Kidzworld Kitchen: Valentine’s Day Sugar

The day of love is almost here! Time to start thinking of unique and thoughtful ways to spoil your loved ones. Since everybody enjoys a sugary treat, these two recipes will make perfect gifts for friends, family or your special crush.

Chocolate strawberries are romantic and look impressive but are actually very easy to make and decorated sugar cookies are a great way to give something personalized. Try writing sweet or funny messages on them or even song lyrics to make them one-of-a-kind. I’ve also included a simple idea for pro looking packaging that will have everybody amazed.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Ingredients:

• 1 lb or one crate of fresh strawberries
• 8-10oz of milk or dark chocolate
• 1 tbsp butter
• ¼ cup white chocolate for drizzling
• Sprinkles/ nuts/crushed chocolate bars (optional)

Instructions:

1. Rinse strawberries and dry well with paper towels
2. Melt the chocolate in 20 second increments until it is creamy and smooth (Hint! Chocolate burns very easily, so be sure to heat for just a few seconds at a time)
3. Mix the butter into the chocolate until it is completely blended
4. Time for dipping! Holding the strawberry by the green stem, dip the strawberry into the melted chocolate
5. Let drip for a couple of seconds and then place on wax paper
6. Once the strawberries have dried, melt the white chocolate using the same technique
7. Drizzle the white chocolate over the top of the strawberries (Hint! A side-to-side motion makes a nice effect)
8. You can either leave as is or cover with nuts, sprinkles or even crushed chocolate bars
9. Refrigerate the strawberries until they are hardened

 

Love Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup softened butter
• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 3 tbsp milk
• ½ tsp vanilla
• 2 large egg whites
• 4 cups of icing sugar
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• Food colouring

Instructions:

Cookies

1. In a medium bowl mix together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside
2. In a large bowl cream together butter, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla
3. Add half the flour mixture and half the milk to the butter and stir
4. Add the remaining flour and milk  and mix thoroughly
5. Transfer the dough from the bowl to a thick plastic freezer bag
6. Remove the air from the bag, seal and refrigerate overnight
7. Preheat oven to 350c
8. The next day, remove dough from bag onto a surface that has been sprinkled with flour and knead into a loose ball (Hint! Kneading dough is pressing and folding the dough with your palms)
9. Sprinkle flour over the dough and use a rolling pin to roll it flat and about ½ cm high
10. Use cookie cutters and place cookies on greased baking sheet
11. Bake for 5-7 minutes or until edges are slightly brown (Hint! These cookies cook fast so make sure to keep a close eye on them)

Icing:

1. Slightly beat the egg whites and lemon juice
2. Add one cup of icing sugar at a time until it is stiff enough to hold a peak.
3. Separate icing into smaller bowls and add a few drops of food colouring in each. Mix thoroughly
4. Transfer coloured icing into large thick plastic freezer bags (Hint! Turn the bag inside out and hold it from the bottom of one of the corners. Fill the corner with the icing, careful not to get any air in. Twist the bag at the top of the icing and wrap a rubber band around it.
5. Now you are ready to decorate. Add words, patterns, nicknames, sprinkles or anything else you can think of!
6. Let the icing harden overnight
7. Hint! To package for gift giving, pick up a roll of clear cellophane from the wrapping paper section of any store. Cut the cellophane into squares large enough to wrap a single cookie. Wrap the cookie as though a present with the folds on the backside of the cookie. Seal with a heart shaped sticker. Voila!

 

Remember, be creative, have fun and above all, safety first! Always talk to the adult in charge before you get your chef on! Happy Cooking!

Have Your Say

Do you have a favorite Valentine’s Day recipe? Share it with us in our comments section below.

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