The Baking Sheet

"Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!" Cookie

2012-02-12T18:22:00.001-05:00

Cookies to celebrate the 100th day of school!

Based on the popular children's book "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!" by Mo Willems.

Vanilla sugar cookie with royal icing.

Happy Baking!

Play Ball!

2012-02-11T10:19:00.000-05:00

Vanilla Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing!

Happy Baking!

My Interview on CakesDecor.com!

2012-02-10T11:46:00.000-05:00

Guess who was interviewed by CakesDecor.com??

Yours Truly!!

Click here for the interview!

I Love You Beary Much!

2012-02-07T11:35:00.000-05:00

White Cake with Vanilla Buttercream Filling!

Fondant Finish and Decoration...

Happy Baking!

Virtual Surprise Book Release Party for The Decorated Cookie

2012-02-07T09:01:00.002-05:00

Today is a very special day!

Run, don't walk to your nearest bookstore because today "Sugarlicious" by Meaghan Mountford has been released! You know Meaghan...the woman behind one of my favorite blogs, The Decorated Cookie. She is the genius that first came up with the melted snowman cookie and all those cute little hand-decorated marshmallows - Adorable!

We've been hearing a lot about "Sugarlicious" and I can't wait to pick up my copy!
It is a fabulous how-to book for creating beautiful edible crafts! There are 50 ideas for crafting cookies, marshmallows, cupcakes, cake pops, cakes, petits fours and candy clay for parties, holidays, special occasions and just for fun!
Head over to Meaghan's blog The Decorated Cookie for all the wonderful details!

To help our friend celebrate, a bunch of us cookie/cake bloggers decided to get together and throw Meaghan a virtual, surprise book release party! I'm bringing the cake! Well, it's sorta a Valentine's Day cake and Virtual Book Release Party cake combo, but it conveys the same message:
We love you Meaghan and we wish you
the best of luck with your new book!
Thank you for all your wonderful inspiration!!

Head over to these wonderful sites to check out the rest of the party!!

Sue of Munchkin Munchies

Kathia of Pink Little Cake

Jenn of Clever Girl

Paula of The Vanilla Bean Baker

Katrina of In Katrina's Kitchen

Trisha of Sweetology

Have a "Sugarlicious" Day!!

Peace Cookies!

2012-02-06T10:26:00.000-05:00

Vanilla Sugar Cookie with Royal Icing

Happy Baking!

Spa Party Cookies!

2012-02-06T09:06:00.000-05:00

Vanilla Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

Edible Buttercream Image

Happy Baking!

Cupcake Cookies!

2012-02-02T20:07:00.000-05:00

Vanilla Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing!

Happy Baking!

Princess Tiaras!

2012-02-02T09:30:00.000-05:00

Vanilla Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

Silver Dragees, Sugar Pearls and lots of Disco Dust!

Happy Baking!

It's a Girl!

2012-01-21T10:58:00.000-05:00

Vanilla Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing and Royal Icing Teddy Bears!

Happy Baking!

Please vote for me!

2012-01-18T17:54:00.001-05:00

Please vote for me!

I entered this little guy into a cake contest and he needs your vote!

Please click the picture and then if you think he's worthy, please click "Like".

Thank you!!

Winged Heart & Love Note Cookies!

2012-01-12T16:33:00.002-05:00

Happy Baking!

Giveaway Announcement!!

2012-01-07T22:47:00.000-05:00

Head on over to my Facebook Page for a chance to win a huge prize package

of items from these truly fabulous and generous sponsors:

Smidge & Pinch

CopperGifts.com

CakesDecor.com

Plus a bunch of cool stuff from me.......The Baking Sheet! :o)

Good luck!!

Guest Post: Angelyn from EveryDay Desserts!

2012-01-06T18:44:00.002-05:00

Recently I found a new baking blog that left me drooling on my keyboard. The sugary goodness found on this blog look and sound AMAZING! Run, don't walk over to EveryDay Desserts and show some love. I promise you won't be dissapointed! Angelyn is an up and coming baker...she is only 16 years old, but boy does she know her way around the kitchen! She's also new to the world of blogging. I've asked her to stop by to share a recipe with ya'll. Without further ado....meet Angelyn....

~~~~~***~~~~~

Hi everyone! My name is Angelyn and I blog over at EveryDay Desserts. Loren has graciously allowed me to guest blog for her and I'm super excited to do it! She is awesome, isn't she? :) She's fabulous at decorating, so my cookies definitely won't top her's in the 'looks' department, but they are yummy! I hope you enjoy my post, and of course, the cookies!

Anytime I made a dessert (which is basically everyday), I have a ton of taste-testers. I'm one of 8 kids and there are always a lot of friends over at our house. So, there is always someone willing to taste something for me. My sister is a little bit harder to please than all the other kids, though. She doesn't like chocolate. Yeah, I think there's something wrong with her. Just kidding, but it never ceases to amaze me that she doesn't like chocolate. I mean, how can that be possible!? But, she actually liked these cookies! In fact, she said they were delicious. That's how you know that they are awesome! :)

I bake all the time and cookies are one of my very favorite things to make, but I have never made thumbprint cookies. I figured that they'd be somewhat difficult to make, but they were actually super easy! The cookie dough wasn't very chocolate-y by its self, but the melted chocolate that was added gave it the right amount of sweetness. The cookies are supposed to be rolled in nuts before baking, but I rolled in them in crushed pretzels because I don't like nuts in desserts. I know, that sounds a little odd, but it was actually delicious! It makes the cookies very sweet 'n' salty, which I love! And I love adding pretzels to desserts, it adds such interesting texture and flavor. I also made a few without pretzels:

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies (Source: Serious Eats)

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup salted butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 egg yolks

2 egg whites

3 cups finely chopped pecans or chopped pretzels
8 ounces semi sweet chocolate, melted

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

In a small bowl, combine flour and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add melted chocolate and vanilla, mix till combined. Scrape down bowl. Add egg yolks and mix. Add flour mixture and mix till combined. Remove dough from bowl onto a large piece of clear film. Wrap and form into a disc. Refrigerate for 2 hours or firm enough to roll into balls.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 sheet pans with silpat or grease pans. In a small bowl, add egg whites and whisk lightly with a fork to lighten. Place nuts or pretzels in a separate small bowl. Roll dough into small balls the size of marbles. Dip the dough balls into the egg white to coat. Roll each ball in chopped pecans or pretzels. Place balls onto prepared cookie sheets 1 1/2 inch apart and push down the center of each ball with your thumb. If you have long nails, use the end of a wooden dowel.

Bake for 10 minutes, remove pans from the oven, and press down the centers again, using a dowel or the back of a teaspoon. Bake for 10 minutes more. While cookies cool, melt chocolate and oil in a small bowl in the microwave, till just melted. Using a teaspoon, fill cookies, one by one. Place them back onto the sheet pans till chocolate is firm and set. The chocolate will take a couple of hours to set, if you are in a hurry, refrigerate them. YIELD: 3-1/2 dozen

Enjoy!

Sweet Repeat: Valentine's Day Boxer Shorts Tutorial!

2012-01-03T17:26:00.002-05:00

I just LOVE Valentine's Day and especially all the baking and fun treats that go along with it! Today I have some easy cookies for you to make....Valentine boxer shorts! They are just the right amount of naughty, but very very sweet! These cookies may look difficult to make but honestly anyone can do these no matter what your skill level and they are sure to impress your honey!

First bake up a batch of your favorite cut-out cookie recipe. I use this one for a basic sugar/butter cookie. For these cookies I used a "swimming trunks" cutter that I found at Karen's Cookies.

** Helpful Hint: If you don't have one, don't sweat it! Use a square cutter and with the corner of the square cut out a notch on the bottom of the square to define the legs of the shorts.

Let your cookies cool on a wire rack before decorating.

Next, make a batch of Royal Icing (I used Wilton's Recipe found here). The icing will be very thick. Separate the icing into 4 bowls.

Bowl #1: Add a few drops of red dye (I use Americolor)

Bowl #2: Leave white

Bowl #3: Dye the icing red and thin with a few drops of water (consistency of Elmer's Glue)

Bowl #4: Leave white and thin with a few drops of water (consistency of Elmer's Glue)

Fill two pastry bags (fitted with a #2 tip) with the thick consistency red and white icings (Bowls 1 & 2). Outline half of your cookies red and the other half white. Let the icing dry for about an hour.

Next, fill two squeeze bottles with a bit of the red and white thinned icing. I used these handy little squeeze bottles that I picked up at Karen's Cookies! They come with a plastic #2 tip and coupler, but any of your Wilton tips are interchangeable. Put the filled bottles to the side, we'll get to them in a minute!

The next step is to flood your cookies with the red and white thin consistency icing. I just spooned it in, but you can fill a pastry bag or squeeze bottle to apply it.

The icing will slowly spread out but you may need to use a spatula to ease it towards the edges. Use a toothpick to pop any air bubbles that may have formed. Before the icing dries use the squeeze bottles filled with the thinned icing to make small polka-dots in the wet icing. This is called a "wet-on-wet technique". When the icing dries, the finish will be smooth!

Let your cookies dry for several hours. Then with your thick consistency icing, pipe with a #2 tip the waistband and button details.

And there you have it! Valentine Boxer Shorts for your Honey!

Happy Baking!

Happy 2012!

2012-01-02T11:06:00.001-05:00

Just a quick buttercream cake that I made for a New Year's Eve get-together.

It is a Chocolate Kahlua Cake with Chocolate Mocha Filling and a Hint-of-Chocolate Buttercream Icing.

Best Wishes for a Very Happy & Healthy 2012!

****UPDATE****

Because you asked......

Chocolate Kahlua Cake Recipe:

Cake Ingredients:

Dry:

3/4 cup cocoa

2 cups sugar

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

Wet:
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup coffee (strong, black, room temp)
1/2 cup oil
1 T Kahlua

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two 8" round pans with baking spray. Sift together dry ingredients. In separate bowl, combine all wet ingredients. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix well. Pour into prepared pans. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool before filling and frosting.

Chocolate Mocha Filling

3/4 cup milk
1 T Kahlua
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 box chocolate flavored instant pudding mix (3.9 oz)
1 cup Cool Whip, thawed

Combine milk, Kahlua and extract. Add pudding mix; beat at medium-low for 2 minutes. Fold in Cool Whip and chill for 1 hour before filling cake.

Hint-of-Chocolate Buttercream Icing

1 cup whipping cream
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
3 cups of your favorite vanilla buttercream icing (prepared ahead of time)

In medium pan bring cream to a simmer. Remove from heat and stir in chips until melted. Place pan in bowl of ice water and stir until cooled. Whisk in sugar until smooth.
Add 3 cups of your favorite buttercream icing and mix until smooth.

Enjoy!!

CakeCentral's List of Top 25 Cookies of 2011

2012-01-02T09:38:00.000-05:00

I have some exciting news to share!

CakeCentral.com has just notified me that my "Bridal Shower Cookies"

were ranked #8 in their list of

"Top 25 Most Saved Cookies of 2011"!

Click my new badge to check it out!!!!

Happy 2012!!

Polar Bears & Snowy Tree Cookies!

2011-12-17T22:02:00.000-05:00

Vanilla Sugar Cookie with Royal Icing!

Happy Baking!

FRA-GIL-E!

2011-12-15T21:32:00.000-05:00

They must be Italian!

Happy Baking!

A Giveaway for my Crafty Friends!

2011-12-11T20:33:00.001-05:00

Recently I've been spending a lot of time on a new hobby: Scrapbooking! Not the paper and scissors kind of scrapbooking, but digital scrapbooking.

Now, you might think I'm all creative and maybe have a smidge of talent when it comes to cake and cookie decorating, but the truth is I'm not crafty at all. The paper aisle at Michael's freaks me out. The sticker, punches and stamps aisle makes me sweat. I've even owned a Cricut machine for 3 years and it has never seen the light of day.

So I've discovered a new product that has made scrapbooking fast, easy and foolproof. It's not often that I rave about a new product or try to sell my friends on a new gadget or service..and especially not here on my blog, but I had to share this little sumpthin with ya'll.

I've been using my new scrapbooking software suite called "MyMemories" to create beautiful photo albums! You can create a personalized photo album in just minutes by pointing and clicking. You can select from thousands of papers, page elements, themes, colors and templates. All the hard work is done for you and you don't have to step foot in the paper aisle! You can upload your photos, add captions, record narration and even insert video. Once your album is complete you can choose from several options to share with your friends: email a digital scrapbook, post it on your website or print out a hardcopy. It really couldn't be any easier!

To check some videos that show the scrapbooking software in action, click here.

Now here's more good news.... I'm giving away a copy of the My Memories Software Suite to one of you! To enter, all you have to do is go to MyMemories and choose your favorite digital paper pack or layout, then leave a comment here (in the comments section of this post) telling me which one you chose. Please make sure you leave your email address so I have a way to contact you if you win! Contest ends on Friday, December 16th at 12:00 noon EST, at which time I will randomly select one winner! The winner will have 48 hours to respond or else a new winner will be selected.

Contest is Closed!

If you would like to purchase a copy of the MyMemories software suite, you can use coupon code: STMMMS47629 for a $10 discount. This code also entitles you to an additional $10 coupon to the MyMemories.com store as well! This is an exclusive offer for readers of The Baking Sheet only! :o)

Good luck! :o)

*****UPDATE******

We have a winner!

Congratulations Jackie (jackielee4@yahoo.com)!

You are the winner of the free digital software suite from MyMemories!!

I have sent you an email with the prize info. Merry Christmas!!

Casino 40th Birthday Cake!

2011-12-04T07:48:00.000-05:00

White Almond Sour Cream Cake with Cannoli Filling!

Happy Baking!

Dance Cheer Cake!

2011-12-04T07:46:00.000-05:00

"Cake Batter" Cake with Marshmallow Buttercream Filling!

Happy Baking!

Minnie Mouse Cake!

2011-11-23T20:41:00.000-05:00

Strawberry Cake with Vanilla Buttercream Filling!

Happy Baking!

Native American Thanksgiving Placecard Cookies!

2011-11-23T10:19:00.000-05:00

Vanilla Sugar Cookie with Royal Icing!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wine Crate Cake!

2011-11-20T09:35:00.001-05:00

Happy 80th Birthday Lorraine!

Vanilla Cake with Whipped Chocolate Ganache Filling!

Happy Baking!