Valentine’s Day is all about love! But sweet treats are also a big part of it!
Sparkle Sweetheart Cookies – Sally’s baking recipes
- “Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes
- Yield: 32 cookies
Ingredients
- 3 cups (375g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (16 Tbsp; 226g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 ounces (57g) full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract*
- 3/4 cup (150g) sanding sugar, pink and red or assorted colors*
- 32 chocolate hearts, unwrapped*
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together until combined. Set aside.
- In a large bowl using a hand-held or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and cream cheese together on high speed until relatively smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the granulated sugar and beat until combined and creamy. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed to combine.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until combined. The dough will be thick. Cover the dough tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and chill for at least 30-60 minutes and up to 3-4 days. If chilling for longer than 2-3 hours, allow the dough to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before rolling and baking. Otherwise, the dough will be quite hard, and the cookies may not spread.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. (Always recommended for cookies.) Set aside.
- Pour sanding sugar into a bowl or, if using multiple colors, a few separate bowls.
- Roll balls of cookie dough, about 1 Tablespoon of dough per cookie, then roll each ball in the sanding sugar to coat. Place each dough ball 2 inches apart on the baking sheets. Using the back of a measuring cup or drinking glass, gently press down on each dough ball to slightly flatten. Bake the cookies for 12-13 minutes or until very lightly browned on the edges. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Press a chocolate heart into each cookie and quickly stick the baking sheet in the freezer or fridge so the warm cookie does not completely melt the chocolate heart. Let the chocolate set (about 15 minutes) on the cookies in the freezer/refrigerator.
- Cookies will stay fresh covered at room temperature for 1 week.” – Sally
Chocolate Bark – Sally’s baking recipes
- “Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 1 pound
Ingredients
- 6 ounces (170g) white chocolate, coarsely chopped*
- 2 ounces (about 1/2 cup) pink candy melts*
- 8 ounces (226g) semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped*
- candy hearts and sprinkles for topping
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
- Melt the white chocolate and pink candy melts together. Use a double boiler or microwave. If using microwave, stir the chocolate every 20 seconds to help avoid seizing. Set aside.
- Melt the semi-sweet chocolate. Pour onto prepared baking sheet and spread out into a large rectangle. Drizzle the white chocolate mixture on top. Use a toothpick or knife to swirl the layers together. Decorate the top of the bark with candy hearts and sprinkles.
- Allow the chocolate to set uncovered at room temperature or in the refrigerator. (Usually takes about 45 minutes in the refrigerator.) Once hardened, break into pieces as large or as small as you want.
- Store bark in an airtight container at room temperature in a cool, dry place for up to 1 week or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.” – sally’s baking recipes.
If you would like the direct recipes the information is from Sally’s baking recipes
