Valentine Heart Necklaces Recipe

Name: Valentine Heart Necklaces
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 2 min
Yield: 15 servings
Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup white sugar; 1 egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 tablespoon lemon zest; 2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 3 cups confectioners' sugar; 1/3 cup butter, softened; 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 tablespoons milk; 3 drops red food coloring; 2 1/4 ounces colored candy sprinkles; 60 long red vine licorice

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon lemon zest
2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
3 drops red food coloring
2 1/4 ounces colored candy sprinkles
60 long red vine licorice

PREP TIME 35m	COOK TIME 7m	TOTAL TIME 2m
YIELD 15 servings

Instructions

Cream 1 cup butter or margarine and 3/4 cup white sugar together. Blend in egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and grated lemon peel. Sift together 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour and baking powder. Add to creamed mixture and blend well. Cover and refrigerate dough for approximately 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Use a floured heart shaped 1 to 2 inch cookie cutter and cut dough into heart shapes. Place the cut-out hearts on greased cookie sheets.
Using the drinking straw, make a hole at the top center of each heart before baking. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes until very lightly browned. Cool the cookies on a wire rack.
To Make Butter Frosting: Mix 3 cups confectioners' sugar and 1/3 cup butter together. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons milk. Beat until smooth making sure frosting is of spreading consistency. Stir in food coloring to create a pink or red colored frosting, if desired.
After cookies have cooled, frost and decorate them with nonpareils, sprinkles, dragees, or colored sugar. Use a toothpick to dislodge the hole, if necessary. Let the frosting dry.
To make a necklace, tie the ends off of two pieces of red colored licorice with a knot. Thread it through the hole at the top center of the cookie. Tie the other ends off with another knot to create a "chain." Makes approximately 30 heart necklaces.