Ben’s Valentine’s Day Cookies

When Ben was 11 years old, he designed this recipe. It was so delicious, we wrote it down and have been making these cookies ever since.

¾ cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
Drop of lemon flavoring (or juice)
1 cup chocolate chips
¾ cup golden raisins
¾ cup granola
2 ½ cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
Pinch of salt
Shake of red sprinkles
Shake of chocolate sprinkles (we used Dutch chocolate hagel just because we had them)

Frosting
1/3 stick butter
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 ½ tsp. milk
2 drops red food coloring

Mix shortening, sugar, eggs, lemon flavoring, chocolate chips, raisins, and granola in bowl. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to other ingredients and mix well. Chill at least 1 hour.
Heat oven to 400 for 5 minutes. Roll dough, cut in heart shapes with cookie cutter. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and put in oven for 7 minutes.

While cookies are baking, make the frosting:
Beat butter, add powdered sugar and mix.
Gradually add milk, mix, add coloring.

When cookies are removed from the oven (Ben originally wrote down when cookies get out) let them cool on paper towels for 2 minutes. Spread on icing. Sprinkle on sprinkles and hagel. Eat.

Makes about 45 cookies.