Monday, April 25, 2016

Fairy Godmother Wand Cookies-on-a-Stick

Say you're planning a princess party...or a Cinderella-theme prom. You're going to need some Fairy Godmother Wand cookies.

how to make Fairy Godmother Wand Cookies-on-a-Stick
These are super simple and a great addition to a dessert table. You'll be able to whip up a batch up them faster than you can say "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!"

(My sister played the Fairy Godmother in a 5th grade production of Cinderella. I kept picturing her with her curls sprayed grey while I was making these. Hi Molly!)

how to make Fairy Godmother Wand Cookies-on-a-Stick
I got the idea for these from this pin. Unfortunately, when I click it, I get a spam warning and a redirect from Pinterest. The picture was enough, though. Let's make them.

For the cookies themselves, I made a a version of the KILLER mocha cut-out cookies found in my book, Decorating Cookies Party. I figure teenagers all like Frappuccinos, right? So, I make Cocoa Frappuccino cookies for the wands. They're a less-coffee version of the mocha cookies.

{If you're making these for a little girl's princess party you might want to ix-nay the ocha-may. I have no idea why I just wrote that in pig latin.}

how to make Fairy Godmother Wand Cookies-on-a-Stick
To make Fairy Godmother Wand Cookies-on-a-Stick, you'll need:
how to make Fairy Godmother Wand Cookies-on-a-Stick
Roll cookies to 3/8" thick. Place your cookies on a sheet with room for a stick, but do not insert prior to baking. 

Bake cookies, remove from the oven, then immediately insert the sticks into the center of each cookie. 

The cookie will attach around the stick as it cools. Inserting the stick prior to baking can lead to the cookie twirling on the stick as it expands and contracts. 

Leave the cookies on the cookie sheets for 8 minutes, then use a cookie spatula remove to a wire rack to cool completely. 

how to make Fairy Godmother Wand Cookies-on-a-Stick
Once the cookies are cool, thin the royal icing until a knife dragged through the middle leaves a line for about 15-20 seconds. Pour this medium consistency icing into a squeeze bottle. Fill the cookies with icing, using a toothpick to pop bubbles and coax icing into empty spaces. 

how to make Fairy Godmother Wand Cookies-on-a-Stick
I love these thin, delicate gold star edible glitter. They really ARE like fairy sprinkles. Scatter these over the wet icing. 

how to make Fairy Godmother Wand Cookies-on-a-Stick
Let the icing dry uncovered for 6-8 hours or overnight. 

Once dry, tie ribbons to each stick. Gold on the blue sticks, blue on the white. 

print recipe photo printrecipe.jpg
Cocoa Frappuccino Cut-Out Cookies
{adapted from the Mocha Cut-Outs from Decorating Cookies Party}

2 1/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup salted butter, cut into chunks
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 egg


Preheat oven to 350. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa and baking powder.  Set aside.

In a large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until combined and fluffy.

Stir the espresso powder and vanilla together in a small bowl or ramekin.

Beat in the egg and espresso/vanilla mixture until combined.

Add the flour/cocoa mixture in three additions, mixing on low speed just until combined. Scrape down the sides and bottoms of the bowl as needed. After the last addition, the dough will look very thick and crumbly.

Because the cocoa makes this dough soft and sticky, it is easier to work with if it has been chilled before cutting. Divide the dough in half, and form into two discs. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes before rolling.

Prepare a rolling surface by mixing cocoa and flour together. Roll out one disc of dough to 1/4" - 3/8"  (3/8" for cookies on sticks) thick. Cut out as many shapes as possible from each roll, and place them onto the prepared cookie sheet. 

[note] If the dough is crumbly, or you see bits of unincorporated flour, simply knead it together until it is cohesive and of uniform consistency.

Place the cookie-filled sheet in the freezer for 5-10 minutes prior to baking to prevent spreading. Meanwhile, knead the scraps and remaining dough together and continue the rolling, cutting, and freezing process.

After freezing, immediately place the cookies into the oven and bake for 9-12 minutes for 3.5-4 inch cookies, until they appear done in the center. The baked cookies will not change much in color.

Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the cookie sheets for 2 minutes. (Eight minutes if making cookies on a stick.) Use a cookie spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. 


Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo! Fairy Godmother Cookie Wands! 


Thursday, April 21, 2016

What if a sugar cookie and a jelly donut had a baby?

No, really. What IF a sugar cookie and a jelly donut had a baby?!? First off, I want to go to that baby shower. Second, the result would be these cookies.

blackberry almond pinwheels : pretty swirled cookies, easy to make, and oh so good!
Blackberry Almond Pinwheel Cookies. They're so fun, so EASY, and so, so delectable.

blackberry almond pinwheels : pretty swirled cookies, easy to make, and oh so good!
There's just something about that tart and sweet blackberry jam combined with a soft almond sugar cookies that is totally irresistible.

blackberry almond pinwheels : pretty swirled cookies, easy to make, and oh so good!
You'll start with the almond cookie dough.

blackberry almond pinwheels : pretty swirled cookies, easy to make, and oh so good!
Then you'll combine blackberry jam (I like Smucker's Seedless Spreadable Fruit here) with toasted almonds.

blackberry almond pinwheels : pretty swirled cookies, easy to make, and oh so good!
Those get all rolled up together. Then, they chill. Then, you slice them up.

blackberry almond pinwheels : pretty swirled cookies, easy to make, and oh so good!
Each cookie gets brushed with a little egg wash and sprinkled with some sparkling sugar. I like cookies that twinkle, don't you?

I'm sharing my recipe for these Blackberry Almond Pinwheels over on Imperial Sugar today.
Go get the recipe...you'll be glad you did.


Wednesday, April 20, 2016

The Pioneer Woman Food & Friends Latest Posts ... (04.20.16)

Oh, honey!

how to infuse honey : by Bake at 350 for The Pioneer Woman Food & Friends
Have you ever infused honey? I'm here to tell you, once you start, you'll have a million (or so) jars of flavored honey in your cabinets.

I'm blogging about it over at The Pioneer Woman Food & Friends...different infusions and ideas for using them.

C'mon over, honey! ♥ 

Monday, April 18, 2016

Cookbook Crush: April 2016 + Cookies and Cream Cookies

If you're a lover of desserts...and if you aren't, I think you might be here by mistake...you probably know Shelly of the blog Cookies and Cups. Shelly's first cookbook has just been released, and y'all, it's a winner.

Cookbook Crush: The Cookies and Cups Cookbook + Cookies and Cream Cookies
The Cookies & Cups Cookbook: 125+ sweet & savory recipes reminding you to Always Eat Dessert First leads with the most important part of any meal, dessert! Shelly's desserts range from classic to totally inventive, all scrumptious. The back section of the book focuses on savory recipes. These are recipes that will get you through the busy week...delicious, but decidedly un-fussy.

Cookbook Crush: The Cookies and Cups Cookbook + Cookies and Cream Cookies
{Stay tuned, because Shelly has a SIGNED copy for a Bake at 350 reader! Woo hoo!}

Cookbook
I love that Shelly has savory recipes in her book. As a blogger of sweets, I get the impression that some people think we ONLY eat cookies around here. Hey, I'm not above having a brownie or two for lunch every once in a while, but believe or not, we do eat real food. And, I can't wait to try Shelly's savory recipes. (That picture up there? King Ranch PASTA! King Ranch Chicken is such a great Texas dish and I'm so looking forward to trying this spin on it with pasta.)

Cookbook Crush: The Cookies and Cups Cookbook + Cookies and Cream Cookies
Right out of the gate, I decided to make Shelly's Cookies and Cream Cookies. The cookies are big, puffy chocolate cookies with white chocolate chips and Oreos right in the dough. The hardest part about making these is making sure your husband doesn't eat all of the Oreos before you get to baking. (Hide them.)

print recipe photo printrecipe.jpg
Cookies and Cream Cookies
{with permission from The Cookies & Cups Cookbook, makes 25-30}

1 cup salted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 TBSP vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I used 1/4 cup natural, 1/4 cup Dutch process...only because I ran out of natural)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white chocolate chips, divided
12 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 350. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Cream the butter and brown sugar together for 2 minutes, until light and fluffy.

Add the eggs and vanilla and continue mixing until the mixture is smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.

On medium speed, beat in the cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until distributed evenly.

cookies and cream cookies
On low, add the flour in three additions. Mix until incorporated. Reserve 1/4 cup white chocolate chips. Stir in the remaining chips and the Oreos.

Use a large cookie scoop (I used a 2-TBSP, Shelly calls for a 3-TBSP) to drop the dough 2 inches apart on the prepared sheets. Press a few of the reserved chips onto the top of each cookie. Bake for 8-9 minutes, until the edges are set. Do not overbake these.

cookies and cream cookies
Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 3-4 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

These cookies were a HUGE hit with all of us. I'm usually not a fan of white chocolate, but these may have swayed me. SO good!

cookies and cream cookies with Oreos baked inside!
The Cookies & Cups Cookbook...it's going to get a workout in my kitchen!

Enter to win a signed copy by leaving a comment on this post telling me what dessert you're craving lately.

Entries accepted through 11:59pm CST, April 24th. US addresses only. Winner will be notified via email.

Good luck!

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Sweet on Trader Joe's Sunday: Organic Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats

Greeting, fellow TJ's lovers! Today, we're reviewing Trader Joe's Organic Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats.

trader joe's brown rice marshmallow treats review : part of a weekly review series of tj's desserts and treats
Five per box, they'll cost you $2.99. Described on the box as "crispy brown rice covered in creamy marshmallow."

trader joe's brown rice marshmallow treats review : part of a weekly review series of tj's desserts and treats
A mom's (my) take: Not my favorite. I do like a Rice Krispie treat, but these just don't come close. Dry, not enough marshmallow, not very sweet. The idea was a good one: organic, brown rice, low sodium, low calorie....but I'm afraid it didn't add up to much taste. (While I didn't love these, here's a little something I've been buying recently at TJ's that I DO love...)
Overall rating: 2 of 5 stars

A teenager's (Jack's) take: Emphasis on the rice, not so much on the marshmallow. If you're looking for Rice Krispie's identical twin, these don't measure up... The difference is mainly in the marshmallow used in the bar. There is not as much glaze and it's not as flavorful. However, the bar itself is chewier, something which I really enjoy. The rice taste tends to come out a lot more, but it's not overpowering. In a nutshell, these aren't quite on the same level as the name-brand versions, but if you're looking for a little variety in your marshmallow-rice-treat-tasting career, give these a try. :)
Overall rating: 3 out of 5 stars

trader joe's brown rice marshmallow treats review : part of a weekly review series of tj's desserts and treats
Trader Joe's Organic Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats: you can probably skip these. 


[note: We have no affiliation with Trader Joe's. I'm sure they have never read this blog and have no idea who we are. Hey, we like being incognito, although we never wear sunglasses indoors. ;)]

Read all of our Trader Joe's sweet treats and dessert reviews

Here's what else we're (ok, I'm) loving this week: 

  • Y'all, last Saturday was the Junior prom. Seeing your boy all grown up in a tuxedo, well, it was something. Here's Jack. And with his beautiful date. *sigh* 
  • My friend Shelly's cookbook was released last week. You'll be seeing more of it on the blog this week, but just do yourself a favor and order it. ;) 
  • The New Orleans nail polish collection from OPI! Love! 
  • Jessica does it again...makes something that I MUST recreate in my kitchen...Amaretto Bourbon Punch. (Amaretto is one of my love languages.) 


Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Cinderella Carriage Cookies from a Micky Mouse Cookie Cutter

Guys. I am in full prom-recovery mode. One of the things about your child going to a brand-new school...and a small school...is that you have the opportunity to get involved.
(You also have the opportunity to over-commit, but let's not talk about that right now.)

how to make Cinderella carriage cookies ... from a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter! Perfect for a Cinderella or princess party!

The Junior prom at Jack's school was Saturday and the theme was The Grand Ball...as in Cinderella's Grand Ball. Please tell me you've seen the Cinderella movie that came out last year with Rose from Downton Abbey. It's so sweet.

how to make Cinderella carriage cookies ... from a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter! Perfect for a Cinderella or princess party!
We'd planned mini desserts for the dessert table carriage. Once I saw these princess carriage cookies by LilaLoa made from a Mouse Ears cutter, I knew some carriage party favors were in order, too.
(Again, another plus to your child going to a small school. Making cookie party favors is actually doable. Would I have done this if his class had 700 students like mine did? Um, no.)

how to make Cinderella carriage cookies ... from a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter! Perfect for a Cinderella or princess party!

To make Cinderella carriages, you'll need:
how to make Cinderella carriage cookies ... from a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter! Perfect for a Cinderella or princess party!
Use an offset spatula to smear white icing onto each cookie. This doesn't need to be precise...it'll be the "window" in the carriage. 

Place some of the darker blue icing in a piping bag fitted with a #2 tip. Set aside. Thin the remaining with water until it is a medium consistency. When you drag a knife through the icing, the line should disappear in a count of 15-20 seconds.

how to make Cinderella carriage cookies ... from a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter! Perfect for a Cinderella or princess party!
Pour this icing into a squeeze bottle and outline the wheels.

how to make Cinderella carriage cookies ... from a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter! Perfect for a Cinderella or princess party!
Use a #2 tip to outline carriage and the door with light blue icing.

Thin the remaining light blue and white icings with water, a bit at a time, stirring with a silicone spatula, until it is the consistency of a thick syrup. (Reserve some of the white icing for piping details later.) You'll want to drop a "ribbon" of icing back into the bowl and have it disappear in a count of "one thousand one, one thousand two." Four is too thick, one is too thin. Count of 2-3 is good.

Cover with a damp dishcloth and let sit for several minutes. Stir gently with a silicone spatula to pop and large air bubbles that have formed. Pour into squeeze bottles.

how to make Cinderella carriage cookies ... from a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter! Perfect for a Cinderella or princess party!
how to make Cinderella carriage cookies ... from a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter! Perfect for a Cinderella or princess party!
Fill in the outlines with the thinned icing, using a toothpick to guide to the edges and to pop large air bubbles.

how to make Cinderella carriage cookies ... from a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter! Perfect for a Cinderella or princess party!
Now, use the reserved blue icing in the piping bag to add the curtains.

With another #2 tip, add details with the gold icing.

Let the icing dry overnight, or for 6-8 hours, uncovered.

 photo cinderella carriage tutorial luster.jpg
Once the icing is dry, it's time to paint. Mix gold luster dust with a bit of vodka until smooth. Use a paintbrush to paint on the areas iced in gold icing. Add more vodka to the mixture as needed whole working as the alcohol will evaporate and the gold "paint" will thicken.

how to make Cinderella carriage cookies ... from a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter! Perfect for a Cinderella or princess party!
I love that Mickey Mouse ears make for the perfect Cinderella carriages. THAT is Disney magic! 

Thanks, LilaLoa for the inspiration!


Wednesday, April 6, 2016

The Pioneer Woman Food & Friends Latest Posts ... (04.06.16)

Sugar, Sugar! (The song "Sugar Sugar" was the #1 song on the charts the day I was born. Coincidence? I think not.)

All hail SUGAR!!! 

sugar 101
I have a new post up on The Pioneer Woman Food & Friends. You'll never guess what it's about.

Please come on over to read all about it. I promise it'll be sweet. ♥

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Sweet on Trader Joe's Sunday: Butter Waffle Cookies

Jack picked out our review item this week. Have I mentioned how awesome it is to have a teen driver?!? OK...once you get past the absolute horror that your BABY is DRIVING on STREETS with CRAZY PEOPLE, having another driver in the house is a good thing.

trader joe's butter waffle cookies review : part of a weekly review series of tj's desserts and treats
After school on Friday, I asked Jack to stop by Trader Joe's for pizza dough for our Friday night pizza ...and to pick something to review. I always love to see what he picks out on his own.

Today we're reviewing Trader Joe's Butter Waffle Cookies. The cookies come in an 8.8 ounce box and cost $2.79. TJ's describes these as an "all-butter traditional biscuit."

trader joe's butter waffle cookies review : part of a weekly review series of tj's desserts and treats
A mom's (my) take: Crispy, crunchy, buttery...as simple as cookies come, but oh so delicious. These waffle cookies are fairly large in size, but you can eat 3 for 150 calories. Wahoo! Mix them in ice cream, slather with Nutella, or eat them plain...they're darn good.
Overall rating: 5 of 5 stars

A teenager's (Jack's) take: I love these so much! The consistency is very solid, and isn't too crunchy or hard to bite despite the cookie's thinness. My favorite thing is, of course, the taste: a combination of waffle cones and shortbread (hence the "butter" in the title) cookies. I don't see how there can be anything wrong with that. The flavor isn't too forceful either, which leaves you free to focus your taste buds on whatever aspect of the cookie you'd like. I would greatly appreciate a lifetime supply. :)
Overall rating: 5 out of 5 stars


trader joe's butter waffle cookies review : part of a weekly review series of tj's desserts and treats
Trader Joe's Butter Waffle Cookies : all the stars!!! 

[note: We have no affiliation with Trader Joe's. I'm sure they have never read this blog and have no idea who we are. Hey, we like being incognito, although we never wear sunglasses indoors. ;)]

Read all of our Trader Joe's sweet treats and dessert reviews

Here's what else we're loving this week:

No review next week because it's PROM!!! Mr. E and I be decorating; Jack will be...I don't know...washing his car and getting a haircut, hopefully. Sunday, we recover.