valentine sugar cookies

i love cookies. they are my downfall. i can say no to brownies, cakes, cupcakes, muffins, but not to cookies. they make me happy...so when one of my kids asked me to make sugar cookies for his school's valentine's day party, i couldn't say no. after all, making cookies means there's cookie dough to sample and any leftover cookies are all mine. mine mine mine <insert evil laugh here>

valentine sugar cookies

2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda ½  teaspoon baking powder 
1 cup softened butter

¾ cup granulated sugar

¾  cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 4 tablespoons buttermilk, vanilla yogurt, or sour cream

colored sprinkles

Preheat oven to 375⁰ F*

In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in dry ingredients. Add enough of the buttermilk to moisten the dough and make it soft, not wet.
Roll rounded teaspoons of dough into balls and place on a ungreased cookie sheet. With a brush or fingers, moisten the top of each cookie with the remaining buttermilk and slightly flatten the top of each cookie. 

Bake for 8 minutes or until slightly golden. Let stand for 2 minutes before removing to cool on a rack. 


*if you're using a convection oven lower the temperature to 350 and bake for 8 minutes, until cookie bottoms are light golden brown. 

buttercream frosting

1/4 cup softened unsalted butter

2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 heavy cream- you can substitute table cream

2 tsp vanilla

pinch of salt- optional

In a stand mixer, or in a bowl with a hand mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Slowly add in cream and vanilla. Add salt if the frosting is too sweet for your liking. Beat until smooth. If the frosting is too thick, add more cream until desired consistency is reached. 

Frost cookies once they are cool. Have kids decorate cookies with colored sprinkles. Try not to eat all of them. 

until next post- maggie