Valentine Shortbread Cookies

Submitted by Whisper

"Another Valentine delectable! These are fun to make and sooo good to eat! I love the richness of the cookie with the chocolate icing. They are also very pretty on a plate once they're all decorated. Great for a Valentine party!"

 

• Ready In: 55mins
• Ingredients: 11
• Yields: 24 2x4 inch diamonds

ingredients

• 1 1⁄4 cups margarine
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 pinch salt
• 3 cups flour
• 1⁄2 cup ground almonds

• Icing

• 6 tablespoons margarine
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted
• 1⁄4 teaspoon almond extract

directions

1. Cream 1 1/4 cups margarine in large bowl.
2. Gradually add sugar; beat until light and fluffy.
3. Add 1/4 tsp almond extract and salt.
4. Gradually stir in enough flour to make a soft dough.
5. Add ground almonds.
6. Press dough into a 10x15" jelly roll pan; prick with a fork.
7. Bake in a preheated 300 degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until very lightly browned.
8. Cut into diamond shapes and remove from pan; cool completely.
9. Meanwhile in a small mixing bowl, cream remaining 6 Tbsp margarine with confectioners sugar and milk until light and fluffy; beat in chocolate and 1/4 tsp almond extract.
10. Spread frosting on cookies.
11. Decorate as desired.
12. (I make my own pink chocolate hearts from Merck's wafers using a mold, and put one on top of each cookie.).