May 18th, 2012

Patriotic Oreo Lollipops

Happy Friday, friends!

Forecast here for the next couple of days: 90 degrees and sunny.

In other words, I really didn’t feel like turning on the oven. But I still wanted something sweet and satisfying.

Whoever said you can’t have your cake and eat it too?!

Speaking of ‘having your cake and eating it too’, who ever came up with that? It doesn’t even make sense.

Your going to give me cake and I can’t eat it!? Please, correct me if I’m missing something.

Sorry, moving onto more important things:

Oreo Lollipops! (you may recognize these, I like dipping Oreo’s)

I used the cool mint oreos and they were amazing dipped in the Vanilla CandiQuik. But don’t let me influence you, feel free to use the original if you’re more of a traditionalist.

Ingredients:

Yield: approx. 18 Oreo lollipops

1 package (16 oz) Vanilla CANDIQUIK Coating

1 package (15.25 oz) Cool Mint Oreo® cookies

18 lollipop sticks

Red & blue sugar sprinkles

large star-shaped sprinkles

Instructions:

1. Insert a lollipop stick into the center of each Oreo cookie. If you find that it is not secure, use a dab of CandiQuik to hold the stick between the cookie halves.

2. Melt CANDIQUIK according to directions on package.

3. Dip Oreo lollipops in melted CANDIQUIK; allow excess coating to drip off; place on wax paper to dry.

4. While the coating is still wet, sprinkle with red & blue sugar sprinkles and attach star sprinkles.

 

P.s. I have  a NEW addition to the printables section of my blog, these tags are pretty specialized, but all of the recipes for the tags are below:

 

 

Party Mice

Rocky Road Clusters

S’more Pops (made with lollipop sticks vs. pretzel rods)

Lemon Cake Pops/Bites (simply cake pops made with lemon cake & cream cheese frosting)

 

Category4th of July, Cookies, Memorial Day, Recipes | CommentNo Comments »

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May 11th, 2012

Triple Crown Horse Cookies

First things first, to kick off Mother’s Day weekend I have a nice surprise for you. See that new page in the top righthand corner?! Free printables! I will be adding more themes and holidays as time goes on. Whether you use them for cake pops, cupcake toppers, gift tags…it’s all up to you. Hope you enjoy.

Did you watch the Kentucky Derby!? I had my eyes peeled every second of it and decided that attending the Derby is on my bucket list.

I was inspired by THESE horse cookies over at Party Pinching…check out Norene’s site, some major talent & creativity happening over there!

I have always wanted to make horse cake pops, but haven’t got around to it. It’s been put on my list (I have lots of lists if you’re catching on) which we all know is growing at rates faster than I can make. But the moment I saw these, I knew they had to cut in line and be made NOW…I took a little different approach from hers and changed a few things up.

 

These would be perfect for…well, we missed the Kentucky Derby but the Preakness & Belmont Stakes are right around the corner! Or if you or someone you know loves horses, these are perfect!! That’s another reason I made them…I have been riding since I was a little girl & have a weakness for anything “horse”.

Horse Cookies

you will need:

1 packaged (16 oz.) Chocolate CANDIQUIK Coating

Nutter Butter Cookies

Butterscotch candies

Sliced almonds

eye-shaped candy (can be found at your local craft store)

Assorted sugar sprinkles

2 oz. Vanilla CANDIQUIK +toothpicks (for decorating)

optional: lollipop sticks

directions:

Melt CandiQuik according to package directions.

Using two utensils (I used a fork and spoon), completely cover Nutter Butter cookies in CandiQuik, let excess coating drip off and place on wax paper.

Before coating has set, press 1 butterscotch candy on the end of the cookie as a nose and  2 eye-shaped candies towards the top of the cookie; allow to dry. (Note: you can also use mini Ritz crackers as the nose if you wish…)

Once dry, dip the very ends of 2 almond slices in the CandiQuik and press on the top of the cookie, hold until set in place.

Melt Vanilla CandiQuik according to the package directions and use a toothpick to add facial markings (stripes/stars, etc.); allow to dry.

Using a toothpick and Vanilla CandiQuik, carefully draw on the bridle (should only take 3 moves: 1 strip across the nose and 2 on either side of the cookie); sprinkle immediately.

Voila!

Oh, if you want to do horse POPS, simply stick the lollipop between the 2 cookies before beginning the other steps! Use a little dab of coating to help hold things in place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CategoryChocolatey, Cookies, Recipes, Sports | Comment1 Comment »

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May 2nd, 2012

Cinnamon Dessert Nachos

Need vs. Want.

Sometimes I have a hard time decifering between the two. Pinterest doesn’t help.

Overall though, I’d like to say I’m fairly practical. I usually stick to what I need – like these nachos. I need.

You need these too.

Incase you need justification: Cinco De Mayo is right around the corner…

Speaking of, did you see what I stuffed my face with for Cinco De Mayo 2010 and 2011?

Now go make these.

Cinnamon Dessert Nachos

10 small (6″) flour tortillas, cut into 1/4′s

2-3 tablespoons cinnamon-sugar

oil (I used canola, for frying)

2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped

1 1/2 cups diced pineapple (I used canned pineapple)

2 bananas, sliced

8 oz. (1/2 package) Chocolate CANDIQUIK Coating

Directions:

Heat approximately 1/2 cup oil in a large fry pan.

Dice up fruit while oil is heating.

Add 4-5 tortillas to hot oil and fry until golden, use tongs to flip tortillas to brown each side (takes about 30 sec- 1 min).

Place chips into a large bowl and sprinkle immediately with cinnamon-sugar.

Repeat with remaining tortillas. *Add additional oil if needed.

Melt CANDIQUIK according to package directions. Dip each tortilla in chocolate coating and place on a large serving plate.

Top tortilla chips with fresh fruit and drizzle with additional chocolate coating if your feeling fancy.

Tip: serve with cinnamon-infused ice cream or whipped cream for an extra delicious treat!

 

Oh my gosh, cinnamon ice cream on top… what the heck – this would be beyond good.

 

Linked to the following parties: Bru Crew Life, Mrs. Happy Homemaker, Mrs. Fox’s Sweets, Something Swanky

 

 

CategoryChocolatey, Cinco de Mayo, Father's Day, Memorial Day, Recipes | Comment2 Comments »

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May 1st, 2012

Perfect Peppermint Thumbprints

If you like mint and/or chocolate, this is it.

If you like those little York peppermint patties, this is it.

If you don’t (me) like York peppermint patties, this is still it.

If you’re looking for an easy after dinner treat… you know it.

If you want to make a dessert that requires you to scrub chocolate out of a bowl and end up with it splattered all over your brand new white shirt, this is not it. I will share that one with you later. Ugh.

Perfect Peppermint Thumbprints

slightly adapted from She Wears Many Hats

Ingredients:

12 oz. Chocolate CANDIQUIK Coating

1 pound confectioners’ sugar (about 3 ½ – 4 cups)

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

+ Green food coloring (If I were you, I would add a little green food dye to the cream cheese mixture – how cute would these look tinted green!? Hindsight is always 20/20, isn’t it?)

Instructions:

In a large bowl, gradually mix the powdered sugar with the softened cream cheese, stir until well incorporated. (Use a spoon or a standing mixer for best results, I began using a hand mixer and it became too thick)

Add peppermint extract and combine well.

Roll dough into tablespoon sized balls. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for an hour or until firm.

Once peppermints have firmed, create a small indention in the middle of each ball using a 1/2 teaspoon or your thumb.

Melt Chocolate CandiQuik according to package directions. Using a spoon (or a piping bag/ Ziploc freezer bag with the corner snipped), fill each mint with CandiQuik. Let cool.

*Keep refrigerated in an airtight container to prevent mints from drying out.

 

 

Featured at the following parties: Bru Crew Life, Crazy for Crust, Mrs. Happy Homemaker, Mrs. Fox’s Sweets

CategoryChocolatey, Gluten Free | Comment5 Comments »

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April 19th, 2012

Sesame Street Cake Pops

I would like to start things off with a little humor…

Funny Cake Ball Incident HERE

Can you guess what my favorite line in her story was!?

Moving onward to more important things, like Sesame Street and cake pops.

Bakerella originally created a really cute set of these characters for the 40th Anniversary of Sesame Street…

I took a little different approach and made them with coconut. Coconut fur.

These were time consuming. However, if you prep your tools (coconut, noses, mouths, etc.) beforehand, they are really not terribly difficult! Now, if this is your first time with cake pops, take a look at this first.

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CategoryCake Balls, Pops, & Bites, Recipes | Comment1 Comment »

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April 9th, 2012

Behind the Scenes: 2000 Cake Balls!

You may remember back in March I had a huge cake ball project.

HUGE, as in 2000+ cake balls!

That’s roughly 55 regular sized cakes (9×13″ pans).

Or about 12 full sheet cakes! Plus a whole lotta frosting.

Not to mention approximately 66 POUNDS of CANDIQUIK! Holy moly.

These cake bites fed the guests that attended the 2012 Taste of the Timberwolves, a benefit dinner supporting the Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation.

A unique and great opportunity!

The pictures below will give you an inside peak at what “operation 2000 cake balls” looked like!

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CategoryCake Balls, Pops, & Bites, Uncategorized | Comment20 Comments »

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April 4th, 2012

(Easy) White Chocolate Raspberry Petit Fours

 

Sometimes I have a hard time focusing on one thing for a long period of time.

I’ll be writing a blog post and go to check who commented on my last status update. 10 times.

I’ll be in the middle of baking cookies and think to myself, “I should really bleach my whites…”

I’ll check the yahoo home page to find out that Ryan Gosling saved a woman’s life, then I begin to think of Kristan’s “Hey girl..” photos.

And don’t even get me started on Pinterest…it inspires and stresses me out at the same time.

Please tell me this is somewhat normal. Or maybe I have ADD. For real.

 

But sometimes this can be a good thing. Like when you buy these…

 

and end up with this…


True story! Try it.

Mmm, cherry vanilla.

Now, how about those petit fours pictured way up there!?

What is a petit four anyways?! A tiny cake. A tiny, multi-layered cake enrobed in a vanilla coating (in this case). YUM!

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CategoryCakes, Cheesecakes & Pies, Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Weddings | Comment9 Comments »

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March 30th, 2012

Hidden Surprise Chocolate Easter Eggs

 

Funny story about how THESE eggs came about. What’s also funny is how your brain thinks as a blogger/recipe developer…

A commercial for Rice Krispies came on for these cute little rice krispy treats with little candies hidden inside.

Right away I thought – chocolate easter eggs! Hollow ones, then you can stuff candy, money, or whatever you want in them.

No wait, money is dirty, that might be gross.

Apparently Kristan over at Confessions of a Cookbook Queen (who happens to be hosting a giveaway for 3 cases of Candiquik, act fast – ends April 2!!!) and I are on the same wavelength about what to do with our egg molds. Dang, I thought I had somethin’. Who am I kidding, they’ve proably been done a few thousand times.

But they’re cute, so here ya go:

(Don’t forget to visit Kristan! She will have you rolling on the floor laughing andshe obviously has great taste in desserts *wink, wink*)

Hidden Surprise Chocolate Easter Eggs read more »

CategoryChocolatey, Easter, Gluten Free | Comment5 Comments »

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March 28th, 2012

Homemade Ooey Gooey Snickers Bars

I amaze myself, I really do.

And not in a overly confident kind of amaze.

I am seriously surprised that I pull off some of the treats I make. Like these adorable bunnies and lil’ chicks for example.

Anyone that really knows me, knows that I am not always the most graceful person.

I have been known to pour chocolate candiquik all over white pants, vanilla all over black pants, you get the drift…

The good news is, these bars require no tedious decorating, no drawing on cute little faces, no crazy assembly, nada.

If you can make almond bark, you totally got this.

There is no excuse in the world not to make these.

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CategoryBars & Brownies, Chocolatey, Gluten Free, Uncategorized | Comment7 Comments »

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March 18th, 2012

Coconut Macaroon Easter Egg Nests

Before we get to the good stuff I wanted to show you a little somethin’…

This is what I came in to work to find on my desk:

The Wall Street Journal. An article on, “How Colleagues Make You Fat“. A sticky note pointing to said article with the words, “with cake balls” written on it.

Haters.

read more »

CategoryBars & Brownies, Easter, Gluten Free | Comment8 Comments »

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March 8th, 2012

March Madness Basket(cake)balls

Why do I do this to myself? I eat completely weird combinations of food that should not be seen together!!!

I promise – I know how to cook, but I’m notoriously known for eating strange off-the-wall dinners. I’m busy. I’m not married yet. I do not have kids yet. I’m hungry. Therefore, it happens. Plus, I’m only harming myself when I do this…

Example 1: Monday’s dinner consisted of buffalo chicken and a chocolate banana protein shake. WTH?!

Example 2: Wednesday I had a snack that consisted of a vanilla latte and jalopeno cheddar chex mix. GAG. It seemed like a good idea when I saw the chex mix, then I saw the latte, and ended up with both. Let’s just say these things do not belong together and should not be consumed within the same hour of eachother.

There’s just something about spicy foods when combined with sweet milky drinks that DOES NOT go together.

I know, your glad I told you this. What would you have done without me?!

On another note – cake, frosting, and chocolate and/or vanilla candiquik DO go together. March and Basketball DO go together. I’m on a roll.

Basketball Cake Balls

Yield: approximately 40 cakes balls

ingredients: read more »

CategoryCake Balls, Pops, & Bites, Sports, Uncategorized | Comment10 Comments »

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March 6th, 2012

Pot o’ Gold (at the end of the) Rainbow Cake Bites!

 

A few things I’m loving right now:

-My new Kitchen Aid mixer that I got for $130 off!

-Meyer Lemons – if you haven’t, you need to

-These!

Something that I’m *quite frankly* not loving right now:

Facebook changin’ things up. March 30th = new layout for facebook pages. Bah humbug.

On another note: I’ve been so excited to show you these…I have been waiting since January to use these little sour candy things (aka rainbows) I found at Target in the dollar section. Now it’s March something and I’m rushing to publish them to the world wide web. What the heck happened to February – and when did March get here?! Sorry, I’ve been locked in a room rolling 2000 cake balls for the past week ;) . More on that story later!

These are a bit time consuming to make, but I’ve saved you the trial and error of figuring out what works best.

Here’s what my research has found:

read more »

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CategoryCake Balls, Pops, & Bites, Chocolatey, St. Patrick's Day, Uncategorized | Comment23 Comments »

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