Valentine Heart Necklaces

Ingredients

• Servings: 30
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup 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

Recipe

Preparation Time: 35 mins Cook Time: 7 mins Ready Time: 2 hrs 42 mins


• cream 1 cup butter or margarine and 3/4 cup 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.