Valentine's Day Treats

My girls absolutely love to help me in the kitchen.  It's one of their favorite things to do. Unfortunately for them, when I'm working on something for a client, they are not allowed near the kitchen for obvious reasons.  So when I'm baking for us (again, unfortunately for them is not as often as they would like), and they're invited in to help, it's like there is a party with rainbows and unicorns and the girls jump for joy!  Aprons on, clean hands and they're rarin' to go!

My husband's favorite dessert is cut-out cookies and the girls like to decorate those, so made up a batch and let them have it.  

(As an aside, my mom used to do this too.  And I followed her lead in making up one batch of cookies, [because we all know cut-out cookies are such a mess!!!] but using the next several holidays' cutters too.  I already have St. Patty's day and Easter done and unfrosted in the freezer.  So, thanks, Mom, for that life hack!)

After a red, pink, white and blue (Maren's favorite color) were mixed up, we began the decorating process.  

Someone's having fun!

I just love 'em.  [The cookie's are good too!] And nothing beats that time in the kitchen with my girls.  

BEST Cut-Out Cookies. Ever.

My daughter received her 1st Reconciliation last weekend.  To celebrate, I made these cross cut-out cookies.  I've shared my cut-out cookie recipe in the past, but this time, I think I made them even BETTER.   I added browned butter to the dough.  It made these cookies melt-in-your mouth delicious.  I can't wait to make them again!!!!  Recipe is below.

Congratulations to my Jo-Jo on her very special day!

Cake Mama Cakes' BEST Cut-Out Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup browned butter, room temperature (not melted)

1 3/4 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 tbsp. milk

2 tsp. baking powder

3 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. salt

Directions:

In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.  In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time until combined.  Add vanilla.  Add dry ingredients and mix until combined.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness.  Cut out in desired shapes.  Bake for 7-9 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Frost and decorate as desired.  

For THE BEST butter frosting recipe (dries hard, but not too hard), click here.  

How do you brown butter?  Click here:  http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_brown_butter/

Marriage Proposal Cookies

Cut-out cookies are kind of a big deal in my family.  They're not my favorite cookie, but they are my husband's favorite cookie...of all time.  In fact, he told me that my cut-out cookies played a very big role in our relationship.  It was after he tried these that he knew I was "the one."  Yep.  Big deal over here.  And yes, I'm willing to share the "Marriage Proposal Cookies" recipe.  

I usually make these cookies for Christmas and on occasion, I've made them other times throughout the year.  But they ARE work and ARE messy, but I have a 6-year old in the house who absolutely loves to help me in the kitchen.  She was off on Good Friday, so what better activity for us to do together?

Love her.

But things got interesting half-way through decorating the cookie eggs.  My daughter started to sprinkle sugar in stripes onto the eggs and it looked really cool!  So, I poured some sugar out into a striping pattern as seen below.

I took my cookie and...

Dipped it into the sugar and pressed lightly.

And voila!  A sugar striped Easter egg cookie!

SO much color!  But oh so fun!  (And messy.  Don't forget about the mess...)

I wish you all a fabulous Easter!
Love,
Ann :)  (AKA - The Cake Mama)

Ann's Marriage Proposal Cut-Out Cookies (wedding proposals not guaranteed...but his/her loss)

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

1 3/4 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 tbsp. milk

2 tsp. baking powder

3 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. salt

Directions:

In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.  In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time until combined.  Add vanilla.  Add dry ingredients and mix until combined.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness.  Cut out in desired shapes.  Bake for 7-9 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Frost and decorate as desired.  

For THE BEST butter frosting recipe (dries hard, but not too hard), click here.  

Enjoy!!  And congrats on your upcoming nuptials!