Hello lovelies! Todays post is something that will appeal to your sweet tooth! Christmas is always a good excuse to make some festive sweet treats, either for yourself or too bring along to a family gathering. Here are three of my festive baking favourites...
Melting Snowman Cookies
What you will need
200g fondant icing sugar
6 white marshmallows
6 large cookies
24 mini chocolate beans
6 pretzel sticks
Tube of black writing icing
Method
1. Put icing sugar into bowl and add cold water a teaspoon at a time until the mixture is runny but thick enough to coat a spoon.
2. Snip the marshmallows in half
3. Spoon a little icing onto each cookie and attach half a marshmallow. Using a little icing, stick the other half on top at an angle. Drizzle a little more icing onto a cookie to make melted snow
4. Break pretzel sticks in half and place on cookie for arms. Stick orange chocolate beans on for noses. Stick 3 chocolate beans to each cookie to represent buttons.
5. Using the writing icing. Pipe small blobs for eyes and mouth- leave to set.
These are delicious warmly spiced cupcakes perfect for indulging in over the festive season. Here's how to make then:
What you will need
150g butter (at room temperature)
150g soft brown sugar
3 eggs
150g self-raising flour
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
1 tbsp of milk
Frosting Ingredients
200g butter
50g soft brown sugar
3 tbsp milk
200g icing sugar
Pinch of ground cinnamon
Method
1. Preheat oven to 180c/160c fan/Gas 4
2. Cream together butter and sugar until light & fluffy
3. Sift flour together with spices
4. Gradually mix eggs into creamed butter & sugar alternate with the flour to stop mix from curdling. Finally, stir through milk
5. Place 12 paper cupcake cases into muffin tin and divide mixture between them.
6. Bake for 15/20 minutes
Frosting Method
1. While cupcakes are cooking- place 50g of butter in a pan with the brown sugar and cook over a low heat until melted. Add 2 tablespoons of milk and stir to form thick glossy toffee sauce. Leave to cool.
2. In a large mixing bowl heat the butter smooth, then start to sift in the icing sugar, stirring regularly. Add a splash more of the milk if the mixture seems to thick- the frosting should be light and creamy.
3. Put the frosting in a piping bag and pipe onto cupcakes. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon.
Chocolate Mint Cookies
What you will need
For the cookies
100g soft butter
150g soft light brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
150g plain flour
35g cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
200g dark chocolate chips
For the glaze
75g icing sugar
2 tablespoons boiling water
1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon of peppermint essence
Method
1. Preheat oven to 180c / gas mark 4
2. Cream butter and sugar, then beat in vanilla extract and egg.
3. Mix flour, cocoa and baking powder in bowl and gradually beat in creamed mixture, then fold in chocolate chips.
4. Using a rounded 15ml tablespoon measure, spoon out scoops of cookie dough onto lined baking sheet, leaving space between each one.
5. Bake in oven for 12 minutes. Meanwhile put the glaze ingredients into a saucepan and heat until combined.
I hope you've enjoyed todays post!
What are your favourite things to bake at Christmas?
Carly x
