Sweet Tooth

Dessert Table: Festive Spectrum

2012-02-13T08:59:00.000-06:00

This is such a lovely dessert table, er, cake table. Easy-to-make iced cakes with flag toppers and a vibrant rainbow-hued backdrop make this display pop. I especially love the table linen, which looks like a plain white cloth dressed up with inexpensive ribbon to match the palette. Fab!

images by Fresh In Love via 100 Layer Cake

Valentine's Visions: Cookies for Guys

2012-02-09T09:25:00.000-06:00

So much of Valentine's Day is based on the premise of guys giving gifts to girls. Well, these cookies by Whipped Bakeshop are perfect to give to the guys in your life. They're a little sexually suggestive, which most guys probably won't mind.

Dessert Table: Golden Hugs & Kisses

2012-02-09T07:59:00.000-06:00

If you've been around since this time last year, then you already know I'm a big fan of XOXO sentiments for Valentine's Day. Just check out this graphic dessert table I created. If you follow me on Pinterest, then you also know I love ombre cakes. I saw this dessert table on Ruffled Blog and found the best of both worlds.

images by Sara & Rocky Photography

Cookie Constellations

2012-02-08T07:55:00.000-06:00

I'm always looking for ways to make learning fun and interactive for my little one. She likes to help me bake, and of course she loves cookies, so a day of making cookie constellations would be perfect for her. I saw these adorable cookies on Carnets parisien and thought I'd share.

If you want to reduce the time and mess involved in this project, bake the cookies after kiddo goes to bed and then unveil the "make a constellation" game during playtime the next day. Look at pics of constellations, talk about them, and see if your little one can recreate the shapes she sees.

pics via Carnets parisien

Sweet Idea: White Chocolate Confetti Popcorn

2012-02-06T20:13:00.001-06:00

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, then you already know that I've been making my own white chocolate popcorn for an after-dinner snack a lot lately. When I saw this little bit of extra flare today on Pinterest, it was a "Why didn't I think of that?" moment. Amy of She Wears Many Hats shared these lovely pics of her Party Popcorn.

Simply drizzle melted Candy Qwik or other hardening white chocolate over your lightly salted popcorn (I like Pop Secret's Homestyle) and dust the morsels with colorful sprinkles for a festive treat. You can even make some the night before Valentine's when your kids are asleep and put a little baggie into their lunch for the holiday. Now you know what I'll be munching tonight while watching Alcatraz and SMASH.

Valentine's Visions: DIY Ombre Sugar Hearts

2012-02-01T12:42:00.001-06:00

Wow, wow, woowza! That's all I can say about how pretty/versatile/easy this Erica O'Brien recipe is. If you have sugar, eggs, and food coloring, then you've got it made. Or, at least you could have it made with a few simple steps. Whether you're looking for cute Valentine's favors or a way to decorate a plain, inexpensive wedding cake, these hearts fit the bill.

I just love ombre, don't you? For the full tutorial and recipe, check out Erica's blog here.

Sweet Idea: Cupcake Jell-o Shots

2012-01-30T15:46:00.000-06:00

It's not often that a cupcake are for adults only, but this Jell-o shot definitely fits the bill. Erica of Sweet Tooth created these deceptively cute cuppies for her friend's birthday party. With a base of cake flavored vodka (Who even knew that existed?), she was bound to be successful.

Check out the super-simple recipe here for the other yummy ingredients, like cream soda and cranberry juice.

Dessert Table: All-White Wonder

2012-01-26T17:10:00.003-06:00

An all-white dessert table works for every season. In Summer, it seems fresh and airy. In Winter, it feels icy and cool. This collection of simple cakes on simple stands would work well for almost any group gathering at any time of year. This Style Me Pretty spread as accents of soft peach, but you could use lilac, icy blue, or yellow to change the feel of the design.

images by The Nichols

Valentine's Visions: Felt Fortune Cookies

2012-01-24T08:08:00.000-06:00

Why not take a sweet cookie, make it out of felt, and fill it with candy? Martha featured these felt fortune cookies, which are perfect for Valentine's Day. Why are they perfect? They're inexpensive, they're easy, and they're unexpected, a veritable triple threat if you ask me. These would also make great wedding or bridal shower favors. Oooh, and baby shower favors! Imagine that the guests have to open the cookie to see the sex of the baby.

Check out the full how-to right here.

Valentine's Visions: Rolo Wraps

2012-01-23T08:35:00.000-06:00

I've had a long-standing love affair with Rolos. I mean, they're everything wonderful. Caramel, chocolate, and a bite-size that doesn't make you feel guilty (even if you've had two, or six). Well, with Valentine's right around the corner, I was happy to find this inexpensive, cute candy idea that incorporates my beloved sweet.

Simply grab a roll of wrapping paper you like. Cruise Target's Dollar Spot for inexpensive options. Use the Rolo wrapper as a sizing template, and get to cutting. Write a note on the blank side of the wrapping paper and seal with a small heart or XO sticker. Even my toddler could help with this project, and Grandma and Papa will be thrilled to get their treats for V-Day.

DIY Valentine's Brownie Toppers

2012-01-18T18:38:00.000-06:00

It's so easy to dress up treats and make them seem even more special. These arrow brownie toppers by Cyd of The Sweetest Occasion are a perfect example. You can whip up a batch of brownies or buy some, cut them with a heart cutter, and top them off with these felt arrows.

The steps are simple enough, so be sure to check out The Sweetest Occasion for the full tutorial.

DIY Donut Tower

2012-01-16T17:20:00.000-06:00

I love simplicity and towers of sweets, so this donut tower is right up my alley. Simply stack powdered donuts on a lovely cake stand, tuck in some fabric/paper/felt flowers for a pop of color, and just wait for the guests' oohs and aahs to roll in. What a great twist on a croquembouche.

images via CAKE

DIYs Around the House

2012-01-12T16:03:00.000-06:00

I've been pretty occupied lately with some DIY projects around the house, and although none of them are dessert-related, they are all Shauna-related, so I figured I'd share the results. As always, I convinced my husband to join in.

I made this golden sunburst mirror above the mantle using spray paint, a ceiling medallion, and skewers. All in all, the project was less than $12. A much better deal than the $150-$350 versions online. I also convinced my hub that we should build a wooden surround for our fireplace to cover up the majority of the hideous 13x13 builder-grade tile that was already there. I also got the idea to bring in some bookcases on each side of the fireplace. We decided to keep the mantle stained instead of painting it white so it would still tie into the cabinetry and trim throughout the house.

I chose this palette for our house nearly a year ago, and had a hard time finding decor items that incorporated all of them to unify the space. So, I decided to take this IKEA rug and painted it with the colors that we used throughout the house. Those stripes that look brownish are really a shimmery gold, which ties into the sunburst mirror above the mantle.

Did you guys tackle any fun/crafty projects recently?

Sweet Idea: Pie on a Stick

2012-01-11T15:10:00.001-06:00

Pies are fabulous, but mini pies that are mess-free and don't require a plate and fork are sublime. These are great for a dessert table or party, because they're so low-maintenance. Keep your crusts traditional or cut out cute shapes. You can even get creative with the display or wrap the pies in ribbon-tied cellophane for guests to take home.

images: Spoon Fork Bacon, Pinterest, Borrowed and Bleu, Cakewalk Desserts

Dessert Table: Fishy Affair

2012-01-09T21:23:00.001-06:00

This cake is beautiful! It looks like it has iridescent scales on the second layer. Just look at the way photog Caroline Tran captured the light bouncing off of it. Delicious! The soft peach and pink tones of the cake are echoed in the candies that fill out the dessert spread. There are other fishy details around the table, like the fishing pole and paper fish hovering over the table.

via 100 Layer Cake

Dessert Table: Modern Femininity

2012-01-06T07:00:00.000-06:00

This pretty little dessert table, which was shot by Augie Chang for Style Me Pretty, has some of the softest shades of pink and caramel that it's just dreamy. Gourmet marshmallows, jelly beans, and poufy flowers create a girly vibe, while a modern all-white cake keeps it unexpectedly fresh.

Dessert Table: Saturated Sweets

2012-01-03T13:11:00.000-06:00

I love all of the gold, fuschia, and teals on this dessert table. Every inch of this table, which was styled by A & B Creative, is saturated with vibrant color. It's awesome.

images by Eric McVey Photography via Style Me Pretty

Sweet Visions: Pavlova

2012-01-02T12:02:00.003-06:00

My friend recently tried and fell in love with pavlova and is on the hunt for a bakery that makes them in her area. The conversation with her made me start searching for some yummy pics to share with you.

I love the imperfection of this dessert. No need to stress about making everything look meticulously styled. You gotta love that!

pics: What Katie Ate, Martha Stewart, Pinterest

Ornament Gingerbread Cookies

2011-12-22T12:52:00.000-06:00

Classics are classic for a reason. Sometimes, it's nice just to get back to the basics. Nothing is more traditional during the holidays than ornaments, mittens, sleighs, and gingerbread. You can find more yummy pics and the recipe at The Patterned Plate.

Sparkly Peppermint Macarons

2011-12-21T09:21:00.000-06:00

Glitter this time of year (or any time really) just makes me giddy, so anytime that glitter is edible, I pretty much squeal with delight. These red and white macarons from Kevin & Amanda are so festively fabulous!

Still haven't gotten your fill of glittery goodness? Be sure to check me out on Pinterest, where I pin lots of delicious, pretty things that don't make it onto the blog. You'll probably love the Dessert Meets Design pinboard and the A December to Remember one, too.

Also, cruise by Kevin & Amanda to get the recipe for these pretty macs.

Sweet Brands: Happy Lab

2011-12-20T08:19:00.000-06:00

I love this geeky branding by confection shop Happy Lab! Test tubes, beakers, and other science-y dodads pose as candy containers, while the employees wear lab coats.

If you can't make it to the Australian-based shop, consider adding candies to beakers and giving them to a child who just mastered a Chemistry test. I would have loved to get these after every Organic Chem test.

Dessert Table: Minty Merry Christmas

2011-12-15T08:01:00.000-06:00

It's not often that a soft shade of green gets attention during the holidays, but this dessert table by Mrs A in The Cove incorporates the pretty color perfectly. Lovely cakestands, candies, cupcakes, and cookies all match the palette.

I love the chevron favor bags!

Gingerbread Village Table Runner

2011-12-14T07:18:00.000-06:00

Photog Rebecca Hansen captured this edible winter wonderland for Snippet & Ink. Gingerbread houses sit atop a kraft paper runner that's sprinkled with powdered sugar "snow". This would make any kid happy to sit at the kiddie table if you made a smaller version to line their shorter table.

Already maxed out on time? Opt for graham crackers or pre-made gingerbread house kits to make your little village.

Cookies with Giant Flavor

2011-12-13T07:37:00.000-06:00

The holiday issue of Sweet Paul Magazine hit the virtual newsstand last week, and the feature on cookie recipes is delicious. Not only are the pics of mini-admirers cute, but the recipes are drool-inducing. Be sure to check out the feature and the entire issue for lots of great holiday sweets.

Check out these amaretto dreams and coconut & cherry cookies.

These caramel sauce cookies and marshmallow & hazelnut cookies look amazing.

Wouldn't you love to ice skate on a lake of caramel? What could be better?

images via Hector Sanchez for Sweet Paul Magazine

Cookies To-Go!

2011-12-12T08:25:00.000-06:00

Presentation is everything! If you want an inexpensive gift for your co-workers, neighbors, and other random folks simply whip several batches of cookies (homemade or mix) and package them beautifully. They'll be safe to ship without breaking, and the package elevates them from ho-hum bake sale staple.

ideas via Martha Stewart