Giant Valentine's Day Cookies ~ Our Family Tradition

Our Family Tradition ~ Giant Valentine's Day Cookies!

     It's all my mom's fault.  I mean, I've got to have somebody to blame, right?

     She started baking these uber-delicious, GIANT cookies for us on Valentine's Day, probably back when I was in kindergarten. 

     Now, even though I'm an adult - and have a family and home of my own - it's still her fault that I make these each February 14th, or thereabouts.

     Just kiddin'.  My mom's the BESTEST!

     The examples, above, are photos of some of the giant heart cookies I've made for my husband, Elmer, and my daughters, Kelsi and Brittany.

     But this year, I felt like I needed some inspiration!  I didn't want to do the same thing this time around as I've done all those other years.  So...I took a look around on the internet, and thought I'd share some fun ideas with you! 

     It is amazing how inexpensive this is to make your own cookie dough and frosting, and to decorate cookie hearts for your family.  And, they LOVE it!  EnJOY the photo ideas.  I can't wait to make my family's Valentine's Day gifts this year using some of these examples:

_This idea is from Nestle. It requires the use of a heart-shaped baking pan, but many other cookie recipes, especially sugar cookie dough, are fine to just trace around a heart-shaped pattern you've printed out or drawn or cut out.

• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (or part whole-wheat pastry flour)
  
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar or evaporated cane juice sugar
  
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1-3/4 cups (11.5-oz. pkg.) milk chocolate morsels, divided
• Decorator icing (in tubes, optional)

PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Grease and wax paper-line an 8-1/2 or 9-inch heart-shaped pan.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in egg. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in 1 cup morsels; spread into prepared pan.

BAKE for 20 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely.

MICROWAVE remaining morsels in small, microwave-safe bowl on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 1 minute; STIR. Morsels may retain some of their shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring until melted; spread over cookie. Decorate with icing.

BAKING SHEET COOKIE VARIATION:
PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Pat dough into 8-inch circle on ungreased baking sheet with floured hands. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely on baking sheet on wire rack.

Here's a beautiful iced heart cookie from KelleyHart.com! 
You can use this photo as inspiration when you make your own heart-shaped cookie.

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Look at this chocolate brownie idea from
Jala Sweets 'n Things!
Can we say, "Rocky Road - nummy!"

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And for those who aren't too keen about using cake decorating tips and frosting, you'll find this quick and simple M&M version at Bakerella.com!

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Here's another chocolate chip cookie idea, although it would work with any type of cookie or brownie!

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Here's one that's simple enough for your toddler or preschooler to design, from Kaboose.com! 

 

ThirtyHandMadeDays.com
has this darling recipe idea and free printable folding tags to make these pink heart-shaped and filled cookies!

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Prairie Flower Farm's Unique Chicago-Style Chocolate Chip Cookies

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    Linda at Prairie Flower Farm also includes this beautiful recipe sheet (what you see, above right, is only part of the recipe) plus FREE printables including a tutorial that has instructions for the Cake Stand that you see in the photo (left, above), the Chicago Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe, a Valentine gift idea, and a sheet of tags you can print off for when you package the cookies to give away. 

You'll find the download link on the right sidebar of her blog, at the post linked to, above!

These are absolutely dee-licious!  Wasn't sure we'd enjoy this recipe, but it is delightful.  You will love it!  So cute cut out in the shape of hearts!

Heart Pattern for Giant Valentine's Day Cookies

This has also been shared as part of Mary's "Homegrown Learners" LOVE-ly Ideas for Valentine's Day!

EnJOY preparing for your Valentine's Day!

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