Rose-Flavored Valentine Cookies

Valentine's Day is simultaneously one of the most beloved and hated holidays all year. Whether you love this holiday or hate it, I think we can all agree that cookies are a great way to celebrate (or console yourself). Feel free to make them a different shape if you really don't go in for the holiday. At Bob's Red Mill, we adore any reason to show our love through baking. You could say baking is our love language. Choosing the ingredients, devoting the time, and delivering lovely baked goods to our friends and family just makes us happy. These rose-flavored Valentine cookies are a delightful way to spread good feelings to your loved ones. Make these cookies with your kiddos for their teachers or bring in a plate to the office, everyone will feel special to be included. If you need this recipe to be gluten free, try using our Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour or following this recipe instead.

Rose-Flavored Valentine Cookies

Prep Time: 30 minutes | Cook Time: 15 - 18 minutes | Passive Time: 90 minutes | Makes 24-36 cookies Recipe by Sarah House for Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods Cookies:

• 1 cup Butter soft
• 1 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/8 tsp Rose Water*
• 2 1/2 cups Unbleached White All Purpose Flour
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/4 tsp Salt

Icing:

• 1 cup Powdered Sugar
• 1/8 tsp Rose Water
• 1 - 2 Tbsp Milk
• Food coloring as desired

Colored Sparkling Sugar:

• Food coloring as desired
• 1-2 cups Sparkling Sugar

In a small bowl, combine unbleached white all purpose flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, mix butter and sugar until combined. Add egg, rose water, and vanilla extract and mix until thoroughly combined then add flour mixture and mix until fully incorporated. Shape dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Remove dough from refrigerator and discard plastic wrap. Place cold dough on a lightly floured work surface and roll out to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out desired shapes using lightly floured cookie cutters and place on prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. Bake cookies until edges are slightly golden, 15-18 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through baking. Let cool completely (about 30 minutes) before decorating. While cookies bake, prepare icing, and colored sugar. For colored sugar, divide sugar into ¼ cup portions. Add 1-2 drops of food coloring per portion and mix thoroughly to distribute color. To prepare icing, combine powdered sugar, rose water, and milk in a bowl and whisk until smooth. Adjust consistency as needed with extra milk. If desired, divide icing into separate containers and color with food coloring. Ice cooled cookies with prepared icing and immediately decorate with colored sugar. *Rose water is not terribly difficult to find, but can easily be picked up on Amazon or left out entirely.