I decided to see if I could make a cookie using jellied heart candies. I adapted a recipe from Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Cookie Book 2011, added almond extract and used a two-step baking method. I tried putting the hearts on the cookies at the start of the baking time. They held up OK, but the sugar on them melted. Baking the cookies for a time and then adding the hearts worked better.
The recipe will make 48 to 54 cookies. A bag of jellied hearts contains about 38 pieces of candy. Buy two bags of candy and eat the excess or buy one bag of candy and make some plain cookies, depending on how many heart cookies are needed.
The people I tested these on liked them a lot and thought they were very cute.
I did find that I needed to chill the dough and keep it very cold so kept it in the refrigerator between baking the pans of cookies.
Here’s My Heart Cookies
adapted from Better Homes and Gardens
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg at room temperature
1 t. almond extract
2 T. milk
2 c. all-purpose flour
1 t. baking powder
1/8 t. baking soda
1 to 2 pkgs. jellied candy hearts
In a large mixing bowl combine shortening, butter, brown sugar and sugar. Beat well. Add egg, almond extract and milk, beating until well blended. Combine flour, baking powder and soda. Stir into liquid ingredients and mix until well blended. Chill dough at least 1 hour. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on ungreased baking sheet. (I used a cookie scoop.) Bake at 350 degrees for 6 minutes. Remove cookies from oven and quickly place a jellied heart in the center of each cookies. Return to oven and bake an additional 3 to 4 minutes, just until edges begin to brown. Remove from oven and let set about 1 minute before removing cookies from baking sheet. Cool on a wire rack. Makes 48 to 54 cookies.
The ingredients for next month's Improv Challenge are peas and carrots. Now that should be an interesting one. If you would like to join us, you can find all the necessary information on Kristen's Improv page.
Check what other bloggers did with hearts and flours in the links below.
Hi there Grandma Loy. I often make cookies with oatmeal and I haven't yet tried cookies that self flatten in the oven. I think I should try this and if I will have to top them with candies, I'd try to make my own gum drops as well :)
ReplyDeleteBtw, this is my first time doing the Improv challenge.
Cute!
ReplyDeleteI love that you tried out baking with gum drops. They look so festive on top of those yummy cookies.
ReplyDeleteLove your heart-shaped cookies! They're the perfect for a quick snack. What a great idea for the Improv Challenge! Hope you have time to stop by and check out my heart-shaped gingerbread cookies.
ReplyDeleteMy grandma used to always give me jelly hearts for Valentine's Day! Your cookies look yummy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute idea. I wouldn't have thought to use those jelly candies.
ReplyDeleteI like like LIKE this idea as a straightforward, flexible, and adorable cookie!
ReplyDeleteWhat a good idea! I've never used jellied candies as cookie adornment and these are too cute. Like that you put the candy on halfway through baking so that the sugar still sparkled. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute idea! Great Improv post! :)
ReplyDeleteCookies are really cute and I'm sure they taste great too. You are a clever woman! =)
ReplyDelete