Valentine Cookies
TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-363 -- More Projects »
Chef Amy Carter provides tips on making Valentine's Day cookies.
- Mix together several colors and flavors of cookie dough, then roll out the dough and cut it into cookies with festive cookie cutters (figure A). Do not sprinkle flour on the dough before rolling because this will make the cookies tough and dry. Use powdered sugar instead.
Decorate the cookies with colored sugar crystals before baking. Cooking-supply stores also sell specialty cookie cutters to make tiny little heart cutouts in cookies (figure B).
If it looks like you have more dough than you need, it is always better to store extra dough than to make too many cookies. Dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three weeks and also freezes well.
If you like to use the frozen cookie dough that comes in a tube, try making your own. The next time you make cookie dough just double or triple the recipe, then roll the extra dough into a tube shape. Put it into a plastic bag or wrap in aluminum foil and pop it into the freezer.
For the most flavorful cookies, always use butter because it has a better flavor than margarine. Also mix dry ingredients such as flour, leaveners, spices and salt together before adding the wet ingredients.
Make sure the cookies are completely cooled before storing. Place paper towels between the layers of cookies to keep them from sticking together. The cookies will stay soft if stored in an airtight container.
When removing cookies from the cooling rack, place the rack over the sink or place waxed paper under the rack to collect the crumbs.
Use sugar cookies to make little Valentine jam sandwiches. Cut the dough into an even number of hearts. Cut half of those cookies into smaller shapes with a smaller heart-shaped cookie cutter. Bake the cookies and allow to cool. Spread a layer of jam on the large cookies, top each with a smaller cookie and dust with powdered sugar.
Paint a design onto Valentine cookies with egg yolk before baking. Remove the membrane from an egg yolk, mix with 1/2 teaspoon water and enough red food coloring to get the desired shade of red. Paint the cookies with names or designs. Place a doily over the cookies and paint over the doily with a stiff brush to leave a lacy pattern on the cookies.
Create a design with colored candy sprinkles or beads. Make a crimped edge along the cookies with a fork.
Guests Amy Carter
Chef / Culinary Expert, Institute of Culinary Arts
Phone: 612-332-3361
Fax: 612-332-3934
Also in this Episode
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2002/09/05/tip363_3a_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2002/09/05/tip363_3b_e.jpg",350,450))
