Lollipop Cookie Valentines Food

LOLLIPOP COOKIES

Steps:

• Cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a sheet pan. In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), cream the sugar, butter and shortening until fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla and baking powder and mix. Add the flour and mix. Shape the dough into a large flat disk, kneading briefly if necessary to bring the dough together. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill 1 to 2 hours.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough 1/4-inch thick. Using cookie cutters or empty tuna cans, cut out large round cookies about 3 inches in diameter. Transfer to the prepared pan. Cut a heart or circle out of the center of each cookie that will be filled later with lollipop syrup. Carefully slip the sucker sticks under the cookies and gently press dough down and around it to secure the stick. Bake until very light golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely on the sheet pan.
• Lollipop Centers: Combine sugar, glucose and water in a clean, dry, small saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer and cook on high heat. While cooking the candy syrup, occasionally wash down the pan sides to prevent crystallization using a clean brush dipped in water. Without stirring, cook until mixture reaches 305 degrees F or hard crack on the candy thermometer. Remove the pot from the heat and dip it into an ice bath for 10 seconds to stop the cooking. Remove the pot from the ice bath and add food coloring, stirring well a wooden spoon so the color is evenly distributed. To avoid air bubbles, stir in both directions and be careful not to over mix. Pour the syrup into hole of the cookies. Cool at least 20 minutes to harden. Store in an airtight container.

VALENTINE COOKIE POPS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F On ungreased cookie sheets, place cookie dough pieces 2 inches apart. Into side of each piece of dough, insert wooden stick 1 inch, overlapping wooden sticks as necessary.
• Bake 12 to 16 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets. Cool completely, about 10 minutes.
• Spread frosting on one side of each cookie; decorate with candies. Tie 18 inches of red ribbon into bow around each stick next to cookie.

LOLLIPOP COOKIE VALENTINES

Steps:

• Soak craft sticks for one hour in a bowl of cold water.
• In small heavy saucepan over very low heat, stir chocolate chips until melted and smooth. Remove from heat; let cool.
• In large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed, beat butter, brown sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Beat egg in well; beat in cooled chocolate. With mixer at low speed, beat in flour, cocoa powder and salt until smooth. Divide dough in half.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and grease 2 large cookie sheets.
• Roll each half out to 1/8 inch thickness between 2 sheets of wax paper; freeze, in wax paper, 5 minutes. Peal top sheets of wax paper off dough; cut dough out using 3-inch heart-shaped cutter. Reroll scraps; freeze again 5 minutes; cut out. Place half of the hearts 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheet.
• Drain sticks, pat dry. Place one stick on each heart to make 2 1/2 inch handle, pressing lightly into dough. Place remaining hearts on top; press edges gently to seal. Bake about 12 minutes until firm to touch. Cool on wire racks.
• In 2-quart heavy saucepan over very low heat, or in top of double boiler set over barely simmering water, stir white or milk chocolate until melted and smooth; if using both chocolates, melt in separate 1-quart pans. Remove from heat.
• Holding each lollipop by handle, dip into chocolate to coat on both sides; let excess chocolate drip back into pan. Place each lollipop as it is coated on wax-paper-lined cookie sheet; refrigerate 20 minutes until chocolate is set.
• To Make Icing: In large bowl with electric mixer at high speed, beat egg white and confectioners' sugar until very smooth. If desired, remove small portion of icing to separate bowl; tint with drops of food coloring. Spoon icing into decorating bag fitted with small writing tip; pipe over lollipops in desired patterns. Decorate with assorted candies and decors; attaching with dots of icing.