Monday, January 23, 2012

Valentine Sugar Cookies with Cinnamon Imperial Frosting

At last, my week of Valentine Cookies has arrived! And to kick it all off, I'm sharing some of my favorites - heart-shaped sugar cookies covered in an ever-so-slightly-spicy Cinnamon Red Hot Frosting.


I've been planning this series for a while, so you can imagine my surprise when I discovered, post-cookie-dough-making, that I didn't own a single heart-shaped cookie cutter! I'm not sure how such an important fact got overlooked, but luckily we live within shouting distance of a Wal-Mart, so I was able to pop my mixing bowl into the fridge and come back with a whole array of cookie cutters before the dough was even cold.


Speaking of dough, these tender cut-out cookies are based on the same all-time favorite sugar cookie recipe I shared at Christmastime. In fact, all of the cookies in this series will have the same base dough - so go ahead and make it a double batch, you're gonna need it! I may be an innovator when it comes to most recipes, but I haven't changed a thing since my little sister introduced me to these fool-proof, perfect-every-time sugar cookies.


In addition to my favorite sugar cookie recipe, these cookies boast a positively delicious frosting. It's based on the recipe I shared on Friday, but with a few fun surprises. The first is the addition of crushed cinnamon imperial candies (you know, those bright red candies in the red cellophane wrappers?), and the second is a bit of added powdered sugar.  The mock 'whipped cream' frosting is great for sandwich cookies, but I added a bit of powdered sugar to help the frosting to 'set' for open-faced cookies. If you want an icing that sets even harder, more like Royal Icing, check out my 'Best Sugar Cookie Icing.'


I've baked with cinnamon imperials before, in the form of Red Hots, but never thought to use them as a decorating accent - until now. The pop of red color looks great against a white icing, but you can tint yours pink or even red to give it a burst of color that's a nice complement to the warm, slightly spicy cinnamon flavor. With their rosy complexion and Ret Hot flavor, these cookies are a natural choice for Valentine's Day - but who says you can't eat them all year?


Best, Never Fail Sugar Cookies
Check out my earlier post for the full recipe
A quick note:  Don't worry if your dough turns out quite dry and even a little crumbly (there's a lot of flour in this recipe). Just be patient - it'll come together when you roll it out!


Cinnamon Imperial Frosting
1 bowl Recession-Proof 'Whipped Cream' Frosting
Up to 2 cups powdered sugar, as needed
Up to 1 cup crushed cinnamon imperials, or Red Hots, as desired
Sprinkles, for decorating

Stir crushed candies into frosting to achieve desired flavor and color (be aware that excessive stirring may cause the candies to turn your icing pink!). Stir powdered sugar into prepared frosting by the spoonful, until the desired consistency is reached. Bear in mind that the mixture will thicken a little as it dries. Frost cookies immediately, and add decorations while frosting is still wet. Set finished cookies on a wire rack or baking sheet to 'dry' overnight.

This post has been shared at:
An Original Belle: Make-It-Yourself Monday -  Add a Pinch: Mingle Monday - Mrs. Happy Homemaker: Makin' You Crave Monday - Clairejustineoxox: Creative Monday - Flour Me With Love: Mix it up Monday - Craft-O-Maniac: Craftomaniac Monday - Making the World Cuter: Making the World Cuter Monday - Things that make you say: "Mmmmm"!: Monday Link Party - Skip To My Lou: Made By You Monday - The Southern Institute: Creative ME Monday - The Girl Creative: Just Something I Whipped Up - 33 Shades of Green: Tasty Tuesdays - Today's Creative Blog: Get Your Craft On Tuesday - Crazy for Crust: Crazy Sweet Tuesday - Reasons To Skip the Housework: Tuesday Time Out - A Bowl Full of Lemons: One Project at a Time - I'm Topsy Turvy: Topsy Turvy Tuesdays - Hope Studios: Tutorial Tuesday - Bacon TIme: Crafting & Cooking from the Heart Contest - Ginger Snap Crafts: Wow Me Wednesday - Clean & Scentsible: The Creative Spark - Oopsey Daisy: Wednesday's Wowzers - Literally Inspired: What You Talkin' Bout Wednesday - My Girlish Whims: Your Whims Wednesday - Southern Lovely: Show & Share - Blue Cricket Design: Show and Tell - Organize & Decorate Everything - Seven Thirty Three: Sugar & Spice - Someday Crafts: Whatever Goes Wednesday - It's a Keeper: It's a Keeper Thursday - Somewhat Simple: Strut Your Stuff Thursday - House of Hepworths: Hookin Up with HoH - Thrifty 101: Thrifty Thursday - The Crafty Blog Stalker: Blog Stalking Thursday - Miz Helen's Country Cottage: Full Plate Thursday - Something Swanky: Sweet Treats Thursday - Rhinestone Beagle: Doggone Dirty Craftin' Thursday - Chic on a Shoestring: Flaunt It Friday - Simply Designing: Simply Link Friday - Creation Corner: Friday Link Party - Toys In The Dryer: Fun Stuff Fridays - Sweet as Sugar Cookies: Sweets for a Saturday - Michele Paige: Rockin' Valentine Link Party - A Well-Seasoned Life: Sweet Indulgences Sunday - Six Sisters' Stuff: Strut Your Stuff Saturday - Happy Hour Projects: Share the Love Valentine Party

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16 comments:

  1. I'm totally making these!!! I am working with a photographer and we are going to make a Valentine's Dinner styled photo shoot, I'll have to add these to the shoot! They look delic. If you're interested in my blog I'll let you know when the post comes up so you can check it out!

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  2. These are so adorable! I love them.

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  3. I bet the frosting is amazing. I love anything with red hots.

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  4. Those cookies look fantastic!

    ...followed you over from Southern Institute. :)

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  5. These are so sweet,I'm off now to look for heart sprinkles,Thanks for linking up to Creative Mondays :)

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  6. Yummy! and so cute! Share if you will at my first link party:
    http://dwellonjoy.blogspot.com/2012/01/first-ever-dwell-on-friday.html. It's open til Wednesday!

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  7. Beautiful! And yummy too. Thanks for sharing on Crazy Sweet Tuesday!

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  8. YUMMY!!! and they're pretty too! please share with us over at the Handmade Valentine Link UP:
    http://www.summitstreetjoy.com/2012/01/handmade-valentines-day-crafts-and.html
    thanks for sharing :)
    lauren

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  9. Oooo cinnamon would be yummy too! So many options here--all delish!

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  10. Yummy. This recipe looks just delicious. I must try it. Come visit us. We have an awesome molten cocoa cake today.

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  11. A delicious cookie Rachel, I wish I had one right now. Hope you are having a great week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  12. My husband loves cinnamon red hots! I think I'm going to have to try this recipe first! Thanks so much for linking up to my Valentine Link Party!

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  13. Super pretty cookies, can't go wrong with cinnamon in my opinion,love it. Good luck again from Bacon Time.

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  14. They're so cute - love the cinnamon in them. And you gotta love Walmart!! Don't know what I'd do without them.

    :)
    ButterYum

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  15. Those cookies are looking really delicious dear. I just love cooking and that is why, I have decided to plan a party at my house and I will try this dish in that party along with my other dishes from Nom Live Video App for cooking, too. Anyway, thanks for sharing it here.

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