Blogmas: Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Today is the last post for Blogmas 2014. Thank you so much for reading my daily posts/ rants about the holidays. I'm caught between feeling relieved, excited and sad that it's almost 2015. Can you believe how fast this year went by? Only 7 more days until I am officially an adult (YIKES!). Anyways, I know this post is extremely short, and not at all what I had planned, but I would rather enjoy my Christmas relaxing, watching movies and eating with my family (I'm sure you do as well). So, a final farewell to Blogmas, and I'll be back to my normal posting schedule tomorrow. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas filled with food, family, and relaxation. Happy holidays lovelies!

Blogmas: Christmas Treats

From Thanksgiving to New Years, we are surrounded by food. A cringe-worthy thought is me cooking, but yesterday I successfully made fudge. Granted, it was a Carnation fudge kit with very detailed instructions, but I pulled myself together enough to turn on follow through. Which brings me to the point of this post: Christmas treats.



Honestly, who doesn't love fudge? If you aren't really that into cooking, don't make it homemade, get a kit like I did. It took about 15 minutes to get everything mixed, and took 2 hours to set. In other words, do something productive for 15 minutes, take a 2 hour nap, and when you wake up, you've got delicious fudge to eat whilst watching some Netflix!




Another cute, and edible, gift idea is sugar cookies. A few weeks ago I made some peppermint sugar cookies that actually weren't bad. Cookies are for every occasion, mostly because they are easily customizable. But sugar cookies hold a special place in my heart, right below oatmeal raisin.

There are practically endless options for Christmas treats. And Pinterest is the best place to find a variety of simple recipes. Whether you make them simple and sweet or detailed and delicious, your desserts will be delectable.♡

Blogmas: Peppermint Cupcakes

 

 Seeing as it is still December (peppermint month), I have decided to make another peppermint post: peppermint cupcakes. Cupcakes are literally for anyone. They're so easy to make, and just a heart-warming gift. To me, cupcakes are like a universal language. So why not pair them up with peppermint? Whilst looking for cute recipes on the internet, I have found that there are many variations of these, so depending on how you would like them, find a recipe that fits for you.

Ingredients- Cupcakes:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, sifted
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp peppermint extract
1 stick unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 large egg whites

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
4. With an electric mixer, cream butter on medium-high, until light and fluffy.
5. Gradually add sugar and beat until well combined and fluffy.
6. Reduce the mixer speed to medium, and slowly add egg and egg whites until blended.
7. With the mixer on low, slowly add half of the flour mixture. Add milk, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract. Slowly add remaining flour mixture. Mix until thoroughly blended.
8. Pour batter into paper cups.
9. Bake for about 22-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

*Let cool before frosting.


Ingredients- Frosting:
2 sticks unsalted butter
1/8 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1/2 tsp milk

Directions:
1. With an electric mixer, beat butter and salt on medium speed, until light and fluffy. (2 minutes)
2. Reduce the speed to low, and gradually add sugar.
3. Add the extracts and milk, and beat until smooth and creamy.
4. Pipe frosting.

*If consistency is too hard, add 1 tblsp milk. Add one tbsp at a time until the desired consistency is reached.

**As stated above, you can substitute, and customize the cupcakes to however you like them. Top them off with some crushed peppermint, shredded chocolate, or anything else to finish them off. If you're really not into baking from scratch, you can create this from a box mixture and frosting from a can, and just customize them at the end with the decorating! However you make them, your peppermint cupcakes will be delicious :)