CONVERSATION HEART COOKIES

Two recipe posts in one week!? 

Don't hide your delight, my friends. 

I guess it's not really a true recipe post, since it just is an extension of Tuesday's post about how to ice the perfect sugar cookie. 

Here's my take on conversation hearts- the candy ones at least. I remember when we were kids those things were delicious. Chalky, not too much flavor, just sugary crunchy heaven. 

Now they have weird sour flavors, new colors, different texture. BLASPHEMY I say. So this year rather than buying those candies, I decided to make my own sugar cookies inspired by them:

Now, for how to ice the perfect cookies, check out my post earlier in the week. Making your own icing is quick, easy, and doesn't require any fancy ingredients or techniques. There isn't a need for special bakery bags or anything, a ziplock will do! 

I colored my icing in a few pastels- use less food coloring than you think you need!

I used gel icing to write out the little messages like "Be Mine" " So Cute" and "xo".

Sidenote: not to sound like an old senile lady complaining more about useless candy- but all the text-speak candy hearts are dumb. There. I said it. Why would I want a heart with "LOL"  or "IDK" on it from someone? Mixed messages I tell ya. 

Of course I wasn't going to make a whole bunch of I LOVE YOU and BE MINE cookies for my co-workers...that might just get awkward. Thus, there are plain iced hearts in abundance for them:

What would your conversation hearts say?

I'm sticking with the simple "xoxo" as my favorite!

xo, lp

HOW TO FROST THE PERFECT COOKIE

Before you tell me that frosting a cookie is not rocket science, save your breath.

Duh it's not. Rocket science is rocket science.

However, if you want to get that just brought from the bakery look- read a little further. 

Now, if you use store bought frosting- it'll be thick enough to create a shape, but won't be slick and shiny! Heartbreaking, I know. 

What you'll need to make it happen:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon butter

2-3 teaspoons milk

Food coloring optional

* the butter is not 100% necessary- but it will make the icing super shiny and lovely. promise.

How to make it happen:

 There you have it. Simple, slick, shiny cookies. 

Do you have a trick to making your cookies look bakery worthy? 

Share away, I'm always looking to improve!

xo, lp

PS: Valentine's cookie post part 2 on Thursday. Stay Tuned.

PPS: Looking to pin the whole tutorial? Got you covered:

ORANGE MELTAWAYS

Today's recipe is one I recently unearthed from my recipe box. I haven't made them since a few winters ago when I put them in a mixed tin of treats that I handed out as holiday presents... and I have no idea why. They're delicious, sweet, melty cookies that you can pretend are healthy because they have orange in them!

(psssssssssst: you can click the above images to enlarge, save them on your computer and print for recipe cards!)

The key with these lovely guys is to NOT overbake them. They will get dry and chalky if you do! 

Do them up right, and you'll get cookies that just melt away in your mouth. yum. yum. yum.

What's your favorite cookie to make for the holidays?

If you don't have one yet, try these!

xo , lp