Friday, February 16, 2007

'Tis So Sweet: Sugar Cookies


Chocolate was an obvious theme throughout my Valentine's Day cookie and confections exchange last Sunday. The house filled up with guys, girls, really, really cute babies and a spread of decadent home baking. While the snow swirled around outside, we warmed up with coffee and let the truffles melt in our mouths. As a general rule, I tend to scoff at Valentine's Day festivities and traditions, but this year it offered a chance to get together with some great people and eat great sweets, so maybe it's not so bad after all.

Earl Grey Truffles

Raspberry and Mocha Truffle Tartelettes

Grand Marnier Truffles

Chocolate Fudge, Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies, and Seven-Layer Bars made up the rest of the spread.


Dressed up Sugar Cookies

Kahlua Truffles

Sugar Cookies are great anytime of the year and can be dressed up to match any occasion. Mine were decidedly romantic in pink and purple hearts. These ones from Martha Stewart taste just fine!

Dressed-up Sugar Cookies

1 pound (450g) unsalted butter
3 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
5 cups flour


In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, abut 5 minutes. Add eggs, vanilla and salt; mix on medium-high speed until combined. With mixer on low speed, add flour in two batches, mixing until just incorporated.

Turn the dough onto a clean work surface. Divide in half, and pat into flattened rectangles; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 1 week.
Preheat oven to 350F. Roll out one rectangle of dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Using cookie cutters, cut out desired shapes and transfer to baking sheet. Chill about 15 minutes or until firm.

Bake until cookies are golden around the edges, about 15 minutes. Cool completely. Ice as desired.
Cookies can be kept in an airtight container for up to three days.


8 comments:

Mandy said...

What a delicious post and what a wonderful idea. :) It was not a good idea to read this post during a chocolate craving! :)

Anonymous said...

Okay, seriously... you show us all these amazing pictures made from undoubtedly amazing recipes then give us a recipe for plain ol' sugar cookies!!? Grumble grumble...

Zaak said...

Sweet.

Aimée said...

Keep up the grumbling, Tammy, and you'll be getting a nice big fat recipe for boiling water next.
=)
OK, it's not a recipe swap. The sugar cookie were my contribution and as a general rule, I don't ask people for their recipes.
Sorry for the let-down!

Amber said...

I'm intrigued by the Earl Grey truffles - do they taste like the tea, or are they to go with the tea? Please excuse my ignorance...and how I would have loved to have been at that party! Did Noah get to sample any of the treats?

Anonymous said...

Haha... boiling water!It's just that I have a tried and true sugar cookie recipe, but no tried and true truffle recipes. Ah well, I should just start trying on my own, eh?

Aimée said...

Amber-the cream used to make the truffles is infused with Earl Grey tea and then mixed with the chocolate. They are pretty stunning!

No, Noah darling doesn't get chocolate and he didn't sample anything....

Anonymous said...

So sorry to have missed such a beautiful display of 'yummies'! I'll really have to start coming to these get together's, although, so far Kevin and I have successfully evaded the inevitable '10-15 lb marriage gain' that we were told about! Hmmmmmmm.........cookies, or a little weight gain, the universal question!

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