Valentine Cookies 2012

Here's my favorite Sugar Cookie Recipe that I used on these darling Valentine cookies.  Thanks to another favorite food blogger of mine.  She came up with the idea of using FONDANT for the icing WOW!!  Genius!  Why didn't I think of that!?!  Check out her most amazing creations and artistic designs, her blog is titled: La Table de Nana

So after it's combined in the mixer.  Use your hand to try to bring it all together in one lump

I then dumped in on my counter.  Don't worry, it will all come together . . . . . 

. . . . like this, shaped into a ball.  Cut in half, cover with plastic and place in the refrigerator until you prep for the next step (about 10 minutes).

Take half of the dough and roll it out until it's about 1/8" thick and then start cutting away with a cookie cutter

Place on a cookie sheet 

and bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are just about brown

Let set on the cookie sheet for about 5 minutes . . . 

Then transfer to a cooling rack.  Let cool completely.  After I baked all the cookies and they were all cooling down, I went ahead and washed whatever dish or utensil I dirtied and then wiped down the counter and prepped for the fondant rolling

This is the fondant.  This where "Playing with Clay 101" class comes in handy.  I cut this in half and put the other half in a zip lock bag to stay soft

You can buy both the fondant and the fondant roller at Walmart.  So roll the fondant until it's thinner than the cookie but not paper thin - I don't know how else to explain it.

Use the same cookie cutter 

Place about a tsp. of corn syrup on the cooled cookie

I used a spoon to spread it around, the corn syrup was really easy to work with.  Spread it to the edges

Then take one of the fondant hearts and place over the corn syrup and cookie.  It's very easy to maneuver to get it placed just right

Just about this time I start getting really excited.  I can't wait to start decorating them!!

I"m going to set mine aside until Sunday afternoon.  By then they'll be good and hard and easier to paint

This is where the fun begins . . . . so stay tuned until tomorrow!!


**UPDATE**
2/12/12
Click HERE for tomorrow's cookies