Valentine Cookie "Suckers"

This is such a great idea I'm sharing from my friend Mary J. We have a supper club in our neighborhood that meets monthly, and this month we shared ideas for Valentines Day treats. I simply LOVE this idea! (And I hope she doesn't mind that I share it.)

Make up a batch of sugar cookie dough. Roll it out thick and use cookie cutters to cut out hearts. Use a wooden caramel apple stick and insert it about 1 - 1 1/2 inches into the cookie from the bottom of the heart (it's easier if you twist it a bit while inserting it). Bake as usual - which is slightly under-done for sugar cookies. You don't want them brown and crunchy! :) Cool completely before trying to lift them off the cookie sheet. If you lift them while they're still soft and warm, they'll fall right off the stick. Decorate the cookies with frosting, sprinkles, etc. Once the frosting has hardened (put them in the fridge if you're impatient like me), put the cookie "sucker" into a clear cellophane bag and tie it shut with a pretty ribbon.

You could even use this idea to make a neat gift basket of cookies for a friend, neighbor, or teacher. Put florist foam in the bottom of a basket and cover it with plastic wrap. Insert the cookie "suckers" in a pretty arrangement. Fill the bottom of the basket with enough candy conversation hearts to cover the floral foam (the plastic wrap keeps the conversation hearts edible).

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!