February 13, 2008

Cookie Love?


I bake my “Love Cookies” for the Husband every Valentine’s Day but this year, the Husband had to share his Valentine’s gift with my unofficial Valentine, Warren Brown of Food Network fame.

Warren recently did a cooking demonstration in Baltimore to promote his new Cake Love bakery that opened in my neighborhood and I figured that I would show him some love and welcome him to Baltimore by sharing some of my special cookies with him.

During a break in the demonstration, I introduced myself to Warren and gave him the cookie I made for him. He didn’t actually eat the cookie right then but he and a couple of others watching the demonstration did say “Ohhhhh.....very nice!!!”

I don’t know if Warren ever ate the cookie, but if he did, I think he’ll be joining the Husband in asking for my “Love Cookies” next Valentine’s Day too.

Here’s the recipe for your Valentine but if you don’t have the time to make these before tomorrow, stop by a Cake Love near you for some cupcakes instead.

Jackie’s Ultimate Love Cookies
6 cups unbleached, all purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Mix dry ingredients and add a little at a time to butter mixture. Mix until flour is completely incorporated and the dough comes together.

Chill for 1 to 2 hours then roll dough to desired thickness (which for me is ¼ inch, or as thick as a DVD case) and cut into shapes. Bake on ungreased baking sheet at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes or until just beginning to turn brown around the edges.







When cool, ice with royal icing and let the cookies air dry for about an hour.

Jackie's Royal Icing
3¾ cups sifted confectioners' sugar
3 T meringue powder
6 T warm water (add 8 T of warm water if you want flow consistency)
Drop of light corn syrup

Beat all ingredients in a stand mixer for 4 to 5 minutes. Add coloring by hand. Makes 3 cups.


4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh. These are absolutely GORGEOUS! I'm really impressed. Great job!

Amy said...

Those are so cute! *tries to grab one through the screen* I love the decorating job!! I just subscribed to your blog on reader :D

Anonymous said...

these are so cute! I love the DVD trick, it's always a pain to try to get the dough perfectly even.

JulieAnn said...

They are beautiful!!!

I admit too, I found your blog because you were the only reference I could find to "Martha's Crazy Cake" which I too, made at 6 years old and fell in love with...