Easy Valentine Cookies

When the cookies have cooled, your child can help add the colors and decorations.

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Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tsp. milk
• 2 tsp. light corn syrup
• 1/4 tsp. almond extract
• Assorted food coloring
• Red and pink cookie decorations (sugar sprinkles, red-hot candies, etc.)

Supplies

• Small paintbrushes or craft brushes

Directions

1. Step 1

   Preheat oven to 375°F. In a small bowl, kids can help stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.

2. Step 2

   In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until it is smooth. (Parents may want to start this step and let kids finish.) Beat in the egg and vanilla. Have kids gradually add in the dry ingredients while you are mixing.

3. Step 3

   Show kids how to roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls and place them onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. Let the cookies stand two minutes before removing them from the cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.

4. Step 4

   While you wait for the cookies to cool, you can prepare the icing. In a small bowl, stir together the confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth. Add the corn syrup and almond extract and continue beating until the icing is smooth and glossy. (Kids can help!) If the icing is too thick, add just a bit more corn syrup. Divide the icing into separate bowls and add food colorings to each until you get the colors you desire.

5. Step 5

   Now it's time to start decorating! Using craft brushes, paint your cookies with the colored icings, then add your own edible designs. To make heart shapes on your cookies, help kids cut out small folded paper hearts to use as decorating templates. Gently press the heart templates onto the cookies after icing, and then sprinkle on red sugar sprinkles. Shake off excess sugar before removing the templates. (Parents may need to help remove the heart templates.)

Nurtition Facts

• Calories: 106
• Total Fat: 4g
• Saturated Fat: 3g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Cholesterol: 15mg
• Sodium: 61mg
• Total Carbs: 16g
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 11g
• Protein: 1g