Snooping can pay off. I spied a container labeled Fairy Cookies in my cousin-in-law’s kitchen. Turns out the jar held homemade cookie mix that cousin Nancy learned how to make in the third grade! Lucky for me, Nancy had just baked a batch of the fairy cookies.

Valentine Fairy Cookies

Nibbling Nancy’s freshly baked cookies whirled me back to memories of my grandmother Nona’s baking. There is something magical and comforting about the fairy cookies. Maybe it’s the sugar crunch. Perhaps it’s the sweet aroma. Or could it be a fairy dust the fairies sprinkle while the cookies are in the oven?

Pixie dust in fairy cookies?

Thanks to cousin Nancy, I am able to share the Fairy Cookies recipe…Just in time for the Creative Cookie Exchange’s Put on Your Pink and Red February Valentine virtual party. (You are welcome to bring your cookies, too. Please scroll down for details.)

Valentine Fairy Cookies

Nancy Lippisch's recipe for fairy cookies is a family treasure. This Ninja Baker is grateful for Nancy's permission to reprint her recipe here.

Ingredients:

Fairy Cookie Mix:

2 1/3 cups Crisco (vegetable shortening)
5 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt

Fairy Cookies:

2 cups fairy cookie mix
¾ cup sugar
½ teaspoon soda
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Fairy Cookie Topping Options:

Sugar, Cinnamon, Frosting

Directions:

To make fairy cookie mix:

Cut Crisco into the flour and salt until the mixture is crumbly and resembles a bowl of sweet peas. Store in a sealed container until ready to use.

To bake the cookies:

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Combine 2 cups fairy cookie mix with sugar and baking soda. Add the egg and teaspoon of vanilla. Blend well.
Shape into small balls.
Roll in a mixture of colored sanding sugar OR equal parts sugar and cinnamon.
Flatten with a glass bottom. Chill in the refrigerator for an hour.
Bake for 12 minutes at 375 degrees.
When cooled, pipe pink frosting hearts onto the cookies if desired.

Note: The dough is sticky. Plastic gloves come in handy.

A note from Laura of the Spiced Life, the hostess of the Creative Cookie Exchange:

The theme this month is Put On Your Red and Pink for Valentine’s Day! Creative Cookie Exchange has decided to stop using the linky. What this means is that the only way to join in the fun is to become a host. Just contact Laura at thespicedlife AT gmail DOT com and I will get you added to our Facebook group, where we discuss our cookies and share links.

You can also just use us as a great resource for cookie recipes--be sure to check out our Facebook page, our Pinterest Board, and our monthly posts. You will be able to find them the first Tuesday after the 15th of each month! Also, if you are looking for inspiration for Valentine’s Day, check out what all of the hosting bloggers have made so far:

Big Be Mine Cookie from Food Lust People Love
Glazed Doughnut Cookies from Karen's Kitchen Stories
Iced VoVos from All That's Left Are The Crumbs
Jam Sandwich Cookies from A Baker's House
Pomegranate Cheesecake Cookies from It's Yummi!
Strawberry Rhubarb Meringues from The Spiced Life
Valentine Fairy Cookies from NinjaBaking.com
Valentine Heart Cookies from Noshing With The Nolands

A Fairy Cookie:
Sprinkled with red sugar, frosted with a pink heart and magically baked!

Wishing you Valentine day sweetness every day!

The Ninja Baker

The Ninja Baker has guest blogged and contributed recipes to numerous food sites. These additional recipes can be found here.

Tags:

Valentine's Day

Fairy Cookies

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Creative Cookie Exchange

The Ninja Baker - Sugar Cookie Recipe

Valentine Fairy Cookies, #Creative Cookie Exchange

Valentine Fairy Cookies