Tangled Christmas Light Marshmallow Bites

These cute little balls of tangled Christmas tree lights are a really cute and unique goodie for the holidays! They are great for serving at a holiday party and also package up nicely for gift giving. All you need are some marshmallows, green candy coating and some colored sprinkles and you have a fun and festive treat that everyone will love. 

Lindsay Ann Paper Doll Set: Christmas Edition {Free Printable}

I cannot tell you how excited I am to share this post with you, just in time for the holidays! To bring Dollhouse Bake Shoppe to life and into your home, the talented Tricia-Rennea, Illustrator has created the complete "Lindsay Ann Paper Doll Set" in a fun and festive Christmas theme, as a special FREE gift to you! Made exclusively for Dollhouse Bake Shoppe, Lindsay Ann, The Bake Shoppe Doll: Christmas Edition, is a printable paper doll set that comes with adorable mix-and-match holiday outfits, winter-time accessories, gifts and of course cupcakes, so your little girl can play, dress her up and "bake" sweet treats to serve. I can't wait for the paper bake shoppe kitchen add-on to play with her in, coming soon!

**Click here to view & print your FREE Christmas Edition paper doll set**

Simply print, cut, and play!

Sugar Plum Bars

I am so honored to have had the opportunity to create the "Holiday Bakeshop" recipe collection for the Decemeber/January 2013 issue of Family Fun magazine. I have had my work published in the magazine multiple times, but when I was approached about doing the entire holiday feature this year, I was beyond thrilled. It was especially fun to see my work recreated in the photos in the magazine and always so exciting to see my name published!

Sugar Cookie Gifts

Adorable and completely edible gift-wrapped sugar cookies. They make a perfect gift, party platter or festive Christmas eve treat.

Soft Gingerbread Biscotti

The addition of molasses and spices gives this biscotti the traditional gingerbread flavor and also keeps the biscotti soft, so they are kid friendly and perfect for munching on or dipping in a hot cup of coffee or cocoa.

Simple Peppermint Fudge

I am so honored to have had the opportunity to create the "Holiday Bakeshop" recipe collection for the Decemeber/January 2013 issue of Family Fun magazine. I have had my work published in the magazine multiple times, but when I was approached about doing the entire holiday feature this year, I was beyond thrilled. It was especially fun to see my work recreated in the photos in the magazine and always so exciting to see my name published!

Rainbow Sprinkle Sugar Cookies

Who doesn't love a cookie covered in rainbow sprinkles?! This is a great recipe to whip up for a special occasion, to put out for company to enjoy, or for a late night indulgence without over doing it!

Simple Tootsie Roll Penguin Cupcake Toppers

These cute little winter penguins are so easy to make and taste a lot better than fondant, because they are made out of 100% tootsie roll! Use them to top cupcakes, cakes or serve on their own.

Giant Cookie For Santa

What better way to get everything on your Christmas list, than to butter up Santa with his very own, buttery, chewy, crispy GIANT chocolate chip cookie! This chocolate chip cookie is so simple to whip together and most importantly, it is kid friendly, with no mixer required! So be sure to get the kids involved in this one-bowl, quick and easy recipe that is so much more fun to bake than a traditional batch of cookies.

FREE Christmas Printables, Gift Tags & Homemade Gift Ideas

TO PRINT

Right-click and click "save" to your computer.

Print on card stock or regular printer paper and enjoy! 

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Letter to Santa

Gift Idea: Place this letter along with a plate of homemade cookies for Santa, like my Pink and Gold Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies.

Christmas Cupcake Gift Tags

Gift Idea: Use as a tag on a package of homemade cupcakes, like my Chocolate Cupcakes with Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting, to give as a sweet gift this Holiday season! 

Train To/From Tags

Gift Idea: I just love these tags! Try wrapping small boxes of my Easy Microwave Holiday Fudge in festive wrapping paper, attached together with tape or ribbon. Attach the tag to the side of the first little package to create a "train" of sweet little gifts.

Hot Cocoa Labels

Gift Idea: Stuff a festive mug with a packet of hot chocolate mix, my Marshmallow Cocoa Mug Pops/Hot Cocoa Stirrers and baggie of marshmallows. Wrap in cellophane. Print the adorable label below, adding the "To/From" on the back side of the label. Using a hole punch, attach it with ribbon!

3D Christmas House Printable

Gift Idea: This little paper house is all decorated for Christmas! Print, cut and assemble this tiny house as part of an edible display with my Peppermint Penguin Holiday Sugar Cookies placed next to it on a platter or as a gift! 

Treat Cards or Place Cards

Gift Idea: Simply print, fold and customize with a pen to use as flavor identification cards by placing on your platters of cupcakes, cookies and treats (Ex: "Chewy, White Chocolate Chip Gingerbread Cookies", "Peppermint Cupcakes", "Candied Almonds"). You can also use them as a cute place card on dinner plate with a name or greeting written on it.

Classic To/From Tags

Gift Idea: Use as a tag to create an edible gift out of my Giant Gingerbread Man Cookie, for the most fun gift ever!

Christmas Coloring Page

Gift Idea: Print for a fun activity while you whip up a batch of THE BEST Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls for Christmas morning!

Last but definitely not least... introducing the Lindsay Ann Paper Doll Set: Christmas Edition!

*Click here to learn how to get your own FREE complete set, just in time for the holidays*

Check out the rest of my Holiday recipes and treats here for more homemade gift inspirations!

Super Simple Foolproof Fudge (2 ingredients, tons of flavor variations!)

This recipe is so quick and so simple. The semisweet fudge base has only 2 main ingredients, chocolate and a can of sweetened condensed milk. I like to add a little butter, salt and vanilla for extra flavor but it can also be made with out them for a 2 ingredient fudge!

Bread Cornucopia Edible Centerpiece

This adorable and 100% edible cornucopia is made entirely out of bread! It is a great last minute touch that is a real crowd pleaser. Use your favorite recipe or refrigerated store bought dough for a quick and simple alternative!

Whimsical Woodland Creature Cookies

I made this adorable, 100% edible, whimsical woodland scene as a special project I did for Family Fun magazine. It is a really fun and simple, no-bake project that would be great for a woodland themed birthday party, or a fun Christmas time edible scene. Each piece is made out of simple ingredients, such as chocolate covered cookies, caramel chews and vanilla tootsie rolls. So get creative and have fun creating a whole forrest full of sweet little critter cookies!

Holiday "Bake, Sew & Craft" Along

I am so excited to introduce everyone to the 3rd annual holiday blog series I have been asked to be a part of this year! It is called the "Holiday Bake, Craft, Sew Along". All month long, a different blogger will be guest posting over at A Southern Fairytale sharing holiday themed recipes, treats and sweets gift idea for each of the 30 days in November!

Also part of the series is the Craft portion over at According to Kelly, for 30 days of Crafty gift inspiration and the sewing portion at Cindy’s blog, Skip to my Lou, for 30 days of Sewn Gift inspiration!

As today's featured dessert blogger in the Holiday Bake, Craft, Sew Along, I am sharing a fun Christmas cookie tutorial over at A Southern Fairytale for a fun, quick and simple way to create a festive holiday treat out of your classic Christmas sugar cookies! 

Pull-Apart Ghost Cupcake Cake

This ghost cake is actually made from a simple batch of cupcakes! Pull-apart cupcake cakes are perfect for parties, as guests can easily enjoy a cupcake without the mess of cutting into a regular cake. 

Chewy Pumpkin Pecan Maple Chocolate Chip Granola Bars (egg free, dairy free, with low fat & gluten free options)

These granola bars are so good and so versatile! They taste like a slice of pumpkin pie mixed with warm spices of Autumn and the chewy goodness of an on-the-go chocolate chip granola bar. If you prefer a lower sugar, healthier option, you can cut the sugar in half, and use a fruit puree like mashed banana or applesauce in place of the oil for a low-fat alternative with natural sweeteners from the fruit! The best part is there is no egg or dairy and can easily be made gluten free for a perfect Fall lunch box addition, pre workout snack, or morning grab-and-go breakfast!

Caramel Chew Halloween Jack-o-Lantern Pops

I first introduced my original, caramel chew pop idea, when I made my Caramel Chew Red Apple Pops and Inside Out Caramel "Apples"... which inspired me to make my Caramel Chew Pumpkin Pops for Thanksgiving time... which finally led me to these cute little guys. I simply added a cute little jack-o-lantern face to my pumpkin pops and voila! To take these jack-o-lantern pops to the next level, try making them with my 10 Minute Spiced Pumpkin Caramels, for a pumpkin flavored caramel center!

The Ultimate Halloween Candy Bar (With Customizable Toothpick Engraving)

Here is the Halloween themed variation on my DIY Toothpick Engraved Chocolate Bar Chalkboards. So far, I have used my original DIY toothpick engraving technique on chocolate bars for Father's Day, graduation, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, so I just couldn't resist adding Halloween to the mix! You can engrave a custom message into your candy bar, or create a spooky scene, it is completely customizable! Adorn your creation with all kinds of candy and you'll be handing out the absolute best Halloween candy to your friends, family, classmates or co-workers this year!

Pepperoni Pizza Crescent Rolls (with low fat version!)

These adorable little pizza bites are great for anything from a party appetizer to an after school snack. The flaky crust, encasing ooey, gooey cheese and pepperoni toppings make this a super fun way to serve pizza!

"Apple For The Teacher" Hand Pies, Frosted and Stuffed With PB&J

Summer is coming to an end and school is back in session, which means time for some fun "Back to School treats"! My first thought when it comes to back to school is "Apple for the teacher" and the PB&J I had for lunch as a kid growing up, so I knew I had to think of a way to combined the two ideas.

Simple Summer Peach Salsa (great for burgers!)

This fun twist on a classic salsa is perfect for summer. The cool combination of sweet and spicy is a perfect pairing for a salty tortilla chip, slices of a tosted baguette or even use it to top a burger! It is so simple to put together and makes for a unique, refreshing and delicious appetizer or snack.

Lemon Meringue Pie Dip For Two

For when you don't want to bake an entire pie, this pie inspired, refreshing treat is really simple to make and only needs about 10 minutes in the oven! The luscious, smooth lemon curd is topped with a light, fluffy cloud of meringue topping. Instead of a crust, scoop with cookies or graham crackers for a quick, simple and delicious summer time treat for two. Make it in a bowl to share or in 2 ramekins to serve as individual, single serving desserts! Alternatively, you can sub the meringue topping for a "lite" store bought whipped topping and use low sugar/reduced fat cookies, to guiltlessly indulge in moderation with my small batch, summer time take on a classic dessert. 

Award Winning Mini Peaches & Cream Breakfast Pies

Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer! Mine's going just "peachy" ;) I am so excited to announce that I have been chosen as the Wake Up to Johnsonville® Recipe Contest Winner!

Chewy Peanut Butter Honey Chocolate Chip Granola Bars (no-bake, dairy-free, egg-free, with gluten-free and peanut-free options!)

These granola bars are so good and so versatile! The best part about these is that they are so easy to whip up with no baking required. There is no egg or dairy and they can easily be made gluten-free or peanut-free (by subbing almond or sun butter) for a perfect lunch box addition, pre workout snack, or morning grab-and-go breakfast!

Root Beer Float/Root Beer Mug Marshmallow Pops

Today is National Root Beer Float Day! To celebrate I made some adorable little root beer floats in a frosty mug, out of marshmallows and chocolate!

Cookies & Cream Brownies

These brownies are sooo good. I just topped my rich, decadent fudgy brownies with a sweet Oreo cookie buttercream frosting that tastes just like the center of an Oreo! All you need with these is a tall glass of milk ;)

Ice Cream Cupcake Contest: And my top 3 picks are...

As I announced earlier in the month, this year I had been given the honor of being one of the judges in the Cupcake Project's 5th annual Ice Cream Cupcake Contest... and the time has finally come for the judging portion!

 I can't think of anything better than my two favorite desserts cleverly combine into a sweet little plate of sugary deliciousness! I couldn't be more excited to participate and drool over all of the fabulously creative combinations... but never had I anticipated how difficult the judging process would be! Pretty much ALL 72 participants in the contest REALLY blew me away and had me bookmarking recipe ideas all month long.

The whole month of June, the entries have been slowly trickeling in as I feasted my eyes on some truly inspiring ice cream cupcake combos! To have to narrow it down from over 70 entries... to 3 probably took longer than going through and reading each individual recipe idea. I was given instructions to judge on perceived deliciousness, creativity, and presentation - in that order of importance. The ice cream cupcakes must contain cake and ice cream (or frozen yogurt, gelato, or something ice cream-like), but since I am a HUGE frosting fan, the recipes that incorporated frosting or a fun topping into their cupcake/ice cream recipe really caught my eye ;) So here they are:

LINDSAY ANN'S TOP 3 FAVORITE ICE CREAM CUPCAKES

(in no particular order)

Cake Batter Ice Cream Cupcakes

These sprinkle studded, cake batter flavored desserts immediately caught my eye because of their fun presentation! I LOVE cake batter flavored ice cream, like the kind you get at those fancy creameries. Paired with a yellow confetti cake (one of my fave cake flavors along side chocolate) and the addition of whipped topping, these sounded like the most delicious, creative and fun ice cream cupcakes ever!

Cupcake Flavor: Yellow Confetti 

Ice Cream Flavor: Cake Batter with Sprinkles

Frosting/Topping: Whipped Cream

Garnish: Sprinkles

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100% Homemade Mint Chip Ice Cream Cupcakes

The cool refreshing combo of mint and chocolate is one of my personal favorites, and I could literally shovel chocolate buttercream into my mouth by the spoon full, so these were a clear favorite for me. I also loved the presentation of the homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwiched between the cake with the generous slab of rich chocolate buttercream on top... mmm.

Cupcake Flavor: Chocolate

Ice Cream Flavor: Homemade mint chocolate chip

Frosting/Topping: Chocolate Buttercream

Garnish: Fresh mint leaf

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Upside Down Apple Cupcakes

Now, these cupcake didn't have frosting... but they did have a warm buttery bourbon brown sugar caramel apple pie filling (try saying that 5 times fast) on top of the cupcake. And using the ice cream to serve these a la mode with the homemade caramel sauce on top was such a creative and delicious way to bring one my my favorite autumn time treats to summer!

Cupcake Flavor: Vanilla Buttermilk 

Ice Cream Flavor: Vanilla

Frosting/Topping: Homemade caramel apple pie filling

Garnish: Homemade caramel sauce

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HONORABLE MENTIONS

These cupcakes were ever so close to making my top three that I just had to mention them!

These Black Raspberry & Lemon Crush Ice Cream Cupcakes from blogger Tidy Mom were a close contender. They are the perfect combination of refreshing summertime flavors topped with marshmallow frosting and fresh fruit, yum! Not to mention the absolutely beautiful presentation!

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These Ice Cream Cupcake Peanut Butter Cups also caught my eye immediately! I LOVE Reese's cups so the combination of PB ice cream and chocolate cake sealed in an edible chocolate cup was one of the most creative recreations of the peanut butter cup I have ever seen. If there was a layer or chocolate or peanut butter frosting between the two layers, they would have definitely made it into my top three! I just want to reach into the computer and pop them into my mouth ;)

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Thanks to everyone who participated and entered for a chance to WIN a $250 gift certificate to your favorite cooking/baking supply store OR one of the three entry prizes that will randomly be given away to three lucky participants! Be sure to check out all of the entries for yourself and show some of your new favorite bloggers some love by commenting on their post! Most of all, a big thank you to Stef from The Cupcake Project for the opportunity to participate in judging the contest! She has such a fabulous blog, all about, you guessed it... CUPCAKES (and other incredible sweets and genius recipes) so make sure you check her blog out at The Cupcake Project.com!

DIY Toothpick Engraved Chocolate Bar Father's Day Plaques

My Do-It-Yourself hand engraved chocolate bars are a perfect, quick and simple Father's Day treat!  I have used my DIY engraved chocolate bars for Thanksgiving and the Holidays but the idea originated when I created my chalkboards. I loved my original DIY chocolate bar engraving technique so much that I just had to re-create them for every Holiday and special occasion! They are really great activity for kids to create their own illustrations or message to give to Dad for Father's Day.