"Sweets for my sweet. Flowers for my flower." - Angelo to Blanche, The Golden Girls

Looking to make something special for that someone special in your life? My husband can be incredibly sweet sometimes, surprising me with the little things that he does in order to show that he cares. So today's focus is on sweet treats for someone special in your life, whether it's a significant other or just someone sweet!

I've selected three different recipes, each with different ingredients, so hopefully there's something for everyone!

Apple Spice Drops
All Recipes From Simply Homemade Food Gifts

My husband has been having problems with almost continuous migraines for the past, oh, six months or so and it's taken its toll on both of us, definitely. So I suppose that's why I love it when he remembers, through his haze of pain, to make sure that he knows how much he appreciates what I do for him.

Recently, he decided that it might help to give up caffeine in all forms - whether it's coffee or chocolate. As he's a Dunkin Donuts lover of extreme proportions, I didn't think he'd do it. But he is! So this recipe is perfect for him - chock full of good stuff and absolutely no chocolate!

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter or margarine
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup finely chopped apple
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

In a large mixing bowl beat butter or margarine with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and cloves; beat until combined. Beat in egg and milk. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour, the apple, and the nuts with a wooden spon. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are lightly brown. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool. Store cookies in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Makes about 40 cookies.

To Present This Gift

Items Needed

Thin ribbon
Glass snack cup and plate set
Cute Apple Button or Pin

Thread the ribbon through the hole of the button. TIe the button to the top of the cup handle. Tie the ribbon ends into a bow. Place cookies in cup or on plate set.

Simple Fudge Tarts

On the other hand, I understand that most people just plain enjoy chocolate! And I have to say, these tarts look incredibly delicious. They're definitely something my sister would enjoy - the combination of peanut butter and chocolate is irresistible to her!

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray
1/2 of an 18 roll of refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk

Directions

1. Lightly coat 24 1-3/4 inch muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray or line with paper or foil bake cups; set aside.
2. For tart shells, cut cookie dough into 6 equal pieces. Cut each piece into 4 equal slices. Place each slice of dough in a prepared cup.
3. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 9 minutes or until edges are light brown and dough is slightly firm but not set. Remove tart shells from oven. Gently press a shallow indentation in each tart shell with the back of a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon. Bake 2 minutes more or until the edges of tart shells are firm an dlight golden brown. Let tart shells cool in cups on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Carefully remove tart shells from cups. Cool completely on wire racks.
4. For filling, in a small saucepan combine chocolate peices and sweetened condensed milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until chocolate is melted. Spoon a teaspoon of filling into each cooled tart shell. Cool completely, allowing filling to set. Store in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Makes 24 tarts.

To Present This Gift

Items Needed

Antique clear glass butter dish (or other vintage glassware)
Ribbon

Arrange a single layer of tarts in the dish. Tie a ribbon around the dish, making a bow with the ends.

Hugs & Kisses Spritz Cookies

And last, but not least, are some butter spritz cookies. These are always a big hit around Thanksgiving for my family. We devour them by the bushel, I swear. But the key to this recipe is BUTTER - not margarine!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp almond extract (optional)
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Coarse or colored Sugar (optional)
Cookie Spritzer

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and baking powder. Beat until combined, scraping bowl. Beat in egg, vanilla, and almond extract until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour with a wooden spoon.
2. Force unchilled dough through a cookie press into X's and O'x onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle lightly with coarse or colored sugar, if desired.
3. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are firm but not brown. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Store in a tightly covered container at room temp for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Makes about 84 cookies.

To Present This Gift

Items Needed

Square Food Tin
Gold Spray Paint
Fabric Paints in Copper and Silver
Parchment or Wax Paper
Ribbon

*Feel free to use other colors, particularly if that someone special has a favorite color. (Me, I'd have to paint it red, white, and navy - Red Sox colors!)

Spray paint the lid and base of tin. Let dry. Using fabric paints, draw X's and O's on top of the lid and on the sides of the tin. Let dry. Line box and cover cookies with parchment or wax paper. Wrap box with ribbon and tie into a bow.

Add a tag or write a personalized message on the ribbon.

Personally speaking, I wouldn't do the X's and O's - I just don't like the idea. A little overkill in my mind. I'd decoupage a picture onto the box - so he could keep stuff in it later - or I'd leave it painted simply. But that's just my two cents.