Butterfly Theme Cake and Cookies Favors

Well, Spring is here and little by little we are getting warmer weather. I am sure we all are in a better mood to party, at least I am!

 I have been getting more and more inquiries for birthday parties goodies and

most of them have been for butterfly themes.

This cake I made it just a few weeks ago, simple and clean butterflies adorning the top of the tier and the name of the birthday girl.

 I made the butterflies in two sizes using some PMA cutters I got at Global Sugar Art a long time ago.

 

 

 

Butterfly cookie favors complemented the cake and décor.

 

 

These are my favorite butterflies, I love the color combo and simplicity of the cookie design.

White and Baby Blue Baptism Cake

Well, hello snowy Tuesday!!!

Another day of waking up with snow, late delays at school and cleaning the car. I decided that I had enough of this Winter, yes, I know I always keep saying the same thing over and over.
Any more ideas for entertaining the kids on snowy days?
We paint, ready, watch movies, write, work on a crafts, bake, eat, nap, kids play on their own for a while, but how much can you do??

 I will tell you, I entered my apartment last Wednesday and by Saturday I was literally pulling my hair out, I end up taking Cami to roller skating classes and decided to take come classes myself. I know, I am almost 40, yes 40!! and I do not know how to roller skate.
After taking a 1/2 hour class with a few 5 and 6 years old I realize that I still have a long way to go in the roller skating field, not to mention the pain in my arms the next day.

Any way, this Baptism Cake turned out just as I wanted. The design came directly from my client, originally was going to be only two tier, but last minute adding an extra tier turned out to be nicer and better looking for the event.

 I made the bow with gumpaste and I attached the silver dragees with candy melts. I would normally use piping gel but this time the dragees kept sliding off the bow's loops so candy melts was a better option.

 I loved how the quilting turned out ( even though I didn't use a stitching tool), I made it using a ruler only pressing against the fondant, technique that I learned watching a You Tube video.

As always, thank you for stopping by...oh and don't forget the snow activities advise!!

Aqua, Silver and Gray Baby Shower Cookies

I am loving this color palette of these custom made Baby Shower cookies.

The cookies match the Baby Shower invitation.

Simple but yet modern. 

I used a pretty neat stencil that I got from Michael's to make the chevron pattern, which by the way is spray painted with silver dust. But I recently found this Etsy shop that also has this and others stencils that would make wonders in cookies and cakes. 

I really like when moms and party planners step out of the regular baby blue and white when it comes to little Boys' Baby Showers.

 Pretty cookies ready to be pack and ship to California.

How to make Snowflake Cookie Place Cards

Happy Monday!!  we are 8 days away from Christmas!! . Are you done with your Christmas baking? I am in full swing making cookies for my kid's teachers at school and daycare, nothing better than a homemade bake good. This year I am also making cakes on a jar, I have seeing them and they look so adorable that I had to make them.

What is your favorite cookie to make on Christmas?

Any way, today you better stay with me because I made these Snowflake Cookies Place Cards for The Cookie Cutter Company and I loved the way it turned out.

These place card cookies will be an unexpected touch to dress up your holiday table!
I am sure your guest will be very impress.

To make these Place Card Cookies you will need:

.Already bake and decorated cookies ( any shape will do great)
.Stiff royal icing
.Small pairing knife
.Cookie triangles
.Baking sheet

The Cookie Cutter Company put together a snowflake set in their shop for this holiday season I thought it would be fun to use them for my cookie place cards, but the same technique can be use with any cookie shape.


-Make your cookie dough as usual, put it in the refrigerator to get cold for about 15 minutes.
-Using a pairing knife, cut some triangle pieces.
These cookie triangles are going to be the stands that hold up the place card cookies. Make sure you cut the triangles in a way that the cookie will lean back slightly when you stick the triangle piece to the cookie.
-Bake your triangle pieces.

-Pipe some stiff consistency royal icing using a #2 tip to the triangle cookie and apply it to the back of your already decorated cookie. 

-Apply  pressure to make sure the triangle and cookie sticks together.

-Put the place card cookies on a baking sheet or flat surface and let them dry for a few hours before handling the cookies.

Now you have your place card cookies ready to impress any guest. Not only they are beautiful , but also edible!

Don't feel like making the place cards cookies? make an assortment of snowflakes cookies .

Wondering what cookie cutters and supplies I used for my cookies ? 

Cookie cutters: Snowflake 3.75' -Snowflake 4'-Snowflake 5'-Mini Snowflake 1.5"
Tip #1 and #2
Icing bags 
Squeeze bottles
White, brown and royal blue Americolor royal icing
White sanding sugar and White sugar pearls
Gold luster dust,Vodka and a small paint brush

This post is about making the place card cookies, but I didn't want you wondering about how I decorated the cookies.

Outline your cookies

Flood them and let them dry overnight

Keep in mind that the cookies should be completely dry before adding the detail. I used stiff icing and tip #1 to pipe the brown border and name on all the cookies.

This large snowflake is my favorite cutter from the set. 

A few tips decorating these cookies:
When you pipe any design , I would recommend you start from the inside out. Lines, oval shapes and swirls will add a lot of details to your snowflakes. Be creative, and do not worry about messing up, after all is just a cookie.

Use tweezers to drop white sugar pearls while the brown icing is still wet. 

Let the detail on the snowflake cookie dry completely before applying the gold paint.

To paint the details, mix a few drops of vodka with gold luster dust and use a small paint brush to carefully paint the border or your guest name. 

Again, start making cross lines on the cookie and begin the details from the inside out.

The gold paint adds such a beautiful touch to the cookie.

These little snowflakes are perfect to fill cello bags, tie them with ribbon and give them away.So simple to decorate, when the cookies are completely dry, pipe details and sprinkle sanding sugar, shake off the excess and cookies are ready, as simple as that.

Ready to make your own Snowflake Place Card Cookies? 
Thank you for stopping by!!

Chocolate and Espresso Cookies for The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2013

Well, it is the time of the year again for The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap!! Lindsay and Julie once again, did a great job organizing the swap and helping along the way to Cookies for Kid's Cancer .

For the swap I made Chocolate and Espresso Cookies, these are full of flavor, easy to make and perfect for a pick me up kind of snack. 

These cookies are classic icebox-style cookies, they are formed into a log,

 chill until very cold

 and then sliced before baking.

CHOCOLATE AND ESPRESSO COOKIES

Ingredients:

1 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 large egg white

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 ½ tablespoon instant espresso powder

Instructions:

-Sift flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda into a bowl and set aside.

-Using an electric mixer, beat butter until creamy, add both sugars, espresso powder, vanilla and beat until all is blended.

-Mix in the egg white

-Add the flour mixture and beat until just incorporated.

-Use your hands to finish kneading the dough until smooth

-Form cookie dough into a 14 inch long-2 inch diameter log. Wrap in parchment paper and chill for 1 hour.

-Preheat oven to 350

-Slice cookie log crosswise into ¼ inch thick and place cookies into a baking sheet.

-Bake cookies for 14 minutes or until cracked and almost firm to the touch in the center.

Transfer cookies to a rack and let them cool completely.

Put them in a cute box and you will have a perfect little treat to give away.

Special thanks to the bloggers that sent me some delicious cookies  and helped me expand my waist, I enjoyed eating all of them!