I did another class at Cake Decorating Central (it's addictive!!).
Cute little christmas cookies!!
I love the snowflakes - I think they look so effective with the sanding sugar over the top!! We also used a mat with a pattern on it to make some swirls on them (look closely, they're on there!!). I love the little suspenders on the gingerbread men too - just adorable!!
Many months ago, on a warm spring day that should have been spent outside, I dragged my boyfriend (kicking and screaming) in to Ikea. When we finally emerged, it turned out it was all worth it because even though it was only about September, they already had Christmas items in stock.
I picked up (amongst other things) some gorgeous Christmas Cookie Cutters. And they've been sitting in the cupboard ever since.
Until now that is!!
I scouted around for a recipe that I felt was worthy enough to use my cutters for the first time. I remembered that over on NQN, there had been a recipe for Cinnamon Cookies - perfect, my love for all things cinnamon combined with Christmas made this a winner - Cameo Cinnamon Cookies (from NQN).
The house smelt amazing. The cookies looked daaaalicious. OMG CHRISTMAS OVERLOAD!!
I need to do drawings of what I want to ice them with before I do anything. Because if I don't do this, I come to the icing moment and panic because I don't know what I want where.
That's right, my precious Hershey's Cinnamon Chips & Butterscotch Chips have arrived (albeit a little melted - thanks Australia Post, because leaving chocolate on the doorstep in 40 degree heat is ALWAYS a good choice).
I'm really excited to bake something with these - but it has to be something worthwhile. It has to be an absolutely AMAZING recipe.....something that will knock the socks off everyone.......I remember seeing a butterscotch brownie cake over at Bakerella http://www.bakerella.com/butterscotch%E2%80%A6-my-new-best-friend/ which I am very much considering making.
But the question is, what to do with the cinnamon ones??
If you have any awesome ideas, feel free to let me know!!
I did a class today at Cake Decorating Central to make a Reindeer & Mistletoe cake. It was REALLY good, I thoroughly enjoyed it!!
There were 7 other ladies in the class so it was a good size to be able to get enough attention to get any help or tips etc, and the lady who took our class (Lou) was absolutely lovely and so patient with us too. She was excellent and I would go back time and time again to do any of their classes after today, I am that impressed with them!! The other ladies in the class were all really nice and easy to get along with too.
The class started at 10am and was meant to finish at 3 but we ended up finishing at around 3.30 so for 5 1/2 hours it cost $165 and was worth every cent of it. They also have a deal that on the day of your class, students are able to buy at their shop with a 10% discount - awesome!! I got some cute mini christmas cupcake wrappers and an AWESOME cookie cutter set by Wilton (cookie cutter sets were 25% off today as part of their 12 days of Christmas promotion - every day there is something different on special!!).
And of course, photos:
I have discovered something VERY exciting tonight.
My baking dreams have been answered in the form of this website:
www.usafoods.com.au
They have all those amazing hersheys baking chips that I've been lusting over and much much more. Red velvet box mix (I've been aching to try it for a very long time - not that I don't have a perfectly good recipe for it myself......but red velvet box mix?!?! Novelty!!), ghiradelli chocolate (omgyum), kool aid, aunt jemima, several different kinds of graham crackers (the perfect crust for cheesecakes, no?!), dr pepper, milk duds, jr mints, twizzlers in several flavours other than raspberry......so much exciting stuff......but sadly, no wilton candy melts. Why can I not find these in Australia?!
Can't wait to bake the red velvet cake......maybe I will do some cake pops.
On another note, I'm doing a cake decorating course on Saturday at Cake Decorating Central at Castle Hill - very much looking forward to it, it's an adorable christmas cake we'll be making - I shall defo post pics!!
Or doughnuts. Whichever way you choose to spell it. I don't discriminate when it comes to donuts ;)
I had a minor baking disaster tonight. I had originally planned on this post being about reindeer shaped shortbreads dipped in chocolate. Alas it was not meant to be.
Might I take this moment to stress how important it is to read ahead in a recipe and make sure you're across it before you start. If, say for instance, you're using a recipe that makes TWO dozen, but you only want to make ONE dozen, maybe make sure you've got your quantites correct before you start.
Unfortunately for me, I learnt the hard way, and ended up with a very floury & very dry shortbread mix.
Not to be deterred, I decided to throw it in the bin and make something else.
Donuts!!
I've never made cupcakes like these before. They weren't actually that difficult either!!
These are for my boyfriends boss' sons birthday - so if they're crap Aaren could lose his job!! LOL not really, but I am happy with the way they turned out anyway so I hope they will be too!!
I took a look at the Planet Cake book to see how they made the naughty kids cupcakes - but it's not difficult, just cut out your fondant, cover the cupcake, fix the eyes and nose on and make an indent for the mouth - done!!
