Christmas Cookies

I'm a little late on posting these, but better late than never! I did these a few weeks ago for a christmas party as party favors. Each person got a large cookie and a mini in a cello bag tied with ribbon. (I should've taken pics when they were all bagged.. oops)

For these cookies I painted a music stamp with Aztec gold luster dust and stamped it on.

Hope everyone has a very merry christmas and happy holidays!

A Day to Remember the Little Children..

My heart and prayers go out to the families of Connecticut who have lost a child or a loved one. What a tragic day for our nation it is. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Poinsettia Cookies

I start listening to christmas music mid september, early october-ish.. yep, I'm one of those people. Sometimes during the summer I even put in a little christmas music when I'm feeling deprived. I love christmas time, it really is the most wonderful time of the year (cheesy, but true). So of course some of  my favorite cookies to make are christmas cookies.

These cookies were so easy. I had some extra poinsettia RI accents left from a big order I've been working on and made these cookies. The "peace" is a stamp! So easy, I just hand painted a few extra swirls on each one and there you have it. 

I'm getting VERY excited for the holidays!

New Look! YEA!

Hello blogging friends! Check out our new shnazzy look. You like? My good friend (who I may have mentioned before.. more than once.. cause she's AMAZING) Ashton over at Something Swanky fancied it up for me. I love it!

This new blog does mean that I lost all my followers. Sooo, feel free to follow again and like me on Faceboook :) You can do both to the right.

More cookies coming in the next few days! I'm working on two VERY large orders. Then it's back west for the holidays woohoo!!

Joy {Cookie Ornaments}

We don't have a christmas tree this year.. yes, it is a tragedy I tell you. I have a two year old and an almost eight month old who is crawling all over our apartment AND we are going to be out of town for the holidays, so we had to forgo the tree this year. 

However, I decided to make cookie ornaments anyway. They are hanging on this little bird cage on our kitchen table now. They look a little lonely, but a touch of christmas is better than nothin!

Until I get one of these, I found a new BFF. 

This color mist is SO easy to use and makes for a really quick and easy way to decorate a cookie! Just line and flood your cookie, let it dry over night and spray with the color mist of your choosing (I got mine at Michael's). 

Happy Cookie-ing!

Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Rollout Cookies

Well, I'm officially in the christmas cookie making mood. It's a problem really, every "christmasy" thing I see turns into a cookie. I have lots of undecorated christmas cookies in my kitchen right now! I will be working on them tonight. But in the mean time, these Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Rollouts are perfect for any christmas gathering! They are also AMAZING with cinnamon cream cheese buttercream.

Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Rollout Cookies

Ingredients

6 1/4 cup all purpose flour, sifted

1 cup dark cocoa powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups butter, softened

2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup dark brown sugar

3 eggs

2 teaspoons good quality vanilla

3 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons buttermilk or sour cream

1. In a large bowl sift together flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
2. In mixer using paddle attachment, cream butter, sour cream (or buttermilk), vanilla and sugars on medium speed for 7-9 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time and mix until combined. 
3. Add in flour mixture one cup at a time until well incorporated. 
4. Divide the dough in half to make two balls. Wrap each in plastic wrap and flatten. Chill dough in the fridge for about an hour. 
5. Remove the dough from the refrigerator, unwrap and place on a piece of parchment paper. Place two wooden dowels on both sides of your dough and another sheet of parchment paper on top.
6. Roll out your dough and cut desired shapes.
7. Place cut out shapes on a greased cookie sheet and put in the freezer for about ten minutes.
8. Bake cookies at 325 degrees until edges are just slightly crisp, about 13-15 minutes. 
9. Take cookies out of the oven and allow them to cool for five minutes on the pan. Scoop off the pan and put them on cooling racks. When the cookies are cool decorate as desired and DEVOUR!

**slightly modified from this recipe. 

Henna for Hanukkah!

These babies were sent out to California this morning as a Hanukkah gift from daughter to mother. 

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Happy holidays to all!

Stay tuned, I've got LOTS more Christmas orders coming soon!!

Winter Forest Animals and Trees

Here are my little forest animals and embroidered pine trees with snow on them. Enjoy!

Paisley Mehndi Cookies {Krishna Wedding}

I shipped these colorful paisley shaped henna inspired cookies off to a wedding in california about a week ago. 

 

I loved the designs on the paisley shapes. I also tried a new sugar cookie recipe and love it! So nice to have two that I really like. 

Have a great week all :) Christmas cookies coming soon!

Fall Wedding Cookies

After hours and hours of decorating over the last few days.. okay, over the last week... I am finished with over 200 cookies for two different weddings. These are headed to NC for a fun fall reception with s'mores and hot chocolate bars. I made regular and dark chocolate cinnamon cookies (recipe coming soon!). 

Simple maple leaves,

acorns,

hot chocolate of course,

and, s'mores.

Mehndi wedding cookies coming soon!!

The Best Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies on the Planet

Lofty claim? Possibly. But I just know you'll agree with me once you make these. This recipe is from a wonderful friend Jenny Rowley. Otherwise known as J-Ro. These are so moist, flavorful and best of all not too pumpkiny (is that a word?). I am a person who doesn't like pumpkin pie, and until I tried these, I hated pumpkin cookies. Every pumpkin cookie I've ever tried was either too dry, or had way too much pumpkin for my liking. But these.. these are amazing. Wherever I bring them I pretty much without fail get asked for the recipe. They are even better the second day. 

You will need chocolate chips, cinnamon, pumpkin, baking soda, baking powder, oil, salt, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla, flour and brown sugar. No eggs? No butter? Yes, you are reading right. So these are in a sense "heathy (er..ish)" cookies. 

Mix the brown sugar, pumpkin, oil and vanilla. Then add your flour, soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. After those are well incorporated add your chocolate chips.

Spoon onto a cookie sheet and bake for 12 min at 350.

Let these cool for five minutes and then dig in! These are so good warm, but we like them best the second day. 

side note: these are best enjoyed while listening to christmas music curled up on the couch (though my husband thinks it's much too early for that).

Best in the World Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Ingredients:

1 c. brown sugar

1 c. pumpkin

1/2 c. oil

1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ginger

milk chocolate and semi sweet chips (desired amount)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 and mix brown sugar, pumpkin, oil and vanilla well in mixer. 

2. Add all other ingredients except for the chocolate chips and mix until just incorporated, do not over-mix!!

3. Fold in chocolate chips. I probably add about 1/2 c., but it's really about how much you prefer.

4. Spoon onto a greased cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes.