Valentine Biscuits, Shortbread – yum! 

Do you celebrate Valentines? I don’t really, but any excuse to make shortbread I’ll take. This time I’m making it into Valentine Biscuits –  they look cute! 

You don’t have to use a heart biscuit cutter but they do look super pretty. You could do it by hand and have each biscuit looking a little bit different 

And you may want to scoff them all yourself (in Valentine protest), but if you don’t they make great little handmade gifts 

Also they are so easy the kids can make them too…. get them at it I say 

It really is a quick, easy recipe. Three ingredients – simple (four if you coat in chocolate) 

And an 18-20 minute bake make them a perfect, quick and low stress bake – when you’re busy

 

So Valentines Day – what exactly is it? and why?

Well according to Wikipedia:

Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14.

Originating as a Western Christian feast day honouring one or two early saints named Valentinus, Valentine’s Day is recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love in many regions around the world.

Although it is not a public holiday in any country 

 

So what is shortbread? 

Shortbread or shortie is a traditional Scottish biscuit usually made from one part white sugar, two parts butter, and three to four parts plain wheat flour.

Unlike many other biscuits and baked goods, shortbread does not contain any leavening, such as baking powder or baking soda. Wikipedia

Fat to butter ratio yields a lovely soft buttery crumb 

 

Step by step to the perfect shortbread Valentine biscuits 

Full details on recipe card at the end of this post 

I used a food processor but you can also use a stand mixer or make by hand 

Step 1 – Valentine Biscuits 

Mix your flour and sifted icing sugar together, then add your butter in cubes with the  ‘pulse’  function  on a food processor or rub in by hand,  until it looks like.

Then  tip the mix out on your work surface 

 

Step 2 

Using your hands pull the dough together – it will all stick together with minimal work and form a smooth ball 

 

Step 3 

Roll out your dough using a rolling pin, until it’s 1/2 – 3/4 cm thick on a lightly floured surface and cut out 12 hearts using a heart cutter, or by hand freestyle. In fact any shape you like really 

Place them on a lined baking sheet 

 

Step 4

Pop the baking tray in the fridge so your heart chill, for a minimum of 20 minutes, you want the biscuits really chilled (stops them spreading)

Then bake for 18-20 minutes in your preheated oven, until lightly golden 

Remove from the oven and allow to cool 

 

Step 4 – Decorating your Valentine Shortbread 

Melt your chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water 

When your biscuits are totally cold, dip them in the chocolate, covering half or a third 

(I find tipping the small bowl with the chocolate in a little gives you a better chance of covering with chocolate) 

Then hold the biscuit over the bowl so the excess chocolate drips back into the bowl 

Next using any sprinkles you like pop then along the edge of the chocolate – you can go wild here and do your own thing.

(**** To be honest – apart from aesthetics I’m not sure what the sprinkles really add?  They are hard on the teeth and pretty tasteless, so leave them off if you’re not bothered)

Let the chocolate coated biscuits set on a wire rack for an hour or so – until set firm 

Once they are set, either tuck in or package up as gifts

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days – enjoy! 

 

 

So whatever you’re doing for Valentines – enjoy! 

If that’s a night out or in with your guy or gal, or if it’s a night out with your girlfriends or kids,  just enjoy! 

 

Another Valentines Recipe -Raspberry Cocktail

(Raspberry Nipple Oooo Err)

So Valentines Day approaches….. a Raspberry Cocktail, why not 

Super easy and delicious to drink 

It also looks quite pretty too