Olive You - Valentines Day Cookies

How fabulous are these Olive You Cookies I found on Bake at 350's Blog!

Perfect Valentines Dy treat for the classy little get together. Light hearted and clever with the element of surprise, and they double as a conversational piece!

This recipe can be found on the Bake at 350 Blog along with more darling Valentines Day dessert ideas. We want to hear from you. What is your Valentines Day delight? Leave us a comment or email us and we would love to hear your sweet treat gestures this Valentines Day!

Bake At 350 Olive You Cookie Recipe

http://bakeat350.blogspot.com/2011/02/olive-you-martini-olive-valentine.html

 Be My Valentine Sugar Cookies

I found these absolutely darling Valentines Day cookies on Bakerella.com. They look like they were created by cupid himself. Check out this recipe for Vanilla-Almond Sugar Cookies with Fondant Icing.

 Vanilla-Almond Sugar Cookies

3 c unbleached, all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 c sugar (I use sugar that I've stored vanilla beans in)
 2 sticks (salted) butter, cold
 1 egg
 3/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp pure almond extract

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine the flour and baking powder, set aside. Cream the sugar and butter. Add the egg and extracts and mix. Gradually add the flour mixture and beat just until combined, scraping down the bowl, especially the bottom.

The dough will be crumbly, so knead it together with your hands as you scoop it out of the bowl for rolling.

Roll onto a floured surface and cut into shapes. Place on parchment lined baking sheets (put in the freezer for 5 min.) and bake for 10-12 minutes. Let sit a few minutes on the sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack.

Now for the fun part. Bakerella used these darling charms to and pressed them into colored fondant. You can virtually use any color fondant to achieve your Valentines Day look.

 She started by coloring her fondant and then rolling it out thin. The then pressed the fondant with the large charm. And last she used a cookie cutter to cut the edges smooth.

Finally she applied the fondant to each cookie. She took a thin layer of a sticky frosting to be the adhesive for the fondant and then applied the fondant to each cookie.

And how cute are these fondant topped cupcakes!

Your Best Valentine's Day Desserts 

When we set out looking for valentines day treat ideas, we thought ...where better than the Martha Stewart website! We were right she had some great ideas. I picked a few selections to share with you that can be done quickly and easily. The thing about Valentines Day is we all want to make impressive treats but we also want our time for romance. Here are some quick and easy shortcuts. 

(All pictures and ideas are from www.marthastewart.com) If your feeling really crafty and would like to make the homemade delicious from scratch versions please check out her website :)

Layered Heart Cupcakes

You will need:

silver muffin cups

Pink doilies (optional but a cute touch)

Box of chocolate cake mix

tub of pink frosting.

Bake cupcakes as directed and let cool. Cut the tops off chocolate cupcakes, Frost the bottom half of the cupcake saving the top. Punch a heart shape using a cookie cutter, then replac the top onto the cupcake. Fill the heart with more frosting to create a beautiful color combination of dark brown & pink.

Cocoa with Marshmallow Hearts

You will need:

Hot Cocoa Mix

Marshmallows

Tiny heart shaped cookie cutters

Red Mugs (optional but pretty presentation)

Make the hot cocoa mix as directed. cut the marshmallows in half to more easily be able to cut through them with the cookie cutter. punch through the marshmallow with the cookie cutter. Use both pieces of marshmallow to decorate the cocoa. 

Mini Valentine Message Cakes

You will need:

Mini heart shaped cake or muffin pans

Cake mix, any flavor

pastel icings or pastel fondant

reg tube of icing to write with

Smoothing knife or use the back of a butter knife

Make cake mix as directed bake and cool. Spread icing or fondant smoothly. Add your special messages (or maybe a marriage proposal...)

Heart Shaped Pancakes

You will need:

Pancake mix

A steady hand

Syrup

Mix up the pancake mix as directed on package. Pour in a heart shape. Steady hands needed - you may have a few that don't turn out....but practice makes perfect and this is sure to make your hunny bunny start his day with a smile....and your little one's too!

Send us your Valentines Day recipes, pictures, ideas, information, and stories. We wanna hear from you! Happy Valentines Day.... 

~ Miss D'Lish

Best Ever Sugar Cookie

Ok...So you know when you find the best recipe EVER and inside your head you hear a sneaky little voice that says

"Ooh!!!! You should never ever ever in a million years share this recipe with a single soul because then you can be the queen of (fill in the blank) making and everyone will think you're fabulous and envy your baking skills and wish they were you!"

Well...this is one of those recipes but I told that sneaky little voice to hit the road!

This here Sugar Cookie recipe is the BEST! My dear friend Aspen shared this with me 4 years ago and ever since I've been so loyal to it I can't bare to try another! They are moist and Soft and the perfect dough for any holiday! Cookie Cutters turn them into the perfect Halloween Bats! Best Ever Spring time Flower and of course the best heart shaped Valentine treat!

Best Ever Sugar Cookie

Blend together until smooth:

1 1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Cup melted Butter
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 eggs
1 Cup Sour Cream

Combined in separate bowl:

5 Cups Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

• Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until combined.

• Make a ball out of the dough and wrap in plastic wrap. Store in the fridge 2-3 hours or until firm. Over night works well too.
• Once dough is firm roll out a portion of the dough onto a floured surface. You want the dough thick. I roll mine out to be about 1/3" thick!
• Cut with cookie cutters and place on greases cookie sheet.
• Back at 375 for 10-12 min. You don't want them golden brown. They will be the same shade as the uncooked dough.

To make the perfect glossy and smooth frosting simply warm in your Microwave a can of Strawberry Frosting for about 30 seconds. Stir it and warm it longer until it's soupy. Dip your cooled cookies face down into the frosting and let the excess frosting drip off. Add Sprinkles right away so they can stick well. When the frosting cools it dries smooth!


These are perfect for Neighbors and Teachers or to eat all by yourself! Don't ask me how I know!!!

Enjoy!!!

Brigadeiro - Brazilian Candy (Lara Marotta)

 Brigadeiro Brazilian Candy

Valentines Day is near so I'm really excited about Lara's recipe! We need some new Valentines treats! I can't wait to try this one out it looks d'lish!

Here's her Recipe:
Brigadeiro is a traditional and easy to make Brazilian candy that everyone likes! You will find these at birthday parties and maybe even at a special dinner. To make this, follow the steps below.

1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 tablespoons cocoa
1 tablespoon butter
1 package chcocolate sprinkles

1. In a medium saucepan combine condensed milk and cocoa powder and butter. Stir until completely dissolved.

2. Put the saucepan on low heat and stir the mixture constantly with a wooden spoon or spatula.

3. Continue stirring on low heat until you are able to see the bottom of the pot when you tilt the pan, the mixture will get thicker in consistency. This should take 10-12 minutes.

4. Now pour the mixture onto a lightly greased plate or cookie sheet. Spread the mixture thinly and evenly
5. Allow to cool for around 10-20 minutes or until mixture does not move or slide off the plate.
6. Grease hands with butter and roll mixture into teaspoon sized balls and coat with chocolate sprinkles.

Extra tips:
You can use other ingredients to coat the brigadeiro with, such as coconut flakes, unsweetened cocoa, crushed nuts... etc.

You can also add some dark rum to the mixture as well.

A creative way to display the little sweets is in mini cupcakes holders.

You can add or subtract how much cocoa you want to add to the mixture according to your taste.

Do not use non-fat condensed milk, otherwise it won't hold shape.