With Valentine’s coming up, you may want to try this cookie valentine bouquet. It is sure to please that special person you share it with. Valentine’s Day presents the perfect opportunity for lighthearted expressions of love or friendship. Whether the object of your affection is a child of 2 or a grandparent of 82, he or she will enjoy one of these thoughtful Valentines.

Sweet Valentine Cookie Bouquet

This homemade edible bouquet is a creative way to share sweetness. It’s easy to make, fun to customize, and perfect for gifting.

Materials Needed:

• A clean flowerpot or empty can (paint it red or wrap it with Valentine’s-themed paper)
• Eyelet lace (for decoration)
• 2 dozen flower-shaped cookies with center holes
• 1 to 2 dozen large, heart-shaped red gumdrops
• 1 to 2 dozen bamboo skewers
• 2 pieces of 3-inch-thick Styrofoam (to fit inside the can)
• Red ribbon for bows
• Green asparagus fern (for contrast, available at florists)

Instructions:

• Prepare the container: Decorate your flowerpot or can with red paint or Valentine’s wrapping paper. Add eyelet lace around the top and bottom for a festive touch.

• Secure the base: Glue Styrofoam inside the bottom of the can to hold the skewers in place.

• Assemble the cookie flowers:

• Push a skewer through the center of a gumdrop.
• Slide a cookie onto the skewer so it rests on the gumdrop.
• Add another gumdrop on top to create a sandwich-style flower.

• Arrange your bouquet:

• Insert the skewer into the Styrofoam to hold the flower upright.
• Vary skewer lengths for a natural, layered look.

• Add the finishing touches:

• Tie a red ribbon bow below each cookie flower.
• Place green asparagus fern between the flowers for contrast.

Tip: This bouquet idea works year-round! Simply swap heart-shaped gumdrops for seasonal colors and adjust the ribbon to match any occasion.

Candy-Message Valentines:

Give your friends a candy-bar hello. On a piece of poster board, write your Valentine greeting so candy bar forms part of the message.

Some suggested messages might include:
    — I (mint) to ask you to be my Valentine.
    — Valentine, you stole a (Big Hunk) of my heart.
    — I chews (gum) you to be my Valentine.
    — You’re the (Cup o’ Gold) at the end of my rainbow.
    — I’d run a (Marathon bar) for you, Valentine.