So, you've got the card, a gift...items you've brought year in, year out but STOP!!! Why not wow your loved one by going the extra mile and bake some heart shaped iced and spiced cookies.
By now, you've probably watched our first episode on Youtube (and you if haven't don't worry, it's at the bottom of the page); the first of our three part Valentine's day specials - iced and spiced cookies.
These cookies - all biscuits as they say in good ol' blighty, are deliciously buttery and moorish. With a hardened exterior and a soft, crumbly centre, these cookies will not taste bland nor dry - I think it's due to the additional flavouring. It's a super easy recipe and so versatile it can be made for any occasion, so let's get baking!
Ingredients
To make about 15 - 20 cookies you will need the following ingredients:- 100g softened unsalted butter
- 100g white sugar
- 1 medium egg
- 275g of plain flour
- 1tsp mixed spice
- 1tsp vanilla extract
1. First, you need to cream together the butter, which has been softened at room temperature, and sugar. I tend to you granulated sugar, but you can also use caster sugar if you want a finer crumb. I would avoid using brown sugar for this recipe as it totally changes the consistency.
2. In a clean, dry bowl, mix together the plain flour and mixed spice For best results sieve together to get rid of any lumps.
3. Once the sugar and butter is combined together add the vanilla. You could however intensify these cookies by also adding 1tsp of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1tsp of freshly squeezed orange juice as well as the rind of half a lemon and an orange.
4. When the mixture is pale in colour add the egg - also at room temperature. Then mix in the flour. Your dough will be a soft ball at this stage. If it's too sticky add a little bit more flour.
5. Now, you're almost ready to bake. But first it's chilling time! Grab a baking tin and line it with greaseproof paper or baking paper or parchment paper - you will need two pieces. Place the first piece on the tin then pat the dough, flattening with your hands.
Then place another piece of paper on top. Here's a Just Like Mummy's tip - using a rolling pin, roll the dough between the two sheets of greaseproof paper. This stops the dough from sticking to your rolling pin and the remedy of adding more flour. Once you have rolled the dough to about half a cm in thickness, pop the tray into the fridge for 15 - 20 mins to firm.
6. At this point preheat the oven to 180°C or gas mark 5. Once the dough has firm use a cookie cutter and cut out your heart shapes. Place them on another lined baking tin, leaving about an inch space between them. Bake in the oven for about 12-15 minutes turning the tray halfway. You want to bring them out of the oven just as the edges are turning golden brown.
7. After 5 mins transfer the cookies onto a wire rack to cool some more.
At this point, these cookies also taste delicious lightly dusted with sugar or icing sugar. However you can continue to ice them.
To ice, I'm using ready rolled red sugar-paste, brought from a large supermarket or specialist cake decorating store. Simply dust your work surface with icing sugar and roll the sugar-paste with a rolling pin until it's about a £1 in thickness. Using a pastry brush and some boiled water, brush some water over your cookie. Use the cutter and cut out a lovely heart shape and stick - et viola! Your iced and spiced valentines day cookies baked Just Like Mummy's
They taste delicious with a cup of tea or a glass of bubbly too!
Let me know how these turn out for you and stay tuned for the next episode and recipe from Let's Bake! Just Like Mummy's
