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* 3 cups all-purpose flour * 1/2 teaspoon baking powder * 1/2 teaspoon salt * 1 cup butter, softened * 1 cup granulated sugar * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract * 1/4 teaspoon almond extract * 1/4 cup half-and-half * 1 large egg * 1 large egg yolk * 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl. Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until creamy. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and half-and-half. Add the egg and egg yolk, beating until just blended. Mix in the dry ingredients to form a soft dough. Divide the dough in half. Press the dough into disks, wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line three cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll out one of the disks of dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of l/4 inch. Use a 2 1/2-inch heart cookie cutter to cut out the cookies. Gather the dough scraps, re-roll, and continue cutting out cookies until all the dough is used. Use a spatula to transfer the cookies to the prepared cookie sheets, placing them 2 inches apart. Repeat with the remaining dough. Bake, one sheet at a time, for 12-15 minutes, or until just golden. Transfer to racks and let cool completely. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over barely simmering water. Dip the hearts half-way into the chocolate and let stand for 30 minutes until set. |



