Marbled Valentine Sugar Cookies

This is a simple cookie recipe that will last for generations. My Nonni used to make these cookies for me when I was younger; at first to be her valentine, then to give to my valentine. Now I make them with my daughter and tell her she is my valentine. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

½ Cup Unsalted Butter, softened

½ Cup Granulated Sugar

1 Large Egg

1½ TSP Vanilla Extract

¼ TSP Salt

½ TSP Baking Powder

2 Cup AP Flour

Red Gel food coloring

Directions:

In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla, followed by salt and baking powder. Scrape the bowl as needed. Gradually mix in flour, increasing speed as needed until dough is fully combined and no streaks remain. 

Divide dough in half, transferring half to a clean bowl, set aside. Add a small amount of dark pink gel food coloring to the remaining dough. Beat until fully tinted and no streaks remain. 

Pinch off golf ball sized portions of dough, rolling into balls. Create a pattern of alternate colored balls of dough on your work station. Gently, knead all dough together until swirls of color are visible. Do not over mix. 

Shape into a disc and wrap in plastic. Chill for 30-60 minutes. 

Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. 

Roll out dough to ¼-inch thick, on a lightly floured surface. Cut out heart shapes. Space two inches apart on a prepared baking sheet. Freeze cookies for 15 minutes. Press together remaining dough and scraps, re-wrap in plastic and keeping chilled until ready to roll and cut again. 

Bake at 350°F for 12 minutes. Allow cookies to rest on the pan for two minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.