Be My Valentine

Everyone loves their grandmothers, but I have to say, I got especially lucky to have two of the most amazing grandmothers you can imagine. And, to top it off, to have one of them, my Mom's mother, make the most amazing sugar cookies in the world. She originally found the recipe that she uses when it appeared in 1957 on the side of the Pillsbury flour sack. She altered the mixing instructions a bit, but has continued to make these the exact same way ever since. Pillsbury even re-released the recipe in 1998, substituting milk for the cream, but my Grandma has held her ground and continues to use the cream - making the best sugar cookies you can imagine - they literally melt in your mouth.

In order to make the dough, all you need are these ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup butter, softened

1 egg

3 tablespoons cream (I used light cream, but they're even better if you use the real stuff)

1 tsp vanilla

First, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.

Next, cut in the butter until the particles are fine.

Finally, add slightly beaten egg with cream and vanilla, and mix it all together.

I don't have a picture of the wet ingredients, but this is what it will look like mixed together!

The dough may be chilled overnight if you prefer, as I did, or you could simply roll out immediately. I refrigerated the dough overnight though, and the next morning rolled out the dough on my floured surface.

Using my heart cookie cutters, I cut the dough into my desired shapes and baked them in the oven at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. (Note: The recipe calls for 5 - 10, but I find that the 10 minute time is the best.)

I then set them on my cookie racks to cool before icing them. 

I used pre-made icing and also got some heart sprinkles and red sugar to cover some of the cookies with.

After icing, I set them to dry before enjoying some and then bagging the rest to take to work today! 

I love these cookies so much and while I still prefer when my Grandma makes them (I think it has to do with the extra love she puts into them), these are the next best thing! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and you're getting ready to enjoy another great week and a wonderful Valentine's Day!

PS. These were also published in the cookbook that featured my Grandma, Mom and I as three generations of cooks, published by the Heritage Center of Dickinson County. Please visit their site if you have a moment - they're a wonderful organization!