Heart-Shaped Pastry for Valentine’s Day

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, sugar, and salt.
2. Add the cubed frozen butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
3. In a separate small bowl, beat the eggs lightly. Then, add them to the flour mixture.
4. Drizzle in the cold milk, and mix until the dough comes together. It should be cohesive but not too sticky.
5. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it gently until it's smooth.
6. Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
7. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
8. Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out as many hearts as you can.
9. Place half of the heart shapes on the prepared baking sheet. Spoon your desired filling onto the center of each heart, leaving a small border around the edges.
10. Carefully place another heart-shaped dough over each filled one. Use a fork to press the edges together and seal the pastries.
11. Brush the tops of the pastries with a little beaten egg for a shiny finish, if desired.
12. Bake the pastries in the preheated oven for about 15-18 minutes, or until they are golden brown.
13. Once baked, remove the pastries from the oven and let them cool slightly on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
14. Serve and enjoy your delicious heart-shaped pastries for Valentine's Day!