These Ugly Sweater Vanilla Christmas Cookies are a sweet take on the now trendy ugly sweater. Decorated with food colour and stencils, they are a quick and easy gift idea and pair well with a glass of milk for a santa snack.
Tis' the season, friends! Any of these sweaters look familiar? I am pretty certain I have one of each in my closet. KIDDING!! Although... I could probably rock the champagne polka dots with leggings and knee-high boots. Or not!
Actually, I can't remember ever owning an ugly sweater. Don't get me wrong, I've received my share of the type of gifts that had me questioning whether the gift-giver had really ever met me. And, if they had, what signs could I have given to make them think that a skin-tight, laced up leather romper was on my wish list. HUH???
I'll admit that I've worn some pretty daring outfits, mostly concocted by yours truly, but I don't think I've ever tried to pull off a lady-of-the-night look...except for that one halloween when I was twenty-one and dressed the part so well it almost got me arrested. I. KID. YOU. NOT! But I digress...[Tweet "One size fits all #UglySweaterCookies "]
Gifting? I don't take any chances. I just ask. It saves time, money and those awkward 'you shouldn't have' moments that we have all endured. For those die-hard christmas folks who just slammed me for removing the element of surprise, not so quickly. I usually ask for a list, so they are never certain what they will receive. Element of surprise restored. We good?? OK!
Soooo...the only ugly sweaters you should be gifting anyone are the kind woven together with flour, sugar, egg and loads of flavourful vanilla. Agreed?
Making these Ugly Sweater Vanilla Christmas Cookies is a fun way to spend Christmas Eve with family and friends. If you are time management challenged, like I seem to be these days, you can cheat with this Ugly Sweater Cookie Kit. Or, you can bake up a batch and decorate the night away! In which case, this ugly sweater cookie cutter will come in handy. I diluted some food colour in alcohol and used stencils and paint brushes to decorate these sweaters in true ugly sweater fashion.
Wishing you all a safe a happy holiday! I'll return next week with some treats and libations to usher in the new year!
Christmas Cookies Past:
Chocolate Amaretti (Crinkle Cookies)
Drunken Eggnog Thumbprint Cookies
Ugly Sweater Vanilla Christmas Cookies
Ingredients
- 226 grams unsalted butter at room temperature1 1 cup
- 35 grams granulated white sugar ⅔ cup
- 1 large egg
- 3 grams lemon zest 1 teaspoon
- Scrapings of 1 vanilla bean
- 295 grams unbleached 2 ¼ cups, all purpose flour
- 1.25 grams salt ¼ teaspoon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Place oven rack in the center of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silpat.
- In the bowl of your electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the the egg, lemon zest, and vanilla beans.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour and salt.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and beat just until incorporated.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a flattened circle. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until firm (at least two hours or overnight).
- Remove from fridge and use a rolling pin to roll dough out to about ¼ inch thick - I use dough spacers like these to get even cookies.
- Cut into desired shapes and place on the baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart. Place in freezer for about 3-5 minutes.
- Remove from freezer and bake the cookies for about 10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are a very light brown.
- Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Decorate as desired.
It felt great to be among my colleagues doing something that matters - because feeling sorry for one's self gets old quickly - and in case you didn't know, I am like a kid in a candy store when given pretty paper and scissors! So, as much as these boxes filled with items most of us may take for granted will benefit a few special someones, I really feel like I benefitted a great deal more. So for that, I send a great big thanks and hugs to RC, JP and the rest of my colleagues.
Cookies are synonymous with Christmas and around here the holidays are never complete without a batch, or ten, of biscotti. These Double Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti, along side a steaming mug of your favourite hot beverage, will cure your holiday headaches and horrors.
Unwrapping home-baked goodies always reminds me of childhood and all the baking my grandmother did around the holidays. I disliked being in the kitchen, but loved the wonderful aromas that would float through the house - cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, chocolate, butter, sherry (from fruits that had been soaking for months to make her famous fruit cakes) and vanilla. Oh, vanilla!
Giveaway is open to Canadian (except Quebec) and U.S. residents only. Contest closes on December 18th, 2015 11:59PM and is open to residents of legal age in the state, province or territory in which they reside at the time. Winner must answer a skill-testing question. No purchase necessary. This giveaway is sponsored by Rodelle. Prize pack will be shipped to the winner directly from the sponsor. Winner will be chosen by random using Rafflecopter. See Full Contest Rules in Rafflecopter widget below.
Who said everything we love about summer has to disappear once the chill sets in? Watermelon is one of those things that is synonymous with summer and guess what? They are readily available year-round! So, to the tune of JT's Sexy Back...I'm bringing summer back... with these fun Watermelon Tropical Sushi!
Snow storm or not, you will find watermelons stocked at your local grocer, both the small and jumbo variety. Due to the short growing season in the northern climate, local watermelons are nowhere to be found. Some make it here via a small trip from south of the border and others make a longer trek from Mexico and Central America.[Tweet "Watermelon Tropical Sushi are a fun way to #EatMoreWatermelon and hold on to summer!"]
They are a pretty pink (thanks to the antioxidant, lycopene), refreshing (92% water), super versatile (see some other ways to enjoy them below) and simply good for you (fat, sodium and cholesterol-free, low calorie, vitamin A, C and potassium and the melon and rind contain the amino acid citrulline, which supports muscle recovery). A perfect post-run or workout snack.
Tis' the season friends! Although, the wonderfully mild weather we've been experiencing would have one believing otherwise. Still, it won't stop the onslaught of holiday brunches, lunches, parties and blow-outs headed our way.
Back to reality... With all the baking, shopping, office parties and family functions lined up for the season, there is barely enough time left for much else. As much as I enjoy creating meals and treats from scratch, entertaining should be just that... ENTERTAINING!
The chutney, as well as the jam and juice I received, were made using haspak berries that are grown in Nova Scotia by a Canadian company called haskapa. The haskap berry looks like an elongated version of the standard blueberry. It is about an inch in length, with a dark blue colour and deep, red flesh. The taste is likened to a combination of raspberry, blueberry with a hint of elderberry. They are high in antioxidants, fibre and vitamins and have been used to reduce blood pressure and relieve gastrointestinal disorders. source
Today we are talking Chocolate Mousse Mango Sorbet, friends! Not just any old mousse, but a real, from scratch, palate-pleaser made with 
This is not a movie review - that would be tough to pull off, without plagiarizing, having not seen the movie. Instead, let's talk about what inspires you to create. Do you stay close to your tried and true favourites? Or, do you like the surprise of switching things up on a whim, just because? Do you look to your favourite cookbook, magazine, cooking/baking shows? Or do you get all hot and bother just thinking about giving new life to old family faves? All of the above? None of the above? I want to know!
This Chocolate Mousse Mango Sorbet were made and photographed to London Grammar's, If You Wait album. Night Call, Strong and Wasting my Young Years were on repeat. Dark, smooth, decadent vocals and beats with pops of unexpected light(ness).
Rosie Daykin's new book, Butter Celebrates!, starts with a note to the Mr. Webster of Webster's Dictionary, suggesting that his current meaning of the word 'celebrate' could use the addition of a few key ingredients - family, friends, laughter, love, witty toasts, good music, general chaos and delicious food. Yes, he was most certainly schooled.
With BUTTER in the title, I was sold before the first egg could leave the safety of its shell. The book itself reads like a perpetual celebration, with ample recipes to cover all the better-known holidays, from New Year's Day to Christmas. Bake your love for your love into little Cinnamon Hearts for Valentine's Day. Go green for St. Patrick's Day with Pistachio Macaroons (yes, 'roons', not 'rons'). Whip up some Bunny Buns for Easter. Show mom your savoury side with some Lemon Thyme Scones for Mother's Day. How about Apple-Stuffed Challah for Hanukkah? CHALLAH! Show Santa some love with a few Holiday Gems for Christmas. And with Thanksgiving just a few sleeps away, Sweet Potato Marshmallow Pie sounds just about right.
Say hello to my little, ok BIG friend, Aztec Hot Chocolate Bundt Cake! If you're a fan of hot chocolate, you'll be pleased you stopped by today.
Aztec Hot Chocolate is really HOT CHOCOLATE (not cocoa)! I don't say things like this often, but I think my version is da BOMB. Why? Um, let's see - Valrhona chocolate, coconut milk, Rodelle gourmet vanilla, espresso, Vietnamese cinnamon and chipotle chili peppers for starters! But wait, that's just the drink! Now, take that and add it to my favourite chocolate cake recipe and ganache and BOOM... Aztec Hot Chocolate Bundt Cake!
I used the Bavaria Bundt pan - I love the lines and the way the ganache naturally settled into the pattern. This is a 10-cup pan, but if you don't own a Bundt (we need to change that...), not to fret, the batter would work well in two 8 or 9 inch pans. I like using it in three 7-inch or four 6-in pan to create taller cakes as I did with this 
I am in full-on comfort food mode and although it may seem more natural to crave something pumpkin-laden this time of year, I generally reach for freshly baked banana bread, like this Chocolate Pecan Crunch Banana Bread.
Anyway you slice it, banana bread is one of my most loved comfort foods and it can be enjoyed as breakfast or dessert, especially when topped with caramelized pecans and generously drizzled with chocolate like this Chocolate Pecan Crunch Banana Bread![Tweet "Any way you slice it, this Chocolate Pecan Crunch Banana Bread is boss!"]
