Almond Flavored Sugar Cookies

These cookies are perfect for Valentine's Day! They are almond flavored sugar cookies ~ just a little twist on a typical sugar cookie that I came up with.

The almond flavor is very light, but it definitely adds another level of flavor to an already awesome cookie!

Of course, I love anything heart-shaped or Valentine's Day themed. I got this heart-shaped cookie cutter at Country Kitchen on clearance for only forty cents! I also got the cute red, pink, and white tiny sugar hearts decorating some of the cookies there as well.

I have been making cookies nonstop since Christmas. I just can't help it! They are easy to make, easy to eat, and not too bad for the diet. As long as you don't eat too many! I have limited myself to one a day. It's mostly worked! These cookies are exceptionally hard to stop at just one though!

 Here's the recipe!

Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 egg
1 tsp imitation almond extract
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 tsp salt

Cream the butter
Add the powdered sugar and mix until combined
Add the egg and almond extract and mix until combined

Stir together the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt) in a small bowl

Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and mix until fully incorporated

Refrigerate the dough at least two hours, overnight is fine too

Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface with a rolling pin (about 1/4 inch) and cut out the cookies!

Bake at 350 degrees for about 9-11 minutes or until slightly browned around the edges

Cool on pan for about two minutes and then transfer to cooling rack

Frost when completely cool!

And here's the frosting recipe:

6 oz softened cream cheese
1/2 cup softened butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp imitation almond extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Beat the cream cheese and butter until fluffy
Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until smooth
Stir in almond and vanilla extract   
 
  Enjoy!!!