Valentine cookie hacks for the non-baker

I would definitely describe myself as a 'non-baker'. I don't like to bake or cook. Since cooking and baking are somewhat of vital role as a stay at home mom, I have tried to make it a goal to be a little more happy in the kitchen. I have gotten SIGNIFICANTLY better. However, it is still not my favorite activity. Not even close. I envy the people that tell me that baking is somewhat therapeutic for them. I can't even blame my lack of baking skills on my babies. I don't even like it when they are not around.

Sorry about my rant about how much I dislike working with food. I just wanted to make it clear that my little cookie hacks are going to seem common sense and ridiculous to some, probably most. They are almost comical to m. Still ... they work. Or at least they dramatically make the baking process more successful for me, and I tend to be a very unsuccessful baker.

This year I decided to make some heart shaped sugar cookies! I wanted them to have yummy pink frosting and be nice and fluffy. I have attempted these cookies and frosting a few times before and have learned things along the way. All of these tips are for AFTER you make the dough and let it chill according to your recipe

Here it goes:

VALENTINE COOKIE HACKS FOR THE NON-BAKER

1. Use Lots of Flour

* Don't be stingy on the flour when rolling out your cookies. If you happen to use too little flour and it sticks to your surface, you more then likely ruined your cookie and have to re-roll it out. The less you have to touch the dough the better. This tip has been tried and true, it is better to wipe flour off after you bake it, then over roll the dough or mess up your shape.

2. Roll the Dough Thick

* Once again, don't be stingy with your dough. Sugar cookies don't rise all that much in the oven, and if you want a fluffy cookie, keep your dough thick. Most recipes say to roll it a quarter inch thick. This is taller then you actually think.

3. Don't Trust Your Oven

* Ovens, or at least my oven, tend to be unpredictable. ALWAYS set your timer to the lowest, or even lower then the lowest time that your recipe calls for. I even have to set my thermostat 50 degrees cooler. (Sad I know). Then be diligent in checking and re-checking the progress of your cookies. I have burned way to many things by setting the timer and then going to accomplish something else until the timer beeps. Even if I don't burn it completely, the bottoms of the cookies can easily cook to be too hard and your cookies are RUINED. What a waste of time and money. (Probably my biggest beef with working in the kitchen). If I have learned anything in the past 25 years of my life, it is DON'T TRUST OVENS!

4. Whip Your Frosting For a Long Time

* This is something I probably should have learned as a teenager. My mother pointed this out to me a few months ago, and now I realize that this is actually spelled out in recipes. I never took this direction in the frosting directions very seriously and didn't connect it to the fact that my frosting never turns out. I made cream cheese frosting, and after I let the butter and cream cheese soften, I used a hand mixer and whipped it good. For a while, at least 4 minutes. Coming from someone that used to whip it for 10 seconds, this is a long time. It makes a substantial difference in the texture of your frosting. I actually enjoy making frosting now.

5. Don't Spread Your Frosting Clear To the Edge of the Cookies

* This is a bit of a wordy tip, but something I figured out just this Valentine's day. I really stink at frosting cookies and can never make them look pretty. The ones I made still aren't pretty, but they are significantly better. I used to try to get the frosting all the way to the edge and ended up making a sticky mess. If you don't spread the frosting clear to the edges then the cute little heart shape of your cookie can actually be seen. Who would've thought!

Well, there you have it. My tips for the non-baker. Hopefully there are more non bakers out there besides me.

Happy Valentines Day!