Pillbox

Treat your valentine to delicious desserts

By Jing Jing Li  |  Feb 14, 2011
Baked goods are a delicious way to show someone that you care about them. (credit: Courtesy of Catherine dée Auvil) Baked goods are a delicious way to show someone that you care about them. (credit: Courtesy of Catherine dée Auvil)

Flowers and chocolate might be the standard, but try celebrating this Valentine’s Day with some baked goods instead. They’re easy and fun, and certainly delicious.

(recipes from allrecipes.com)

Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

Makes 30.

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

Cupcakes:

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
1 (1 ounce) bottle red food color
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Set aside.

Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in sour cream, milk, food color and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until just blended. Do not overbeat. Spoon batter into 30 paper-lined muffin cups, filling each cup 2/3 full.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pans for 5 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely.

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 (16 ounce) box confectioners’ sugar

Beat cream cheese, softened, butter, sour cream and vanilla extract in large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar until smooth.

Makes 30.