Saturday, February 12, 2011

Linzer Heart Cookies

Well it is Valentine's Day pretty soon. And my daughter's class was having a party so I of course had to make something festive and lovely right? Apparently, these are also known as my "kiss up to the teacher" cookies - according to several other moms. And in a heart shape who can resist?  

Very easy and pretty quick. Can also make the dough a day ahead and just let it come to room temperature before trying to roll it out. I got the cookie cutter from Michaels http://www.michaels.com/Wilton%C2%AE-Heart-Linzer-Cutter/bk0586,default,pd.html?cgid=products&start=1  Was inexpensive (4.00 ! with huge pay off!)  And it has a very nifty little device for the heart cut out.
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Try this. Everyone will love.




YOU WILL NEED:

3 sticks of butter - SOFTENED (dont worry - there are a lot of cookies)

1 cup sugar

1 egg (at room temperature)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups flour

dash of salt

your favorite jam or chocolate filling

confectioners sugar for dusting (traditional but optional)



TO DO:

oven to 350

In a small bowl lightly beat the egg with the vanilla - set aside. In an elextric mixer - mix together the butter and sugar until combined - add the vanilla egg mixture just till combined (stop a couple of times to scrape the sides of your bowl) Add a dash of salt - then turn the mixer down low and slowly add the flour in. Mix until the dough comes together - there will be pieces in the bottom that look like they are not getting mixed in - this is okay - you will mix them in by hand in a moment. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and get all the little loose pieces mixed in. Shape into 2 flat disks - wrap in saran and refrigerate for about a half hour. 

If you forget about the dough (like I did) Just let it sit on the counter for a little bit until it comes to room temperature. Trying to roll it out while it is cold will be tough (which I also did) Wait a few minutes.

Dust your workspace with flour again before rolling out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut out your shapes with the cute little cutters you just purchased! Place the cookies on a tray lined with parchment paper. Including the little baby pieces. They are yummy!

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Bake for about 12 minutes depending on your oven personality. Just until the edges begin to brown. Let cool completely then layer the bottom cookies only - on the FLAT side - with your favorite filling. I did some with Nutella and some with strawberry jam (figured the strawberry would be a universal favorite with the kids) You can dust the tops with confectioners sugar if desired (traditionally done)  - but I decided there was enough sugar already and what 24 kindergartners didn't know wasn't going to hurt them! They wouldn't miss it.
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IF you are taking these to a kindergarten Valentine's Day party you might want to wrap them in wax paper - 2 per package - seal the edges with some double stick tape - and deliver. All the parents will thank you for it (I'm not actually sure if any of the kids got a cookie! I think all the parents might have eaten them all)
VDD cookies



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