Today’s treat is probably my favorite tradition that didn’t come from my childhood.  I’ve been making these for a few years now and most years I deliver them to my friends and neighbors.  I don’t ever have myself put together enough to deliver treats at Christmas, but if you give me two months I can usually pull it together.  This year?  Well it isn’t my best year I suppose.  I made a big batch, but more  3/4 of the dough is in my freezer.  And I ate a lot of dough and cookies before I ever got to the frosting stage.  They were delicious.  Sorry neighbors.

I usually call these Butt Cookies.  But Booty Cookie would also work.  Or you know, whatever else you can come up with.  A few tips, if you are delivering to friends and neighbors with children, drop them by while the kids are in school or after they go to bed.  And add a few regular hearts for the little ones.  I don’t know that you want to give 13 year old boys cookies that look like this…

The good thing is that you can use the same cookie cutter, the same frosting and sprinkles. Awesome.  You can use your favorite Sugar Cookie recipe, or whatever other cutout cookie you want.  Here’s my mom’s sugar cookie recipe which I love.

Mom’s Sugar Cookies

Sift together

• 4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 tea salt
• 1 tea baking powder

Add 3/4 cup shortening (I use butter flavored Crisco) and cut in until the mixture resembles pie crust.  Which means, cut it in (I use my mixer) until the shortening has been mixed into pea sized pieces.  In a separate bowl combine

• 3/4 cups buttermilk
• 1 tea soda (let the buttermilk and soda percolate for a bit until it has risen and turned frothy and bubbly)
• 2 slightly beaten eggs
• 1 tea vanilla

Add the wet stuff to the dry stuff and mix them together until everything is incorporated.  On a well floured surface roll dough to 1/4″ thick and cut out.  Bake on parchment lined cookie sheets at 400 degrees for 7 minutes.  Cookies should be white, not golden or tan.

To go from sweet heart to sassy pants cookie, just cut off the tip of the heart with a metal spatula or a knife before you bake them.

Use frosting and sprinkles to make any kind of underoos you like.  In years past I have used red hot heart candies, but I haven’t been able to find them the past few years.  I used chocolate sprinkles and perfect pearl sprinkles (which I found at Walmart).  I spread on the pink frosting with a knife, and then piped on white lacey trim with a frosting bag and a small tip.

Or you know, make boring hearts.  I won’t judge you.  Happy Almost Valentine Days!