Victorian Gingerbread Valentines

Here’s a fun and straightforward Valentine’s Day recipe that you can make with minimal effort:

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups unsifted flour
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/3 cup dark corn syrup
• 1 large egg

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dry Ingredients:

   • In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt.

2. Cream the Wet Ingredients:

   • In another bowl, blend the margarine and brown sugar until smooth.
   • Add the dark corn syrup and the egg, and beat well to combine.

3. Combine Ingredients:

   • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, about one-third at a time, mixing until smooth after each addition.
   • Chill the dough in the refrigerator for one hour.

4. Roll Out the Dough:

   • After chilling, roll out half of the dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of about one-quarter inch. Reserve the other half for decorations or a second batch of cookies.

5. Cut Out Shapes:

   • Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, press out cookie shapes or use a knife to cut around a pattern. Place the heart shapes on a cookie sheet.

6. Decorate:

   • Decorate the cookies as desired before baking.

7. Bake:

   • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the cookies for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they are golden brown.
   • Remove the cookies from the oven and place them on wire racks to cool.

8. Store:

   • Once cooled, store the cookies in a covered container.

Yield

• This recipe makes about eight 4 1/2 inch cookies.

This treat is easy to make, a fun activity for kids, and a delightful treat for your Valentine’s Day celebration! Enjoy!