Delicious and cute sugar cookies decorated for Valentine’s day + tips on how to make baking more fun for you and your kids!!
Valentine’s day is here and you may or may not have had a change to get festive and make those cookies you pinned on Pinterest you were dying to make. Not to mention the date night pasta and gourmet salad you found on Bon Appetit.
TBH Valentine’s day has never been my favorite holiday. Seriously, I’m usually just so relieved to just have paid off my credit card from Christmas that I tell my husband, “Let’s just go out to eat, and preferably a few days after Valentine’s day so we can get a table.” I don’t mean to be all Debbie downer (no offense Debbie) but I just don’t get worked up about this day. I guess you can say I’m a gal that can do just fine without the fancy roses.
However, I dooo love finding another excuse to get in the kitchen and bake with my kiddos!! It sounds so fun ya know. Cookie cutters out, rolling out the dough, flour evvvverywhere! What’s not to love?! Regardless of the mess, I am committed to continue this tradition with my kids because it’s a tradition I will always remember as a kid. I looooved baking cookies and I still do to this day.
There’s always so much hype that goes into the holidays such as the present buying, hours of cooking to create the perfect dinner but the thing I love most it hanging out in the kitchen making unforgettable memories with my family making yummy goodies that are gone within a day! That’s my favorite part.
Every time I even mention cookies the kids are like little puppies chasing their tails until they get to participate! It’s quite the scene at our house.
Because things can get a little overwhelming with 3 kids nearly the same age I have included a list of things to help make the process more enjoyable for you and your kids so no one is in tears.
Tips on Baking with Kids
- Give them each their own unique job. I have 3 kids that are 4, 5, and 7 now and they all want to help with each step but it just doesn’t work well that way. Giving them each a separate job makes them feel special and like they are helping out in their own way. I like to prepare the dough myself prior to starting with the kids just because we don’t have an outlet close to our island making it more difficult for them all to see what’s going on. So once the dough is prepared I have one child help me roll out the dough, another child cut out the cookies, and another pick up the scraps and roll them back into a ball to roll out again.
- When the cookies are baking the kids easily get bored so they often go play during this time. However, Collin, my oldest child likes to watch the cookies bake in the oven and he feels like he’s still helping by telling me when the cookies are almost done which I love!
- When the cookies are cooling, I let them each pick out one cookie (or two!) to “test” and make sure they are delicious!!
- Once the cookies have cooled and are ready to frost I divide the cookies out and make sure they each have an equal number to frost. I choose to have them frost their cookies one at a time so that they each can use ALL of the decorating tools and sprinkles when they want or need them. At our house, six cookies seems like plenty of cookies to frost for each of them. They all are ready to be done by the time they get done frosting six cookies.
- Then we keep each of their cookies in a separate container so they can enjoy them and we know whose are whose.
We all love cookie baking days and it seems like the things stated above keep the kitchen a happier place! Which I love!!
Now I think I have to go make some more cookies!!
I hope you all have a Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
Valentine's Day Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
Frosting
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 tbsp water
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400℉. Add flour, baking soda, and baking powder to a small bowl and combine. Set aside.
- Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Gradually add in the flour mixture.
- On a floured surface, roll dough out with a floured rolling pin. Cut out cookies with cookie cutters of choice. Place cut out cookies on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
- Let stand on baking sheets 2 minutes and then transfer to cooling racks to cool completely. Frost cookies once cooled completely.
Frosting
- In medium bowl, combine powdered sugar and water until you reach desired consistency. Start with 3 tbsp water and add more if necessary. Add vanilla and mix well.
Notes
