VALENTINE COOKIE BOUQUET

Valentine Cookie Bouquet image

"I always try to do something special with my fair entries. This cookie bouquet was a blue-ribbon winner," says Marlene Gates, Sun City, Arizona. "It is a great gift for a loved one or makes a nice Valentine's Day centerpiece."

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Desserts

Time 45m

Yield 2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 14

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Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup baking cocoa
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
24 long wooden skewers
FROSTING:
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice

Steps:

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the milk, egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle., On a lightly floured surface, roll out half of the dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut out with a floured 3-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets., Place skewers on top of each cookie with one end of each skewer about 1 in. from top of each heart. Gently press into the dough. Place a little extra dough over each skewer; press into cookie to secure. , Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until firm. Let stand for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool., Roll out remaining dough on a lightly floured surface. Cut out with a floured 3-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter. Cut out centers with a 1-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter. , Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until firm. Let stand for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool., In a small bowl, combine the butter, confectioners' sugar and enough cherry juice to achieve spreading consistency. Gently spread frosting over cookies with skewers; top with cookies with cutout centers.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 234 calories, Fat 12g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 40mg cholesterol, Sodium 146mg sodium, Carbohydrate 31g carbohydrate (18g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.