Free PicMonkey “Sweet Treats and Delicious Eats for the Holidays” eCookBook Download

I’ve got a special link for you today.  I was asked to participate in PicMonkey’s holiday’s treat eCookBook along with other baking bloggers.  As I was looking through it last night, I wanted to try darned near every recipe printed!  You’ll find many tasty treats with links to the participants’ blogs.  So fun to visit new sites and introduce oneself.

Click on eCookBook cover below to be taken over to the PicMonkey Facebook page where you can download the cook book for free.  Enjoy!

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Royal Icing and Cookie Decorating

decorated fall leaf cookies

Icing & Decorating. This is the fun part! Part I Part IIGet your mixer bowl and whisk ready and we’re off! Royal Icing: 1 lb. Powdered Sugar (does not need to be sifted) 3 Tbl. Meringue Powder 6 Tbl. Hot Water (from tap is fine) Make sure your bowl and whisk attachment is grease free. Why grease free? Grease and egg whites don’t mix and the whites will not rise. Give both a pre-wash if they’ve been sitting unused in… [Read More]

Decorated Cookies: Part II

Part Deux is here! The cookie dough is very easy to make and I have added tips of what works well for me and hopefully you’ll find it helps make it fool proof for you too. So let’s get rolling! Pink Martinis and Pearls’ Sugar Cookies 3 3/4 cups flour1 1/2 tsp. baking powder1 tsp. salt1 cup butter1 1/2 cups granulated sugar2 tsp. vanilla2 large eggs Preheat oven to 375.Sift flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.Cream butter, sugar and… [Read More]

Vanilla Buttercream Icing

vanilla buttercream icing

Variation from C&H Sugar. A true classic. Doesn’t get any better or easier than this ~In a mixing bowl combine 1 lb. powdered sugar 1/4 tsp. (table) salt 1/4 cup milk 1 tsp. vanilla 1/3 cup (2/3 stick) softened butter Beat with a mixer until smooth. Scrape bowl and beater often.Hold back on some of the milk to check consistency.Double batch makes a little over a quart.

Perfect Consistency Royal Icing Recipe!

Base Royal Icing:1 lb. Powdered Sugar (does not need to be sifted)3 Tbl. Meringue Powder6 Tbl. Hot Water (from tap is fine) Adding 1/2 teaspoon of light corn syrup per batch is optional. It does give your dried icing a nice sheen but it will also yield a slight softer icing which sometimes I prefer when I’m not needing a really stiff icing for making additional decorations such as flowers. The corn syrup also gives any string work or outline… [Read More]