Decorate Your Own Sugar Cookie

 

One of my favorite sugar cookie recipes is from cooking light.  I don't feel nearly as bad when I cover it in frosting and decorations!  My girls love to help bake and I almost always let them help.  Sugar cookies can be messy and they always try to eat the decorations and frosting.  So I decided to not fight it, just go with it.  They each got their own cookie, frosting and decorations.  I let them decorate however they wanted and double dip in their personal pots after tastes.  They ended up with beautiful half eaten cookies and I managed to get all the rest pretty while they were busy.  This will be a fun activity for a playdate, maybe an outdoor playdate where the ants can eat the crumbs!

Recipe Modifications

• used pastuerized egg product
• used fleischmann's unsalted margarine
• used rice milk
• we made these for St Patrick's day not easter.  Any cookie cutter or cup will work

Ingredients

Cookies:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (about 6 1/2 ounces)

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg

Icing:

2 cups powdered sugar

3 tablespoons fat-free milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Food coloring (optional) 

Recipe

This recipe comes from one of my favorite sites cooking light

Click Here for Recipe

Raspberry Frosted Vanilla Mini Cupcakes

 

I picked up a subscription to Food and Wine magazine recently for my daughter's school fundraiser. I have already found several great recipes.  This cupcake just looked pretty and I knew it would have to be yummy too.  I tweaked the recipe from strawberry to raspberry and eliminated the milk products.  Instead of regular cupcakes we made mini ones.  I would guess you could use any type of berry jam.  Be careful to not add too much the frosting will get soft.  These were the perfect sweet treat to bring our dinner club and so pretty.

Recipe Modifications

• used fleischmann's unsalted margarine
• used vanilla rice milk
• you can use your favorite white or cream cheese frosting recipe and just add jam to taste.  I added raspberry jam and topped with fresh raspberries instead of strawberry
• made mini cupcakes instead of regular ones
• frosting was a bit soft so popped in the fridge before traveling with them

Cupcake Ingredients

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup milk, at room temperature

Recipe

This recipe comes from Food and Wine

Click Here for Recipe

Dark Chocolate Sprinkled Rice Krispie Pops

 

These are so easy and yummy that I will be making them again and again!  Rice Krispie treats are something most of us don't outgrow.  Add rich dark chocolate, sprinkles and a stick to keep your hands clean and you have the perfect treat.  These are also great for the little helpers in your life.  My 2 year old was able to dip in the chocolate and sprinkles herself.  She did try to eat them as she made them though ;-)  You could easily change this up by dipping in nuts, seasonal sprinkles, changing the color of the chocolate, making the treats different sizes, chocolate then mini marshmallows than carmel then chocolate again...I could go on forever.  Now I want one, and of course they'be been eaten up!

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows
- OR -
4 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal
1 bag dark chocolate chips
sprinkles
popsicle sticks
ribbons to decorate if you'd like

Recipe

1. Make rice Krispies according to recipe on the box, allow to completely cool.  I used an 8x8 pan and made sure they were pressed evenly in the pan
2. Cut treats into popsicle sized bars
3. Melt chips in microwave in 30 second increments on 50% power, stirring thoroughly after each increment
4. Place sprinkles in bowl
5. Stick a popsicle stick into each treat and dip in chocolate, then dip into sprinkles
6. Place in fridge to set and then server at room temperature

This recipe found at Twig and Thistle blog

Click Here for Recipe