Cake. Inspired.

Sleepy Elves and Melty Snowmen..... Yup, it screams Christmas. These were so fun to make!  I just used a regular drinking glass for the snowman cookie and then I found the most adorable elf cookie cutter on Amazon that I just knew I couldn't live without.  I put the elves in jammies and tried to make the snowmen look different and unique.  I also made a few melty snowmen by flooding the whole cookie and then using a marshmallow as the head. (My first melty snowman had a red scarf.... but then I realized it looked more like a crime scene rather than a Christmas melty snowman. Yeah, green scarf it is.) Of course..... I used Grandmas Sugar Cookie recipe because it never fails.  Ever.  

How much do I love gnomes!!!!????  I couldn't help myself, I had to try a gingerbread cookie in the shape of a gnome. For larger cookies I used a Santa cookie cutter, cut the round ball at the top of the hat off and then I messed with the hat to make them look a little messy... just like gnomes. Again, I used my never fail gingerbread  recipe

Christmas Moose Gingerbread Cookies. I used my gingerbread recipe for this herd and they were a huge hit.  Recipe  here   I found the adorable cuter on amazon and then I decided to change up their antlers a bit to create a little individuality.

Soft and Chewy.... just the way gingerbread should be! Originally I used Pioneer Woman's gingerbread recipe but then I tweeked it a bit.  I brought down the molasses and used a little dark Karo syrup to fill in the blanks.  I also eliminated the maple flavor, its just not my thing. I cut them quite thick (1/4 or more!) and cooked them at *325 for 7 minutes exactly.  Yummy.  Chewy.  Perfect with hot cocoa! QUICK NOTE:  Feel free to add extra ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves.  I prefer a little milder tasting gingerbread cookie however when baking for the Mancavers I up ALL spices, they like BIG flavor in their gingerbread cookies. Mix together dry ingredients in a large bowl: 6 C. Flour 1 tea Salt 1 tea Ginger 1/2 tea Fresh Nutmeg (fresh is my fave) 1/2 tea Cinnamon 1/2 tea Ground Cloves 1 Tbl. Corn Starch 1 tea Baking Soda In your KitchenAid bowl beat together wet ingredients using whisk ...

I have wanted a Christmas Lamppost FOREVER!!  This year I decided it needed to happen. I used an old planter for the base, black pvc pipe for the pole and then I glued a lantern on top of a wood plaque I picked up at Walmart. I had planned to make my own lantern but then I came across this beauty while grocery shopping.  Its a hexagon shape and I just love it. I have pictures of the process and I'm working on the video now.  I hope to have it up soon.

Hot Cocoa Cupcakes Perfect for a cool winter evening in front of a warm crackling fire. I think the magic is in the brown sugar and buttermilk, it sets this recipe apart from all others.  The coffee of course helps with the chocolate flavor but the buttermilk and brown sugar are the stars of this show.   1 stick unsalted butter 1/2 C vegetable oil 1 C  strong brew coffee 1 1/2 C cup flour 3/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder 1 C brown sugar 1 C sugar 1 1/2 tea baking soda 1/2 tea salt 2 eggs 1/2 C buttermilk 1 1/2 tea Mexican vanilla Place all dry ingredients in a bowl and sift together well.  Set aside. Cream butter, sugars, and oil.  Add eggs one by one until blended. Add sugar mixture to dry ingredients and mix until well incorporated. Bake at 350 for 9 minutes  (check at 9 minutes and adjust accordingly)

Homemade Egg Nog This was a holiday tradition growing up and I love it still today.  This recipe is ALCOHOL FREE (yeah, we are Mormon) but tastes like heaven. 6 eggs 1/2 C sugar 1 tea vanilla 1 lg box vanilla pudding mix 1/2 heavy cream 4 C milk cinnamon fresh nutmeg Place everything in a blender and blend until smooth.  Serve with a little nutmeg sprinkled on top.

Mele Kalikimaka

Gingerbread Mug Huggers are the best thing since sliced bread!  Its gingerbread on the side of a mug containing yummy hot chocolate... it just doesn't get any better.   Ever.  

Daily Haunts 2018 One. Of. My. Faves!🎃

   Love these. LOVE. 

What's cuter than a skeleton doing yoga?   Nuttin'!

Daily Haunts 2018

Daily Haunts 2018

Daily Haunts 2018 Freaky Fettuccini with Monster Eyeballs & Squirmy Squash

Wahoooooo!  Its October 1st, Halloween Game-On Y'alls DAILY HAUNT #1 Flourless Chocolate Chip Cookies!! What could be more frightening than a flourless cookie????   Shkary Shtuff Indeed. These little chewy devils whip up super fast and everyone is surprised when then they take their first bite. Here is what you will need: 3 C. Powdered Sugar 1/2 C. Unsweetened Dark Cocoa Powder 1/4 T. Salt.... I prefer grainy sea salt, a little speck of salt here and there mixed with the chocolate is divine. 1 bag Chocolate Chips 4 Large Egg Whites 1 Tbl. Vanilla (countless add-ins are possible with these dudes.  Raisins, mini marshmallows, crisped rice, dried cranberries or cherries.... I could go on and on.  Use your imagination or just check what you have in the pantry, that works too.) Heat oven to 350  *I'm at about 5,000 feet so I turn it down to 325. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Set out 2 large cookie cooling rack...

This recipe was inspired by the most adorable bride with deep Mexican roots.  She is one of the sweetest and most gentle and genuine people I've ever known.  I will never forget little miss Jacquie.  Special thanks to Jacquie's sweet mamma for her help in creating this deliciousness.   Authentic Homemade Mexican Horchata 1 C. White Rice 3\4 C. Brown Sugar 1/2 C. Almonds Chopped 1 Mexican Style Cinnamon Stick 1 T. Mexican Vanilla 1 Can Evaporated Milk 12 oz 1 1/2 C. Almond Milk 4 C. Purified Water Several Ice Cubes (Mexican cinnamon sticks:  Yes they exist but I have no idea what the difference is.  Sorry) ' Twas the Night before Horchata..... Soak rice, almonds and cinnamon sticks in a large bowl full of water. (I break my cinnamon sticks but I don't think that's a necessary step.  Just sayin'.)   This needs to soak for at least 5 hours so overnight is the best option for me, otherwise I'm watching th...

Sugar Magnolias Be still my heart short video link: https://youtu.be/9VfQ7ZHmUWs

Succulents are all the rage right now and creating sugar succulents is such a fun process...

Happy birthday to little Masyn who loves nothing more than HAMBURGERS!

Yes, this is a cake blog however these rolls are everything and I just had to share.  I've made bread and rolls my whole life but when I tried these.... uhm, wow.  Melt in your mouth yummy. https://howdoesshe.com/delicious-dinner-rolls/

Sweet little Amelia asked for a pink tea party cake..... Yes ma'am, whatever you wish shall be done because birthdays come around just once a year. 

Lemon Zest Cake Mix Cookies (easy-peasy) These super easy & incredibly yummy cake mix cookies never get old.  They are chewy-oooey good and the variations are endless!  (I forgot the vanilla in the first picture)  (melted butter  I  mixed this around a bit until it was completely liquefied) ] Lemon Zest Cake Mix Cookies Ingredients: 1 dry cake mix (any flavor you like) 2 eggs 1/3 cup melted butter 1/2 tea vanilla lemon zest  (optional) Small bowl of powdered sugar to coat the individual balls of dough (also optional) *I like to add a little lemon zest into the dry cake mix prior to adding the other ingredients.  I mix it  in real good and even use my mortar & pestle a little to really bring out the fresh lemon flavor. Again, not required but it does elevate the level of yumminess. *Some people use oil but I prefer butter. Add cake mix, eggs, butter (warm butter, not hot butter) and vani...

Awesome family time with Old Fashioned Soda, Ice cream cookie sandwiches and.... Thor.   What more could we ask for?

Homemade Oreo Style Cookies These super easy and super fast DIY Oreos are great tasting, fast and incredibly easy!  Your kids will think you are the coolest mom EVER.   Winning! To create these yummy nuggets of deliciousness I combined my cake mix cookie recipe and my whipped cream frosting recipe.  Yeah, I wasn't kidding when I said 'FAST AND EASY'.... INGREDIENTS for your cookies: 1 box cake mix (any flavor you choose, red velvet, lemon & chocolate are our faves) 1/3 cup oil 2 eggs 3/4 teaspoon vanilla Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix with a spoon until dough forms.  Cover and set in refrigerator for about 1 hour.  Roll dough into balls and place on a prepared sheet pan. Bake at 350 for 9-11 minutes. *I like my cookies to be a little thick and chewy so after rolling the dough into balls I place them in the freezer for about 10 minutes and then put them immediately into the preheated oven.  I'm at a r...