butter
• Any kind of milk you want. Add little splashes until you reach your desired consistency.
• Food coloring, specifically a pink or red color.
• Sprinkles and/or edible decorations that coincide with Valentine's Day.

1. Using a bowl, add 2 cups of powdered sugar.
2. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 1 tablespoon of melted butter.
3. Add a splash of milk at a time until you get the desired consistency.
4. Use this to ice the cookies, then add sprinkles or any kind of Valentine's Day friendly edible decorations!