Valentine Cookies

Name: Valentine Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 3 dozen.
Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened; 1 cup sugar; 1 egg; 3 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 teaspoons almond extract; 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; Prepared vanilla frosting and red colored sugar, optional

I combined recipes to create these heart-shaped cookies for my Valentine's Day, but you can enjoy them anytime. My children are grown, but I still bake the cookies for my husband and myself and for others.

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons almond extract
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Prepared vanilla frosting and red colored sugar, optional

Directions

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg, beating well. Add extracts; mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture until combined. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or until easy to handle.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a 3-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter dipped in flour. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake at 325° for 13-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. Decorate with frosting and colored sugar if desired.