Homemade Party Favors "Valentine Cookie Container"

This homemade party favor container makes a very "SWEET" center piece.  Make Valentine cookies on a stick or attach pieces of candy to heart cut-outs (heart cut-outs are included in this packet).  I put this decoration out on my table and the cookies and treats do not last long.  I have included a sugar cookie recipe below that I absolutely love.  You can download the patterns and instructions for this homemade party favor Valentine's container
HERE at Parties and Patterns.

Enjoy!

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

4 - 4 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

2/3 cup shortening

2/3 cup butter

1-1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

In a small bowl, whisk together: flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together shortening, butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until fluffy. Add flour mixture and mix just until blended. Add it a little at a time and don't let the dough get too dry and stiff. The dough will be soft.  If the dough is too soft place in refrigerator for a couple of hours before rolling out.  Very gently roll your dough out to 1/2" thickness and cut into heart shapes.  I like to use a pastry cloth when rolling out my dough.   Place cut-out cookies  on a cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Do not overbake. (I always prefer to underbake my cookies and then let them cool...it makes them so soft and yummy.  Immediately when the cookies come out of the oven stick a skewer stick up though the center of the cookie up to the top of the cookie.  Let the cookies completely cool.  Frost and decorate.

Icing

4 cups powdered sugar
4-6 tbsps milk or water
food coloring

In a mixing bowl combine powdered sugar and enough milk or water to make a frosting consistency.  You don't want the frosting to be too thin or it will run all over your cookie.  Divide the icing into separate bowls and add food coloring.  Frost your cookies, add decorations and let the icing set.