Heart shaped cut-out cookies for Valentine's Day

The big day isn't quite here yet, but our cookies have all but disappeared already. Why? Because I have the best recipe for cut-outs and frosting. I would love to share it with you. I actually published this recipe before on this blog but here it is again for any newcomers.

My granddaughter stayed overnight the other night so we could have time to make a batch of these. The size of the heart shaped cookie cutter that we used allowed us to make 5 dozen cookies. She took about 15 of them to her pre-school for their little party. We wrapped each one in a little cellophane bag with a tie, then put them in a pretty red box for easy carrying.

Then she got to keep a dozen that she personally decorated, and her mom took some to work, and...can you tell I'm trying desperately to account for the 60 cookies???

Grandma's Sugar Cookies

Cream together:

2 sticks butter (1 cup)

2 cups sugar

Beat in two medium eggs with mixer.

Sift together and add to the first mixture:

1 tsp. salt

4 tsp. baking powder

4 cups sifted flour

Blend into mixture 1 tsp. vanilla

Bake in preheated oven at 400 degrees F. Time depends on size of cookie. Start checking at 6 minutes. They are "perfect" when you see just a faint browned edge. Take cookie sheet out and set on wire rack till they cool off.

Note: This is a large recipe. It will make about 100 small to medium sized cut outs, or about 50 large cut outs. It can easily be cut in half.

Butter Cream Frosting

2 sticks butter, softened (1 cup)

8 cups powdered sugar

4 tsp. vanilla

milk

Cream together first three ingredients with beaters. Gradually add milk by the tablespoon to desired consistency. Note: this is a large recipe. It will frost about 100 small to medium sized cut outs, or about 50 large ones. The recipe can easily be cut in half.