DIY Saturday #88 – How to Create Creative Valentine’s Day Treats for the Family (Video)

Entry #953, February 11, 2012

Happy DIY Saturday! Valentine’s Day is days away and the need to buy bigger and better every year is often a challenge. How about trying something new this year, and making tasty and creative treats for your family to enjoy. Whether you are making a delicious pancake breakfast or a sugar cookies, Valentine’s Day should be spent enjoying it with those you love.

What about making valentine shaped pancakes?

Image via: A Life of Beauty and Grace.Tumblr

Today, instead of the typical home improvement DIY Saturday, I thought I’d give you inspiration ideas for Valentines Day treats. Watch a video on cooking with your kids for Valentines Day and a few recipes that you will love.

You Tube – How to Make Valentines Day Treats for Kids

Valentine’s Day recipes for your family

Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies

Cut tiny hearts out of the center of sugar cookie rounds, then fill them with pomegranate-flavored cream cheese frosting. Leftover filling can be used to sandwich the small hearts together. Recipe via

Yummy heart sandwich cookies

Ingredients

1 recipe Sugar Cookie Dough, at room temperature
6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 tablespoon pomegranate juice
Small red sugar hearts, for decorating
Equipment: 2 1/4-inch round cookie cutter, 1 1/2-by-1-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter

Directions

Prepare dough as directed and chill for 2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Sprinkle a work surface and rolling pin with confectioner’s sugar and roll out dough to 1/8-inch thick. Move dough frequently to prevent it from sticking and add more confectioner’s sugar to the work surface and rolling pin as needed. With a 2 1/4-inch round cookie cutter, cut 72 dough rounds, re-rolling dough as needed. With a small heart-shaped cookie cutter (about 1 1/2-by-1-inch), cut hearts from the center of half the dough rounds. Place the rounds and cutouts about 1 inch apart on parchment -lined baking sheets. Bake until just set but not brown, about 6-8 minutes. Let cool on the pan slightly before transferring to a rack to cool completely.

Meanwhile, make the filling: In a small bowl, whisk together the cream cheese, butter, confectioner’s sugar, and pomegranate juice until smooth and fluffy. Spread about 1 teaspoon filling on each round cookie and top with a cut-out cookie. Place a red candy heart in the center of each. Leftover filling can be used to sandwich the small hearts together.

Valentines Day French Toast

Valentines Day chocolate chip french toast

Image via: Food Network

Ingredients

For the French toast:

6 large egg yolks (save the whites for your ultra-healthy breakfast tomorrow!)
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
Kosher salt
Unsalted butter, for frying
1 small loaf challah bread, sliced 1 inch thick
Small handful of semisweet chocolate chips
4 dates, pitted and chopped

For the syrup:

1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon bourbon

Directions

Make the French toast: Whisk the egg yolks, milk, vanilla, orange juice and zest, brown sugar, cinnamon, garam masala and a pinch of salt in a large glass baking dish.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Put a wire rack on a baking sheet and place in the oven.

Set a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon butter. While the butter melts, prick a few holes on each side of a slice of bread with a fork. Lay it in the egg mixture and, using either a fork or your hands, push the bread into the egg mixture so the bread loosens up a little and soaks up the liquid. Flip and repeat.

Using a slotted spatula or tongs, pick up the bread, allowing the excess egg mixture to drip off, and lay it in the hot pan. As the first side is cooking, 2 to 3 minutes, push chocolate chips and chopped dates into the soft, uncooked side of the bread. Be assertive! Then flip and cook 2 to 3 more minutes. Remove and set on the rack in the oven to stay warm. Repeat with the remaining slices of bread, adding more butter to the pan if needed.

Meanwhile, make the syrup: Combine the maple syrup and bourbon. Warm it in the microwave, if you want. (You can make the syrup the night before; store in a jar in the fridge, then warm before serving.)

Enjoy valentines day with a yummy breakfast

For more Valentine’s food recipes on Stagetecture, click here.