These simple versions of petit fours are adorable treats for kids to make on Valentine's Day. Combine favorite flavors and add a little icing to make one-of-a-kind confections.
Ingredients:
- 1 poundcake loaf (find these in the bakery section of the store or in the freezer section)
- favorite jam flavor, Nutella, container of icing
- heart shaped cookie cutter
- cooling racks
- cookie sheets or jellyroll pans
- 3 cups confectioners sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp light corn syrup
- 1/2 tsp vanilla or almond flavoring
- gel paste food coloringassorted Valentine's candy for decorating
- squeeze tubes of icing for decorating
Directions:
Using a serrated knife, slice the pound cake into 1/2 inch slices and trim off crust. Cut out heart shapes using the cookie cutter. If you don't have a heart-shaped cookie cutter, you can use a small glass to cut out circles (just as adorable). Make sandwiches with the cutouts by spreading a thin layer of jam, Nutella or the filling of your choice on half of the hearts. Top them off with the other half. Place the sandwiches on cooling racks set on the cookie/jellyroll pans.
Poured fondant icing is easy to make, easy to use and gives these little cakes their beautiful smooth appearance. If you don't want to mess with making this, use a can of icing and let your kids go crazy!
To make the fondant, combine the confectioners sugar, water and corn syrup in a sauce pan. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly until the icing is thin enough to pour but thick enough to stick on the cake and not completely run off (think the consistency of temper paint). Remove from heat and add flavoring and just a tiny bit of coloring, if using. Stir to combine. Pour the icing into smaller bowls.
Let kids use spoons to drizzle it over their cakes. No need to worry about covering the cakes completely. If you really want to, you can use a knife or spatula to fill in any missed areas on the sides. If you find the fondant is too thin, let the first coat cool and dry a bit and drizzle on a top coat. The fondant reheats quite easily for more applications or future use.
If the kids are decorating the cakes with candy then it is easier to do while the fondant is still slightly wet. Allow the fondant to dry and harden before decorating with squeezable icing.
Craft stores sell many festive containers now days that you can pack these sweet little cakes up for the kids to give their loved ones - if they don't all get eaten first!
