LOVE at First Bite
Cupid's day calls for yummy desserts that say "you're special" at first sight and first bite! With a few easy techniques, four year-round favorites — butter cookies, fruit-filled chocolate shells, brownies and cupcakes - become delicious and doable Valentine treats.
2 packages (14 ounces each) white, dark cocoa or light cocoa candy meltsPink and white sparkling sugarsFresh berriesMelt candy melts following package instructions. Use food-safe brush to coat bottom and sides of heart-shaped silicone mold cavities with melted candy. Coat cups thick enough so that cup cannot be seen through candy, at least Z\v inch thick. Refrigerate candy in mold on cookie sheet until firm, 5 to 8 minutes.Unmold candy cup by carefully peeling back sides of mold cavity; gently push baking cup bottom to release candy cup. Brush top edge of cups with melted candy; dip edge into sugars. Let set. Just before serving, fill with berries.Make the shells up to one week in advance. Place baking cups on flat surface. Fill with 2 tablespoons melted candy. Brush candy up sides, coating evenly to make heart candy shell. Refrigerate until firm. Repeat until shell is desired thickness. Peel cup from candy, gently pushing up shell from bottom. Keep shell in cool, dry place until ready to fill and serve. To serve, brush edges with melted candy and dip into pink and white sparkling sugars; fill with berries.
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened1 ½ cups granulated sugar1 egg1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon saltIn large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and extracts; mix well. Combine flour and salt; add to butter mixture, one cup at a time. Beat until well blended. Do not chill dough. Divide dough in half; use one half each for Sweet Love Cookies and Got a Crush on You Cupcakes.
Sugar Cookie Dough (half of the prepared dough)3 packages (14 ounces each) white candy meltsColored nonpareils or other sugars and sprinklesPreheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray Petite Heart Pan cavities with vegetable pan spray.Press dough into cavities, filling 2/3 full. Bake 6 to 7 minutes or until light brown around edges. Cool in pan 5 minutes. Turn pan over; lightly tap to remove cookies. Cool completely on cooling grid.Working with 4 to 5 cookies at a time, place cookies on cooling grid positioned over parchment paper lined cookie sheet or pan. Melt candy melts following package instructions; pour or pipe over cookie and let set briefly. Sprinkle with nonpareils. Let dry completely.
1 package (about 20 ounces) brownie mix (13 x 9-inch size)Water, oil and eggs to make mix1 can (16 ounces) fudge icingPink and white cookie icingHeart-shaped chocolate candy (optional)Bake brownies in baking pan following package directions. Cool completely.Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut shapes from cooled brownie; ice with fudge icing. Heat cookie icing following package instructions; add message, outlines, swirls and other decorations to top of brownie hearts. If desired, add candy.
Sugar cookie dough (half of the prepared dough)Red and pink colored sugars1 can (16 ounces) white decorator icing1 package (18.25 ounces) yellow or other favorite flavor cake mixWater, oil and eggs to prepare mixPreheat oven to 400 degrees.On lightly floured surface, roll cookie dough into a circle about 12 inches in diameter and 1/8 inch thick. Using nesting heart cookie cutters, cut 2 sizes small hearts, dipping cutter in flour before each use; sprinkle with colored sugars. Bake cookies on ungreased cookie sheet 6 to 7 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. Cool cookies completely. Layer small and large cookies with icing between.Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Place baking cups in standard muffin pan. Prepare cake mix following package directions. Fill cups 2/3 full; bake 17 to 19 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cupcakes completely. Ice cooled cupcakes with icing; insert cookies, mounding additional icing if necessary.
