More Bridal Shower Cookies!

Not too long ago, I was asked to make some cookies for another bridal shower. I was really looking forward to making some more wedding type cookies. I also had a new cookie cutter and some new ideas to try out! The wedding colors were gray, yellow, and orange. I really wish my gray had come out lighter, but I did not realize just how dark it would end up being.
Working with royal icing is a bit tricky for few reasons. You can make the icing thinner or thicker depending on how you will be using it and it can be a little tricky to know if you have it at the right thickness until you actual start decorating a cookie. Getting the right color is also tricky. This icing deepens in color for about 24 hrs after you make it. I'm still learning just how much a color will deepen and how to leave it lighter than I actually want it so when it darkens I still like it. Alas, it makes it hard to get the exact color you want and sometimes I end up with something darker than I hoped for :( Of course, the obvious solution is to make my icing ahead of time, however that involved planning farther ahead.Then you run into the icing needing to be well covered so it doesn't dry.
Despite color issues, I really liked how these ones came out. The longer gown cookies might be my favorite. I think that cookie cutter is my current favorite, though I have an alligator cookie cutter I have yet to use that I'm looking forward to!

Other desserts I've made

I'm good about taking pictures of my cakes and cookies, but I never think to take them of anything else I make. In the past month, I've made a few desserts from pinterest and they have all turned out well.
I figured I'd go through and mention them and give you the links. I recommend taking a look, because they taste as good as they look!

Oreo layer dessert

This is not my picture, it comes from House344's blog. You can find the link below.

You can find it here at House344.
This was pretty easy to make, no oven required and was AMAZING. Everyone who tried it loved it. It was definitely rich (how can it not be when you look at it!), but not so rich that you couldn't eat it.

Oreo Ice Cream Cake
You can find it here at Kraft foods.

This is not my picture, it comes from the Kraft foods website.

Ive done ice cream pies before (my mom would make them for me), but hadn't done a "cake" version. It was so good, I loved the multiple oreo crumb layers. You could easily switch out the chocolate and vanilla layers for other flavors. Honestly though, I loved the simplicity of those and I don't think I would change a thing!

Caramel Swirled Pretzel M&M blondies (whew..that's a mouthful!)

THis isn't my picture, it comes from Cookies and Cups. Link is below.

You can find it here at Cookies and Cups.
These turned out delicious. A lot of caramel oozed to the edges and make the edges a bit hard, but those eating it said it was still great and totally edible and yummy. I did 1 1/2x this recipe because of the number of people I was making it for and not knowing how much people would want. I made it in a 9x13 pan and an 8x8 instead of just a 9x13. I wished I had had a bit more of the batter. I'm not sure if that was a result of the recipe or the fact that I multiplied it. I'm also torn about the pretzel m&ms in there. I loved them, they are yummy, but I felt they were a bit big in size for the recipe. I think next time I will try using just crushed pretzel pieces and see how it compares (and maybe then add mini m&ms or a few extra chocolate chips).

These were all delicious, I recommend making and enjoying yourself!

A Tiered Cake!

I know..it's been forever. Here, I tell you all about my new oven and then show you none of the fruits of what has come from it! Truthfully, until yesterday, everything out of it has been stuff other than cookie/cake decorating. However, you don't get yesterdays cookies yet ;) Today's post is about the first tiered cake my friend, L, and I made. It was in honor of a friend who moved across the country.

It isn't perfect, but it stayed together and upright, looked cute, and tasted yummy-so pretty much everything we could ask for.

The cake In progress...2 layers stacked, one more to go!