Sweet Tooth: December 2010

Dessert Table: Sparkling New Year's Eve

If you loved the metallic sparkle from today's first post, and the simple opulence of today's second post, then this luxe dessert table will send you over the moon.

Martha Stewart Weddings recently featured this inspirational photo shoot on their blog, and I immediately filed it away to share with you for a little New Year's Eve party eye candy. So, as you prep your place, think about incorporating some of these shimmery accents.

Isn't it fabulous how well the dining table coordinates with the dessert table's design? That's no accident. By using the same linens, flowers, and decorative vases, the design crew is able to use a mixed collection of plates, risers, and chargers to display the desserts without creating a disjointed look.

Of course, you have to end the festivities with a midnight kiss. I'll definitely be planting a big one on my husband and daughter. Last year, they were both passed out by ten o'clock and I watched the fireworks out of our bedroom window while I reflected on the blessings of the year past.

No matter who you spend the holidays with, I hope you can reflect on 2010 fondly. See you in 2011.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

production: Be Inspired PR
photography: Jose Villa
event styling: Canvas & Canopy
desserts: Cupcakes Couture
props: OC Prop Girl
tabletop decor: Small Masterpiece

Dessert Table: Have a Vibrant New Year

I don't want to send you into sugar shock, so we'll work our way up to today's glammed-out, super luxe shoot. If you loved the ease of those metallic champagne cupcakes, then this simple dessert table will be an attainable step up.

Inspired by This featured this Isari Flowers inspirational New Year's Eve party shoot. A few reflective surfaces, some gold and silver balloons, and one stunning cake make this fete simple, yet glamorous.

Mingle glass candle holders and gold foil-wrapped candies in apothecary jars to make a second, no-fuss dessert station. Don't have mirrored tables? Mimic the look by placing frameless mirrors on the table, and place your desserts and dishes on top of the mirrors.

Although he's not featured with the desserts, I wonder if dogs in chairs will be one of the new photo shoot trends of 2011. I shared this pooch at a party with you just last week.

Hopefully you didn't go into a gilded sugar coma, because I've got another sensational dessert spread coming your way today. Stay tuned.

Cupcake Countdown to 2011

Today, I have three New Year's Eve dessert posts for you. Each one is more metallic and festive than the last, so be sure to check in throughout the day to see each shimmery sweet.

This simple, gorgeous cupcake by Sprinkle Bakes somehow manages to epitomize the festive nature of the perfect New Years Eve party. It's nearly effortless, but it comes alive in the details. The metallic dragees and the hidden champagne filling are easy to pull off, but will definitely have your guests talking.

Simply scoop out the middle of the cupcake to add a surprising filling inside.

Stay tuned for today's second post. It's a metallic dessert table with a single vibrant punch of color. Be sure to check out the recipe for the sparkling champagne cupcake and the champagne pastry creme filling here.

So tell me, how do you plan to ring in the new year?

Dessert Table: A Taste of Italia

Cyd of The Sweetest Occasion showcased this charming country dessert table, which was designed and photographed by Chiara of Le Frufrù, Valentina of Cut and Paste, and Michela. Although it's pegged as an inspirational Christmas shoot, the three Italian designers who styled it could easily make this display work year round.

It appears the bureau trend I wrote about here, here, and here is alive and well, even overseas.

This table has so many great touches. Various colors of yarn balls in apothecary jars are easy additions to any design. Simply open up a drawer on your buffet to reveal jars of homemade granola or homemade preserves. I really love the crochet, doily-inspired cookies. What a stead hand those must have taken. They look flawless.

What's your favorite part?

Cocoa Couples

This summer, I shared this photo shoot trend with you. I still plan to have one of these fun baking fests in some fabulous kitchen for family photos some day. Lately, I've noticed the "couples with food" trend has taken a decidedly winter-y turn.

Green Wedding Shoes featured this inspirational Camilla Photography photo shoot of a couple stylishly sipping cocoa in a winter wood. The fur shrug and the can of pink peppermint cookies are just fabulous. What a great mix of luxe and everyday pleasures.

Emily Steffen, who photographed this and this design of mine, braved an eight degree Minnesota day to take these cocoa-centric pics with a happily engaged couple. This couple chose a more relaxed vibe for their shoot. It really looks as though they were just walking down this path, enjoying cocoa, and a few moments of fun before running inside to sit in front of a fire.

I've gotten used to the Minnesota climate over the years, but I have to admit, both of these couples have earned my respect for facing these conditions for their shoots.

Have you taken some fun baking or hot chocolate pics this winter?

couple 1 (Camilla Photography), couple 2 (Emily Steffen Photography)

Guest Desserts: Hot Chocolate on a Stick

Today's Guest Desserts feature comes from Sheila of Just Wright Candy Buffets. Sheila emailed me these great pictures of the dessert favors she made for her Christmas guests. She even shared the recipes for you to make them yourself. Here, Sheila tells us a little bit about the hot chocolate on-a-stick in her own words.

I'm hosting Christmas dinner for my family (11 guests) this year. These favors (along with a box of soft peppermints) will serve as their take-home thank you treats. They're also great to have on hand for guests who happen to drop in--you'll appear to be the perfect hostess.

My initial infatuation with hot chocolate on a stick came while researching sweet shoppes to visit while in London next month, and I discovered Melt Chocolates. I was particularly drawn to their packaging, simple, yet elegant. This was several months ago and I had forgotten about them until I discovered a photo on Make & Takes shortly after replying to your post [on Facebook]. The light bulb went off!! It never occurred to me to add a marshmallow to the chocolate blocks of fudge. This is truly the perfect indulgent treat to make any guest feel special.

I must say I'm extremely pleased with this lovely little treat and plan to make them throughout the winter. Many are intimidated by the whole homemade marshmallow process, but it's really very easy and the fudge was even easier.

Want to make these treats yourself? Sheila used this marshmallow recipe and this fudge recipe to create her favors. Thank you for sharing your treats, Sheila! I'm sure they were a big hit.

Dessert Table: All-White Wonder & Week In Review

Welcome back everyone! I hope you had a fabulous holiday surrounded by friends and family. Hopefully, you managed to also enjoy a dessert or two (or many more). What better way to start the week than with this lovely, winter-y dessert table via Martha Stewart Weddings?

With all of the traveling and vacationing last week, you may have missed a few great posts. Be sure to check out:

this glittery Kate Spade inspired dessert table
each delicious post in the Holiday Recipe Heaven series
these H&M inspired dessert favors I designed
the brunette torte a Sweet Tooth reader invented

Also, be sure to stop by again later today to see another wonderful Guest Dessert favor idea that a reader sent my way over the weekend. Want to submit your own desserts, projects, and recipes? Click on the new Submissions button in the sidebar to get all the details you need.

Dessert Table: A Kate Spade Holiday

Yesterday, I shared this H&M-inspired favor idea that I created. As further evidence that dessert inspiration can come from anywhere, I bring you this Kate Spade-inspired dessert display by Styled Creative. The design team was blown away by a Kate Spade holiday window display, and enlisted photog Alison Conklin to capture these images for Style Me Pretty.

The chalk-drawn Christmas tree is a genius, inexpensive backdrop. Simply trace a tree onto kraft paper using an overhead projector. Gold, silver, and vibrant teal play nicely with blush pink to create a hip holiday vibe. Glitter-bedazzled forest friends add a whimsical touch.

This cake puts a glittery holiday spin on this art-y design I shared with you a few months ago.

I love, love, love Boston Terriers so I know I'd be tempted to give this cutey a cupcake of his own.

Next week, I've got another beautiful reader submission in store. As you gather with friends and family, be sure to take pics of your nephew gobbling up pie, the platter of cookies you made, or the cake your sister brought. I'd love to share them here, so email me at info {at} shaunayounge.com.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Holiday Recipe Heaven: Day 5 - Homemade Egg Nog

Well, it's Christmas Eve. I know many of you are still working, and depending on your industry, this may be the busiest time of year at your job. Here is the last Holiday Recipe Heaven post. Cooking for Seven's non-alcoholic homemade egg nog is perfect for creating your own classic holiday brew.

For the fourth day of Holiday Recipes Heaven, I'm bringing you a kid-friendly dessert idea. One Charming Party's recipe/tutorial for these Chocolate and Caramel Dipped Marshmallows is easy to follow and the resulting sweets are perfect for kids' picky palates.

Dessert Meets Design: An H&M Holiday

Yesterday, I featured a reader's Guest Desserts submission. Laura invented this Brunette Torte for her pastry chef training final exam. If you haven't seen it, be sure to swing by and let Laura know what you think of her creation.

Now, on to today's first post. Perhaps you loved some of the great cookie recipes I featured in the Crafty Cookie Box tutorial for the 10 Days of Craftsmas, but you don't have time to stain and craft the box. Using H&M's holiday catalog as inspiration, I designed these fast favor presentation options using satin, lace, and tulle.

Here's H&M's holiday campaign:

I especially loved the lace peekaboo dress and the red headband on the model in the center image. The contrast of the black lace against her skin is really lovely. To recreate that in a favor, I dressed up a brown favor box in black lace and red satin ribbon (second row, far right).

You don't have to rely on boxes to contain your sweets. Simply create a ribbon-cinched tulle sack or a lace-wrapped cookie sleeve.

You really can find inspiration for your sweets anywhere. Next time you flip through your favorite magazine, think about reinterpreting an appealing ad into an unexpected dessert idea.

Later today, I'll be back with the fourth post in the Holiday Recipe Heaven series. If your holidays include an array of desserts, be sure to take a pic or two before everyone devours them. I'd love to share them as a Guest Desserts feature. Email me at info {at} shaunayounge.com.

H&M image: The Demoiselle

Holiday Recipe Heaven: Day 3 - Double Chocolate Peppermint Biscotti

Later today, I've got a fast favor presentation idea inspired by H&M's holiday ad campaign, but first let's check out today's recipe. It's the third day of Holiday Recipe Heaven and I must say BHG's Double Chocolate Peppermint Biscotti is simply wonderful, because you can store them for up to three months. So, you can make a double batch now, and freeze some to get you through the winter.

Have you ever dreamed of living in an exotic locale spending your days surrounded by chocolate and working as a pastry chef? Well, today's delicious reader submission is a Brunette Torte invented by Laura, a novice pastry chef living in Argentina.

Several months ago, Laura contacted me on Twitter for some baking advice. After finishing her dessert design, she shared this picture. Last weekend, she completed her education to become a pastry chef. When Laura saw my invitation for reader submissions, she sent me one of the most gorgeous, chocolatel-y emails I've ever received. This brunette torte was Laura's final exam project to complete her training.

Yesterday, was the first day of the Holiday Recipe Heaven series. Today, I'm back with a fabulous spin on mini pies. Food & Wine's Pear Cranberry Hand Pie is a self-contained, flaky wonder. Isn't this pic by I Want the Pie just gorgeous? As genius as this idea is, it's made even better because the recipe calls for a store-bought crust.

Holiday Recipe Heaven: Day 1 - What Katie Ate

With only five days until Christmas, you might not have time to gather all the necessary supplies for some of the 10 Days of Craftsmas projects, so this week I'm introducing Holiday Recipe Heaven! Each day this week, I'll feature another delicious, holiday dessert recipe that you can bring to the table as you gather with friends and family.

The first post in this week's Holiday Recipe Heaven involves several sweet recipes. The latest issue of What Katie Ate premiered last Friday, and it's a Christmas-themed, delicious page-turner. All of the articles aren't dessert-related, but there are enough cookie recipes and chocolate truffles to make any sugar addict happy.

Although the 490+ page magazine can be a little bit daunting to tackle in one sitting, it's worth it for the pictures alone. Check it out (click on the second picture here to see the mag) and let me know which cookie you like best. I think the macadamia cranberry cookie sounds yummy.

Tomorrow, I'll be back with another delicious holiday recipe that you can whip up this week.

Week In Review & Holiday Recipe Heaven!

Last week was filled with lots of double, and sometimes triple, posts. For the past two weeks, I've shared different DIY projects and recipes with you as part of the 10 Days of Craftsmas. Hopefully, you liked a few of them enough to try them yourself. In all the hustle and bustle, you may have missed some really great features, so here's a list of last week's highlights.

In case you missed it, be sure to check out:

All 10 of the 10 Days of Craftsmas recipes and tutorials
Many of you asked for this evergreen tree licorice favor tutorial
A fellow reader shared three of her family's favorite treats
This DIY mix n match cupcake bar

I'll be back later today to kick off the Holiday Recipe Heaven series, so be sure to come back!

DIY: Evergreen Tree Favors

Many of you loved the evergreen favor containers I designed for this pink, fuschia, and navy winter dessert table. I've gotten several requests for a DIY tutorial, so here it is. If you decide to make some, I'd love to see them. Send pics to me at info {at} shaunayounge.com.

In case you're just joining us, let me get you up to speed. Last night, I posted the Countdown to Candy Favors as the ninth project in the 10 Days of Craftsman series. This morning, we kicked off the tenth, and final, day with Part I of the Cookie Box project to show you how to prep your wooden box. I'm back with the recipes for each yummy cookie that I baked to fill the kraft boxes inside the wooden box.