Heart-Shaped Sprinkle Cookies

Oh it's soon to be Valentine's Day! The day devoted to showing our love for each other, through sweet cards and kisses, flowers and chocolate. I for one, have been dropping hints about my favorite chocolate all week long.

It just wouldn't be Valentine's around here if these Heart-Shaped Sprinkle Cookies didn't make an appearance. They've been a Valentine's tradition in our family since I was a wee one myself. They always arrived in our lunch boxes during Valentine's week and mom usually sent enough along for the whole class. I can't really think of a time that she missed it, even as we entered high school and college. As a matter of fact, they still made an appearance when I was newly married with young children at home. That's mom though, still baking those sweet, sprinkle specked childhood favourites, even when we're all grown up.

Do you see how my love of baking and passing on these sweet traditions for my own family got started? I mean, doesn't that just say love right there?! It's these little things, like simple cookie traditions that are the real gifts during special holidays. Because what mom gave to us, essentially, was her time. Each year, without fail, the way she made things in the kitchen for us communicated her love for us. And now, when we share them with our own children, we get to feel all those good feelings all over again. And isn't that better than a box of chocolates?

These are a very simple buttery, tender sugar cookie recipe, with the addition of some lemon extract, and colourful sprinkles. The ingredient list is fairly basic, which means you probably have everything you need to make a batch today! As baking recipes seem to become more complicated these days, I'm reminiscing about all of the simple, and sweet, recipes of generations past. I often like to add my own flair to recipes that have been passed on to me, but for this time, I think simple is best, and I'm leaving moms just as they should be. Sometimes less is more, you know?

It's always great to give people a special treat for Valentine's Day, but even better when you put your time and love into it. And maybe a few sprinkles. Get the kids into the kitchen this week-end and start your own baking story.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Renee

xo

Heart Shaped Sprinkle Cookies

Makes 5 dozen cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 tsp lemon extract
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 4 tbsp sprinkles

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°

1. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl, set aside. Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and lemon extract. Mix in the flour mixture just until combined. Barely mix in the sprinkles. Wrap and chill the dough for 1/2 hour.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a 1/4 inch thickness. Cut heart shapes with a 3 inch heart cutter and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for 7-8 minutes. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container. Cookies can be made ahead and freeze very well.