Valentine Cookies - Sweet, Fun & Low Fat

 Low Fat Sugar Cookies - Sweet & Tasty with half the fat!

With about half the butter of most sugar cookies, you can treat yourself to one of these low fat Christmas cookies without feeling too guilty. Top with sprinkles before baking or add a glaze afterwards using confectioner's sugar, almond extract and some food coloring.

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 5 tbsp butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour*
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt

 *If using self-rising flour, omit salt and baking soda.

Using a mixer, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg and vanilla, mixing well. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually stir flour mixture into butter and sugar until dough forms. The dough may seem a little crumbly at first; but it will come together. Wrap dough in plastic and chill for two hours in the refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle surface and rolling pin with confectioner's sugar. Roll out dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters dipped in confectioner's sugar to make cutouts. Gather scraps and re-roll until all the dough is used. 

Place cookies 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake for 9-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Transfer to wire rack after 1 minute to cool.

When cookies are fully cooled, frost and decorate as desired.  This is fun to do with kids.

Makes about 30 cookies, depending on size of cookie cutters used.  I have two sizes of hearts.  The red plastic one does not cut through the dough as well as the old metal one, so I use the metal one.