How to Make Animal Valentine Cookies

A fun Valentine's Day recipe that children will love! It's a quick and delicious cookie recipe that also sparks creativity and imagination in any child! Get out the cookie cutters and decorations and have some fun!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 (3oz.) pkg. softened cream chese
• 1/2 ts salt
• 1/2 ts almond extract
• 1/2 ts vanilla extract
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• Heart-shaped cookie cutters (several sizes)
• Frosting
• Decoration (red hots, mini chocolate chips, shredded wheat, licorice strips)

1. 

   In large bowl, combine sugar, butter, cream cheese, salt, almond and vanilla extracts, and egg yolk. Beat until smooth then stir in flour until well blended. Chill the dough for at least an hour.

2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

3. 

   On lightly floured surface, spread the dough using a rolling pin until it's about 1/4 inch thick. Cut out heart shapes with your cookie cutters and arrange into cookie animals.

4. 

   Place the cookies on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.

5. 

   Use colored frosting and decorations to make your cookies look like animals.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep dough refrigerated if not in use.

[grouch]

on 1/26/2008 These are great. I am on the lookout now for the perfect little love bug cookie cutter. Thanks.