Sweet Gingerbread Garland

This past weekend I got together with two girlfriends for an early Christmas visit.  Both friends live out of town, but each year we make every effort to get together around Christmas.  The three of us have been friends since high school, which means we've been friends for... well, quite a few years!  All three of us are "crafty", and we often exchange homemade gifts.  In fact, without previously discussing it, this year all three of us made homemade gifts for each other.  One friend, Cecilia, made some adorable holiday hand towels and a beautiful ribbon pin.  Our friend Esther did some canning and gave us each a beautiful jar of applesauce and a jar of green chili verde sauce.  My gift to each of them was something I baked... shocking, right?  Although the treats I baked are perfectly edible, they were not made to be eaten, but to decorate with!

Here is the "sweet" garland I made for each of my friends...

Here is one hanging across my kitchen window...

I also made a set of matching ornaments...

Pretty cute, if I say so myself!  And since they are made with real gingerbread cookie dough the smell great too!

Would you like to make some ornaments or a garland too? 

You'll need...

Gingerbread cookies (my recipe HERE)

Royal icing (my recipe HERE)

Ribbon or twine (I used twine from The Twinery)

~ Directions ~ 

Make a batch gingerbread cookies (my recipe HERE).  Roll the dough a bit thinner than you would for a regular cookie, so the ornament  is not too heavy.  Before baking the dough, use a wooden skewer to make a hole in the cookie (for the string).  Bake the cookies slightly longer than you would for cookie you'd eat, you don't want these to be soft.

Once baked and cooled, decorate as desired with royal icing (my recipe and decorating instructions HERE).

Let the icing dry completely (about 24 hours), and string some ribbon or twine through the hole in the cookie (you may need to poke the hole open with a toothpick).  I made mine using some beautiful twine from The Twinery.  In fact, I've been selected to be a member of The Twinery's design team, so you'll be seeing some more projects made with their pretty twine in the coming year. 

Note- These ornaments (or garland) can last several years, just make sure to wrap them up gently and store in a large ziplock type bag so they don't attract any little critters.

Gingerbread Cookies {Recipe}

Last week I shared some cute Christmas Tree Cookies I made with gingerbread dough.   Gingerbread cookies are one of my favorites, especially around the Christmas season.  Gingerbread cookies stay fresh for up to two weeks, so they are a great choice for a busy season too!   This dough can be rolled thin to make crisp cookies, or a bit thicker for a soft cookie.

Gingerbread Cookies

6 cups all-purpose flour

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1 Tablespoon ground ginger

1Tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 cup butter

1 cup molasses

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1.  In a large bowl, gently stir together flour, baking powder, and all spices. Set aside.

2.  In the bowl of your electric mixer (or other large bowl), beat butter until smooth.  Add brown sugar, molasses, eggs and vanilla. 

3.  Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until they are fully incorporated.

4.  Divide the dough into 3 pieces, and flatten into rounded disk (about 1 1/2 inches thick).  Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

5. When dough has chilled, preheat oven to 350*F.  On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to desired thickness (1/4- 1/2 inch thick).  (The dough can be rolled out and handled just as I described in my post HERE).  Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters.  Place cookies at least 1 inch apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat type liner.  If the dough is too sticky or soft to work with, put it in the refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes to firm up.

6.  Bake for 9-12 minutes (depending on the size of cookies).  Cool slightly on cookie sheet, then move to a cooling rack to cool completely.

7.  Frost with royal icing, if desired.   HERE is the royal icing recipe I use, as well as some decorating tips to get you started. 

Recipe Source:  My own slight variation on several widely available recipes. 

The Last Taste of Fall

The stores have already announced that Christmas is well on it's way, but I think I can squeeze in this one last set of fall cookies.   These would make a beautiful addition to your Thanksgiving dessert selections, or could be bagged individually as a beautiful place card, or take home treat.  One of the great things about decorated cookies is you can make them several days (up to a week) in advance and they will be perfectly delicious!

My sugar cookie recipe and directions are HERE.

And a great decorating tutorial to get you started is HERE.

Here are a few more treats that you may want to add to your Thanksgiving menu...

Pumpkin Pecan Cupcakes

Pumkin Cookies with Maple Icing

Chocolate Crinkles

Rolo Pretzel Bites  (a yummy snack that could be included with casual appetizers)

Cream Cheese Pie  (this is what I'm bringing to my sister's house for Thanksgiving)

Don't forget to enter the giveaway I posted yesterday for some beautiful custom labels from Littlebeane Boutique.

Have a great weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Christmas Trees, Gingerbread, and a Giveaway...

Yesterday I spent most of the day baking and decorating cookies... my idea of a fun day!  One of the projects I was working on were these cute gingerbread trees. 

The inspiration for the trees came from some adorable Christmas labels I got from Littlebeane Boutique. 

Pretty close match, don't you think?  I was pretty happy with them!  =)

And aren't those labels beautiful?  I first became of fan of Littlebeane Boutique over a year ago, when I was looking for invitations for my daughter's candy party. I was so thrilled with the invitations, and have been a big fan of  Littlebeane Boutique ever since! The shop owner, Lori, designs some of the most original and adorable invitations, tags and labels I've ever seen!

Would you like some pretty labels to dress of your holiday baking projects? 

Littlebeane Boutique is going to give 2 lucky Glorious Treats readers 2 sheets (same design) of custom round labels.  The shop has tons of adorable designs to chose from!  Take a look HERE.

~ How to enter ~

For one entry- Just head over to Littlebeane boutique and take a look at all of the adorable designs. Then come back here and leave a comment telling me your favorite item or design from the shop.

For a second entry- Hop over to Facebook and "like" Littlebeane Boutique, and Glorious Treats too (of course)! Come back here and leave a comment that you have "liked" both pages. If you have a moment, be sure to say "hi" to Lori on the Littlebeane Boutique Facebook page.

For each entry, PLEASE include your e-mail address! 

Entries with no contact information will not be eligible to win. 
A maximum of two entries per person.

 The winners will be chosen using Random.org. The giveaway will end Wednesday, November 24th at 10:00pm Pacific time. 

Photo details-
Cookies packaged in small Wilton Treat Boxes (available on Amazon- follow link, also available at Michael's, JoAnn's, etc.).

~ Giveaway Closed ~

Winning comments chosen by Random.org...
#64 Freja
#14 Coral Diva
Congratulations!  I'll be contact the winners to let you know how to collect your prizes. 

Busy, busy...

Here's a peek at my dining room table... I mean "craft room" today.  I'm busy working on 4 different projects... Christmas presents for friends, bowling themed cookies for a friend's son, and two other little  projects I'll share soon. 

I was a bit slow, but I just posted the winner for the giveaway from Simply Caked (I posted on the original giveaway post, HERE).

The winner is comment #118- Kristi.  Yay!  Please e-mail me (since you didn't leave yours, opps!)  glorioustreats@gmail.com

For those of you who didn't win, I have a litle treat anyway...

Simply Caked is offering an exclusive discount to Glorious Treats readers!

Thru November 30th use the coupon code GLORIOUS15 to receive 15% off all of their great baking supplies! Head on over to Simply Caked and stock up for all your holiday baking. 

Happy Shopping!

Now, I'll head back to my cookies...

Fresh Apple Cake {Recipe}

It's a little hard to tell by looking, but the pretty cake above is a delicious apple cake.

Here, does this photo help...

Yesterday I bought a dozen apples from Costco, and then came home to realize I already had about 6 apples in the fridge.  Time to make something with apples!

I dug into my little recipe file and pulled out a hand-written recipe from a good friend (thanks Pam!). 

Then last night after the rest of my family was asleep, I enjoyed a quiet evening of baking.  The recipe comes together pretty quickly, and creates a delicious aroma while baking!  After it was baked and cooled a bit, I set it on one of my new favorite cake stands.  It was little a pretty little gift waiting for me in the morning to see a fresh baked cake on a pretty stand.  For breakfast I had a glass of milk and a slice (or two!) of moist, delicious apple cake. 

Fresh Apple Cake

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

4 cups chopped apples (no need to peel)

1 3/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs, well beaten

2 Tablespoons vanilla extract

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350*F.

Grease and flour a bunt pan or angle food cake pan.

Stir flour, baking soda and cinnamon together in a medium bowl and set aside. 

In a large bowl combine chopped apples, sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla and nuts.  Stir until well combined. 

Add in flour mixture and stir until fully incorporated.

Pour (or scoop- the batter is a bit thick) into prepared pan.

Bake 50-60 minutes (test with toothpick for doneness... yes I know "doneness" isn't a word!).

Cool before removing from pan.

Dust with powdered sugar just before serving.

Cake will keep well (if covered) at least 2 days (maybe 3, but I always eat it before then).

Recipe Source- Recipe shared from a good friend (and one of the best cooks I know!) Pam S.



Sweet Spots in San Francisco

Last month I had the pleasure of spending a week in San Francisco with a good friend (Sharnel).  When I first got home I posted a little re-cap of our trip HERE.  I'm back today to share more details from a couple of our favorites stops.

One of the highlights of our trip... well, other than all the late night girl talk... was a visit to Ghirardelli Square to have brunch at Crown and Crumpet. 

Now I consider myself a bit of a tea room connoisseur.  I have two girl friends in particular who share my love for tea parties and we have visited at least a dozen different tea shops all over California (over the past 12 or so years).  So I have quite a lot to compare to when I visit a new tea shop. 

Crown and Crumpet is the cutest tea shop I have ever been too!  The decor is not the typical formal English styling.  The shop design has taken it's cue from Cath Kidston, with bright colors, beautiful floral patterns, and a bit of a shabby-chic feel.  Crown and Crumpet includes the tea room itself, and a small shop on one side.  Sharnel and I enjoyed the food, but it was the atmosphere and decor that really puts this shop high on my list of tea shops I'd like to visit again.  

Enjoy a peek into Crown and Crumpet...  

(The candies and cakes above are just decor, not for sale.)

Pretty adorable shop, isn't it?

After our brunch at Crown and Crumpet, Sharnel and I made a stop at Kara's Cupcakes (just a few doors down).  I've enjoyed a few cupcakes from Kara's before (at a different location).  Kara's Cupcakes is a small, sleek shop that sells just what their name suggests, cupcakes.  Sharnel (looking beautiful as always-in the photo below) chose a Fleur De Sel (Chocolate cake with caramel filling) and I chose Meyer Lemon (Vanilla cake with lemon filling and lemon buttercream).  Both cupcakes were delicious.

Crown and Crumpet and Kara's Cupcakes were just two of the sweet stops on our trip.  I'll be sure to share a few more soon!

Simply Caked {Awesome Giveaway!}

I know I've mentioned several times my love for beautiful cupcake liners...

When I find great suppliers of quality cupcake liners, I get very excited, and then I want to share my excitement with you! 

I'm very pleased to introduce to you one of my new favorite finds, and also one of my fabulous blog sponsors, Simply Caked.

Simply Caked stocks a beautiful variety of specialty cupcakes liners, as well as being a great source for plain white and plain brown liners (the ones I find I really use the most!).  And Simply Caked is adding new products all the time.  They just began stocking an adorable variety of cookie cutters, and more products are on their way!

Look at these gorgeous liners...

Now how about a little fun?

You know I love to share treats with you, my lovely readers, and Simply Caked is here to help...

Simply Caked has a package of 600 (that's right 600!!) high quality brown cupcake liners waiting to be won.  And if you don't know what you would do with 600 liners, how about a copy of Martha Stewart's book, Cupcakes?  That should get you started! 

And just for fun, Simply Caked is going to add in two cute cookie cutters, a perfect fall pair.

So,that's

600 brown cupcake liners

a copy of Martha Stewart's book, Cupcakes

and two cute cookie cutters.

(Total value over $42.00!)

Ready to win?

For one entry- Head on over to Simply Caked and have a look at their gorgeous selection of cupcake liners and cookie cutters. Come back here and leave a comment telling me your favorite item from the shop.

For a second entry- Sign up as a follower of Glorious Treats, or "like" Glorious Treats on Facebook (then leave a comment here telling me you are a follower and/or fan).

For a third entry- "Like" Simply Caked on Facebook, and leave a comment here telling me you did.  If you have a moment, be sure to say "hi" on the Simply Caked Facebook wall and let them know Glorious Treats sent you.

Leave a separate comment for each entry.

A maximum of three entries total per person.

Please make sure to include your e-mail address, so I can contact the winner. 

This giveaway ends Sunday, Nov 14th, 9:00 pm Pacific.

Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be announced Monday, Nov 15th.

~ Giveaway Closed ~

Baby Shower Treats

This weekend I made some blue and brown sweets for a friend's baby shower.  Pretty cookies and cupcakes to help celebrate the baby boy to come.  I made sugar cookies (recipe) decorated with royal icing (how-to's HERE) and cupcakes to match.  The cupcakes were chocolate cake (recipe) with vanilla cream cheese frosting (recipe) and decorated with fondant accents made by me (how-to coming...eventually).

I love the classic blue and brown color scheme, and I'll look forward to someone having a girl, so I can play with pink and brown. 

Snowflake Ballerina Party {A look back}

Last December I planned and put together a really magical birthday party for a good friend's little girl.  The birthday girl loves ballet, and since her birthday is in December we created a winter twist on a ballet theme... a Snowflake Ballerina Party.  I posted the photos in one of my very first blog posts (in March of this year), and since I've gained a few readers since then (actually more than a few... thank you all!!), I thought I would post a little reminder to go enjoy the photos of the party if you haven't already.  

Please enjoy,

Bailey's Snowflake Ballerina Party 

All of the details, recipes, etc. are in the original post, HERE. 

Rolo Pretzel Bites {Easy and Delicious!}

I'm a big fan of fancy desserts.

BUT... there are times when you just need something quick, easy and still delicious!

That's the kind of recipe I have for you today.

In fact, I have a hard time even calling it a "recipe", when it only has three ingredients...

Rolo (store bought chocolate/caramel candies), pretzels and pecan halves. 

Bottom line, if you just threw those three things in a bowl it would be pretty yummy! 

For these tasty treats, all you have to do is lay the pretzels on a baking sheet (I used these cute square ones, but the mini twists would work too).  Top each pretzel with an unwrapped Rolo candy.

Bake in the oven at 250*F for 4-5 minutes (no longer).

When you remove them from the oven, the Rolo will still be in the same shape as when it went in the oven. Place a pecan half on top of the Rolo and press down a bit.

Top each of the Rolo with one pecan half.

Place the entire baking sheet in the freezer for about 5-7 minutes to allow the Rolo to cool.

Remove from freezer and enjoy! Or place in a container to enjoy later.  These will last several days- probably more, but they've never lasted that long in our house!

These are so delicious!  A great sweet-salty combo. 

Enjoy!

Recipe source-  I recently discovered these when a friend made some for Scrapbooking night, but I think it's an old recipe.  I imagine it's from Rolo  =)