Thursday, March 28, 2019

Flower Pot Spring Cookies / #SpringSweetsWeek

This post is sponsored in conjunction with #SpringSweetsWeek. I received product samples from sponsor companies to help in the creation of the #SpringSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

To celebrate #SpringSweetsWeek today, I made these Flower Pot Spring Cookies and I decorated them with #sprinklepop sprinkles!

Flower Pot Spring Cookies
(printable recipe at end of page) 

Sugar Cookie Recipe
5 cups Flour
3 teaspoon Baking Powder
2 cups Butter (softened)
2 cups Sugar
2 Eggs
2 teaspoon Almond Extract
1 teaspoon Salt
Royal Icing Recipe 
3/4 cup Warm Water
5 tablespoons Meringue Powder
1 teaspoon Cream of Tartar
2.25 lbs Powdered Icing Sugar
Cookie Frosting Colors
Blue-Americolor Sky Blue #103
Purple-Wilton Purple
Yellow-Sunny Side Up Bakery Lemon Yellow
Green-Americolor Mint Green #112
Orange-Wilton Orange
Sprinkle Pop Sprinkles-Egg Hunt Sprinkle Mix
Cookie Sticks


Mix the dry ingredients together, then set aside.
Cream the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and extract, and continue to mix well. Add the dry ingredients a little at a time, to the butter mixture. Mix until the flour mix is incorporated and the dough comes together.
Cut a piece of parchment paper 2 times the size of the cookie sheet. Fold it in half. Place some dough on the parchment, fold the paper over and roll the dough to a 1/4" thickness. Place the dough on the cookie sheet, and do it again until all the dough is between parchment paper and on the tray. Cover the tray with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm. The dough will become solid, making it easier to cut out the cookies. This system works great if you are using an intricate cookie cutter too. It cuts the edges and corners perfectly.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use the cookie cutter to cut out the design. Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes. Then remove cookie from cookie sheet and let it cool on a cooling rack. Once you have cut the cookie from the dough, let the rest of the dough soften a bit and then reroll it and refrigerate all over again. 


Make the frosting  by pouring the warm water in a mixer and add the meringue powder. Whisk by hand until frothy for 30 seconds. Add cream of tartar and mix for 30 seconds again. Pour all the confectioners sugar into the mixer bowl, and mix using a paddle attachment for 10 minutes. Frosting should be thick and creamy. Cover with plastic when not using. Depending how many flowers you are decorating, tint a 1/4 cup of each color. I matched the colors of the icing to be as close as possible to the colors of the sprinkles to make a cohesive color palette. After coloring the frosting, add a very small amount of water to it until you have the consistency you desire.
 Outline the yellow flower using a #2 tip.
Fill in the flower and then place sprinkles in the center. Let dry.
Outline the next flower in blue. Take 2-3 drops of each color onto the inside of the flower.
Use a toothpick to spread the colors around. Don't over mix the colors.
 Add the sprinkle over the entire cookie. Use a combination of the small pieces and long pieces, the small dots, the large and small candy balls.
Outline and fill in the third flower. Add an outline of colored trim where needed. While the outline is still wet, add the sprinkles. Don't be shy about the sprinkles. Put them on slightly heavy and then let them sit to dry. Once dry, turn the cookie over to allow the extra sprinkles to fall off, let them fall on parchment paper or a paper plate. Then just pour the extras back into the packet. Let everything dry.
Place cookies in the styrofoam  so they look how you want them to. Add easter grass for fun!





Don't forget about entering the raffle! 
You can do it right here!
Read about all the great prizes you can win, 
see here!




#SpringSweetsWeek

Friday #SpringSweetsWeek Recipes

  • A #SpringSweetsWeek G & T by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
  • Carrot Cake Ice Cream Sandwiches by Crumb Top Baking
  • Carrot Cake Scones by Cheese Curd In Paradise
  • Chocolate Crepe Cake Roll by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
  • Chocolate Marshmallow Dip by Simply Inspired Meals
  • Chocolate Panna Cotta by The Gingered Whisk
  • Chocolate Wacky Cake by The Gingered Whisk
  • Cottontail Chex Mix by Books n' Cooks
  • Easter Bunny Bark by Our Good Life
  • Easy as Pie Coconut Cream Pie by A Day in the Life on the Farm
  • Flower Pot Spring Cookies by The Freshman Cook
  • Homemade Peach Cobbler by A Joyfully Mad Kitchen
  • Key Lime Cupcakes by House of Nash Eats
  • Key Lime Sugar Cookies by Kelly Lynn’s Sweets and Treats
  • Lemon Cake Roll by Sweet Beginnings
  • Marshmallow S'Mores Cookies by Palatable Pastime
  • Mint Chocolate Yogurt Pudding by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
  • Orange Cream Cheese Loaf Cake by A Savory Feast




  • cookies, flower cookies, spring, cookie arrangement
    cookies, decorated cookies
    Yield: 1Pin it

    Flower Pot Spring Cookies

    ingredients:

    • Sugar Cookie Recipe
    • 5 cups Flour
    • 3 teaspoon Baking Powder
    • 2 cups Butter (softened)
    • 2 cups Sugar
    • 2 Eggs
    • 2 teaspoon Almond Extract
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • Royal Icing Recipe
    • 3/4 cup Warm Water
    • 5 tablespoons Meringue Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Cream of Tartar
    • 2.25 lbs Powdered Icing Sugar
    • Cookie Frosting Colors
    • Blue-Americolor Sky Blue #103
    • Purple-Wilton Purple
    • Yellow-Sunny Side Up Bakery Lemon Yellow
    • Green-Americolor Mint Green #112
    • Orange-Wilton Orange
    • Sprinkle Pop Sprinkles-Egg Hunt Sprinkle Mix
    • Cookie Sticks

    instructions:

    1. Mix the dry ingredients together, then set aside.
    2. Cream the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and extract, and continue to mix well. Add the dry ingredients a little at a time, to the butter mixture. Mix until the flour mix is incorporated and the dough comes together.
    3. Cut a piece of parchment paper 2 times the size of the cookie sheet. Fold it in half. Place some dough on the parchment, fold the paper over and roll the dough to a 1/4" thickness. Place the dough on the cookie sheet, and do it again until all the dough is between parchment paper and on the tray. Cover the tray with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm. The dough will become solid, making it easier to cut out the cookies. This system works great if you are using an intricate cookie cutter too. It cuts the edges and corners perfectly.
    4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use the cookie cutter to cut out the design. Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes. Then remove cookie from cookie sheet and let it cool on a cooling rack. Once you have cut the cookie from the dough, let the rest of the dough soften a bit and then reroll it and refrigerate all over again.
    5. Make the frosting by pouring the warm water in a mixer and add the meringue powder. Whisk by hand until frothy for 30 seconds. Add cream of tartar and mix for 30 seconds again. Pour all the confectioners sugar into the mixer bowl, and mix using a paddle attachment for 10 minutes. Frosting should be thick and creamy. Cover with plastic when not using. Depending how many flowers you are decorating, tint a 1/4 cup of each color. I matched the colors of the icing to be as close as possible to the colors of the sprinkles to make a cohesive color palette. After coloring the frosting, add a very small amount of water to it until you have the consistency you desire.
    6. Outline the yellow flower using a #2 tip.
    7. Fill in the flower and then place sprinkles in the center. Let dry.
    8. Outline the next flower in blue. Take 2-3 drops of each color onto the inside of the flower.
    9. Use a toothpick to spread the colors around. Don't over mix the colors.
    10. Add the sprinkle over the entire cookie. Use a combination of the small pieces and long pieces, the small dots, the large and small candy balls.
    11. Outline and fill in the third flower. Add an outline of colored trim where needed. While the outline is still wet, add the sprinkles. Don't be shy about the sprinkles. Put them on slightly heavy and then let them sit to dry. Once dry, turn the cookie over to allow the extra sprinkles to fall off, let them fall on parchment paper or a paper plate. Then just pour the extras back into the packet. Let everything dry.
    12. Place cookies in the styrofoam so they look how you want them to. Add Easter grass for fun!
    Created using The Recipes Generator




  • Thank you #SpringSweetsWeek Sponsors: Dixie Crystals, Swiss Diamond, Nancy’s Yogurt, Barlean’s, Sprinkle Pop, PEEPS, Melissa’s Produce, and Adams Extracts for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for #SpringSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are my own. The #SpringSweetsWeek giveaway is open to residents of the United States who are 18 years of age or older.   All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Eight (8)  winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. The #SpringSweetsWeek Bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #SpringSweetsWeek posts or entry.

Celebrate It! Link Party!


I am so glad you stopped by today!
Link up what you have been celebrating, 
so we can celebrate with you! 

Features from last week:

 Altered Easter Peeps Box
from

How To Make Your Own Solar Lights 
from

Garden Hose Spring Wreath
from


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Click here to enter
 

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Bunny Cards / #SpringSweetsWeek

This post is sponsored in conjunction with #SpringSweetsWeek. I received product samples from sponsor companies to help in the creation of the #SpringSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

I hope you are enjoying #SpringSweetsWeek, and picking up some fun, festive ideas for Easter, Birthday parties, school celebrations or any happy events coming during this season! Today I made some Bunny Cards for you to enjoy and give! These Bunny Cards are edible white chocolate with a #PeepsBunny imbedded in the chocolate. I call them cards, because I have given them as gifts. They are wrapped in plastic bags and a carrot card is attached so you can write a message to your recipients. They are full of fun sprinkles and I'm sure whoever you treat with one, will love it!
Peeps Bunny Cards
(recipe makes 6) 
(printable recipe at end of page) 

Molds for chocolate base
2 bags White Chocolate Chips
Decorating Colors~Purple, Pink
Peeps Bunnies (1 for each card)
Festive Sprinkles
Premade Green Frosting
Wilton Tip #233
Plastic Bags 
Card
String 




 Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler over very low heat. I only melted 1 bag at a time.
 I only used 2 different colors for the eggs. You can use more, but the molds are not very large, and you risk the problem of too many colors swirled together that end up looking like a color that you would not want. I took some of the white melted chocolate and colored it in a separate bowl from the double boiler. You don't need a lot of the color.
 Pour the melted white chocolate into the mold. These egg molds are metal, so it was not necessary to spray the pans. Swirl the colors until you are happy with what you have done. Remember that the bunny will go in the middle of the pan, so swirl near edges, and less in the middle.
 Use a serrated knife to slice the bunnies in half lengthwise. Wipe some cooking spray on your knife to make it easier. You can also but the peeps in the freezer for a few minutes, if you find that easier. You will only be using the front of the bunny. (Now that I say that, you could use the back of the bunny, and then just pipe a little tail on him. That would be cute!)
Place a bunny in the middle of each mold.
Decorate each mold with sprinkles or whatever you would like to use. Remove them from the mold when they are dry and you are ready to finish them. The molds I used are actually small egg cake pans that I have had for a while. You could use the bottoms of a large cupcake pan, or any number of different molds that are available, as long as there is room for the bunny!
Using a Wilton Tip # 233 pipe some grass around the bottom of each bunny. Add additional sprinkles while it is still wet. I used a frosting that I have used for years for the grass. You can find the recipe here. You can also buy the tubes of ready made frosting at the grocery and craft stores. Buy the decorating tip I mentioned above, and it can usually be screwed directly onto the tube of ready made frosting.
Place each Bunny Card in a plastic bag. I cut out a carrot from 2 different colors of scrapping paper using a cookie cutter for the shape. Place some Easter grass in the bottom of the bag, put the #PEEPSBunny on top of the grass, and tied the card onto the bag. 
 Happy Spring! Happy Easter!




Don't forget about entering the raffle! 
 You can do it right here! 
Read about all the great prizes you can win, see here!

a Rafflecopter giveaway







#SpringSweetsWeek





Thursday #SpringSweetsWeek Recipes




bunny, cards, cards, chocolate
dessert
Yield: 6

Bunny Cards

prep time: cook time: total time:

ingredients:

  • Molds for chocolate base
  • 2 bags White Chocolate Chips
  • Decorating Colors~Purple, Pink
  • Peeps Bunnies (1 for each card)
  • Festive Sprinkles
  • Premade Green Frosting
  • Wilton Tip #233
  • Plastic Bags
  • Card
  • String

instructions:

  1. Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler over very low heat. I only melted 1 bag at a time.
  2. I only used 2 different colors for the eggs. You can use more, but the molds are not very large, and you risk the problem of too many colors swirled together that end up looking like a color that you would not want. I took some of the white melted chocolate and colored it in a separate bowl from the double boiler. You don't need a lot of the color.
  3. Pour the melted white chocolate into the mold. These egg molds are metal, so it was not necessary to spray the pans. Swirl the colors until you are happy with what you have done. Remember that the bunny will go in the middle of the pan, so swirl near edges, and less in the middle.
  4. Use a serrated knife to slice the bunnies in half lengthwise. Wipe some cooking spray on your knife to make it easier. You can also but the peeps in the freezer for a few minutes too if you find that easier. you will only be using the front of the bunny. (Now that I say that, you could use the back of the bunny, and then just pipe a little tail on him. That would be cute!)
  5. Place a bunny in the middle of each mold.
  6. Decorate each mold with sprinkles or whatever you would like to use. Remove them from the mold when they are dry and you are ready to finish them. The molds I used are actually small egg cake pans that I have has for a while. You could use the bottoms of a large cupcake pan, or any number of different molds that are available, as long as there is room for the bunny!
  7. Using a Wilton Tip # 233 pipe some grass around the bottom of each bunny. add additional sprinkles while it is still wet. I used a frosting that I have used for years for the grass. You can find the recipe here. You can also buy the tubes of ready made frosting at the grocery and craft stores. Buy the decorating tip I mentioned above, and it can usually be screwed directly onto the tube of ready made frosting.
  8. Place each Bunny Card in a plastic bag. I cut out a carrot from 2 different colors of scrapping paper using a cookie cutter for the shape. Place some Easter grass in the bottom of the bag, put the #PEEPSBunny on top of the grass, and tied the card onto the bag.
  9. Happy Spring! Happy Easter!
Created using The Recipes Generator



Thank you #SpringSweetsWeek Sponsors: Dixie Crystals, Swiss Diamond, Nancy’s Yogurt, Barlean’s, Sprinkle Pop, PEEPS, Melissa’s Produce, and Adams Extracts for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for #SpringSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are my own. The #SpringSweetsWeek giveaway is open to residents of the United States who are 18 years of age or older.   All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Eight (8)  winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. The #SpringSweetsWeek Bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #SpringSweetsWeek posts or entry.

Monday, March 25, 2019

Bird's Nest Thumbprint Cookies / #SpringSweetsWeek



This post is sponsored in conjunction with #SpringSweetsWeek. I received product samples from sponsor companies to help in the creation of the #SpringSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.
Welcome to #SpringSweetsWeek, day 2! I hope you are having fun checking out all the tasty recipes so far! Have you entered the giveaway yet? Don't forget! You can enter towards the end of this page! Today I made these Bird's Nest Thumbprint Cookies. They are fun to make, and if you have any helpers, this is the cookie recipe for them. There are chocolate eggs to go on the tops of the cookies, and if your helpers are not too young, they might want to try piping the grass and the birds nest. These cookies are good practice and this recipe is very versatile. I have used it several times for different types of thumbprint fillings. This is also one of those recipes I just love because not everything has to be done at one time, or the same time. You can make this recipe a day or two ahead of the decorating. Then finish the frosting closer to the day you want the cookies ready! Plus, this recipe is really yummy!

Bird's Nest Thumbprint Cookies
(Makes 7 dozen)
(printable recipe at end of page)

1 cup Butter
1 cup Dixie Crystals Powdered Sugar
1 cup Dixie Crystals Granulated Sugar
2 large Eggs
1 teaspoon Vegetable Oil
2 teaspoons Vanilla
2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
5 1/4 cup Flour
1 teaspoon Cream of Tartar
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 teaspoon Salt
Frosting
Wilton Color Kelly Green 
Americolor Chocolate Brown
Wilton Tip #233
Mini Chocolate Eggs

Frosting Recipe:
3/4 cup Warm Water
5 tablespoons Meringue Powder
1 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
2.25 pounds Dixie Crystals Powdered Sugar




Mix the butter on medium until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and granulated sugar and mix again. Add your eggs, oil, vanilla, and lemon juice. Beat until blended.
In a separate bowl, mix together your flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Then add that to the mixing bowl with the sugar ingredients.
Use a small scoop and place scoops of batter on to a cookie sheet.
Roll each ball around in your hand making them smooth. Bake for 9-11 minutes. Remove from oven.
Immediately use something that will compress the middle of the cookie, giving it an edge. I used a pestle. I sprayed the pestle with cooking spray so it would not stick to the cookies.
I like making the cookie indentation immediately after the cookies have baked. It gives a cleaner look, with less cracked cookie sides. These cookies will not brown, but they may become slightly brown on the bottom. When they do, they are done. Place on cooling rack to cool. 
Make the frosting by mixing together the warm water and meringue powder. Whisk it by hand for 30 seconds. Add the cream of tartar and whisk 30 seconds more. Use a mixer with a paddle attachment, add the sugar and mix for 15 minutes on low speed. The icing will become creamy and thick. Mix 1/2 cup of the frosting green and another 1/2 cup colored brown. You will have a lot of frosting left for future recipes.
Use a Wilton tip 233 to place green tufts of grass around the inside edges of the cookies.
Use the same tip again, only with a decorating bag filled with brown frosting. Pipe a circle around the top of the cookie, making it look similar to a birds nest.

Place the eggs on the tops of the cookies. Enjoy!


Don't forget about entering the raffle! 
You can do it right here!
Read about all the great prizes you can win, 
see here!







    #SpringSweetsWeek



Thank you #SpringSweetsWeek Sponsors: Dixie Crystals, Swiss Diamond, Nancy’s Yogurt, Barlean’s, Sprinkle Pop, PEEPS, Melissa’s Produce, and Adams Extracts for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for #SpringSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are my own. The #SpringSweetsWeek giveaway is open to residents of the United States who are 18 years of age or older.   All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Eight (8)  winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. The #SpringSweetsWeek Bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #SpringSweetsWeek posts or entry.

cookies, treats, desserts, gifts
dessert, bakery, cookies
Yield: 7 dozenPin it

Bird's Nest Thumbprint Cookies

ingredients:

Cookies
  • 1 cup Butter
  • 1 cup Dixie Crystals Powdered Sugar
  • 1 cup Dixie Crystals Granulated Sugar
  • 2 large Eggs
  • 1 teaspoon Vegetable Oil
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
  • 5 1/4 cup Flour
  • 1 teaspoon Cream of Tartar
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • Frosting
  • Mini Chocolate Eggs
Frosting
  • 3/4 cup Warm Water
  • 5 tablespoons Meringue Powder
  • 1 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
  • 2.25 pounds Powdered Sugar
  • Wilton Color Kelly Green
  • Americolor Chocolate Brown
  • Wilton Tip #233

instructions:

Cookies
  1. Mix the butter on medium until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and granulated sugar and mix again. Add your eggs, oil, vanilla, and lemon juice. Beat until blended.
  2. In a separate bowl, mix together your flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Then add that to the mixing bowl with the sugar ingredients.
  3. Use a small scoop and place scoops of batter on to a cookie sheet.
  4. Roll each ball around in your hand making them smooth. Bake for 9-11 minutes. Remove from oven.
  5. Immediately use something that will compress the middle of the cookie, giving it an edge. I used a pestle. I sprayed the pestle with cooking spray so it would not stick to the cookies.
  6. I like making the cookie indentation immediately after the cookies have baked. It gives a cleaner look, with less cracked cookie sides. These cookies will not brown, but they may become slightly brown on the bottom. When they do, they are done. Place on cooling rack to cool.
  7. Make the frosting by mixing together the warm water and meringue powder. Whisk it by hand for 30 seconds. Add the cream of tartar and whisk 30 seconds more. Use a mixer with a paddle attachment, add the sugar and mix for 15 minutes on low speed. The icing will become creamy and thick. Mix 1/2 cup of the frosting green and another 1/2 cup colored brown. You will have a lot of frosting left for future recipes.
  8. Use a Wilton tip 233 to place green tufts of grass around the inside edges of the cookies.
  9. Use the same tip again, only with a decorating bag filled with brown frosting. Pipe a circle around the top of the cookie, making it look similar to a birds nest.
  10. Place the eggs on the tops of the cookies. Enjoy!
Created using The Recipes Generator