I {heart} Cookie Pops

Cookies on a stick. Does it get any smarter? And what a sweet treat for the little ones. These cookie pops will be all dressed up in bags with ribbon and heart tags for classroom gifts.



And here's a mini version that's nice for the preschool crowd. The teacher will thank you!

Cookie pops are simple to make and a great project with children.

All you need is:

My favorite sugar cookie recipe (you can halve the recipe for the minis or if you only need to make a few)

Heart cookie cutters

Wooden popsicle sticks or lolipop sticks (as shown above)

Candies or sprinkles for decorating

Cello or glassine bags

Ribbon and handmade tags

*Prepare my favorite sugar cookie recipe (from Martha Stewart, of course) the day before you want to bake the cookies and leave to chill in the fridge.

*When ready to bake, preheat oven to 325 degrees and remove dough from fridge, allow to warm up so that it is pliable.

*Lightly dust work surface with flour and assemble all items- rolling pin, cookie cutters, sticks

*Roll dough 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness (thick enough that when you slide the stick in it won't break the cookie)

*Cut out shapes and slide stick in from bottom point of heart to about half-way through the cookie

*Place on baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough

*Bake for 12-15 minutes (don't allow to brown)

*Allow to cool and then embellish with candies- add a dab of melted chocolate or royal icing to "glue" candies to cooled cookies

*Allow to sit overnight

*Wrap in bags and tie ribbon and tag on

Give!

Fun adaptations:

*half dip in chocolate and allow to set

*add color to the dough to make pink cookies

*before baking, sprinkle with sanding sugar for a glittery treat

*add a flavor to the dough such as cinnamon or almond