Turkey Leg Cake Pops

Posted on November 21, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

This gallery contains 7 photos.

Are these an entrée, appetizer or dessert? Yes, they are cake pops! A simple and fun little treat to make for Thanksgiving or anytime. This is what you will need … 2 pounds of milk chocolate candy melts 16 oz. … Continue reading →

Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats

Posted on November 16, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

The weeks are flying by … can you believe it’s mid November? These little goodies are quick, easy and can be made now and kept until Thanksgiving. The kids could help … they’ll love making the Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats … eating the pops too!

This is what you will need …

Large marshmallows (I used the caramel/vanilla swirl, just because)
Famous Chocolate Wafers (or something similar)
Lollipop sticks
Melted dark chocolate (about 1 pound for 24 marshmallows)
Melted chocolate of a contrasting color (I just used up some leftovers)
Marker with edible ink (oops, forgot it in the photo)

Dip the tip of the lollipop stick in melted dark chocolate … then poke it in the marshmallow … set it aside to firm up. This will help prevent the marshmallow from slipping around on the stick and create a clean line of chocolate on the stick …

Dip the marshmallow in the chocolate … tap off excess chocolate and place in styrofoam or similar holder. Then pop them in the fridge or freeze for a few minutes to firm up …

Lay out some chocolate cookie wafers on a cookie sheet (break off any uneven pieces) … dip 1/4 to 1/3 of the chocolate marshmallow in a contrasting color … then place it on top of a cookie …

Use the marker (edible of course) to draw a buckle …

I told you that this project was fast and easy!

Are you wondering who the winner of the giveaway is?

The winner is #12, Janice! I will be sending an email.

Thank you to everyone for participating … I hope it was helpful to you … it was to me.

I had forgotten about Cost Plus World Market … thanks Carolyn.
I never would have thought of Avon … thanks Sandy.
Have you ever checked Cracker Barrel’s candy section? They carry all sorts of stuff.

I ♥ comments …

Cornucopia Cupcakes

Posted on November 13, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

Cornucopia or horn of plenty? Either way … I think of it as a traditional Thanksgiving symbol.

These are very easy to make and I did find the pumpkins that seemed difficult to locate … i just had to try a different grocery store!

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway … it ends in a few days!

This is what you will need for today’s cupcake project …

Bugles … that I had to wrestle away from son #2 (he claims they were in an “undesignated” area of the kitchen!), melted chocolate, candy pumpkins, chocolate jimmies and leaf or fall colored jimmies …

cupcakes and frosting … I used my light chocolate icing and a Wilton #1M tip

Pipe the icing in a swirl motion … starting on the outside edge of the cupcake … *helpful hint … take the cupcakes out of the pan FIRST … I don’t know what I was thinking … I usually end up sticking my finger in the icing when I do it this way, duh!

Add some sprinkles …

Now make the cornucopia … I used a lollipop stick to hold the Bugle while spooning melted chocolate over it … tap off the excess chocolate …

Stand the chocolate Bugles and put in the fridge to firm up …

Dip the Bugle edge in melted chocolate and immediately dip in chocolate jimmies …

Then place it right on a cupcake and add a pumpkin …

Tomorrow … more marshmallows …

Pumpkin Marshmallows

Posted on October 29, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

A few weeks ago I showed you my newest marshmallow finds. Last night I played with the orange pumpkin ones. They can be used for so many different themes … fall, harvest, Halloween or Thanksgiving. I tied a simple name card on the stick as a place card for the Thanksgiving table … useful and edible! Here are a few ideas done my favorite way … fast and simple …

This is what I used …

The black lines are made with an Americolor Gourmet Writer
The green leaves are made with melted green chocolate (candy melts) & a toothpick
The orange lines are made with melted orange chocolate (candy melts) in a squeeze bottle
The green stem is a Sour Punch Candy
The brown stem is made with melted peanut butter chips & a toothpick
Pumpkin # 3 and #5 have regular white sugar sprinkled on the melted chocolate

Last week while camping, we used these for s’mores … let me just say, they make one mega s’more! These are the marshmallows that I used …

Just a reminder … some candy can be difficult to find after Halloween. Yesterday I bought the last bag of “Autumn mix” at my grocery store. It contained candy corn, indian corn and only 2 pumpkins!!! I am going to use the candy and indian corn for turkey tail feathers. I need more than 2 pumpkins for another project! As soon as I finish typing this, I am off to go candy hunting.

The moral of this story is … stock up on the candy or sprinkles that you can’t find regularly.

I ♥ comments, suggestions, or whatever is on your mind …

Only 3 days left until Halloween!

Posted on October 27, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

I can’t believe that October has come … and is almost gone! All the other holidays will be here before we know it. Time sure does fly when you are having fun! I certainly have had fun sharing my ideas with you … and there are more to come 🙂

Here is a quick summary of Halloween …

Frankenstein Marshmallow Pops

Eyeball Marshmallow Pops

Textured Halloween Bark

Witch Hat Cupcakes

The Witch is Dead … Cupcakes

The Bride of Frankenstein Pops

Tangerine Jack-o-lanterns

Black bottom cupcakes with spider webs

And for fall … this is what I have made so far …

Peanut butter & chocolate acorns

Candy corn popcorn

Now I am off to the kitchen …

Halloween Black Bottom Cupcakes

Posted on October 27, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

Black bottom cupcakes have been around forever. They truly are oldies but goodies. The best of two worlds … cake and cheesecake all rolled into one … yum!

I usually don’t make colored filling for these cupcakes … but it is Halloween after all! And the spider webs could be used on any cupcake or by themselves.

I will give you the recipe and directions for making the spider webs. So let’s get started …

Make the filling. Mix the cream cheese, sugar and egg until smooth …

Stir in the chocolate chips …

Stir in the orange food coloring (I use Americolor about 3 drops) …

Now make the chocolate cake. Whisk together the dry ingredients … flour, sugar, cocoa, salt and baking soda …

Add the wet ingredients … water, oil, vinegar and vanilla … stir until smooth …

Fill lined cupcake pans (1/3 full) …

Add the filling … (you could sprinkle some chopped nuts on top at this point) and bake …

While the cupcakes are baking, we can make the spider webs. You will need …

Melted white chocolate or candy melts (about 8 ounces for 24 webs) in a squeeze bottle or pastry bag
Chocolate chips (24)
Black edible marker
Wax paper
A toothpick

I have a tendency to lose control over the size of things … so I drew 2-1/2″ circles on a sheet of paper as a guideline for the size of my spider webs …

I placed the paper on a cookie sheet and covered it with wax paper …

On top of the wax paper, make a small puddle (about the size of your thumbnail) of melted white chocolate and work the spiral out …

Using the toothpick, drag the white chocolate from the center to the outside rim …

Add a chocolate chip (spider body) to the center of the web …

Pop the webs into the fridge for a few minutes to firm up. Then use the marker to give the spider some legs and lay the webs on to of the cooled cupcakes …

Black Bottom Cupcakes

8 ounces cream cheese (light or regular) softened
1 egg
1-1/3 cups sugar
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1-1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1/3 cup canola oil
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Chopped nuts (optional)

1. In a small bowl, mix cream cheese, egg and 1/3 cup sugar until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and 1 cup sugar. Stir in water, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Beat until smooth.

3. Fill lined cupcake pans 1/3 full with chocolate mixture. Spoon cheese mixture on top. Sprinkle with nuts if desired.

4. Bake at 350°F 30-35 minutes. Do not overbake. Makes 24 cupcakes.

I do recommend serving these cupcake after they are completely cooled. I like to refrigerate them … but I like cold cheesecake.

I love comments …

Candy Corn Popcorn

Posted on October 15, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

This is a quick and easy treat to make for a party or for individually bagged treats. There is a little peanut butter in it, but it isn’t over powering. I believe that the peanut butter cuts the sweetness of the white chocolate and creates a nice creamy texture. The peanuts really give you get that sweet and salty taste. I hope you enjoy it!

I want to remind everyone that the autumn doilies giveaway ends Monday, October 17 … don’t forget to enter!

This is what you will need … white chocolate, dark chocolate, popcorn, Rice Krispies cereal, peanut butter, salted peanuts and candy corn.

Microwave the popcorn and pour it into a large bowl … no unpopped kernels, please … add the Rice Krispies and peanuts … stir it all up! Use your favorite spoon … this is one of mine. Do you remember old Saturday Night Live episodes? This is my “OH, NO MR. BILL!” spoon … maybe I need help … I am now naming my spoons …

Melt the white chocolate and stir in the peanut butter …

Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the popcorn mixture and stir well …

Pour it onto a cookie sheet covered in waxed paper or parchment …

Spread it out …

Drizzle some dark chocolate on top … just use a teaspoon or fork or whatever works for you … it adds some color contrast …

Sprinkle the candy corn on top …

Let it harden up (or pop it in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes to speed up the process) … break it into serving size pieces …

Candy Coated Popcorn

1 bag microwave popcorn (about 3 ounces, any type) or 7 cups popped corn

1-1/2 cups salted peanuts

1/2 cup Rice Krispies cereal

1 pound white chocolate (or candy melts)

2 ounces dark chocolate

2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter

1 cup candy corn

Line a large cookie sheet with waxed paper or parchment. In a large bowl combine popped popcorn, Rice Krispies and peanuts. Melt the white chocolate and stir in the peanut butter. Pour the chocolate mixture over the popcorn mixture and stir to combine. Spread on prepared cookie sheet. Melt dark chocolate and drizzle over popcorn mixture. Sprinkle candy corn on top. Let stand at room temperature to harden or pop in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes. Break into servings.

I ♥ comments … please leave one …

Ding-Dong, the Witch is Dead Cupcakes

Posted on October 13, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

If I could sing … I would … ding-dong, the witch is dead! (FYI … you should be happy that you can’t hear me!)

This was a first for me … cupcakes served icing side down!

On Sunday, I was looking at the Michael’s ad and saw this idea. I believe that the witch legs were made with fondant. I wanted to make it a little simpler. So this is what I can up with …

Leg ideas … Sour Punch Sticks, pretzel sticks, Pixy Stix, licorice, sugar sticks, stick cookies and tiny chocolate cigarettes …

Shoe ideas … colored Jordan almonds, small jelly beans and Starburst …

Candy melts to attach the shoe to the leg …

This what you will need …

Cupcakes
Icing
Candy Melts (just a few ounces)
Legs (whatever you choose)
Shoes (whatever you choose)
Witch Hats (click here for instructions)
Black edible marker (optional)

Before we start, I want to explain that my goal was to make this a very quick and easy project. I just loved the idea of the witch under the cupcake! Of course you could spend more time than I did and make it “perfect”.

Here are the items that I chose to use for legs and shoes … I did cut one Starburst and made 2 shoes from it …

Dip the legs in candy melts to create “socks” …

Attach the shoes …

Frost your cupcakes however you want … remember nobody will see the tops! Assemble the legs …

Turn the cupcakes icing side down on top of the legs and place a hat nearby …

I did pull out the edible marker and add some details …

P. S. If you like the doilies that I used, don’t forget to enter the GIVEAWAY!

Comments are always appreciated …

Sweet Acorns

Posted on October 10, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

Fall is my favorite time of year. I enjoy cooler weather and the leaves changing color. Today should be a lovely 88° and Thursday is expected to reach 100°! This is October … isn’t it? I am going to ignore the weather and pretend it’s cool. I am in fall mode and the temperature is not going to spoil it!

Today I made acorns since I don’t have an oak tree. These are sweet little acorns … not the kind that fall off trees. But I suppose that’s obvious.

This is what you will need …

Nutter Butter Bites
Hershey Kisses (I used dark because I had leftovers from the witch hats)
Peanut butter chips (some melted, some not)

Set up an assembly line … unwrap the Kisses. Melt about 1/4 cup of the peanut butter chips in the microwave (20 seconds, stir, 20 seconds, stir). This will be your “glue”. Put a little “glue” on the cookies and place the Kisses on the cookie …

After the “glue”has hardened … “glue” the remaining peanut butter chips on top of the cookies …

Congratulations … you just “grew” acorns!

THE GIVEAWAY!!!

What is your favorite season? Today … because it’s fall … and I love it! I have a little giveaway for someone to win. Could you use some fall doilies … like the ones I used above? I stocked up back in July and am very happy that I did. I was at the same store two weeks ago and not a package was left. I want to share some with one lucky winner. Wouldn’t they be cute with a cupcake or muffin on top … or maybe used in a craft or scrapbook project? The winner will receive 4 packs of doilies, like the ones below …

To enter … tell me what season is your favorite or just say “Hi”. Leave a comment below … and don’t forget your email address (so that I may contact the winner). The last day to enter is Monday, October 17, 2011, midnight. The winner will be chosen at random and announced Tuesday, October 18, 2011. One entry per person.

Giveaway is now over, sorry 😦

Cupcakes with Candy Witch Hats

Posted on October 7, 2011 by sweetsimplestuff

Soo many Halloween ideas … too little time! That is my dilemma right now. I do have ideas for fall also … and will post them shortly.

This little project is a quick and easy one. Great for kids … or adults … to make. The witch hats could be used alone … but I really like them on top of cupcakes … edible decor!

You will need …

Cupcakes
Icing colored orange
York Peppermint Patties
Hershey Kisses – Special Dark
Candy melts – I used orange and purple

Set up a little assembly line to make the witch hats … it takes a while just to unwrap the mint patties and kisses …

Put a dab or dollop (very technical terms) of melted candy on the mint patty. You can use a spoon … but a squeeze bottle would be a great option for kids …

Place the Kiss on the melted candy … a little will ooze out … creating a band. Pop them in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes to firm up the melted candy …

I used my favorite cupcake decorating tip … Wilton #1M … to frost the cupcakes. Start on the outside rim and swirl your way to the center of the cupcake …