Chocolate, flowers, and wine, all things we associate with Valentine’s Day.  Naturally, we also think of aphrodisiacs, such as the well-publicized oysters that supposedly get motors running.  Well folks, here’s a lesser publicized member of the aphrodisiac clan, nutmeg.  Yep it’s true; cinnamon’s good friend nutmeg is a spice for lovers.  So in honor of Valentine’s Day, here are some nutmeg (code word for aphrodisiac) cookies.  Enjoy responsibly.

What’s that?  You’re disappointed that I did not share this recipe with you before Valentine’s Day?  Well, buck up camper, just change out the cookie cutter and the colored sugar hue and bam(!), you’ve got yourself the perfect little snack for any date night.  For example, St. Patrick’s Day… shamrock cookie cutter, plus green sugar sprinkles, bam!  Halloween… pumpkin shaped cookie cutter, plus orange sprinkles, bam!  The possibilities are endless.  Just think, a “T” shaped cookie cutter, plus regular sugar on top, bam!  Suddenly, Tuesday night equals romance night.

Bake up some love.  Bake up some nutmeg cut-out cookies.

 Nutmeg Cut-Out Cookies, innocent looking, but oh-so-playful

NUTMEG CUT-OUT COOKIES

“Bite into one of these deliciously crisp cookies and you will get an immediate pop of nutmeg flavor.  Tasty, simple, and fun, these cookies are the perfect accompaniment to the phrase, ‘Be Mine.’”

1/2 cup Butter

1/2 cup Sugar

1/4 cup Maple Syrup

1 Egg

1 1/2 cups Flour

1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon Salt

Red Sugar Sprinkles

 

Cream butter and sugar.

Mix in maple syrup and egg.

Mix in flour, nutmeg, and salt.

Form dough into a disk and cover in plastic wrap.

Chill dough for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Roll dough out to 1/8th inch thickness.

Cut into heart shapes (I used a heart shaped cookie cutter that is 2 1/2 inches across at the top and got good results).

Place on parchment paper lined baking sheets.

Sprinkle tops of cookies with red sugar sprinkles.

Bake 10 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges.

 

Makes about 40 cookies.

Revised Source:  “Nutmeg Maple Butter Cookies” from Gourmet Magazine as found on http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2011/12/nutmeg-maple-butter-cookies/