Simple Sweetheart Sugar Cookies

Valentine's Day is a bit of a love/hate holiday (ironic, since it's all about love) but I love a good theme and an excuse to bake. This year, my boyfriend and I are keeping things casual. We're on a bit of a budget since we've just booked a holiday and may have got a little carried away with all the extras (Late check out? Sure! Swim up room? Go for it! It's not like I have to you know, buy food to live or anything). We've also been trying to eat a little healthier in 2016 so for Valentine's we are letting that all slide for a day and ordering a big 'ol greasy Domino's and will spend the evening pigging out and watching films. My idea of heaven. If you're on a bit of a budget, I definitely recommend baking something, it's fun, affordable and personal. Even if you're not celebrating, I recommend baking these sugar cookies because they're so easy and so tasty. Plus, decorating is the best part, although mine do look a little amateurish, I still had fun!

I took this recipe from the Hummingbird Bakery book, which is a firm favourite of mine. The recipe recommended using an electric whisk and typically, when I got mine out of the cupboard, it had broken. However, it does go to show that a wooden spoon and a mixing bowl can still do the job just fine! The recipe says it makes about 20, I'd say closer to 30 though, I had so many!

You will need:

• 200g unsalted butter at room temperature
• 280g caster sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 400g plain flour
• a pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• Icing to decorate

Preheat the oven to 170°C  (325°F) and prepare 4 baking trays with greaseproof paper.
 
Put the butter, sugar and vanilla extract in a bowl and mix until light and fluffy. Then add the  egg and mix.

Next, add the dry ingredients, the flour, salt and cream of tartar, and mix well. Make sure there are no lumps in the mixture and scrape any unmixed ingredients from the side with a spatula. The dough should be light,soft and easy to handle.

Lightly dust a clean work surface with flour and roll out the dough. Cut shapes with your chosen cutter and arrange the dough on the baking trays. Although this dough does not really spread, ensure the cookies are spaced out on the tray.

Bake the cookies for approximately 10 minutes, ensuring they don't burn. The cookies should be golden at the edge and paler in the centre, but be sure to watch them as they can burn easily.

After 10 minutes, leave the cookies to cool completely on a wire cooling rack before decorating.

 
 So, there you have it, super simple sugar cookies that make a delicious treat for any occasion!