Ornament Gingerbread Cookies

Classics are classic for a reason. Sometimes, it's nice just to get back to the basics. Nothing is more traditional during the holidays than ornaments, mittens, sleighs, and gingerbread. You can find more yummy pics and the recipe at The Patterned Plate.

Sparkly Peppermint Macarons

Glitter this time of year (or any time really) just makes me giddy, so anytime that glitter is edible, I pretty much squeal with delight. These red and white macarons from Kevin & Amanda are so festively fabulous!

Still haven't gotten your fill of glittery goodness? Be sure to check me out on Pinterest, where I pin lots of delicious, pretty things that don't make it onto the blog. You'll probably love the Dessert Meets Design pinboard and the A December to Remember one, too.

Also, cruise by Kevin & Amanda to get the recipe for these pretty macs.

Sweet Brands: Happy Lab

I love this geeky branding by confection shop Happy Lab! Test tubes, beakers, and other science-y dodads pose as candy containers, while the employees wear lab coats.

If you can't make it to the Australian-based shop, consider adding candies to beakers and giving them to a child who just mastered a Chemistry test. I would have loved to get these after every Organic Chem test.

Dessert Table: Minty Merry Christmas

It's not often that a soft shade of green gets attention during the holidays, but this dessert table by Mrs A in The Cove incorporates the pretty color perfectly. Lovely cakestands, candies, cupcakes, and cookies all match the palette.

I love the chevron favor bags!

Gingerbread Village Table Runner

Photog Rebecca Hansen captured this edible winter wonderland for Snippet & Ink. Gingerbread houses sit atop a kraft paper runner that's sprinkled with powdered sugar "snow". This would make any kid happy to sit at the kiddie table if you made a smaller version to line their shorter table.

Already maxed out on time? Opt for graham crackers or pre-made gingerbread house kits to make your little village.

Cookies with Giant Flavor

The holiday issue of Sweet Paul Magazine hit the virtual newsstand last week, and the feature on cookie recipes is delicious. Not only are the pics of mini-admirers cute, but the recipes are drool-inducing. Be sure to check out the feature and the entire issue for lots of great holiday sweets.

Check out these amaretto dreams and coconut & cherry cookies.

 These caramel sauce cookies and marshmallow & hazelnut cookies look amazing.

Wouldn't you love to ice skate on a lake of caramel? What could be better?

images via Hector Sanchez for Sweet Paul Magazine

Cookies To-Go!

Presentation is everything! If you want an inexpensive gift for your co-workers, neighbors, and other random folks simply whip several batches of cookies (homemade or mix) and package them beautifully. They'll be safe to ship without breaking, and the package elevates them from ho-hum bake sale staple.

ideas via Martha Stewart

Girly Gifts

Today, I guest blogged on my husband's blog, Well-Groomed. I gave his male readers a few tips on what to get the women in their lives for the holidays. I figured I'd share the post here as well, in case any of you are looking for some inexpensive, pretty, unique ideas for your moms, sisters, and friends.

There are gifts here as affordable as $10, so be sure to check them all out. Isn't that earring book awesome? What a clever way to store earrings and even travel with them. 


Vosges Toffee Trifecta, Kate Spade ribbon ring, iomoi small zig zag tote, Anthropologie Prospero diary,Ban.do heart pin/barrette, Not A Jewelry Box earring book, Banana Republic belt, Hammocks & High Tea chevron drawer liner, Coach snowman key ring, Leif serving spoons

Dessert Meets Design: Fox News Interview

I never thought my name would be in the same context as Fox News, but here we are. I was recently interviewed for my two cents about macarons and their future as the next dessert fad.

Here are my thoughts about the little French cookies, but be sure to click on over to Fox News (seriously can't I'm saying that) to read what other foodies and food writers have to say.

Over in the foodies-who-know savvy city of Minneapolis, sweets blogger and dessert table designer Shauna Younge analyzes the growing popularity of the macaron in her hometown,...

 “French macarons, not be confused with macaroons, have all the appeal of cupcakes along with an air of sophistication and novelty to catapult them into ‘Next Big Thing’ territory,” Younge says. “With fillings like salted caramel, cranberry cheesecake, and white chocolate ganache, they're nearly impossible to resist.” 

“As a dessert table designer, my clients love how easily [the] cookie shells can be customized to match the palette of their weddings, parties, and events. With more bakeries across the country specializing in macarons and mega-retailer Target adding them to their bakery shelves, it's only a matter of time before they become truly mainstream,” said Younge. 

image by Nicole Rupersburg via Fox News

DIY Elf Donuts

Everyone thinks of leaving cookies for Santa, but what about treats for his miniature helpers? These tiny "donuts" for elves are just the cutest seasonal goodie. Using Cheerios, chocolate, and sprinkles, The Unconfidential Cook created sweets fit for an elf.

Simply roll the cereal in powdered sugar or cinnamon to create the non-sprinkled version. Easy, inexpensive, and creative. You can't beat that.

Dessert Table: Peppermint Party

'Tis the season for red and white stripes (and touches of light blue). Such a simple, but bold palette. I love this dessert table by A Little Polkadot via Design Dazzle. It's fun and none of the sweets are cute and uncompliated. The North Pole cupcakes are one of my favorite elements. No, no. It has to be the meringue snowmen. Yeah, for sure the snowmen. Or the white chocolate truffle tower...

Want to try some of these goodies yourself? Breeze on by Design Dazzle for the recipes and how-tos.