Hack Up a Cookie!

 Those Valentine's Day cookies...

 Moist, pliant sugar cookies that melt in your mouth with buttery goodness,

slathered in sweet icing.

Sure, you could buy a package of them...but why?

We've hacked the recipe!

 Grab a shopping bag and get the following:

For the Cookies:

I stick of butter, softened (don't skimp, live a little here)

1/4 cup of butter flavored shortening

1 cup of white sugar

2 large eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

For the Icing:

1/2 stick of butter, softened

2 cups + powdered sugar

1 tsp strawberry extract

red food coloring

Rolling pin

cookies cutters

 In a large bowl, cream the sugar, butter, and shortening.

Beat in the eggs and vanilla

Combine the dry ingredients, then add them to the wet and mix well until a soft dough forms.

Wrap in plastic and....pay attention...

Refrigerate for 3 hours.

So not kidding.

Preheat the oven to 350.

Now, working with 1/4 of the dough at a time, roll it out onto a floured surface to 

about 1/4 inch thick.

Cut into shapes...we went with stars for my daughter's theater geek friends.

Place the cookies on a lined cookie sheet spritzed with cooking spray.

Bake for 9 minutes, remove from the foil, and cool completely on a wire rack.

 Do. Not. EAT.

 While resisting temptation, mix the icing, adding more powdered sugar if it seems

thin, and dropping in the food coloring to your desired shade.

 Slather liberally.

 This will set after a bit.

 NOW EAT THEM!

 You have now hacked the store bought cookie.

 This should make about 4 dozen for the price of a dozen at the bakery.

 Store airtight.

If layering, put wax or parchment paper between them.

Add sprinkles if you like.

Get ready for popularity.