Treat your sweet for Valentine's Day

(Hand-painted heart-shaped cookies are just some of the treats at the Apple Pie Bakery)

Looking for something sweet for your sweetie on Valentine's Day?

Saturday is Valentine's Day, and if you haven't set aside the time to make something special for that special someone in your life, you could always head over to the Apple Pie Bakery at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.
There is always a nice selection of goodies at the student-run bakery, but they go all out for Valentine's Day.
Pictured, above, are beautiful hand-painted shortbread cookies in the shape of a heart along with handmade almond and strawberry with black pepper lollipops.

Here are some more sweets to feast your eyes on:

Those pretty heart-shaped cookies and pate de fruits, which are fruity treats like a soft gumdrop. The Himalayan pink salt is really nice, not too salty with a lovely grain and hue.

The lollipops come in little globes or flat shapes.

I thought the fleur de sel caramel and vanilla shortbread bar was delicious. A touch of salt paired with the soft caramel was a great combination. (And don't you just love the Space Invaders paper wrapping?!) The tins in the middle of the photo are a Tower of Chocolate: tea, Mexican hot cocoa and truffles.

There are also red marzipan lips filled with a champagne ganache and fizzy pop-rocks along with a spectacular box of hand-painted chocolate heart-shaped candies.

The Apple Pie Bakery is a fun place to visit any time of year, but if you're looking for novelty items for the holidays, you're bound to find something really sweet.

Now, if you do have time to bake for Valentine's Day, check out today's Busy Cook page in the Poughkeepsie Journal for a lovely vanilla cake. Who said all treats have to be chocolate?

Here's another recipe from Gannett News Service for little heart-shaped vanilla bean cookies that would make a perfect treat for Valentine's Day.

(Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter for these vanilla cookies/Gannett News Service photo)

The Sweet Pea Sugar Cookies

For the cookies:

1. 1 cup butter
2. 1 cup sugar
3. 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped, or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4. 1 egg
5. Zest of 1 orange or lemon
6. 2 tablespoon orange juice
7. 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
8. 1 tablespoon baking powder

For the icing:

1. 1 pound powdered sugar
2. 1 tablespoon powdered egg whites
3. 1/2cup water
4. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  
• In a large mixing bowl, mix together butter, sugar and vanilla.
  
• Add the egg, zest and juice. Mix until smooth. Gradually stir in the flour and baking powder until well mixed.
  
• Wrap tightly and chill for 2 to 3 hours, or until firm.
  
• Sprinkle flour along a clean surface and roll out dough. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out cookies. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake about 8 minutes, or until edges of cookies are golden. Timing will vary depending on the size and shape of the cookie cutter. Let cool.
• For icing, whisk together powdered sugar, powdered egg whites and small drizzles of water until icing is smooth and thick. Whisk in vanilla.
  
• Place in a pastry bag fitted with a decorator tip, or spread on cookies with an offset spatula.
  
• Makes about 12 cookies.
  

Source: Chef Danielle Librera, The Sweet Pea Baking and Catering, Phoenix