Wassail

I quadrupled the batch this time (recipe is for a single batch). I think it’s the first time I’ve actually filled up my biggest pot.
2 quarts apple juice
1 pint cranberry juice
3/4 cup sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon allspice
1 small orange
8 to 12 whole cloves.
In a large crockpot combine apple and cranberry juices, then sugar. Mix well. [...]

Peppermint Kisses

Tanya Dunn made these treats one year for a Christmas party and I begged for the recipe. I like to underbake the cookies just a bit for an even chewier texture. Also, don’t forget the cooking spray!
2 egg whites
2/3 C sugar
1/4 t salt
1/2 t vanilla
2 T candy canes (or 2 candy canes), crushed
1/2 C chocolate [...]

Butter-Baked Masterpiece

Via Bad Banana Blog.

Spiderweb Cookies

I found these cookies on the pages of the October Good Housekeeping. I chose to use storebought sugar cookie dough, and plastic spider rings, and then I made the royal icing.
Wilton’s Royal Icing Recipe:
3 Tablespoons Wilton Meringue Powder
1 lb. (4 cups) confectioners’ sugar (about 1lb.)
6 Tablespoons warm water*
Beat all ingredients until icing forms peaks (7-10 [...]

Halloween Cupcakes

Jason and I decorated these for a friend’s birthday last night.

We used:
Red Velvet cake mix (seemed only appropriate)
Swiss Meringue Buttercream* (and food coloring)
Pieces parts:
Big marshmallows
Little marshmallows
Mini chocolate chips
Licorice bridge mix (from the bulk section of Russ’s)
Red rope licorice
Gummy peach rings
Laffy Taffy
Gumdrops
The marshmallows and the gummy candy are sticky when you cut them apart.
It helps to [...]