For the Love of Baking

I love to bake. I would bake all day, every day if I could. I don't love having sweets at home every day though. My toddler knows where fresh baked cookies cool and he stands in front of the shelf, pointing and begging. Sigh. So I love it when I have a reason to bake for OTHER people and we can keep just a couple as a treat.

These were a batch for a good friend that is expecting her baby girl any day now!

And these vanilla swirl cones were packaged off to a friend that is holding a cancer treatment fundraiser.

Mmm.. Have you been baking lately?

Ice Cream Cone - Cake Bites

My middle child is finishing up her last year of preschool before she starts homeschooling. We adore her school and will miss every one of the teachers and staff. Tomorrow there is an annual school picnic for the children and families. I volunteered to bring dessert of course, but had no idea what I was going to make. Cupcakes? Cookies? Popsicles? I searched Pinterest and found these adorable ice cream cone cake pops on Love Bake Good Cakes. I immediately knew that they would be perfect for the picnic! I made mine a bit differently, but I love them both!

For my cake bites, I baked up a rich yellow, butter cake. Once it was cool, I crumbled it up in my KitchenAid with a good scoop of mini chocolate chips and just a bit of vanilla frosting. You want to know what it taste like? Just like it looks in the picture - dangerously delicious chocolate chip cookie batter. Oh my. Scoop up with a cookie dough baller and place in fridge for an hour or two.

I melted a bunch of bright white candy melts, rolled the cake bite in and smooshed on top of a mini ice cream cake cone. Let it dry for a bit - if the "ice cream" melts down the side, I think it adds to the fun of it.

Then melt some cocoa flavored candy melts, drizzle on top and adorn with sprinkles. They will harden for a few minutes and will be perfect for a picnic! I hope you try these and maybe change up the flavors. It would be kinda fun to place a gummy bear at the bottom of the cone (my favorite ice cream parlor used to do this when I was a kid)

Summer Tea Cakepops

As many of you know, I'm not a fan of cake. I do however love cake pops - maybe it's because they are adorable small bites? Everything seems better when it is miniature, right? 

If you have never made them before, you need to spend an hour on Bakerella's website. She also has a fabulous book out, aptly titled "Cake Pops." The biggest trick will be finding the right balance of mixing your cake with the frosting.

I wanted to try making some lemon slice and tea cup cake pops. Well once I start down a road, it      usually takes new directions and I ended up with a whole slew of tea related pops. My daughter fought hard for the giant sugar cube one - I couldn't envision it at first, but it is one of my favorites!

For these pops, I baked up a lemon cake and mixed it with a bit of lemon frosting and lots of chopped maraschino cherries to create a delightful cherry lemonade flavor. So dang yum.

I have to say though, that these lemon slices are my very favorite. Don't they just sing summer?

I tried a few different ways to paint my teacups. These were done with melted coconut oil and a touch of candy colors. It dries with some texture and created perfect roses. You could also paint candy melts with candy color gel and a touch of vodka.

Mmmm.. I think it maybe time to make another batch!

Macaron Mania

For the longest time, I planned on becoming a pastry chef. I worked in a French bakery during my undergraduate degree and moved to an apartment in Scottsdale, AZ right across from the culinary institute. Honestly I can't remember why I changed my mind. There is so much about baking and cooking that makes my heart flutter. It truly is a delightful mix of science and art. Alas, I didn't not pursue my culinary dream, but I do enjoy the time to play with it. I love the idea of mastering the more difficult delicacies like French macarons. They are light and melt in your mouth with such pleasure. You can change the flavors quite easily and they look so decadent. 

I have not mastered them, not even close. But I am having fun while I experiment. You absolutely do need a a super large round tip. On my first attempt all I had was a star tip. Those pumpkin spice meringue cookies were delicious, but hardly macaroons. I immediately bought a new tip and scoured Pinterest for some technique assistance.

I found this delicious pumpkin spice recipe over at Foodie Misadventures.

And then I made these bits of heaven using the recipe from Delicious Everyday.

There are some incredibly great tips at Not So Humble Pie. Are they difficult to create? Yes, Ma'am. Are they impossible? No, of course not. And even the ones that look awful will taste divine -- my kids are pretty happy scampering off with one or two duds to enjoy. Maybe try making a few for the holidays this year!

Cookies!

First cookies of the 2010 season with Isabelle!

Because she doesn't care if they are fancy,

she cares only that *she* made them!