Showing posts with label food gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food gifts. Show all posts

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Gingerbread Men Cookies / #ChristmasCookiesWeek

Welcome to Day 1 of Christmas Cookies Week! I am starting this fun and very tasty week with my favorite cookie, the Gingerbread Man! These cookies are easy to make and full of deliciousness! They are perfect for shipping because of their sturdy nature, and they are such a universally loved cookie, that they are welcome in any cookie basket or tin that you might be gifting friends or family with this season.
These cookies can be made ahead of time, and even frozen if needed. Decorate a day or two before packing them to give as a gift, so the frosting has time to completely dry!
There is a giveaway that starts today being sponsored by Nielsen-Massey Fine Vanillas & Flavors! Find the entry info towards the end of this page, and Good Luck!
Gingerbread Men Cookies
(printable recipe at end of page)

5 cups Flour 
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 tablespoon ground Ginger
2 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 cup unsalted Butter, at room temperature
1 cup Sugar
3/4 cup unsulfured Molasses
1 Egg
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Royal Frosting
6 Ounces Warm Water
5 tablespoons Meringue Powder
1 teaspoon Cream of Tartar
2.25 pounds Confectioner's Sugar




Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
 Beat together the butter and sugar on medium for 2-3 minutes. Add the molasses, egg and vanilla. 
Using low speed, begin to add the flour a little at a time, just until mixed. The dough should be a little stiff and a bit sticky.
Split the dough in half, wrap in saran wrap and refrigerate for minimum of 1 hour, up to 1 day.
When you are ready to bake, take dough from refrigerator and let sit on the counter for approximately 10-15 minutes so it can soften. Roll out the dough on a cutting board or counter. I had the most success when I used the rolling pin shown. It has the cloth sleeve on it, which worked very well with the chilled dough. It rolled out nicely, and was easy to use with the rolling pin covered with the sleeve. 
To cook the gingerbread  man so he can hold the candy cane, roll up some parchment paper in a cylinder shape, place the paper on the area of the cookie, like above. Fold the dough in as if the dough is holding the paper. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes.
After baking, let the cookies cool, then carefully remove the paper from each cookie. Gently pull the paper from the cooked cookie. As you pull the paper, hold the turned arm to avoid it cracking. It may leave marks, but they will be covered by the candy cane.
 Insert candy cane.
Decorate your gingerbread man with the royal frosting! Find the recipe here!
Thank you for stopping by today, and don't forget to enter the giveaway!


 So many cookies, so little time! Find your favorite cookies, or discover some new ones, from the list below:

 To join us in celebrating #ChristmasCookiesWeek,
Nielsen-Massey Fine Vanillas and Flavors
is giving one winner a set of their pure flavors: 
2-oz each of Orange,  Lemon,Peppermint, Almond, Chocolate, Coffee, Rose Water, and Orange Blossom Water.

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas has been crafting the world’s finest vanillas and flavors since 1907. Each of Nielsen-Massey’s all-nature pure flavors are crafted with premium ingredients, sourced from around the world and chosen to meet the utmost quality standards. From lemon to peppermint to coffee or chocolate, Nielsen-Massey’s pure flavors offer convenience, quality and consistency to ensure your favorite recipes taste delicious every single time. All products are gluten-free, allergen-free, GMO-free, all-natural and Kosher.

Join the giveaway below:


Thursday, April 7, 2016

Stuffed Spring Cookies / Fill The Cookie Jar

Spring is in the air, and I am celebrating with these Stuffed Spring Cookies! Cookies are always a great way to celebrate! These cookies take some time to make, but several of the steps can be made ahead of time and the cookies are essentially two cookies in one because they have a top and bottom, so going a smaller size on these is not an issue. For more spring cookie inspiration, when you are done reading this, keep scrolling down and see all the cookies the other members of Fill The Cookie Jar made today! Happy Spring!

 Stuffed Spring Cookies

Friday, February 12, 2016

Last Minute Valentine Gifts~Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix and Chocolate Dipped Thin Oreos

Valentine's Day will be here on Sunday! Are you ready?  These two, cute Last Minute Valentine Gifts are fast to put together, and anyone would love to receive them! The Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix is easy, and the Chocolate Dipped Thin Oreo's are even easier!

hot choclate mix, chocolate covered oreos
 Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix 

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Snowflake Thumbprint Cookies

Thumbprint cookies are some of my favorite cookies. I love their versatility, and how easy it is to creatively adapt them to any celebration or party. So these Snowflake Thumbprint Cookies are a celebration of winter and snow, and the fact that I am not in any snow!

These cookies are part of a care package that I am sending to my old neighbor, Skip. As I have mentioned before in this post, he was the best neighbor ever, and since we moved away from Utah, we have gone to visit with him a few times. We really miss him! My son was there a few months ago, and I asked him to go see Skip. I was a little worried that he seemed out of sorts and forgetful when I spoke to him on the phone. To make a long story short, Skip has dementia, and he is now living in a care facility in east Ohio, very near his family. While I am so glad his family is watching out for him,  I am so sad, because I know how much he loved his home in Utah, and his life there. Anyway, I know that Skip will be happy to get these goodies, and I hope they make him smile!

cookies, thumbprint cookies, snow
 Snowflake Thumbprint Cookies

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Candy Cane Popcorn!!

Every Christmas I make a lot of gift baskets filled with food. I stuff them with cookies, candies, and nuts, and sometimes I add sauces, like BBQ or hot fudge. The process of putting it all together, deciding what recipes to make, and how to package the goodies is a source of great joy to me. When I see how happy recipients of the baskets are, it really is a present ~ for me! This year I have an abundance of glass jars (remnants of my biscoff obsession) that I wanted to put to good use. I wanted something that would look pretty and taste great. That's how I came up with this Candy Cane Popcorn!
Candy Cane Popcorn
16 cups popped Popcorn
12 squares of Vanilla Almond Bark
20 Candy Canes
Pop your popcorn and chop up your almond bark.
Let it melt slowly, stirring and using low heat.
Meanwhile, line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
 Crush your candy canes into small pieces.
Pour your popped corn in to a large bowl. 
You will need a large bowl for extra mixing room.
 Add your melted  almond bark. Mix thoroughly.
Distribute the wet popcorn between the two
baking sheets.
Sprinkle with your crushed candy canes.
Let dry.
Here is a close up to see how it sticks to the
popcorn with the help of the melted bark.
To make the jars I tied bakers twine around the lid,
 stuck a mini candy cane in the bow, and.....
 decorated the top of the lid.
They will be the perfect addition 
to the gift baskets!

Thanks for joining me today!

I will be partying at these fun spots!:
Wicked Good Wednesday