I know, I know…but it’s the best name I could come up with.  Every time I find a new polka dot baking cup for the shop it’s a challenge to come up with a new name.  We have so many polka dot cups.  And that’s OK with me, even though it probably drives the order-packers crazy.  Spotty, sweet spot, dotty, polka, hot dot, dashing… um, yeah.  Kinda confusing.

I do really think these new cups are pretty dashing.  Kinda sassy, even.   I’m looking forward to baking with them and I’m even feeling a little sassy myself today, so….. I’m going to giveaway a Dashing Dots Baking Cup Assortment to one lucky reader! 

Just leave a comment in this post and let me know what YOU would have named these cups, smarty-pants.  (And you don’t have to go for the alliteration-angle that I so often overuse.)  Be creative, be silly, be serious.  I will close the comments on Monday night and let my darling sister pick here favorite name.  The winner will receive one Dashing Dot Baking Cups assortment plus one of our new Grab Bags, not to mention mad street cred for out-naming me.  *Us and International welcome, one comment per person, and ONLY ONE name suggestion per commenter.  You’ve got one chance here, so you better make it good.  Comments with more than one name suggestion will not be included in the contest.  Be sure to include a valid email addy so I can contact you.  Good luck!

 Oh look.  Those pesky, little white rabbits brought me a present.

  Do I dare try one?  I’m sure there’s no harm in taking just one, little bite…

Clearly these sweet mushroom cookies were destined to belong in our tribute to Alice in Wonderland.  Remember the Flowering Sugar Cubes from last week?  Well, these little cookies are just the thing to accompany your cup of tea, and do be sure to nibble with care, you never can trust these silly rabbits.

I found the technique for making the mushroom shape in a vintage cookbook, and later discovered these are usually called “Turkish Mushroom Cookies.”  I adapted the recipe to make a shortbread-style cookie that holds it’s shape better (basically, I took out the eggs.)  I love their light, melt-in-your-mouth texture and the fact that they are pretty low in sugar, (but don’t be fooled though, there’s plenty of butter!)  All in all, it’s a very simple and satisfy recipe with a charming twist.  I couldn’t possibly imagine a better cookie to enjoy whilst drinking a cup of tea.  

The recipe

Preheat oven at 350 degrees  -  yields approx. 42 cookies

1 – 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup (two sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon table salt

One empty soda or beer bottle (cleaned and dried)
Cocoa powder (about 1/4 cup)
Water

Sift together flour, cornstarch, powdered sugar and salt.  Add softened butter and vanilla, and mix thoroughly until a thick but light dough is formed.  It should be soft but not too sticky, and easy to handle. 

Roll the dough into 1″ balls and place about 1″ apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper or silpat mats.  Place about 1/4 cup of cocoa powder into a small bowl, and about 1/4 cup water in to a separate small bowl. 

Dip the top of the soda/beer bottle into water and shake off any excess.  Dip the bottle into the cocoa powder and tap the side to shake if any excess.  Gently press the bottle straight into one of your dough balls, pressing just barely into the dough, only about 1/4″ inch, then pull the bottle away. 

Continue with the rest of your cookies, dipping your bottle into the cocoa between each pressing.  If it gets too light, do another water-dip then keep going.

Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Take them out when they are just done, and barely the tiniest bit brown on the bottom.  Let cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes.

*Details:

- You can substitute flour for the cornstarch if you like, it will make the cookies a little more dense and toothsome.  I definitely reccomend using the cornstarch if possible, it really adds to the delicate and crumbly nature of the cookies.

- The green berry baskets, striped bakers twine, “eat me” stamped tags, and miniature rabbits used in the above photos can be purchased at the Bake It Pretty shop.

A little rainbow of deliciousness to brighten your weekend, from the sweet side of flickr.  Please see the links below for individual credits and sources.

1. Valentine’s Day Cookies, 2. Rainbow Cake, 3. Candy buttons, 4. Mothers Day gift box, 5. Rainbow Pancakes, 6. Untitled, 7. rainbow cupcakes, 8. superkid trio, 9. 12.17.09 {gingerbread house peek}

The giveaway is over and a winner has been chosen!

Thank you so much for playing along, everyone.  I wanted to tabulate the favorite-sprinkle responses and make a pie chart, but I’m not going to.  OK I am going to, but it’s just based on quick observation and not actual data:

In summary, nonpareils and rainbow sprinkles are the clear winners, but there were a surprising number of votes for some sort of mini dinosaur sprinkles…?  What are these mythical sprinkles?  Why have I never heard of them, and what makes them so amazing?  Perhapse that’s a mystery for another day.  In the meantime, enjoy your weekend everyone, and be sure to hop over to Sweetest Kitchen and drool over all of the positively gorgeous cupcakes…and enter to win a $50 Bake It Pretty Gift Card.

Happy One-Year Blog Anniversary, Sweetest Kitchen! 

See you all next week.  xoxo

I’m pretty exited about the new Alice In Wonderland movie debut this weekend, and I’m sure most of you are, too.  As a tribute to the Lewis Caroll books, Disney movies, TV shows, and everything in between, I have created a few Inspired-by-Alice recipes and crafts to share with you. 

The first project is oh-so-simple, but they will make a lovely addition to your next tea party!  A sweet little garden of flowering sugar cubes.  Pretty and petite, perfect for stirring into your best English Breakfast or Earl Grey. 

* Brown or white sugar cubes
* Small, edible royal icing flowers (click here for our selection)
* Edible “glue” ~ royal icing, melting wafers, and clear scripting gel work nicely

A very simply project, indeed.  Simply apply a dot of your “glue” to a sugar cube and gently press the sugar flower on top.  Royal icing should dry in a few hours.  Melting wafers will harden within 30 minutes.  The clear gel needs to sit overnight, (and may not dry completely solid in heavy humidity, you’ll have to experiment with that.)  I used the clear gel because it is hands-down the quickest!  Ready to use right out of the tube.  If you are going to package the sugar cubes for gift-giving, royal icing would be your best option – and wouldn’t a little bag of these make a perfectly charming gift? 

One lump or two?  Of course I had to try them out myself, and they certainly sweeten your tea in a most delightful way.  Sometimes, and you never know quite when it will happen, the sugar dissolves just right and the little flower will float to the surface, drifting gently and quietly in your teacup.

I doubt you could find anything more magical.  Except, maybe in Wonderland.

***Welcome to March!  We’re ringing in the new month lion-style with a bunch of fun giveaways!  I’ll be featuring some of my favorite artist and crafters that make amazing products with a sweet (but not edible) twist.  I mean come on, it’s gonna be bathing suit season soon.  Time to cut the calories and slim down, right.  No, just me?  AHEM.  Never mind.  Let’s meet our first artist….

stOOpidgErL ♥ Handmade Resin Jewelry, Prints, & more 

I ran across Kim’s flickr page over a year ago, and I was instantly smitten with her whimsical photography and fantastic resin jewelry.  These are actual, real sprinkles used in her creations, and I love the sweet and playful vibe of these handmade pieces.  Kim’s shop announcement pretty much says it all:

“If you love rainbows, sweets, carnivals, clowns, candy sprinkles, glitter, and good times- then you’ve come to the right place! You’ll feel like a kid in a candy shop!”

Imagine being able to wear a little bit of sugar on you all of the time, (that’s not in the form of cellulite.)  Sounds good, right?  I’m so into it.  And this is just the tip of the candy-mountain, you really must check out Kim’s Etsy shop to see all of the charming goods she has to offer.  And while you’re there, be sure to make a note of your favorite things because I’m giving away a $50 shopping spree to one luck winner! 

TO ENTER:  Just leave a comment in this post and answer the question: “What are your very favorite kinds of sprinkles to use on cookies and cupcakes?”.  I will choose one random winner this Friday, March 5th.  *This giveaway is open to US shipping destinations only.  Thank you, and good luck!

PS.  Stay tuned for more giveaways, at least one per week, through the end of March.

Tempting treats spotted on the sweet side of flickr.
*Please see the links below for image credits and more information.

1. Russian hats – buttercream mini cakes with coconut, 2. Chocolate tea sets!, 3. Vegetable Garden, 4. Sweets for my sweet, 5. wedding favors, 6. Raspberry Coconut, 7. cupcakes I made, 8. 2/21/2010 Sweetheart Shortbread 2, 9. shriley.temple.cupcakes

It was such a nice surprise to have a small mention in the latest issue of Cooking with Paula Deen Magazine.

I love blueberry muffins, I love how they look in these polka dot baking cups, and I would really  love for a friend to make some for me, whether it’s moving day or not! 

I know who Paula Deen is (duh) but I’ve never actually bought her magazine, I rarely buy magazines at all these days.  I must say how impressed I am with this issue, though – just flipping through I’ve already spotted at least a dozen recipes I want to try.  I don’t even like fudge, but these Neapolitan squares? -

Um, WOW.  I may have to make these just for the cute-factor alone.  I’m also intrigued by the Coconut Pineapple Sugar Cookie recipe, I love a good twist on an old favorite.  And I’ve already ripped out the Smoothie Recipe section and stuck it on the fridge to remind me later.  Lots of sweet inspiration in thie magazine, you should definitely check it out.  Can you believe Spring is right around the corner?  Hurry, hurry!

Yummy goodness from the delicious side of flickr!
*Please see the links below for image credits and more information.

1. Summer Cookies, 2. Banana Cupcakes, 3. Sweets for my Sweet, 4. Warm Blueberry Muffins, 5. hearts from tomatoes, 6. love food, 7. Banana creme taffy, 8. Lemon-Poppyseed Cake, 9. Yellow and pink butterfly cupcakes

I’m loving these paper party straws in three new colors:

It’s hard to tell, but the middle straws are a actually a deep magenta/fuchsia color.  I can’t decide which ones I like best!  What do you think?  (And don’t’ forget the classic red stripe and plain white paper straws already in the shop.)