Halloween Cupcakes

Just some quick decorating ideas for Halloween cupcakes:

The spiderwebs are made by piping white frosting or gel in circles on chocolate frosting.  (I used Wilton Sparkle Gel - some grocery stores carry it.):

Then you drag a toothpick from the center out, all around the top, and you have a spiderweb!

For the "grass" I just piped green frosting through a multi-opening tip, but you could get a similar effect by frosting the cupcake and then lifting bits of it up with a toothpick.  Then just add store-bought pumpkin candies on top!

Hope you all have a wonderful and happy Halloween,

- Sugar Baby

Mini Gingerbread Bundt Cakes

I woke up this morning just craving gingerbread.  Does that ever happen to you?  You wake up and you just have to have something?  I was messing around in my cake pan cupboard, debating whether I wanted to make a round cake or square cake, and out of the corner of my eye, I spotted my mini bundt cake pans...they were a gift from my sister-in-law, and are all different fun shapes.  (If you don't have any mini bundt pans, not to worry - you can make this recipe in an 8 x 8 square pan.)

Some of my favorite baking blogs

I follow many baking blogs, so I thought this could be part one of a series about my favorite blogs.  Here they are, in no particular order:

Cake Journal - This was one of the first baking/decorating blogs I ever visited!  Louise is amazingly talented with fondant creations and general baking deliciousness, and has recently added a variety of guest bloggers who each bring their own creativity to the mix.

Bake at 350 - Bridget's cookies are jaw-dropping beauties.  I mean, they are some serious baking eye candy, and she shares how to make her creations in simple, easy to follow steps.  Her cookbook, "Decorating Cookies: 60+ Designs for Holidays, Celebrations and Everyday" is filled with how-to photos and cookies that are not found on her blog.

Sally's Baking Addiction - This blog is so amazing, because Sally develops all the recipes herself, through trial and error, until she's happy with the end product.  So you can trust that her recipes work and will taste incredible!  [You may remember I linked to Sally's blog when I made her Soft-Baked Funfetti Sugar Cookies for 4th of July.]

Coco Cake Land - Oh my gosh.  I am so jealous of Lyndsay's piping abilities!  She makes the most gorgeous cakes with frosting roses, swirls, stars, etc.  I've learned so much about piping from her blog, as well as decorating cakes and cupcakes with sweet signs.

Bakerella - Bakerella is the cake pop goddess in my eyes.  She makes them in every variety you can think of, and they are cute as a button!  Angie quite a few books out, and they are a blast to look through and dream about making these sweets.

I hope you enjoyed the first part of this series - I would love to hear about your favorite blogs in the comment section!

- Sugar Baby

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars

The recipe for this scrumptious bar is from Sally's Baking Addiction, one of my favorite blogs...here is the link.

I altered the recipe - I didn't go the vegan route with these bars, and I used regular flour instead of oat flour.  I also switched out the raisins for chocolate chips.  Ultimately, it's up to you how healthy you want to make them, and that flexibility is so great! 

You will love these bars, because you can eat them as your breakfast, as your snack, or even as your dessert.  They're chewy and nutty, and you can never go wrong by throwing some mini chocolate chips in there, am I right?  (I was so antsy to eat them that I cut them while they were still warm, and they crumbled a little - don't be impatient like me, let them cool all the way.)

Check out the rest of Sally's blog - I think you'll really love it!
- Sugar Baby
 

Espresso Brownies

A confession: I have never been good at making brownies.  They just never turn out right for me...until yesterday!

I made espresso brownies, and they were delicious!  If you have a hard time making brownies, you've got to try this one.  It's from a book called Hometown Potluck Favorites, put out by Better Homes and Garden.  I altered the recipe a little, and here's how you make them:

Sweet Shortcuts - Caramel Latte Cookie Pie

You may be thinking, "cookie pie?"  I gave it that name, because this amazing dessert is made with cookie dough, but resembles a pie!

The shortcut here is the use of store-bought sugar cookie dough and jarred caramel sauce, but you won't think it tastes like a shortcut at all...it's one of the most delicious desserts I've had to date.  I know you will be blown away by the caramel-y goodness.