Children love Valentine’s Day. Children also love baking. Combine these two loves by making cookies for Valentine’s Day. I found this chocolate rolled cookie recipe on the glorious treats web site. Make sure to let the children help with every part of baking from collecting the ingredients, measuring, mixing, rolling the dough, using cookie cutters, and decorating the cookies.
You Will Need:
1 cup butter
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 Tablespoons chocolate liqueur or extra strong coffee (this can be made with about 1 teaspoon of instant espresso dissolved into 2 Tablespoons warm water)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
What to Do:
1. Sift together (or gently stir with a whisk) the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
2. With an electric mixer cream together the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until fully incorporated and fluffy.
3. Beat in egg, coffee or liqueur, and vanilla.
4. Add in flour/cocoa mixture about 1 cup at a time. Blend until fully incorporated. (If you are using a hand mixer you may need to add the last cup of flour by hand).
5. Divide dough into two or three large balls, place in a plastic bag and chill in the refrigerator 1-2 hours (if you’re in a hurry, you can chill the dough for about 20 minutes in the freezer).
7. Once chilled, work with one ball of dough at a time, and roll onto a lightly floured surface. I find it works best to place a sheet of parchment paper on top of the dough, and then roll on top of the parchment. This prevents the dough from sticking to your rolling pin, and you also don’t need to add as much extra flour (as you would without the parchment).
8. Cut out desired shapes with cookie cutters and place on a baking sheet.
9. Place the baking sheet (with cookies on it) in the freezer about 5 minutes (this helps the dough keep its shape when baked).
10. Bake cookies for 7-10 minutes (depending on size) in a 350*F oven.
11. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet a few minutes and then transfer to a wire cooling rack.
Royal Icing Recipe:
4 Tablespoons Meringue Powder (Such as Wilton Brand)
4 cups (about 1 pound) powdered sugar
6 Tablespoons warm water
1. Make sure all bowls and utensils are totally grease-free or your icing will never reach proper consistency.
2. Beat all ingredients until stiff peaks form.
3. Spoon some of the thick white icing into individual bowls and add food coloring or paste.
Click here to see the rest of the instructions.
Reference:
bethebestnanny.com 
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