I Heart Valentine's Day Cookies

I only really like Valentine's Day for the food, so let's get that out of the way now. This year, I decided to make a special surprise for my work chums, to show how much I love that they eat all the food I bring them. Super soft sugar cookies with a thick coating of buttercream frosting should do the trick!

I went to the store a few days ago to get the last of the ingredients for these cookies, and as I went to pick up some sprinkles, I stopped myself. I wanted these cookies to be 100% from scratch, which meant either making the sprinkles myself, or dying a second batch of buttercream, and frosting little designs. But when it came time to actually make the sprinkles, I realized that it might be a little too time-consuming for this go-around. But THEN I was left in a panic because Boston decided to have another snowstorm, and there was no way I was going to trudge in the snow to the market for one tiny package of red sprinkles. Luckily, I found not one, but TWO packages of sprinkles and Red Hots in the back of the cupboard, still good to eat. (I knew there was a reason that I save everything.) Thank goodness, because tan sugar cookies with boring white buttercream wouldn't exactly get everyone sprinting to the cookie tin.

There are a couple of things to note about these cookies. One, make sure you let that buttercream set for a while before you try to transfer these onto a plate, or into the travel carrier. Two, when baking, use your own discretion for the baking time. I have a gas oven, which cooks things much faster. For the first batch, I left them in for the suggested time of seven minutes, and the bottoms and edges were way too brown! I cut it down to five minutes, and even that was cutting it close. Also, make sure you roll out the dough as thin as you can, because these things puff up so much! They can't be tamed, these sugar cookies.

These Lofthouse style cookies are even better the next day, which is a relief, because I was worried that they would lose their pizazz. Although, nothing bad can ever really happen when there's buttercream frosting involved, am I right about it?

Super Soft Lofthouse Style Sugar Cookies

For the Cookies: 6 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 2 cups granulated sugar 3 large eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1½ cups sour cream

For the Buttercream Frosting: 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 4 cups powdered sugar Pinch of salt 6 tablespoons heavy cream

Food coloring, optional Sprinkles, optional

Directions:

1. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and sour cream and beat at low speed until combined.

3. Add the dry ingredients and beat at low speed until just combined, scraping down the bowl as needed. Dough will be a little sticky and that is ok. Divide dough into two sections. Flatten into rectangles about 1½ inches thick, then wrap with plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator overnight or for at least two hours.

4. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line large baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpats; set aside.

5. Lightly flour the countertop and the top of the dough. With a rolling pin, roll the dough out to ¼-inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut out the cookies and place on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 7 minutes, until cookies are slightly golden around the edges. Immediately transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Cook cookies completely before frosting.

6. To make the frosting, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and vanilla extract. Slowly beat in powdered sugar and the pinch of salt. Once smooth and creamy, add in heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, then beat at medium-high speed for a minute or two until light and fluffy. Add food coloring, if desired, and beat until combined.

7. Once cookies have cooled completely, frost and add sprinkles, if desired. Allow frosting to set, then store in an air-tight container.

SOURCE: Two Peas in Their Pod

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!