This Page

has been moved to new address

forget gumdrops & sugarplums...

Sorry for inconvenience...

Redirection provided by Blogger to WordPress Migration Service
Stuttering Shell: forget gumdrops & sugarplums...

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

forget gumdrops & sugarplums...

i've got cookies, cake balls & marshmallows!

i went on a little baking binge last weekend. it was nuts.

i baked a batch of coconut macaroons:

{the photo is crackberry-licious}

the macaroon recipe is courtesy of ina garten {you know, the barefoot contessa} from the food network & you can easily follow along to the recipe by clicking here. it is, by far, the easiest cookie {?} recipe ever...the hardest part is whipping the egg whites & even that's not too difficult! try them because if you cuckoo about coconut {like we are} then you'll love these!

i also made snowballs, er, mexican wedding cookies again. this time, i added an almond hershey's kiss to the center of each cookie for some added oomph. you can find the recipe for the mexican wedding cookies here.

and, i made chocolate chip cookies done the nestle toll house way. yes, i took the recipe straight from the back of the bag of chocolate chips. they were crispy & perfect. i omitted the nuts because i was out. i plan on making more tonight...this time adding pecans and using both semi-sweet & white chocolate chips. mmm! click here for the nestle toll house chocolate chip cookie recipe.


yeah, that first picture is sideways. just tilt your head to the right. i'm too lazy to edit the photo so you'll just have to make do with my crackberry pics.

okay, so onto the next portion of my baking binge...homemade marshmallows. i have been wanting to try making marshmallows for a while & i finally did last friday. they were so easy to make & they taste so. much. better. than the store-bought kind. trust me. we loved them so much i made a second batch last night. i have yet to attempt to flavor them {i'd like peppermint flavored marshmallows} but i will try that soon. promise.

i used alton brown's {♥ ♥ ♥} marshmallow recipe & you can get it by clicking here. like i said, it was super easy. i didn't use a candy thermometer {because something bad happened to it on thanksgiving...i mean, really, why are you going to use a candy thermometer to gauge the oil temperature in a turkey fryer. silly boys.}. i timed things by the recipe & it was perfect. some advice, though...don't smell the marshmallows while they are in the mixer 'fluffing.' it is stinky. like "i can't believe i'm actually going to eat that" stinky. once you add the vanilla and spread it in the pan, it will smell fine. trust. it's still...good eats.

remember, don't sniff while fluffing!


it's going to be hard, but it's best to let them sit overnight


hmm...somebody was up past his bedtime, but i suppose it was alright because it was a friday and momma was making homemade marshmallows. how could you pass up licking the mixer's whisk?



all you need to add is cocoa! be sure to use some restraint...it's way too easy to pop one {or five} of these bad boys into your mouth. i took a few of them & dipped them into melted chocolate almond bark & holiday colored nonpariels. delicious.

cake balls. oh, yes...cake balls. earlier this week i made two batches. i'll be making cake balls again today. i am a sucker. i know.

cake balls are super easy, but really time consuming {and, kind of frustrating sometimes}. for some really great cake ball & cake pop ideas, please visit bakerella. she's fabulous. also, my friend, lis, is just plain awesome at making these and she's got a great tutorial on her blog...here.

here is the rundown on making cake balls:

  • bake boxed cake as directed. let cool.
  • crumble cooled cake in a large bowl & add up to one jar of frosting.
  • mix well until you get a 'doughy' consistency.
  • form into balls & place on parchment or waxed paper lined cookie sheet.
  • freeze cake balls for up to an hour.
  • melt whichever candies you prefer {i prefer using almond bark} using whichever melting method you prefer {i use the double boiler method}.
  • dip cake balls.
  • decorate.
  • gobble them up.
below are the cake balls i made for malia's third grade class holiday party:



we gave out ten teacher gifts this year & each teacher recieved an ornament, four cake balls & four marshmallows:


and this...this, my friends, is the platter of misfit cake balls. i had every intention of making santa hat cake balls like i saw on bakerella's site. yeah, that didn't turn out so well. i resorted to making balls...so. much. easier.


whatever holiday treats you make for santa, i hope you have fun in the kitchen! be sure to share the recipe, too...i'm always on the lookout for a yummy new treat to make!

happy holidays, y'all...and remember to brush & floss your teeth really good after eating all of these sweets!

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

9 Comments:

Blogger Jamie Lynn said...

Wow you've been busy lol. Those cake balls look like fun though and maybe something I could actually do. I am gonna try to make some of those I think.

Dec 23, 2009, 10:46:00 AM  
Blogger Summer Athena said...

you have been one busy momma! i want to eat it all and i will be over shortly, k? just listen for the doorbell!

i love you ladycakes. you make my day.

Dec 23, 2009, 12:45:00 PM  
Blogger Trish said...

wow...I am amazed!!!!

They look to pretty to eat! I bet your kids will be bouncing off the wall from all that sugary goodness....yummmmmmmm

Dec 23, 2009, 12:52:00 PM  
Blogger Liz said...

This teacher absolutely loved all of her gifts. I actually shared some of your yummy desserts with the hubs this time. Thanks again!! Everything was delicious!!!
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2010.

Dec 23, 2009, 1:15:00 PM  
Blogger Jules said...

You have been busy in the kitchen! The cake balls that you made look so pretty and tasty. I think I would pay someone to make these for me right about now, because the holidays have sucked the life force right out of me!

I got your card today…it was so cute! Thank you :)

Dec 23, 2009, 1:24:00 PM  
Blogger Ashley said...

I got a surprise in the mail today from a Miss Stuttering Shell! :) You are TOO sweet!!!! I love the candle and lip glosses! You are going to be featured on my next post! :)

Dec 23, 2009, 3:02:00 PM  
Blogger Susannah said...

Wow, I just gained 13 pounds reading about all of that deliciousity! You rock!

Dec 23, 2009, 7:01:00 PM  
Blogger R said...

I am coming over for baked goods! Looks amazing.

Dec 26, 2009, 10:22:00 AM  
Blogger Cas said...

Ok, the Cake balls look amazing. I've already sent the recipe to my other half and I'm going to beg her to make them for me. Thanks for posting them! You should try some Oreo balls some time too. They are super easy to make and just melt in your mouth.

Jan 4, 2010, 5:57:00 PM  

Post a Comment

comments from you make me smile!

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home