Sweetest festive treats...

Wow, my oven has had a bit of a work out this weekend.

Yesterday afternoon ma and I got a few baking tasks completed/prepped.

This primarily involved baking up 1 loaf, 6 mini-bunts and 4 heart-shaped pierniki (Polish gingerbread cake):

The heart-shaped ones were left in my care as the chocolate glaze was still setting by the time ma had to get home and well... I have no idea how I am to transport these back to her in one piece!

We also made the dough for sugar biscuits:

They will need icing one evening this week, but I have half the dough in the freezer and a small ball still in the fridge to do another tray now that I know to take them out before there are any signs of golden-browning! I really think I need an oven thermometer as although I reduce the temp by 20 to 40 degrees from the recipe we still had some volcanic action with the gingerbread. And the biscuits were done almost instantly... :o\

But today I have been trying out some of my new flavourings to do some festive cupcakes:

My IKEA cake stand has also been drafted into use.

Red and green, doesn't get much more festive than that eh?

And under the dome are 6 red cherry cupcakes, and 6 green pistachio cupcakes. The frosting is vanilla for both and I have to say the cherry flavouring is fab.

Now I wonder if you can guess what flavour these mini and full-sized cupcakes are?

Bubblegum blue....

Finished off with bubblegum pink flavoured icing and...

bubblegum glitter, I had a fair bit of frosting left over so decorated one of the almond sugar biscuits for someone who really likes bubblegum flavour!

Comments

[Bev]

What recipe would you recommend for the sugar cookies. The girls and I have a full week off, so it might be nice to do some baking this week.

[Natty]

The one I used was from my baking magic book - will try and dig it out but it is basically just butter, icing sugar, flour, an egg yolk and flavouring of your choice, I used almond but the recipe had vanilla. I have seen other recipes that had lots of additions like, a drop of milk, cream of tartar, but this one was labelled basic no mess no fuss = the one to try! The amount of butter is shocking, it is basically one whole pack of butter, but the dough freezes and you need to let it chill in the fridge for an hour before rolling and cutting, and cutting is easiest as soon as it comes out the fridge as when it gets warmer the dough pulls when you are trying to transfer your cut shapes to the baking tray. But will try and post exact measures, heat, and timings. :)

[Lynda B]

those heart cakes look and sound gorgeous....are they similar to the German gingerbread (can't spell it!) They look very tempting and nibble-able. Well done you, such a Domestic Goddess!

[Natty]

Ta Lynda! Piernik is just like Starbucks ginger loaf cake but wetter and with more nuts and dried fruit soaked in a bit of booze in it. Then it's covered with a chocolate glaze that then sets. Delicious stuff, we had the muffin shaped ones for pud last night with a helpful helping of custard on top, a nice festive alternative to sticky toffee pudding. :)

[Jodpea]

They sell oven thermometers in TK Maxx too, lmao!

[Bev]

I've had a go at the cookie dough, its wrapped in clingfilm in the fridge. Think we will roll and cut tomorrow. Just wondering about getting some coloured sugar to maybe sprinkle on top before baking?

[Natty]

That sounds great - have never tried it but wouldn't that be glam - or maybe some edible glitter/glittery sugar would work on the dough and still keep it's sparkle after baking.

And Jodpea, I never knew they had those at TK Maxx as well, but I have vowed not to go in there again until 2012 now! ;o)

[sharon curtis]

oh my goodness you have been busy! everything looks absolutely wonderful, you're making me hungry!