Love is in the air and pretty soon everyone will start to feel it. As February approaches, so do new recipes. Below are two wonderful and simple recipes that you should definitely try making as a gift to loved ones. 

First up is the Heart Thumbprint Cookies. This recipe takes regular sugar cookies to a whole other level by adding a heart in the middle filled with jam of your choice. These cookies have the perfect amount of sugar since they aren’t too sweet, but are still enjoyable and scrumptious. They are very easy to make and turn out absolutely delicious. Here is the recipe provided by zhangcatherine.com. 

Ingredients:

15g (½ cup) Unsalted butter, room temperature

60g (½ cup) Icing/powdered sugar

1 Egg yolk

½ tsp Vanilla Extract

140g (¾ cup or 2 tbsp) Plain flour

15g (2 tbsp) Cornstarch

Jam (any flavor)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Cream butter and icing sugar until light and fluffy
3. Add egg yolk and vanilla extract, beat until well combined
4. Mix in flour and cornstarch, stir until just combined
5. Roll into 12 balls and create a heart shape in the center of each ball using two thumbprints joined at the bottom
6. Fill the thumbprint with jam of your choice
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly golden brown

   

Another amazing recipe is Pink and Red Chocolate Chip Cookies. These cookies are absolutely mouthwatering and will leave you wanting more. They will make a perfect, yet delicious gift that will provide a simple moment of joy. They are a mix of pink and red M&M’s, or you can change them to regular ones. Here is the recipe provided by http://kleinworthco.com.

Ingredients:

1 stick of butter (½ cup) – room temperature

¼ cup margarine

¾ brown sugar

¼ granulated sugar

1-½ vanilla extract

1 egg

2 cups all-purpose flour scooped lightly

1 box of instant vanilla pudding – not cook & serve

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup of 1 white chocolate chips

1 cup of Valentine M&M’s

Directions:

1. In a mixer bowl – beat butter, margarine, sugar & brown sugar together until fluffy.
2. Add egg & vanilla – beat well.
3. Add in flour, pudding mix, baking soda & salt – slowly stir first & then beat until all ingredients are completely incorporated.
4. Slowly stir in chocolate & white chocolate chips.
5. Fold in 1/2 the M&M’s.
6. Remove the beater, cover & refrigerate overnight (extremely important that you do this).
7. The next day preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
8. Roll dough into balls – it will be firm & you will need to press it all together.
9. Place the dough balls on a baking sheet & bake cookies for 9-12 minutes (some are perfect at 11).
10. Remove & immediately top each cookie with a few extra chocolate chips, white chocolate chips & M&M’s before they cool.
11. Leave cookies on the baking sheet to cool.
12. Repeat this process with remaining cookies.
13. Use 3-3/4 baking sheets for all these cookies.
14. Store in an airtight container at room temperature