stained glass valentines cookies + freebie heart tags

Hello lovelies! Are you running around like a headless banshee, attempting to prep for all those valentines parties yet?

Me neither.

But here’s one of our very fave go-tos for one of our very favorite festive holidays: Valentines Cookies {& a free printable}.

It’s a great activity with the kiddos, and we packaged them oh so sweetly with some free printables {see below}

So if you’re in the mood to do something sweetly creative for this years party, here’s what you’ll need for your stained glass valentines cookies:

1 cup coconut oil {if you don’t have coconut oil, you can use shortening} • 4 cups flour – all purpose • 1/2 cup of milk • 2 eggs • 2 cups sugar • 1 tsp baking soda • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/2 tsp vanilla flavoring • cookie cutters of choice • Jolly Ranchers, pulverized.

Cut your coconut oil {or shortening} into flour using pastry blender, fork or food processor until consistency is similar to corn meal. Combine the remaining ingredients, and mix in with flour/shortening.

This recipe goes great with frosting, and it’s Jamin’s favorite sugar cookie that he grew up with {we call them Nana’s fantastical sugar cookies, and did a 4th of July version, here}

They yield a generous amount, and the batter can easily be stored in the fridge for later once one batch is made. The possibilities are endless!

To make them stained glass, roll them out with your rolling pin, and use two {very close in size} nesting cookie cutters to cut a shape like so: {the thinner the better, because when they bake, they puff}

Helpful hint: We ended up having a hard time transferring the thin shapes to the foil for baking, so we recommend pressing and cutting them on the foil so they can go directly in the oven. {Just in case you have issues, too.}

Using your pulverized jolly ranchers {or other hard candy of choice} fill in the gaps.

We used a Ninja to chop ours, or you could use a mallet and a ziplock- pulverize {is that even a baking term? We just thought it sounded important – and perhaps a bit vicious} carefully.

And… we upped the ante with some wax baggies {there’s something nostalgic about wax bags and cookies and all things shopping with your mom in the grocery store from childhood… yes?} folded into the shape of an envelope. We secured it with tape, some bakers twine, and these little tags that say “I heart your face”.

At least that’s what we take from the little striped tags. You should, too. ;}

Get your tags, here! {heart tags}

In other news, I’m not sure what we would do without amazon prime… but maybe we’re weirdly addicted. We know they’re delivering groceries now and it’s probably a good thing we don’t utilize that service {yet} because yoga pants forever.

And that’s that! An easy little valentines treat, perfect for parties, or valentines or anything else you can think of.

Plus, don’t miss our 14 freebie printables for the 14th of February with projects for your littles. For a little of that handmade love, of course. More on that post here!

Have a happy happy valentines! As always, let us know if you use them. Have an inspired day!