Those Sweet Words

This Valentine’s Day, send your sweetie a love note that even candy conversation hearts can’t beat.

Designer Beverly Hsu has created Helvetica Cookie Cutters, perfect for expressing that sticky-sweet sentiment in a way that would make Hallmark wish they thought of it first. Made of aluminum and acrylic, these cookie cutters are a perfect size to use for cookie dough with chocolate chips or small candies that can usually compromise the shape you’re trying to create.

The choice of font is part of the appeal too. I love the Helvetica style because it will give your cookies a modern, boutique bakery look that’s sure to impress. For best shape results, your best bet may be to use the cookie cutters for sugar cookies. Sugar cookies will also allow you to get creative with icing flavours and designs.

Even the inexperienced can bake sugar cookies, stress-free. Just follow this simple recipe:

Ingredients

• 2 ³/₄ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¹/₂ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 ¹/₂ cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and baking powder. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

— Kate Aenlle