Valentine's Day Cookie Recipe & Sweets Board

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It’s officially Valentine’s Day week and it has been a hot minute since I’ve made a post! More on where i’ve been and what we’ve been up for a different time…

I put this little dessert snack board together after I eyed the most adorable and delicious cupcake for Siena’s monthly milestone photo. She’s already 10 months, cue the tears! As soon as she eyed this board she couldn’t resist getting into the fun and lately wants to grab anything she can between that little index finger and thumb. Had to capture this moment with my two Valentines this year.

When creating a snack board I like to start with a larger piece then build around it with different colors, textures, and flavors to keep the eye moving around the whole board. For this board, I layered some heart doilies first then arranged some larger dessert pieces like the pastry heart and cupcake before adding in some smaller candies and cookies for different textures. I’m really missing celebrating with my gals this galentine’s and this would definitely be on the menu if we were able to be in person!

I also am resharing my favorite recipe of my mom’s, her cut out cookies!

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These cookies are more of an almond shortbread cookie than sugar cookie, and basically melt in your mouth. So good and sweet! Before reading any further, this is definitely not one of my healthy recipe shares, but it is one that will dance on anyone’s tastebuds. The secret is I frost them with my mom’s wedding cake frosting!

These cutouts make for a sweet treat for your Gal-entine’s Day gathering (or Valentines Day dessert with your other half). The recipe makes a ton, so I always end up giving a bunch to friends & family for Valentine’s Day. I’ve also linked all of my baking essentials and table top details below. By far my favorite kitchen tool is our Kitchenaid electric mixer. It was a wedding gift from my mama from our wedding registry and it is so easy to use and efficient! We even have all of the pasta making, veggie slicing, and food processor attachments to use so it doesn’t have to be just for baking!

Dough Ingredients

4 1/2 c. flour

2/3 c. confectioner’s sugar

1/3 c. light brown sugar

1 tsp. almond extract

2 cups butter, softened

Directions

1. Mix together sugars, butter, and almond extract with an electric mixer for two minutes until mixed.

2. Gradually add in flour & mix. Save the 1/2 cup of flour to roll out dough & for cookie cutter. 

3. Once dough is mixed & softened roll into 2 large balls.

4. Sprinkle counter, rolling pin with flour, and cookie cutter with extra flour.

5. Roll out dough to 1/2” thick then press cut out into dough.

6. Place cookies on parchment paper 1/2” apart & bake 10-12 minutes at 300 F.

7. Let fully cool before frosting. Yields 24 cookies. 


Frosting

1/2 bag confectioner’s sugar

1 tsp Crisco (if no crisco add more milk)

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla or almond extract

Directions

1. Add milk & vanilla extract to the confectionary sugar . Continue mixing until smooth & creamy like yogurt.

2. Section into bowls if adding food coloring and frost!

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My Baking Essentials

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