RASPBERRY CREAM CHEESE POP TARTS

I fully believe when you see great ideas on Pinterest- you should GIVE CREDIT to the websites you originally got said ideas from. There are people behind the pictures, my friends. Give credit where it's due.

Now, that being said, allow me to share the two awesome ladies that inspired these delicious raspberry cream cheese treats! Thus, if my recipe isn't up your alley, check out these talented ladies!

- Jessica @ Novice Chef shared her Nutella Pop Tarts (that gave me the cut out heart idea)

- Sarah @ Cake Student shared her heart Cherry Cheese Pie (that gave me the cream cheese & fruit idea)

With that, here's my creation. Ridiculously easy, ridiculously delicious.

Raspberry Cream Cheese Heart Pie PopTarts!

What you'll need to make it happen:

- Heart cookie cutters

- Premade pie crust

- Cream cheese

-Raspberry preserves (use any kind of fruit!)

- granulated sugar

- egg white

- parchment paper

How to make it happen:

Prep: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees, and set our you cream cheese to soften 15 minutes before starting

Step 1: Using your big heart cookie cutter, cut out as many big hearts as you can, re-rolling the dough as necessary to get as many as you can. Set aside half of them to be your tart toppings.

Step 2: Spread out a thick layer of cream cheese on half of your hearts, and a thick layer of preserves on top of that. Leave a good half inch around the outside so you can press your top layer firmly without any of your filling spilling out!

Step 3: Cut a small heart in the center of the large hearts you set aside, and before placing it on top of your filled heart, lightly spread the dough so it's just a little bit larger than the bottom heart.

Step 4: Cover your filled heart, using your finger or the edge of a cookie cutter to fully press together the edges. 

Step 5: Cover the top with a quick egg wash and a healthy sprinkle of sugar, and let it bake for 16-18 minutes or until golden brown

Eat & Enjoy!

Enough photos for you?

I just am trying to portray how delicious they are! It's for your own good, I promise. These hearts are not only good for a very sweet Valentine's breakfast, but also an easy treat to make for your coworkers.

Thanks to Jessica & Sarah for the inspiration!

Have a Pinterest full of great recipes?

Leave your Pinterest name or link so I can find you!

xo, lp 

Here's a full- Pinterest friendly version for those of you who want to save this recipe for later:

To check out my Pinterest boards, click HERE!

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:

LOVELY THINGS OF VALENTINE'S DAY PAST

 If you've been hanging around here a while, you might remember last year how I confessed my reasons for loving Valentine's Day. [hint: heart patterned socks play a big role]

If you haven't been around, allow me to share with you a few favorite treats from last year. Links can be found in the descriptions to the original post!

----------------

Let's start with the sweetest of them all, shall we? 

Ombre sugar sprinkle cookies. 

 Next in line? Fishing line + free paint chips=

Valentine's Hanging Heart Garlands (that were added into the post about V-Day traditions)

 Clearly I couldn't leave out valentines, so I made 5 different styles using watercolors, glitter, and more paintchips!

Valentine's Cards Ideas

Then there are these watercolors...that have been repinned a good amount on Pinterest (thank you!!), and were insanely easy.

Valentine's Watercolors

I dabbled a little in decorating candles, which I can't say I'd do again [read:GLITTEREVERYWHERE], but they sure were fun and festive!

V-day DIY Candles

And quite possibly my favorite- my flower failure that turned into this pretty mason jar display!

Valentine's flowers...and failing.

So there you have it kids. 

A lot of Valentine's projects...some better than others...all made with love. 

OH COME ON. You didn't expect one cheesy pun? It's Valentine's Day people, that's what it's all about.

Any fun V-day DIYs up your sleeves?

Share away, friends!

xo, lp