Ladybug Cupcakes

These are the Ladybug cupcakes my daughter wanted for her birthday.  We found them while flipping through Martha Stewart’s Cupcake cookbook, and they are super cute.  But I wanted to make them extra special.

So I filled the middle with cream!  You can do this with any cupcake, by using a bismarck tip to inject the filling, or an apple corer (to remove the middle).  Either way, kids (and kids at heart) love the cream center.

Then I covered the top with ganache (to seal in the cream) and let it set in the refrigerator before decorating the top with buttercream icing.

Then, to top it off, I added dried royal icing ladybugs.  I waited to the last minute to add these, because they start soften after being in the buttercream (and the refrigerator) for a day or two.

Linking to I Heart Nap Time

Edible Candy Necklace

This edible necklace is my take on the candy necklaces that we all enjoyed in the 70s, 80s, and 90s – are they still around???

Anyway, I never did like the candies that were on them and there are so many options (cereal, candies, cookies, etc) available nowadays - so there’s no excuse not to string your own (or have your kids do it)!

In fact, stringing these necklaces is a great activity to do at a party, or if you’re homeschooling you could use this to practice patterns and counting.

Plus it’s edible, so that alone makes it a winner in my book!  You can even customize these to make them appropriate for even your youngest party guests.

To make these you need. . .

Twine

Pretzels

Chocolate-covered pretzels (white & dark)

Gummy circles

Cookies (any with holes in the center)

Cereal (again, with holes in the center)

Set of yarn darners (I found some at Walmart for under $2 for a set of 7) – they’re essentially a large-eyed needle – don’t skip buying these it’ll make threading so much easier!!!

Cut the twine to the desired length, and start threading, then tie it off when you’re done!

I packaged these in individual cellophane bags with a twist tie on top.

Linking to I Heart Nap Time, Tidy Mom, Inside BruCrew Life

Update March 6, 2012: My kids and I had fun making these on a playdate we hosted at our house.  I opted to use regular fudge cookies (since the hole in the center is large and easier to string – without needles) and I’m happy to say that all the kids (ages 4 and up) were able to do these without assistance.  Success!

Party Favor Bags

Here is a party favor that I came up with for my daughter’s birthday party.  Inside the brown bag is a candy bar and a “snack” necklace.  Then I punched a whole in the corner and tied on a crocheted flower pin (that the girls can attach to their backpacks or sweaters) and a thank you note.

I’ve always liked the concept behind the candy necklace, but I was never really thrilled about the candy that was on them.

So the kids and I made our own – we spent at least an hour counting and threading snacks, so anyone out there needing a fun project involving patterns or counting, this is one you’ve got to try!

Stay tuned!  The next post will be all about the “snack” necklace!

Linking to I Heart Nap Time

Spongebob & Patrick Cookies

As I mentioned in an earlier post – it’s been crazy with birthdays over here!  In addition to the pool cake, my sweet little boy also wanted cookies.  But not just any cookies (of course) - Spongebob & Patrick cookies.  Instead of serving them with the cake, they served as party favors – thus the cellophane baggies.

Have I ever mentioned I’m a perfectionist?  Well, I am – it’s a major (time-consuming) flaw.  I made notes for myself for the next time I make these – like making the blue part of the eye bigger!  But in truth, I suppose we all tend to be our worst critics – noticing every little imperfection.

Moving on!  Since these cookies were decorated in royal icing, here are a couple of my favorite tips for decorating with it:

1. Use a fan to dry the frosting for a nice gloss - Sweet Sugarbelle

2. Mist the icing to achieve the perfect consistency – One Tough Cookie

3. And remember, we all have different handwriting so your frosting “writing” is going to be individual just like you!

Linking to I Heart Nap Time

BOO! Chocolate Covered Cookies

I know, I know. . .it’s not Halloween yet!  But I wanted to put this out there so you had plenty of time to order your molds from Spinningleaf.  And just so you know, I’m not being compensated – they don’t even know I exist.

Moving on, I chose the Ghost mold because it’s super-cute, and I only needed dark chocolate and white chocolate – no additional coloring or colors to buy. . .woohoo!

If you make these for a school party you might want to buy 2 molds to speed up the process, and I would plan on 1, possibly 2, cookies per kid – they’re pretty big.  Let’s get to it!

Chocolate Ghosts Adapted from Spinningleaf.com

Makes 6

1 Ghost mold

Approximately 1 (1 pound bag) of white candy melts

Approximately 1/4 of a pound of chocolate candy melts

1 package of chocoalte sandwich cookies, or another cookie of the same size

Now, head on over to get the directions here.  And don’t worry if the cookie shows through a little - Ghosts are transparent!!!

Linking to I Heart Nap Time

Ice Cream Swimming Pool Cake

For my son’s swimming party he wanted a pool cake.  Yikes!  So this was what he ended up with.  It’s an ice cream cake and all the decorations are edible – a must when serving children (IMHO).

Ice Cream Pool Cake Adapted from FamilyFun Birthday Cakes

3 containers (3 pints each) ice cream

1 jar of fudge, or ganache

whipped topping or whipped cream

blue coloring

O-shaped cookies and gumballs

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

4 Tablespoons butter

1/3 cup sugar

1 package of creme wafers

Set ice cream on the counter to soften.

In a medium size microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter.  Stir in the graham cracker crumbs, and the sugar.  Mix together until combined.  Pour into the bottom of a springform pan, with the ring attached.

Place in the oven at 350 for about 10 – 15 minutes.  Set aside to cool.

Scoop the softened ice cream into a very large bowl and stir until smooth, but not completely melted.  Place the cooled springform pan inside of a plastic shopping bag (to catch any leaks from melting ice cream).

Pour half of the ice cream over the cooled crust, then top with the fudge (or ganache).  Pour the remaining ice cream on top, then immediately place the pan in the freezer.  Leave in the freezer for 4 to 6 hours to set completely.

In a mixing bowl, tint the whipped topping (or freshly made whip cream) blue.  Take out the cake and cover the top with the blue cream, then add the cookies and gumballs as “pool toys.”

Place the cake immediately back in the freezer until ready to serve.  Before serving, carefully loosen the sides of the cake by running the sides under the faucet (careful not to get the cake wet!)

Once the cake is loose, push the bottom of the pan so that the ring part has fallen around your arm.  Then place the cake on a cutting board and let the kids help you add the wafer cookies to make the sides of the pool!

Linking to I Heart Nap Time

 

Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows

These are the perfect little treat to make with the kids after school!  They’re super-easy to assemble, and kids love them.

Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows  Adapted from Yum! Magazine for Kids

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 Tablespoon shortening

Graham Cracker crumbs – plain, or mixed with melted butter and sugar (as you would for a pie crust)

Pretzel sticks

Melt the chocolate chips and shortening together in the mircowave for about 1 minute.  Stir until completely melted – don’t overheat or you’ll burn the chocolate!

Stick a pretzel stick into the marshmallow.  Dip the bottom of the marshmallow in the chocolate and then in the graham cracker crumbs.

Set on a parchment lined cookie sheet and place in the frig for about 15 minutes, or until chocolate sets.

Linking to I Heart Nap Time.

Fall Weddings and the Perfect “Pair”!

Fall is just around the corner, and I think these are the cutest cookies for weddings, or wedding showers!

The idea for the cookie was inspired by a pear cookie cutter I came across a few years ago with the tag “the perfect pair.”

These are decorated in royal icing, and the details are painted on with equal parts water and gel food coloring.

You could also “paint” the accents with dry powdered food coloring.

Happy Baking!

Linking to I Heart Nap Time

The Queen of Hearts. . . Cookies

I was inspired to make this cookie after I stumbled onto Baking with Landa and saw her Red Queen cookie (it’s so cute!).  They were so much fun to make, and who doesn’t love Alice in Wonderland??

I “painted” her makeup on with edible food markers, but you could also gently brush on edible powdered food coloring instead.

*I try to stay away from luster dust when I’m making edible decorations since a lot of the dusts I have say “not for consumption.”

I’m linking to Thirty Handmade Days, Tidy Mom, Whipperberry, Lady Behind the Curtain, Funky Polka Dot Giraffe, A Well-Seasoned Life, Sugar Bananas, Sugar and Dots,

Something Swanky, and I Heart Nap Time.