Peppermint Stick Hot Chocolate Stirrers and White Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows

One of the best things about winter is hot chocolate. There are few things more decadent than coming in from the cold, slipping on pajamas, and then curling up on the sofa with a great book and a huge mug of hot chocolate.

It is also great to serve during the winter months when having company (it was a huge hit when I attended my last book club meeting). Recently I decided to have a hot chocolate bar during my family's annual Christmas cookie decorating get-together on Christmas Eve.

A couple special and easy additions to my hot chocolate bar are peppermint stick hot chocolate stirrers and white chocolate dipped marshmallows. I made these DIYs in less than a half hour and they are super cute and so fun to add to a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

For the stirrers all you need are: white chocolate candy melts, sprinkles, and peppermint sticks.

I melted my candy melts in a double boiler but you can also use your microwave. Dip peppermint sticks into the white chocolate and then add sprinkles. Carefully place onto wax paper and allow to cool completely so that the white chocolate hardens.

For the marshmallows I placed the unwhite chocolate covered side down onto a wire rack to and then allowed them to cool completely.

Store in air tight containers until you are ready to serve.

On The Menu: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple Filling

These pumpkin pies are likely one of the most popular recipes Jessica and I make. Between the months of October through December Jessica and I receive so many requests for these whoopie pies we have even received countless requests were people have offered to buy them from us. They are simple to make but a little time consuming. The cookies are soft and moist and the pumpkin flavor screams fall and the holidays. Plus, the maple filling is so delicious.

Ingredients For Maple Filling:
2 cup powdered sugar, sifted
2 cup (4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 7-ounce jar marshmallow creme
4 teaspoons maple extract

Ingredients for Cookies:
3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup (packed) brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 15-ounce can pure pumpkin
1/2 cup milk

Directions for Filling:
1. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
2. Add marshmallow creme and maple extract; beat until blended and smooth. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.

Directions for Cookies:
1. Sift first 7 ingredients into large bowl.
2. Using electric mixer, beat butter and both sugars in another large bowl until blended. Gradually beat in oil. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating to blend between additions.
3. Beat in pumpkin. Add dry ingredients in 2 additions alternately with milk in 1 addition, beating to blend between additions and occasionally scraping down sides of bowl.
4. 4. Cover and chill batter 1 hour.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
6. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Spoon batter onto baking sheet to form cakes. We found that it was easiest to use a cookie scooper.
7. Bake cakes until tester inserted into centers comes out clean. It took ours about 10 minutes. If you make larger ones it will take a few extra minutes to bake.

Citrus Desserts

During the summer we should enjoy crisp, cool desserts. What's more summery than citrus? Oranges, lemons, and limes make such delicious desserts and treats. You can find recipes that range in difficulty too so anyone can find citrus dessert recipes that they can easily conquer. What are your thoughts on citrus desserts? Below are a few that I want to try soon.

Creamsicle Cake

Orange Cream Cheese Danish

Lemon Coffee Cake

High Top Lemon Meringue Tartlets

White Chocolate Key Lime Pie

via: 1

Berry Good Desserts

During summer I find myself craving desserts that contain fresh berries. Blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries just sing of summer to me. Maybe it's because we always pick berries in the summer and make pies, cobblers, and homemade jelly? I have a ton of things that I would love to accomplish this summer. When it comes to delicious recipes that I want to make these top the list:


Blackberry Cake


Berry Cobbler

Frozen Strawberry Cheesecake Bars


Mixed Berry Baskets


Creamy Lemon Berry Dessert

Source: 1

Weekend Warrior

This past weekend the Weekend Warrior I was not. I love weekends. And who doesn't? Especially when it is a 4 day weekend, like this last one was for me. 4 blissful, free days to do anything I wanted. Often though my weekends seem to blur by in a haze of things I have to do when all I really wanted to do was catch up on some much needed rest. Well not last weekend. Instead I decided to follow the advice of Bill Watterson, the American cartoonist who created the comic Calvin and Hobbes and who said, "Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless." Besides a few hours spent doing a little shopping Friday, my weekend was very laid back and relaxing. As a bonus, I scored some absolutely amazing deals while out shopping. Don't you love holiday sales? And I enjoyed a banana split milkshake before heading home. Yum! Sleeping in was the best part of my weekend. Usually by the end of the work weekend and my 5:15 am wake ups, I'm left exhausted. I love my bed. It is so big and comfy. My sheets feel wonderful and I have lots of warm quilts to cuddle up in. I slept extra late this past weekend. And when I did wake up I didn't rush out of bed. Instead I took my time waking up. I enjoyed some alone time this weekend during which I read magazines and watched hours of random tv and B movies. I sampled numerous desserts this weekend. I baked a peanut butter cheesecake for my sister. I'll share the recipe later. And I attended a family gathering for a couple hours Sunday where there was at least a dozen desserts.

So there was nothing exciting to share about my weekend but still it was very close to being a perfect weekend.

What is your favorite way to spend a weekend?

♥ Sunny

via: We Heart It