Stenciled Valentine Cookies
A few years ago, I made these five stenciled Valentine’s Day cookies as part of an experiment when I started exploring the world of cookie stencils. I decided I needed to work on my technique before making a whole batch of them! Even though they weren’t perfect, they didn’t last long. And that’s the beauty of making edible art. You can always eat your mistakes.
“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill
I’ve admired stenciled cookies and was eager to try my hand at it. It’s not as easy as it looks! But if done right, the results are stunning. I haven't gotten back to stencils with royal icing yet, but I haven’t given up. Learning to decorate with stencils is high up on my “To Do” list for the near future.
Cookie specifics
Ultimate Chocolate Cutout Cookies. A chocolate-lover’s dream, these cutout cookies are rich and chocolatey. I use them as the cookie base for my chocolate cookie pops and ganache-filled sandwich cookies!
Shapes
Heart-shaped cookie cutters and love-themed stencils
Sizes
Sizes range from mini (2 inches) to large (4 inches).
Cookie Recipe from This Talented Cookie Artist
Ultimate Chocolate Cutout Cookies. Original recipe from Lila Loa.
Cookies
Chocolate Cookies: flour, cocoa, butter, sugar, vegetable shortening, egg, baking powder, pure vanilla extract, salt
Icing & Decorative Embellishments
Royal Icing: confectioner’s sugar, egg whites, corn syrup, pure vanilla extract or almond extract, cream of tartar, food coloring
Plate, Box or Bag?
Paper Plate. I’ve been known to throw away my mistakes. But after I photographed these cookies, I put them on a plate and they disappeared rather quickly. No fancy packaging needed!
What I’ve learned...
These cookies were made with the best ingredients I could find and baked in a small batch of two dozen. I’ve experimented with less expensive ingredients, but have come to the conclusion that flavor is best when I use the best. Why spend all this time baking and decorating if taste and texture are just so-so? Decorating the cookies takes time, but it’s an enjoyable process for me and I know that those who receive them appreciate that. Life is just better when you can share something you love with someone you love. Don’t you agree?
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