Heart-Shaped Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• Decorations (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and almond extracts.
4. Gradually blend the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture. Shape dough into 1 ½ inch balls and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
5. Flatten each cookie with the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar. Place a small piece of decoration onto the center of each cookie, if desired.
6. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Interesting Facts

• Valentine's Day is the most popular day to make heart-shaped cookies.
• Cookies can be decorated with heart-shaped sprinkles, colored sugar, and even pieces of candy.
• Heart-shaped cookies have been around since the Middle Ages.
• The first cookie cutters were made from tin or copper.