Date Heart Valentine Cookies

Remember when I tried to make date nut pin wheels, but totally messed up and ended up inventing a new cookie?  Yeah...

Well, this time, I got it right!  Only instead of making pinwheels, I turned them into little hearts.  Here's what you'll need to make your own:

• 2 1/4 cup pitted dates, chopped up
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 1 cup shortening
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 4 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Combine the dates, white sugar, and water in a pot.  Cook over low heat until it is thickened.  Add the nuts, remove from the heat, and allow to cool.

Using a stand mixer, cream the shortening, brown sugar, and eggs.

Add the flour, baking soda, and salt.  Mix well, then cover and chill thoroughly.

Once both the date mixture and the dough are chilled, divide the dough into two equal parts.

Roll one of the balls out to a quarter inch thick slab.  Cut the edges off to form a rectangle, then place the scraps on top and roll it out again to a quarter inch.  The idea is to have as rectangular a piece as possible.

Next, spread half of the date mixture on top.

Finally, gently roll each side in until they meet in the middle.

Repeat with the other mass of dough, and then wrap each piece in cling wrap.  Gently smoosh the sides of the rolls to make a heart shape.

Refrigerate the rolls overnight.

The next day, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Take one of the rolls out of the fridge, unwrap, and slice into quarter to half in slices.  You might need to reshape some of your hearts, and some may turn out better than others, but that's okay!  It's all about baking with love anyway, right?

Once you fill the baking sheet, pop them in the oven for 10-12 minutes.  While they are baking, put the remainder of the roll back in the fridge to keep cool.

Cool the cookies on a wire rack and then try not to eat them all at once.

 

I hope you all have a happy Valentine's Day!  I'll be spending it in with my hubby, watching a movie and eating popcorn and malted milk balls for dinner :)