Showing posts with label Valentine Treats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Valentine Treats. Show all posts
Here we are on the eve of what is known as Valentines Day. Of course I no longer have a Valentine, but I do have people that I love and care about and so I thought I would bake some Valentine Cookies to share with them!
This is a lovely sugar cookie recipe. Crisp edged and sweet, chewy in the middle. Very easy to make. There is no rolling or faffing about involved. In short, my kind of cookie!
The original recipe made 36 largish cookies. I no longer need 36 largish cookies and so I cut the recipe in half. I small-batched it to make only 18 delicious cookies.
Have you been watching Love is Blind on Netflix? I totally loved the first series of it. I really enjoyed each of the couples that were participating in it. This time around I am not so sure how I feel about it.
Not very many of them seem very sincere. I think there are a lot of playa's peppered in the bunch and I predict some very broken hearts.
I am not sure why these people went on the show, but I don't think their motives were pure from the start. I have seen tons of red flags, and out of all the couples who finally matched up, there is only one that I think has a snowball's chance in hell of making it through to the end.
Of course I could be wrong, and I hope that I am. Anyways if you are watching it also, I would be very interested in hearing what you think of this latest crew.
I am also watching the Japanese version of the show. I usually don't watch things like this, ie. the Batchelor or Batchelorette, Survivor, etc. But I do enjoy this particular series.
Do I think Love is really blind? I do believe that it is possible to make a completely emotional attachment to someone and to have all those feelings of love for them without ever seeing them. But sooner or later the physical has to enter into the relationship, and I am not sure if a week is long enough to form a strong enough emotional attachment to ensure that the physical doesn't matter.
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE VALENTINE SUGAR COOKIES
Simple every day baking ingredients. These measurements are for the small batch and make 18 cookies.
For the cookies:
- 1/2 cup (120g) butter, room temperature
- 3 fluid ounces (85g) vegetable oil (I used canola)
- 3/4 cup (150g) white sugar
- 6 TBS icing sugar
- 1 TBS water
- 1 large free range egg
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 1/4 cups (315g) plain all purpose flour
For the frosting:
- 3 TBS (43g)butter at room temperature
- 1/4 cup (30g) sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups (195g) icing sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 - 2 TBS milk
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- drop of red food coloring
You will also need:
- candy cake decorations (optional)
You don't have to tint the frosting pink if you don't want to, or even use cake sprinkles, but I think for an occasion such as Valentines day, they really add a special touch!
Oh how I wish my grandchildren lived closer so that I could bake them some Valentine treats! That would be so much fun!
HOW TO MAKE VALENTINE SUGAR COOKIES
No special experience is needed to make these. If you have an electric mixer, hand or stand, you are in like flyn!! It really makes short work of the job! You can of course beat everything by hand if you don't, but it will take appreciably longer!
Pop the butter, sour cream, oil, both sugars, water and egg into a bowl. Mix for a few minutes with an electric hand mixer until well combined.
Whisk together the dry ingredients and slowly beat into the creamed mixture until everything is combined. The dough will be soft but not sticky.
Shape the dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. Place onto the baking sheets leaving about 4 inches between each. Press each ball down using the bottom of a measuring cup dipped in sugar to 2 1/2 to 3 inch circles.
Bake for 10 minutes. The cookies should be light brown on the bottom. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before proceeding.
Place all of the ingredients for the icing into a bowl and beat together with an electric whisk until you have a smooth fluffy frosting. (Use the lesser amount of milk at first. Only add more if your icing is too thick.)
Spread the icing generously on top of the cooled cookies and sprinkle with some cupcake sprinkles if using. Allow to set completely before serving.
Store any leftovers in the refrigerator because of the sour cream in the frosting. I placed wax paper between the layers to help maintain the integrity of the decorations.
If you want a crisper cookie, you can leave the cookies in the oven for up to 15 minutes if you wish when first baking. I did half of them this way.
Also they will soften once decorated, so if you want them to stay crisper, don't decorate until just prior to serving them.
So do you love to watch romantic films? I am so-so with those. I like a good romantic comedy. I think of all that I have seen When Harry Met Sally is my favorite one.
Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan make the cutest couple. You find yourself wondering why they waited for so long to get together!!
I just love these cupcake sprinkles I got from Sweepolita. I bought them a few months ago. This is actually two different ones. I got a bottle of big candy hearts (about 1/3 inch) and a bottle of mixed reds, pinks and whites, in candy shot and non-pareils. They also have the odd hearts and balls in them. Very pretty. I love the blue hearts.
These were perfect for decorating these cookies. I think they made them quite pretty. I can't wait to give them to my daughter and her husband!
In the meantime, Happy Valentines Day to you all! May it be filled with love and fun and good food!
Valentine Sugar Cookies
Yield: makes 18 cookies
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 10 MinTotal time: 20 Min
Sweet, delicious and covered with a rich sour cream frosting. Both together are amazing.
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 1/2 cup (120g) butter, room temperature
- 3 fluid ounces (85g) vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup (150g) white sugar
- 6 TBS icing sugar
- 1 TBS water
- 1 large free range egg
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 1/4 cups (315g) plain all purpose flour
For the frosting:
- 3 TBS (43g)butter at room temperature
- 1/4 cup (30g) sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups (195g) icing sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 - 2 TBS milk
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- drop of red food coloring
You will also need:
- candy cake decorations (optional)
Instructions
- Make the cookies first. Preheat the oven to 350*F/180*C/ gas mark 4. Line a couple of baking sheets with baking paper.
- Pop the butter, sour cream, oil, both sugars, water and egg into a bowl. Mix for a few minutes with an electric hand mixer until well combined.
- Whisk together the dry ingredients and slowly beat into the creamed mixture until everything is combined. The dough will be soft but not sticky.
- Shape the dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. Place onto the baking sheets leaving about 4 inches between each. Press each ball down using the bottom of a measuring cup dipped in sugar to 2 1/2 to 3 inch circles.
- Bake for 10 minutes. The cookies should be light brown on the bottom. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before proceeding.
- Place all of the ingredients for the icing into a bowl and beat together with an electric whisk until you have a smooth fluffy frosting. (Use the lesser amount of milk at first. Only add more if your icing is too thick.)
- Spread the icing generously on top of the cooled cookies and sprinkle with some cupcake sprinkles if using. Allow to set completely before serving.
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Happy Valentines Day. I know that to many people it is just a huge money grab, and really, if you love someone you can celebrate that love for them any day of the year in large and small ways.
It is nice however, or at least I think it is . . . to do something out of the ordinary for your loved ones on this special day!!
When I was a child it was always marked by exchanging special cards with all of the children in my class at school . . . at least while I was in Primary school.
It wouldn't have gone over well in Middle or High School! (To say the least!)
In Primary school however, great care was taken in the run up to Valentines day picking and cutting out Valentines, gluing them together, gluing the envelopes and then deciding who you wanted to give what Valentine to.
Oh, you could always get the already cut out fancy boxes of cards . . . they cost a bit more . . . but, in all truth, I really enjoyed the whole exercise of cutting them out and putting them together. I've always been crafty in that way.
There used to be a contest at school for whoever had made the prettiest/most unusual box to collect your Valentines in. One year my mother helped me make my box using an old chocolate box.
It was all decorated with white crepe paper and looked like a cake. On the top were little hearts standing upright on toothpicks, with little sayings on them . . . like a field of valentine flowers.
I won the prize that year (rightly or wrongly) and I have never forgotten how pretty the box was. It is one of my happy mom memories in the annals of my heart.
These brownies are so special and yet so simple to make. You can use a boxed Brownie mix (I used Ghirardelli. You get it as Costco.) or you can use your favourite brownie recipe.
I have an excellent recipe here for Fudge Walnut Brownies.
They are excellent brownies (both the boxed mix and the from scratch ones.) You can't go wrong with either one.
Just bake them in a paper lined muffin tin. I used Valentine wrappers, but really paper wrappers never look great after you bake in them.
Most of the pictures/patterns on them just kind of disappears into blah, blah, blah . . . so plain brown paper cups will work just fine, and might even look better.
Bake them to the degree that you enjoy your Brownies, as fudgy or as cakey as you like. The longer you bake them the cakier they will be.
Once they are baked, take them out of the tin and let them cool on a wire rack.
While they are cooling you make a really simple chocolate ganache topping.
Its as simple as chopping chocolate and then pouring hot cream over it. Let is sit, and then stir to melt the chocolate. Once it is all amalgamated together you spoon it over the top of the brownies.
After that you just need to pop one of your favourite chocolates on top, and let it all set up.
Its as simple as that. Easy peasy an look at how cute they are!
I can't think of anyone who wouldn't enjoy one of these delicious little cakes!
Well, my husband maybe . . . because he doesn't like chocolate cakes of any kind . . . but I know a neighbour of mine who is really going to enjoy these!
She's had a bit of a rough go lately and I reckon these will really cheer her up!
Yield: 12
Chocolate Box Brownies
prep time: 5 minscook time: 40 minstotal time: 45 mins
Something cute to share with those you love on Valentines Day. You can either use your favourite Brownie Recipe or a mix. They are a very simple bake and really cute!
ingredients:
- 1 box of Brownie Mix (I used Ghirardelli)
- (Or your favourite Brownie recipe)
- For the Ganache:
- 115g of bittersweet chocolate, chopped (4 ounces)
- 150ml double cream (2/3 cup)
- You will also need a box of assorted chocolates
instructions:
- Preheat the oven to the temperature recommended on your box of brownie mix, or according to your recipe for Brownies. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners. Following the directions on the box or in the recipe, make the brownie batter and then spoon it into the lined muffin cups, dividing it equally. Bake for about 25 - 30 minutes, or until the tops are glossy and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out a little wet (if you want fudgy brownies) or clean (If you want drier brownies.)
- Remove the paper cups from the pan and set aside to cool on a wire rack.
- To make the ganache, put the chopped chocolate into a heat proof bowl. Measure the cream into a small saucepan. Bring the cream just to the boiling point. Pour over the chopped chocolate and let it sit for a few minutes. Whisk together to melt the chocolate and make a smooth mixture. Spoon the ganache over top of the brownies. Top each one with a chocolate. Leave to set completely.
- Store in an airtight container.
- Note - Alternately you can melt some white chocolate and drizzle over top in decorative manner.
Created using The Recipes Generator
No matter what you do, or how you celebrate it, I hope that you have a really lovely Sweethearts Day! Bon Appetit!
This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The
English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are
reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you
may report it to me at: theenglishkitchen@mail.com
I didn't think I was going to have time to do anything heart shaped this Valentines Day as my days have been so busy, but I did have a chance today to do these little Lemon & Berry Hand Pies for my Todd. He does love a jam tart and he really enjoyed these!
February being the month of love and all, I have my mind very much on baking treats for the man in my life over these next couple of weeks.
If I had children here or grands I would be baking them for them also. Alas I do not, so the Toddster is the one who benefits the most from my desire to bake all things pertaining to love.
I do like to spoil him from time to time.
It's not all pasta and chocolate which he just cannot bear is not fond of . . . I do try to cook to please him now and again, and if I am being honest . . . most of the time.
They do say that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach!
These little strawberry tarts are fabulously easy and look so impressive when done. Especially if you use my method of lining the tins, which I borrowed from my friend Julie when she was a PC consultant.
It works really well with all sorts of things . . . cookie doughs, pastry, etc. (You haven't lived until you have made little chocolate chip cookie dough tartlettes filled with dulce de leche and topped with a dab of chocolate buttercream. Scrummo!)
Anyways, I digress.
Little strawberry tarts. Butter pastry. Sweet strawberry, jam and lime filling. Topped with a cute little heart.
The Toddster loves them! (with some squirtie cream) I am thinking though that a bit of clotted cream would also not go amiss.
These also go very well for tea parties. Just sayin'
*Valentine Berry Cutie Pies*
Makes 24 mini muffin sized pies
Printable Recipe
Dainty delicious little pies, perfect for a little tete a tete with the one you love.
butter for buttering the pan
12 ounces strawberries
2 tsp cornflour
2 TBS strawberry jam
the finely grated zest of 2 limes (I use my microplane fine grater)
1 pound of all butter pastry, or ready made sweet shortcrust pastry, chilled
a little plain flour for dusting
Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Lightly butter a 24 section mini muffin tin (pampered chef makes one) or two 12 hole mini muffin pans. Set aside.
Roughly chop the strawberries. Put them in a mixing bowl and then gently stir in the cornflour, jam and lime zest.
This is how I do it: I pinch off walnut sized pieces of dough. Roll into balls and then press the balls into the muffin tins with my Pampered Chef Pastry press thingie, but you could also use the end of a rolling pin, or wooden spoon, floured, or in a real pinch, your thumbs.) Fill each little shell with a bit of the strawberry mixture. Roll out the remaining pastry to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into little shapes as you wish. (I cut mine into hearts) Place one shape on top of each tart.
Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow to cool in the tins for about 10 minutes before loosening with the tip of a knife and transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling completely.
If desired dust with some icing sugar to serve. (I forgot to do this before I took the pictures!) Share them with your honeybun.
No Mitzie . . . I'm afraid they are not good for little dog's waistlines . . . no matter how cute the little dog may be.
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