Winter Wonderland Dessert

Attention edible artists, kitchen crafters and fun food folks – have I got a project for you!

First, search your cabinets and cupboards for various cone shapes. Next, drizzle melted chocolate candy wafers over the cones to create an entire forest of fabulous, colorful trees. And finally, artfully arrange the trees to decorate a winter wonderland dessert.

I used a giant bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream covered in whipped cream to make my festive, edible centerpiece. But you could easily build the display on a white frosted cake or individual cupcakes. And look for unusual or unexpected containers too! This bowl is actually the top of a vintage kitchen scale that I found at World Market.

You can find my complete tutorial and easy, step-by-step photos at Handmade Charlotte. Check out some of my other edible art ideas too, while you're there.

A Celebration of Polar Bear Cookies

Did you know that a group of polar bears is called a "celebration?" (Seriously. I'm not makin' this up.)

I can't think of a better word to describe these cute, little polar bear cookies either. They just make me want to celebrate the season. They'd be a great treat to bring to any holiday gathering or cookie exchange.

And there's an even better reason to celebrate: they're NO-BAKE! No kidding.

For my easy recipe and instructions, check out Handmade Charlotte. 

Stocking Cakes with a Surprise

Have you been naughty or nice this year?

Bake up a batch of these Christmas stocking cakes and surprise your holidays guests with a mouth full of candy or a mouth full of black licorice "coal." 

Actually, you can put whatever naughty or nice treats you'd like inside these little cakes. I considered using cough drops for the "naughty" version, but Eric told me that would be just plain mean. Also, a possible chocking hazard. :)

You can find my super-simple, step-by-step tutorial at SheKnows.com.

Christmas Canine Cookies

Bow-WOW! These little Wiener Dog Santa cookies turned out almost cuter than I imagined. I bought a dachshund cookie cutter back in August, not knowing what I wanted to do with it, but I just had to have it. Glad I did. This idea hit me on a Saturday night, and by Sunday morning these pups were baked and assembled in my kitchen.

To make them stand upright, I frosted two, molasses-sugar-cookie dogs together. Added some candy eyes and noses, a few Tootsie Rolls for the ears, and the festive hats & scarves are made out of red, white and blue Airheads candies. You can find the complete instructions at SheKnows.

They just make me smile.