Broken Heart Shortbread Cookies

Happy Valentine's Day! I took an informal poll the last few weeks and most people seem to dislike Valentine's Day. I might just hang around a bunch of rebellious types because the top reason people gave was that they didn't like being told (by Hallmark, The Man, or the chocolate companies) to show their affection on a specific date. Also, they are a cheap bunch of folks.

I like all holidays. It breaks up the monotony. Plus, February is a month in desperate need of festivity. Otherwise (especially in MN), it's just endless winter and piles of slush.

I thought these cookies would be pretty funny and something different. They are just regular shortbread sandwich cookies with either Nutella or raspberry jam in the middle. After I cut the heart shape, I took a paring knife and cut out a little crack from the middle. These cookies don't spread too much so it's easy to make the cut out once you've put them on the baking sheet and then just bake them.

Shortbread Cookies

(Makes about 1 1/2 dozen sandwich cookies)

2 sticks butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla

pink food coloring (optional)

pinch of salt

2 cups flour

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Cream butter and sugar together.
3. Add vanilla, food coloring, and salt.
4. Add flour until fully combined and a soft dough forms
5. Form dough into a ball and chill  for an hour or longer.
6. Remove dough and roll out about a 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch thick. Dough will probably be sticky so add a little flour to your rolling pin and/or surface as needed.
7. Cut heart shapes (I used a 2" cookie cutter). Place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or ungreased cookie sheet. Cut the "cracks" out of half of the hearts with a sharp paring knife or a small pastry wheel. Remove the small cookie "strip" so that the filling will show through the crack on the finished cookie.
8. Bake for approximately 7 minutes until done. Make sure the cookies do not turn brown.
9. Cool cookies completely then spread bottom cookie with filling (Nutella or raspberry jam, in this case). Carefully place the two "cracked" parts on top.
10. Serve to your favorite curmudgeon. If you are me, you apparently have plenty to choose from. Better make a double batch!

My latest Microsoft Paint masterpiece. I call it, "Love Robot Destruction"