Sugar Swings! Serve Some: 2022

Monday, November 14, 2022

Rainbow Glass Gem Corn on Cob Sugar Cookies

 Rainbow Glass Gem Corn on Cob Cookies

Ever heard of glass gem corn

It's a little like maize corn that you see in the fall but the kernels are more translucent and resemble strands of glass when on the cob.  And it comes in some really cool rainbow colors.

In case you're not familiar with glass gem corn, here's a short video explaining some more about it

I went down a IG rabbit hole looking at all these colorful heirloom corn photos the other day so of course I had to try making some. 

                              Rainbow Glass Gem Corn on Cob Cookies

I started with a base of sugar cookies cut out into cobs (I freehand cut these out)

Rainbow Glass Gem Corn on Cob Cookies

For rainbow kernels, I used jelly beans.  I tried at first to use the whole jelly bean as kernels but they seemed too big so I cut them in half.

Rainbow jelly bean corn kernals

Use some melted white chocolate to attach the "kernels"

Rainbow Glass Gem Corn on Cob Cookies

Fill in as closely as you can get them

Rainbow Glass Gem Corn on Cob Cookies

Husks are made from wafer paper cut out roughly in husk shapes (see in pic below) then painted with a little brown food color mixed with water.  While still wet attach the paper to back of cookie and let dry.

Rainbow Glass Gem Corn on Cob Cookies

When dried the husks crinkle a bit to give overall shape/texture. I also sprayed the jelly beans with some edible food spray in pearl color to give them a more glass-like appearance versus regular maize corn.  

Rainbow Glass Gem Corn on Cob Cookies

I really like how they came out but next time I may try to make them more 3D versus flat for more effect.  If you'd like to see more of the real thing, you can go down a glass gem corn rabbit hole on Instagram here

Sunday, October 2, 2022

Cute Horror Movie Pumpkin Spice'men Cookies

Scary horror movie character cookies

It's officially October so here come all the Halloween treats and ideas!

I usually do some character-inspired gingerbread cookies around the holidays but found pumpkin spice cookie mix so decided to mix it up and make some pumpkin spice'men cut out cookies since it's also pumpkin spice season.

Scary horror movie character cookies

Once the cookie dough is mixed up and chilled, roll out and use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to cut out shapes.

Scary horror movie character cookies

I had to make some of my favorite slasher villains from the 80s

Jason Freddy Krueger Michael Myers cookies

A couple of villainous kids!

chucky and the ring character cookies

And a couple other favs that are just plain disturbing 
(white sprinkles used as Pinhead's face nails!)

Pinhead and Hannibal Lecter cookies

And the creepiest clown of all from It

Pennywise It Clown Cookie

In cookie form I think they are pretty cute for horror film anti-heroes! 

Scary horror movie character cookies

Who is your favorite?


To make pumpkin spice cut-out cookies:
  1. Mix all together until cookie dough comes together.
  2. Chill for about 30 minutes
  3. Roll out dough and use gingerbread man cookie cutter
  4. Decorate with various colors of melting candy wafers

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Mini Babka Breads - 6 ways

mini babka bread

If you follow my Instagram you may have seen a bunch of babka bread over the past couple of years.  I got into making this neat swirled bread during COVID and still can't stop!

mini babka bread

Not sure why but I love coming up with new flavor combos and waiting to see how they swirl when cut. 

This time I went mini sized!

mini babka bread

I forgot I had some cute little baking loaf liners and thought they'd make great little babka bread containers.  

Start with your favorite babka bread recipe (see below) and once risen the first time, cut the dough into 6 equal pieces.

mini babka bread

The rest is similar to any babka technique, roll into a thin rectangle shape and spread with your filling of choice.  

Below is filled with chocolate hazelnut spread

mini babka bread

Roll up lengthwise into a jelly roll shape.

mini babka bread

Cut in half and wrap each section into small babka loaves

mini babka bread

Fillings include:

Funfetti - 
Honey, crushed vanilla wafer straws, white chocolate chips, and rainbow sprinkles 
(love the colors of this one!)

mini babka bread

Christmas Fruit Cake -
Dried fruits soaked in brandy, apricot jam, and pecans

mini babka bread

Peanut Butter and Jelly - 
Creamy peanut butter, spreadable honey, raspberry jam, and peanuts

mini babka bread

Cherry Chocolate - 
Sour cherry spread and chocolate syrup topped with cocoa nibs

mini babka bread

Carmel Apple - 
Carmel syrup, cinnamon sugar, diced apple, chopped walnuts, drizzled with more caramel syrup

mini babka bread

Once they are rolled up, add to the rectangular loaf liners and let prove for 30 minutes or until doubled in size.

mini babka bread

Bake only for about 15 minutes or until just browning on top (Thermometer should be 190 degrees)

mini babka bread

Make sure to brush while still warm with simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water) to give them a nice shine.  Drizzle with any of your favorite syrups (like chocolate or caramel) to taste.

mini babka bread

Mini aka baby babkas! Super cute and already individually sized for your next party.

mini babka bread

They would be great for a baby shower or Mother's Day Tea Party.  Let me know if you make these little breads and thanks for swinging by!


Babka Dough Recipe

1 package instant yeast
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
1/8 cup honey
1 egg
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup warm water

Directions:
  • Mix yeast and warm water together and let sit for 5-10 mins
  • Mix vanilla, oil, honey, egg, and salt together
  • Add flour to bowl and add yeast mixture and mix until incorporated
  • Add the other ingredients and mix until incorporated
  • Turn out onto the counter and kneed until soft and pliable
  • Cover and let proof until doubled in size
  • Cut dough into 6 equal pieces
  • Roll each piece into rectangle (about 5X2-3 inches)
  • Add whatever filling desired (see descriptions above pictures) and roll lengthwise into jelly roll
  • Cut down center and twist each length around each other
  • Add to mini loaf liner and let proof again for 30 minutes
  • Bake at 350 degrees until internal temperature is 190 degrees (cover with foil if the top starts to brown)
  • While still warm babkas with simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, heat until all sugar is dissolved)
  • Add any syrups/topping as desired
  • See this video on how to roll out, cut, and shape babka dough

Thursday, August 11, 2022

Hamilton the Musical Gingerbread Cookies


So it's Christmas time in August! 

I totally missed Christmas in July and in all transparency I made these cookies last Christmas but never got around to posting them - well because regular life got in the way.

They are still super fun so posting them now.

Hamilton The Musical Gingerbread Cookies!


Made using a regular gingerbread man cookie cutter with some store-bought gingerbread cookie mix to speed the process a bit.  Royal icing made the faces smooth and you can get good skin colors as needed.  The rest of the detail is made with melted candy wafers in various colors, some sprinkles, and an edible food writer for face details.

I love the little heart mouths on Eliza, Angelica, and Peggy!

Schuyler Sisters Gingerbread Cookies

I knew nothing about Hamilton on Broadway except that it was a popular show.  Pre-COVID we took our kids as a last minute Christmas gift and we all loved it so much so I thought Hamilton character gingerbread cookies would be a hit around here.

Hamilton the Musical Gingerbread Men Cookies

It's hard to pick a favorite character as they are all so fun and written so well!

(King George is my fav!)

Hamilton the Musical Gingerbread Men Cookies

Although it's called Hamilton, it's really a story about Eliza Hamilton and "forgiveness"

Hamilton and Eliza Cookies

Do you also love Hamilton?? Who is your favorite??

Hamilton the Musical Gingerbread Men Cookies

 Have a great Christmas in August!! 

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Heart Shape Animals - Decorated Peppermint Patty Candy

cute heart shaped animal candies

There is something about cute animals that are different but look the same that I really love!  I pin these pics all the time and decided to recreate some in candy form.

How cute are these little edible animals? 
Fox, Deer, Bear, Rabbit, Koala, Giraffe, Another Bear, Tiger, and Skunk

cute animal decorated peppermint patty candy

Here's an example that I was trying to emulate:


I thought heart-shaped candies would be a really good canvas!

The heart-shaped peppermint patties are available around Valentine's Day time but you can also find them on Amazon.  Or if you can't find heart-shaped candies you could just use circles.  

cute animal decorated peppermint patty candy

Sometimes I use candy melts in various colors to decorate but this time I used royal icing as I wanted the icing to be nice and flat.

cute animal decorated peppermint patty candy

Dip or paint the colors onto the chocolate.  Ears and other details can also be piped onto parchment.  Wait until they are totally dry before trying to move / add to candy.  Use a dab of royal icing to attach.

cute animal decorated peppermint patty candy

Add the cute white cheeks and other detail for animals after the base color is dry. The noses are larger black candy sprinkles.   The giraffe and koala needed larger noses so they are made with more royal icing. 

cute animal decorated peppermint patty candy

The other detail is added with edible markers once all the royal icing is totally dry.  

They turned out so cute!

cute animal decorated peppermint patty candy
                                             

                                                                Which is your favorite??
 

Decorated Heart-Shaped Animal Candy

1 package of heart-shaped chocolates (I used peppermint patties)
2 cups of royal icing
Various colors of food gels (see photos as a guide)
Large black sprinkles
Edible food writer in black and pink

Directions:
  • Prepare royal icing.  My fav recipe here
  • Color royal icing with food gels (see photos as a guide to colors needed)
  • Paint or dip each candy heart into colors.  Let dry for about 30 mins or more if needed.
  • While waiting for hearts to dry make ears and other details.  Pipe royal icing onto parchment paper.  Let dry totally before moving (at least 30 mins)
  • Add giraffe spots and skunk streak (you can add before the base coat is dry)
  • Attach royal icing detail with a dab of royal icing
  • Pipe white cheeks onto each heart and let dry.
  • Add eyes and pink rosiness to cheeks with an edible marker.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Rainbow Babka Bread

Rainbow Babka Bread

Back on the bread kick! Specifically babka bread which I became a bit obsessed with making during quarantine. There's something about this yeasty swirled bread that I love.

 Rainbow Babka Bread

The recipe is a really easy one for babka using flour, oil, quick rising yeast, vanilla, egg, honey and then food colorants/gels for the rainbow colors.

Rainbow Babka Bread

Once the dough comes together divide it into 6 equal pieces (or however many colors you want to use)

Rainbow Babka Bread

Mix by kneading until color is incorporated and let rise for 30-40 minutes or until doubled in size.

Rainbow Babka Bread

Roll all the dough out together into a rectangle shape - about 9X14 or so

Rainbow Babka Bread

I used a white chocolate spread and some crumbled graham crackers for the filling but you can use whatever you like.  Chocolate or Nutella would be great too.  Roll up from the longer end then cut all the way down the center for 2 smaller long "strands"

Rainbow Babka Bread

Wrap the "strands" around each other for that babka bread swirl.  There are lots of YouTube videos that have great tutorials too.  Let proof for another 30-40 minutes.

Pre-rise

Rainbow Babka Bread

Post-rise

Rainbow Babka Bread

After baking and brushed with some simple syrup

Rainbow Babka Bread

Fun inside and outside!

Rainbow Babka Bread

Baking babka bread is so relaxing to me for some reason - it must the kneading and then swirling of it! Make anything rainbow and that makes me even happier!   

I also made another rainbow babka bread previously but made the filling rainbow instead of the dough.

Rainbow swirled babka bread

This was a fun filling for sure!

Rainbow swirled babka bread

Which do you like better??


Babka Dough Recipe

1 package instant yeast
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
1/8 cup honey
1 egg
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup warm water
2-3 drops of 6 food gel colors

Directions:
  • Mix yeast and warm water together and let sit for 5-10 mins
  • Mix vanilla, oil, honey, egg, and salt together
  • Add flour to bowl and add yeast mixture and mix until incorporated
  • Add the other ingredients and mix until incorporated
  • Turn out onto the counter and kneed until soft and pliable
  • Divide dough into 6 equal pieces
  • Add 2-3 drops of food gels; 1 color in each dough section; knead color into dough until uniform color throughout
  • Combine colors loosly and cover and let proof until doubled in size
  • Roll out to to 11X14 rectangle (save small portion for mummy eyes)
  • Add filling and roll lengthwise into jelly roll
  • Cut down center and twist each length around each other
  • Add to loaf pan and let proof again for 30-40 minutes
  • Bake at 350 degrees until internal temperature is 190 degrees (cover with foil if the top starts to brown)
  • Add simple sugar syrup as glaze on top (optional) 
  • See this video on how to roll out, cut, and shape babka dough
Filling

1 cup of white chocolate spread (or spread of your choice)
1/2 cup crumbled graham crackers

Simple sugar syrup
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup of water
Heat water to boiling and add sugar until dissolved; let cool