Celebrating Valentine’s Day with Cookies

If you’ve been following the blog for a while you will know that we are not big into celebrating Valentine’s Day. In fact, I personally think it can be a bit of a commercialised trap to spend money. But this year, probably more than others, those we love are at the forefront of our minds. So why not do a little something extra to show how much we care by celebrating Valentines Day in a simple way?

With cookies!

White Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

These white chocolate shortbread cookies are a variation of one of my family’s favourites. I know you will love them too. And with the addition of a lemon flavoured icing, they make the perfect simple Valentines treat.

You will find a printable copy of this recipe at the bottom of the post.

Celebrating Valentines Day

When celebrating Valentines Day, should you choose to celebrate, don’t think of buying expensive gifts or going overboard on the commercial aspect. The origins of Valentines are simple in expression so Valentines Day should be a celebration of love, a day to do something extra for your loved ones. You might like to decorate the house or weed the garden as a simple gesture. It might mean swapping hand made cards or love notes via text. But if food is the way to everyone’s heart why not make some cookies? Shortbread is easy to bake and with the addition of chocolate is super yummy.

What you Need to Make White Chocolate Shortbread

To Shape and Decorate the Shortbread:

• heart shaped cookie cutters
• valentine sprinkles

I purchased both of these from Spotlight Australia.

To Make the Shortbread:

• 2 cups of plain flour
• 1/3 cup caster sugar
• 3/4 cup cornflour
• 1 cup white choc bits
• 250g butter
• 1tsp vanilla essence

directions

• Beat butter, sugar and vanilla in a small bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
• Stir in sifted flours and choc bits (the original recipe uses milk choc bits and either tastes great)
• Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth
• Cover and refrigerate for 30 mins
• Roll dough between sheets of baking paper until about 7mm thick and then cut out heart shapes
• Place about 1cm apart on a tray lined with baking paper
• bake in a moderately hot oven for around 10mins
• transfer to a wire rack to cool

For the icing

The original version has no icing but these cookies have a basic icing using

• 1 cups Soft Icing Sugar, sifted
• 25g butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Few drops of pink food colouring

Using a wooden spoon, combine icing sugar, butter and milk in medium bowl until smooth. Add a touch of extra water to get a glossier consistency.

Spread the icing onto the cookies

Sprinkle cookies with sugar hearts and leave to set.

Other Baking Ideas for Celebrating Valentines Day?