Valentine’s Day Cookies

Holidays are my favorite. I love making all the special things and going all out for any occasion! Naturally, Valentine’s day is no different. And my Meemaw created the perfect recipe for a Valentine’s treat. Homemade sugar cutout cookies with a pink cinnamon icing.

These cutout cookies have to be the best sugar cookies I have ever eaten. My family makes them every Christmas and usually around Valentine’s day as well. They are so soft and the buttery texture just melts in your mouth. Paired with the cinnamon icing, you’ll be in heaven with every bite.

The icing gets its signature cinnamon flavor from Red Hots candy. I’m not sure how my Meemaw came up with this recipe, but goodness… I. Am. Thankful. And if you don’t feel up to making cookies, the icing goes wonderfully on white cake, cupcakes, or even graham crackers!

I love making these cookies with my daughter too. Her favorite part is helping cutout the cookies with her cookie cutters and of course she is my #1 taste tester. This past time she even helped me ice the cookies! We had so much fun together and I hope this tradition continues throughout the years.

Cookie Ingredients:

• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 1.5 cups powdered sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2.5 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

Cream butter and powdered sugar together. Add in egg and vanilla and combine. Then add flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Mix until dough is completely combined. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 350. Once dough has chilled, roll out on a surface dusted with powdered sugar. Roll dough until about 1/8th inch thick. Cut out cookies and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool completely before icing.

Cinnamon Icing Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup half and half
• Small handful of Red Hots Candy
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 2-3 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

Soak red hots in a jar with half and half in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. The longer they soak, the stronger the cinnamon flavor will be. After soaking, combine the butter and powdered sugar with the cinnamon cream. (Make sure to remove the red hots from the cream!) Adjust ingredients as necessary to achieve desired consistency*.

*I like to add in the half and half mixture slowly and usually don’t use the full amount. I also aim more towards 3 cups of powdered sugar. But this is a very flexible recipe, so play around with it to see what you prefer!