Have a Little Bubbly

Happy New Year! If you can't enjoy a glass of bubbly at midnight, try these champagne lollies instead.

Sweetopia Strikes Again!

I love Sweetopia! The owl cookies I posted for Halloween were adorable, and Marian's polar bears are just as cute. You have to marvel at her icing skill when you realize the cookies are an exact copy of the bears adorning this ribbon. I love their little red and green necklaces.

 

 

These are so perfect, I can barely stand it! Check out the recipe and other cookie tips here.

Tick Tock: New Years Goodies

 

 

I think any message is sweeter when you say it with cookies. It'd be tough not to nibble during the 10 second countdown.

Clock cookies (The Decorated Cookie), 2010 & Countdown cookies (I Am Baker)

I've seen this Martha Stewart Weddings dessert buffet a million times, and I still love it. I figured I'd share it in case some of you haven't seen it before. The white, milk, and dark chocolate treats pop against the bright blue linens. There are so many cakes, including two different tiered varieties, that I wouldn't know where to start.

Submissions

We welcome submissions for the Sweet Tooth blog. Please read below to see submissions requirements.

To submit a dessert table
Whether you are the party host, event planner, photograher, or party guest, we'd love to share your pictures and ideas in the Reader Design section. Please only submit exclusive photos that haven't already been featured on another blog. If you have already submitted the images to another blog, please mention this in your submission email. Send your dessert tables to info{at}shaunayounge.com with "Submission: Dessert Table" in the subject line. Include pictures and detailed descriptions of the desserts/candies featured on the table. Readers would also enjoy learning a little about your inspiration for the table's design.

To submit a recipe
We'd love to showcase your desserts/candies in the Guest Desserts section, whether you're a skilled baker or a novice. Please only submit exclusive photos that haven't already been featured on another blog. If you have already submitted the recipe to another blog, please mention this in your submission email. Send your recipes to info{at}shaunayounge.com with "Submission: Guest Desserts" in the subject line. Include pictures, ingredients, and detailed directions of the desserts/candies described in your recipe. Readers would also enjoy learning a little about the event or occasion you baked the desserts for, whether it's a child's birthday party, a wedding, or an anniversary dinner.

To submit a DIY/tutorial/printables
We are happy to feature your unique DIY/tutorial projects. Please only submit exclusive projects that haven't already been featured on another blog. If you have already submitted the project to another blog, please mention this in your submission email. Send images of each step, along with detailed descriptions, to info{at}shaunayounge.com with "Submission: DIY" in the subject line. Please include any necessary printables or templates.

To offer a giveaway
We are happy to review your dessert, party, and design related products to be featured for giveaway opportunities on the Sweet Tooth blog. To submit your product for consideration, please send an email with the subject line "Submission: Giveaway" to info{at}shaunayounge.com. Please include a picture of the product/prize, description of item, and any applicable restrictions.

Requirements
Please send no more than ten of your best images to info{at}shaunayounge.com. We will contact you if additional images are desired. Images should be at least 600 pixels wide and sent using a Zip file, FTP, or yousendit.com. If you are only able to send via email, please send one email with a few images. DO NOT send several emails of the same project. We will contact you to request additional images if necessary. ALWAYS include the photographer's name and website in your submission.

Copyrights
Please only submit images, tutorials, recipes, and printables for which you hold the copyright. By submitting images, tutorials, recipes, and printables you are claiming copyright ownership of the material or permission from the copyright owner to distribute the material.

Merry Christmas!

I hope you're somewhere with people you love and eating desserts that remind you of childhood. I'll be back blogging away next Monday.

Enjoy the holiday and save some cheesecake for me!

Last-Minute Christmas Treats

 

 

I'm sure you're rushing around and dealing with the crowds and traffic that this time of year inevitably brings, so a full dessert table probably isn't high on your to-do. That doesn't mean you can't still incorporate candy into your holiday decor.

Stick with a simple red and white palette to make any last minute tasks easy. Use candy canes to prop up seating cards, or attach names to goodie bags filled with gourmet marshmallows at each seat. If you're feeling like you've got some extra time, create tiny gingerbread houses (you can cheat and use a pre-baked kit) to hang on the rim of your cocoa mug.

Peppermint decor (Martha Stewart), Pizelle cone ornaments (Country Living), Peppermint marshmallows (Edible Crafts)

Dessert Table: Baa Baa Baby

This little lamb themed baby shower by Delphine Ephemera is too adorable to pass by without a closer look. A citron, lemon, and lime color palette make the gender neutral event lively and youthful, which is perfect for a baby celebration. Custom lamb labels turn candy bars into conversation pieces. Gummies, meringues, and cupcakes round out the offerings.

Dessert Table: Let Them Eat Cake!

I can't believe it's almost Christmas. I feel like I've barely had time to get into the holiday swing of things, even though we've hung the wreath on the front door, shopped some Black Friday deals, and saw the two huge Christmas trees at Mall of America this weekend while doing some 8 am shopping. Hopefully, this Parisian dessert table can make me a little more jolly.

This gorgeous Marie Claire Idées dessert table is fun and sophisticated at the same time. I love the gold flatware and pink-hued ornaments. This palette always evokes such a cozy, intimate atmosphere to me. Two different tiered cakes along with a macaron tower fill out the deceptively simple display. It's the details that put this design over the top. Custom chair covers, ornaments, and table linens add to the luxurious setting.

I'm still trying to convince my husband that golden flatware would be phenomenal for our dining set. It adds such a warm feeling to the table's vibe.

Images ( Parisian Events)

Dessert Table: Engagement Pastels

Hello Naomi, is a company run by Naomi, an Australian baker and dessert table designer. I came across her Flickr page and loved this bright, cheery engagement party dessert table. The pastel hues are echoed throughout the table and sweet accents like candy hearts and coconut ice (an Aussie favorite) were available for guests to sample.

All Hung With Care

Why just hang a wreath on the door when you can display them as part of a winter-y dessert buffet? A chandelier or square wreath display is an unexpected twist on a classic. These are affordable, yet unique ideas that would draw guests to your dessert station for a closer look.

If you don't have the time/money to invest in some creative wreathing this year, shop the after season sales and grab a few faux wreaths to use next year. Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Target, and Hallmark will have some gorgeous ones for up to 75% off. This type of after-season shopping is a tradition of mine. The decor we used this year was purchased last year, so opening the box of ornaments was a nice surprise. I'd completely forgotten what the ornaments and garland we chose last year.

Rectangular wreath buffet (BHG.com), Wreath chandelier (Martha Stewart), Hanging wreath (BHG.com)

Unbe-wreath-able!

 

 

 

 

 

I was so thrilled about the evergreen wreath hanging on my front door, until I saw these from Food Network. Now, I'm wondering if it's too late to involve the whole family in an edible wreath-making contest. I would never have thought to use cinnamon sticks or rock candy to make a wreath. These DIY goodies would be unexpected greeters for holiday guests.

Dessert Table: The Touch, The Feel of Cotton

 

 

I immediately fell in love with this dessert table. Kelly of yes, please designed this beautiful table using greenery and organic cotton of all things! Soft lighting creates a warm, intimate feeling and casts a lovely glow. Little fluffs of cotton serve as cupcake toppers and tea cakes and gingerbread men are elevated from everyday to elegant.

Sippable Art

I love the beautifully, carefully crafted latte art designs that baristas have begun creating to enhance the coffee experience. They would be a perfect detail to "wow" guests when they peer into their mugs.

As lovely as those images are, these creepy/cute/silly ones are just as inspiring. The menacing skull face would be a great addition to a halloween-inspired dessert table.

 

 

Image 1 (The Good Cup), Image 2 (Gelaccino), Images 3 & 4 (Yahz Common), Images 5 - 7 (Woman's Day)

DIY Favors: Candy Tins

These favors tins couldn't be cuter. The three shades of pink, correspondingly colored jelly beans, and coordinated labels are definitely covetable. Now, before you get completely lost in the cuteness hold on to your hats...they are downloade-able and free!


The Inspired Bride designed the labels and gives step-by-step directions so you can download and use these great labels for your favors.

Ornamental-icious!

She's done it again. Amber of Sweet Ambs has just posted pics of her sugar cookie ornaments. I love the gold and white combo, very classic Christmas. How could you possibly resist eating those?

Can't you just imagine these ornaments on a tree next to a gold and white candy buffet? Now, that's my idea of happy holidays.

Check out all five edible ornaments and get the recipe here.

Candy buffet (Bride.ca)

Featured: Nevie Pie Cakes

I stumbled upon Natasha Collins' company, Nevie Pie Cakes, while doing a search for gingerbread houses, and found a treasure trove of painted desserts. Her award-winning, fondant-covered gingerbread houses are hand-painted with shabby chic designs that leave her creations less rustic and more sophisticated.

Natasha gave me a few tidbits about her entrance into the baking/painting world:

"I first made a gingerbread house last year for the Origins Eco House competition, which I won! Then I made one for the Brighton Open House exhibition. I love the cuteness of little houses and I have taken on birds and bird houses as something of a theme. I was a textile designer for nearly 12 years which is why I paint, my piping skills are terrible!"

I have a hard time believing that any of Natasha's dessert decorating skills are even slightly rusty, but I'll take her word for it. Did you notice the little bicycle, mailbox, and table and chairs with the second house? What about the composting pile and recycling bins in the first pic? That little house won the Origins Eco House competition that spurred Natasha to continue crafting tiny houses.

Check out Natasha's Flickr photostream and blog to see more of her designs.