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.