Skip the store-bought treats this Valentine’s Day and try these delicious sugar cookies with strawberry cream cheese frosting instead.

When I was in school I always begged my mom to buy the Valentine’s with the candy. She didn’t allow a lot of sweets in the house and I had a major sweet tooth.

I always hoped there would be a few Valentine’s leftover after filling them out for my class, then I could ask to keep them for myself.

Now that I’m older I still have a sweet tooth, though I now understand why my mom didn’t allow a lot of sugar. Yes mom, you were right!

When we did have sweets it was normally because I baked something. This way some effort was required for sweets and at least the ingredients would be better. And my mom taught me that when you do eat sweets it should be worth it.

This Valentine’s Day take a note from my mom and skip the mediocre candy and store bought treats, instead make something homemade and delicious.

My theory is that you also burn a few calories when baking so it’s not as bad for you. Let’s not talk about the fact that I have a stand mixer that does most of the work. I still had to roll the dough out. That counts for something, right?

Something about strawberries screams Valentine’s Day so I knew this year’s treat had to involve strawberries. I really love cream cheese with strawberries so I thought heart-shaped sugar cookies with a strawberry cream cheese frosting was just the thing.

Sugar Cookies with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Course Dessert

Ingredients

1 batch chilled sugar cookie dough

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

6 ounces cream cheese softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar shifted
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter softened
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup strawberry jam

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Roll out chilled sugar cookie dough to about ¼ inch if you want soft cookies, thinner for a crispier cookie.
Cut out your heart shapes.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, until just slightly golden. Don’t over bake.
While cookies bake, make your frosting by beating all of the frosting ingredients together until smooth. Add more confectioners sugar if you want a thicker frosting.
Allow cookies to cool thoroughly before frosting.

This isn’t your topical sugar cookie frosting that gets really hard, it stays soft and creamy. My husband isn’t a big strawberry fan or even a big sugar cookie fan but loved these.

If you aren’t a fan of sugar cookies the frosting would be great for a cake as well. I have to say I ate more than I want to admit straight out of the bowl. It’s pretty delicious.