How cute are these cookies! I am not a cake decorator and wouldn’t have a clue how to operate a piping bag… but I actually made these (I think they’re fool proof)!

I wanted something nice to take along to our Mother’s Day picnic tomorrow. I think mum will be proud ( well I hope so… she loves to critique my cooking, even though she burns everything she cooks)!

I think these make the perfect gift… Mother’s Day, Valentines Day, a Birthday, something for a friend. You could enjoy them on any occasion really.

To make these delicious cookies you will need…

Sugar Cookies:

1 cup caster sugar

1 cup butter

1 tsp vanilla essence

1 tsp baking powder

3 cups plain flour

2 tbsp water

1 egg

pinch of salt

Icing:

2 Cups sifted icing sugar

2 tbsp milk

pink food dye & water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C and line two baking trays with baking paper.
2. Cream together butter, sugar and vanilla extract.
3. Add the egg and water and beat until light and fluffy.
4. Sift in flour, baking powder and salt.
5. Mix until combined and a dough forms.
6. Roll the dough and use a heart shaped cookie cutter to make the cookies, place them on prepared trays.
7. Bake for 8-10 minutes, carefully place them on a cooling rack to cool.
8. Prepare the icing by mixing icing sugar and milk together.
9. Use a knife (or a piping bag) to carefully spread the mixture onto the cooled cookies. Then use a brush to lightly coat sections of the icing with food coloring, use small amounts of water to add a water-coloured effect.
10. Present cookies in a gift box and enjoy with loved ones.