Got a significant other (or BFF?) who deserves a Valentine's Day surprise? Write sweet nothings (or inside jokes) on parchment paper and stick the notes inside cookies with confetti sprinkles. When the treats are broken open, a celebratory shower of color — and your kind words! — will appear. Here's how to make 'em.

Each finished cookie is essentially three layered sugar cookies — one with a cut-out in the middle for holding the note and sprinkles, and two whole cookies to sandwich it. Nesting rectangle cookie cutters make easy work of cutting the dough into even shapes. If you don’t have these cutters, you can cut rectangles from a piece of heavy craft paper; you'll want one rectangle that is 4-in x 2-in, and another that is 1 3/4-in x 1-in. For each complete cookie, cut three large rectangles and cut a smaller rectangle from the center of one of the three pieces.

Place the cut-out dough on parchment paper and bake for 12-15 minutes (get the full recipe instructions here). You’ll know they’re done when the edges turn golden. Let the cookies cool completely before icing.

Hidden in each cookie, your Valentine will find a sweet sentiment of love! Cut a sheet of food-safe paper into strips (we used baking parchment) and write your heartfelt emotions on one side of the paper.

When your cookies have cooled, begin each build with one whole rectangle cookie. Pipe royal icing (get the recipe here) around the edge of the rectangle, and then pipe a line of frosting around the edge of hollow rectangle cookie. Stack the hollow cookie on top of the whole cookie.

Fold the love note so that the ink is inside the folded paper and will not touch the cookie. Fill the cookie with confetti sprinkles (we used heart shapes!) and add the love letter on top. Squee!

Cover the filled cookie with a whole cookie and press down gently so the icing will glue all three cookies together. Outline the top of the cookie with white royal icing and flood with more icing, using a toothpick to fill in any gaps. Allow the cookies to dry for several hours before adding final touches.

Pipe triangular envelope flaps on top of half the cookies. Pipe a "wax seal" shape on the point of the triangle using red royal icing.

The remaining cookies can be decorated to look like the front of the envelope, with black royal-icing address lines and colorful royal-icing hearts in red and pink. Use a black food-color marker to add smaller details like postage and the recipient’s name. You can also add a dashed line (and the words "open here!") where the receipient should break the cookie. This way, they will know there’s something special inside.

Let the cookies dry completely for at least 3 more hours before packaging them up. The surface of the cookies should be smooth and even. All decorations should be firm and dry to touch.

When the cookies are broken open, the confetti sprinkles and the love note will be revealed! What a fun surprise for the person you love.