Heart shaped cookies say, “It’s Valentines Day,” to me. Every year my mom would heat up the oven, break out her baking ingredients, apron, and rolling pin and begin to whip up a batch of sugar cookies. She would then cut them with a heart shaped cookie cutter and produce a perfect cookie dough heart to be baked in the oven. I remember walking into the kitchen to see the finished product. The counter would be covered with beautifully light pink frosted cookies each topped with colorful sprinkles for us to enjoy. These are fond memories of my childhood and a tradition that I have continued with my own children.
Sugar cookies are one of my favorite kind of cookies but I have to say the frosting makes them even better. Growing up with my mom’s homemade frosting I was spoiled. Now I am picky about my frosting and a sugar cookie just isn’t the same if it doesn’t have the taste of her sugary concoction spread all over it. There is just no comparison to the frosting I remember from my childhood. I love how simple it is to make my mom’s frosting recipe and since it is almost Valentines Day and I’m sure many of you out there will be making cookies of your own I thought I’d share it with you.
Powdered Sugar Frosting
4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 tablespoons evaporated milk (milk or cream will work as well)
Assorted food colors (if desired)
Place powdered sugar into a bowl. Add butter, vanilla, and evaporated milk and beat with a hand mixer. When combined add a few drops of food coloring and beat until color is mixed in well.
Tip: For a softer and fluffier frosting use a combination of 1/2 cup unsalted butter and 1/2 cup shortening. In place of 1 cup of butter.

This frosting is a great option for cookies or cakes. If you find it too dry add a little more milk. If it is too runny, add more powdered sugar until you get the right consistency. Then frost away and decorate.