Happy Love Day!

The Beautiful Tulips my Sweet Pea Got for Me This Year! <3

It may be that I am a hopeless romantic & love gushy stuff or my love for everything pink, but I just love Valentine's day! Just the feeling of receiving all of the goodies at work...anything from the beautiful red, pink, & white tulips that my wonderful boyfriend got me this year or a box full of chocolate strawberries one of my favorite reps got for our office, I am tickled pink today!

I just wanted to quickly share some extra sweetness with everyone on this special love day (maybe you can share the baked love with your sweetie too!)

 

For the dough you will need:

1 cup butter, softened

1 3/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted

1 egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Finely grated rind of 1 lemon

2 tablespoons lemon juice (the lemon rind & juice add a subtle citrus flavor that really take them to another level)

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt 

 

For the icing you will need:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream

Food coloring

Paintbrush

As you can see, it might get a little messy, but that is what it's all about when creating yummy art! Just have fun & experiment with painting, whether you paint the letters with just one color or mix it up with layering the different colors or trying various brush strokes, have some delicious fun!

Instructions:

1. Cream butter & powdered sugar until light & fluffy. Beat in egg, vanilla, lemon rind, then lemon juice. Add flour, soda & salt; mix until blended.

2. Divide dough; wrap each half in plastic wrap & pat into a disc. Refrigerate several hours until firm.

3. On a floured surface, roll one disc about 1/4 inch thick. Cut with letter-shaped cutters (ex. LOVE or XOXO).

4. Transfer to a lightly greased cookie sheet & bake in a pre-heated 325-degree oven for 12-15 minutes, until barely browned. Cool on wire racks and repeat with remaining dough.

5. To decorate, stir 1 tablespoon of cream into 1 cup of powdered sugar. Divide among small bowls & use food coloring to make intense shades.

6. Use a paint brush to paint the cookies with the icing, adding a little extra cream into the icing if needed to make it thinner. Wipe the paintbrush off in between, or even let a little color remain on the brush to overlap shades. Go back over each cookie with extra brush strokes.
7. Make sure you let the icing fully dry on each cookie, then stack into boxes. (Makes about 3 dozen)

 

recipe & images via Lauren Craig

 

Now go & enjoy this beautiful sweet day- whether it's with your best girl friends, significant other, or family members- this day is all about loving one another even more than we already do & showing how much we care for our loved ones!

peace & love,

Lindsey