Valentine’s Day, a day for love, kindness and words of affirmation! As love is being spread through the air this month of February, Valentine’s Day desserts will make that air much more sweeter! Here are some fun, love filled desserts to make someone’s Valentine’s Day magical!

• Sparkle Sweetheart Cookies-(makes 32 cookies)

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 and ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 ounces block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
•  ¾ cup sanding sugar, pink and red or assorted colors
• 32 chocolate hearts, unwrapped

Instructions: 

1. Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together until combined. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl using a hand-held or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and cream cheese together on high speed until relatively smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the granulated sugar and beat until combined and creamy. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed to combine. 
3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until combined. The dough will be thick. Cover dough tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and chill for at least 30-60 minutes and up to 3-4 days. If chilling for longer than 2-3 hours, allow the dough to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before rolling and baking because the dough will be quite hard and the cookies may not spread. 
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside. 
5. Pour sanding sugar in a bowl or, if using multiple colors, a few separate bowls.
6. Roll balls of cookie dough, about 1 tablespoon of dough per cookie, then roll each ball in the sanding sugar to coat. Place each dough ball 2 inches apart on the baking sheets. Using the back of a measuring cup or drinking glass, gently press down on each dough ball to slightly flatten. Bake the cookies for 12-13 minutes or until very lightly browned on the edges. 
7. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Press a chocolate heart into each cookie and quickly stick the baking sheet in the freezer or fridge so the warm cookie does not completely melt the chocolate heart. Let the chocolate set (about 15 minutes) on the cookies in the freezer/refrigerator. 
8. Cookies will stay fresh covered at room temperature for a week.
9. Enjoy!

2. Love Potion-(makes 6 drinks)

• ½ cup fresh raspberries 
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 pint raspberry sherbert
• 3 cups sparkling berry lemonade 

Instructions:

1. Combine the fresh raspberries, granulated sugar, and lemon juice in a bowl, and mash them together with a fork until you have a berry puree. 
2. Place a generous spoonful of puree at the bottom of 6 glasses. Top with a small scoop of raspberry sherbert, and fill the cups to the brim with sparkling berry lemonade.
3. Garnish the cup with a few more fresh berries, if desired. 
4. Enjoy!