Holiday Goodies

I am busy, busy, busy trying to get ready for a big vacation to Florida (and yes, that includes lots of DISNEY WORLD!) and preparing some fabulous holiday cookies, cakes, and sweets for you before I go.

But in the meantime, here are some holiday cookies and cakes I would love to share! 

These are one of my most favorite designs ever... those little leaves are just piped out royal icing!  

A fun (and EASY) Christmas cake.  You can so do this one.

 My favorite surprise inside cake ever, the Faith Cake.  I even did a tutorial!

 

And you really cant go wrong with the best ever sugar cookies and glaze icing.

And these cookies... well, let me just say.  

They are perfect.  They are delicate.  They are satisfying.  They must be eaten in groups of three.  

Well.  You may be able to eat just one.

I am incapable.

I even have some of these delightful treats... and I hear they are gluten free!!  

I dont know that for sure.  I am not quite sure I could define what gluten is if asked.  But someone told me these were.  And I believe everything I hear.

*True story, when writing this post I kept writing "glutton" free.  I definitely would be interested in a glutton free cookie.

I will be back soon with lots of new recipes and designs for you!  If you have any Christmas/Holiday goodies, yummy treats, amazing crafts, or glorious sweets, feel free to leave me a comment so I can check them out while driving across the United States.  

Believe me.  I will have lots of time while driving from Minnesota to Florida!

Comments

[Amy's blah, blah, blog]

You rock my world girl! Anna's birthday is in 2 weeks and I think I'm doing that green and red layer one! I'm sure Dora can go on top of that! LOL

[megan @ whatmegansmaking]

ok this post convinced me. I'm attempting sugar cookies for christmas. I can do it, I know I can :) Love that Faith cake too!

And if you're looking for delicious cute cookies, check these out. They're my favorite, and they look like Christmas! http://www.whatmegansmaking.com/2009/12/fudge-kiss-cookies.html

[Joy]

Just LOVE the Faith cake!! Love everything else you did! girl, you are just awesome! Thanks for sharing all of these goodies! I have been in a baking mood and it looks like I will continue on!

[the urban baker]

you are incredible. you rock my boat! i want to come to MN for a lesson!! xx

[Sally]

AMANDA! The faith cake is amazing! I have never seen anything like it. What a great idea.

[janis]

I am so jealous of your trip - we are planning ours but it's still 2 years away -- have to do the in-law trip to WY next year. :) Have a fantastic time - can't wait to see your pictures! :)

[Tracy]

Love all of these gorgeous treats!!

[Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction]

Everything looks so beautiful, as always! You are so talented.

[Paula]

Love, love, love all your Christmas cookies and fantastic cakes. Your piping is absolutely awesome. Have fun with the family at Disney World.

[Jessica @ How Sweet]

I love the cake with the cross in it. I don't think I'd have any patience for that though.

[Jenny]

Oh my gravy. Love everything but that cake with the cross - what a great idea for a Christening and I will definitely do something like that for Andrew's First Communion.

[Kathia]

Everything looks beautiful and yummy.

[bridget {bake at 350}]

Here's what I want to know....do you EVER make anything that *isn't* fabulous?!? ;)

[Meera]

Love the cookies. Have a great trip!!

[Wenderly]

Just lovely! And I adore you even more for highlighting the "reason for the season"...the faith cake is fabulous!

P.S. I can't ever eat just one either, 3's are good, 3's are real good! :)

[Stephanie]

Have a fun and safe trip! :)

[Renee]

All beautiful and yummy looking. Makes me almost want to start making cookies. Nah. To tired, I just wrapped all our Christmas gifts this afternoon and I'm pooped! Have a great trip!

[Kelly]

Oh. My. Goodness. They all look AMAZING!!

[Wei-Wei]

Oh, my word. That is a LOT of amazing creativity right there! Love it!

[SweetSugarBelle]

These are really inspiring and put me full steam in the holiday mood :) wonderful!

[susan]

Yay!!! A vacation!!! Have fun! These are all so pretty! And they make me so hungry for cookies!!!

[Catherine]

I haven't blogged any Christmas treats for you, but I do have a question: how much do you let your kids "help" in the kitchen? Especially with things like sugar cookies for Santa & that sort of thing?

[Jessica]

You are just so stinking talented! I think I might try to make the red and green cake for our Sunday School Christmas party! Have fun in FL!

[Robyn]

These are absolutely beautiful! Love these cookies. And I hope y'all have a blast in Florida. I can't wait to hear all about it.

[Kristen]

Have a great vacation and I'd be all over a glutton free cookie! :)

[Sue]

I love seeing all the Christmas treats! All of them are so beautiful! Love the cakes!

[faithy]

Love the green and red cake!! So pretty! And your cookies look so pretty too! Have a great vacation! Are you going again next year? I'm planning to go next year..would be nice if we can meet up at Disneyland! :D

[Angela]

Have a safe trip! I love your cookies. If I was your neighbor, I would so totally be looking for any excuse to come over ;)

[Lorraine]

The nut rolls might be gluten free, as long as the caramel doesn't have wheat. They look great, though! All the treats look beautiful. Although I wouldn't torture myself by spending time cooking things I couldn't actually try, myself. LOL

[Maria]

I want them all!

[doreen]

Your cookies are amazing! How on earth do you keep your piping tip from clogging? That's where I struggle.

Have a great trip!

[naomi]

What Disney World? I'm jealous! Great round up of your Christmas stuff. I love the Christmas colored cake!

[Kate]

I love the cookies and the Faith cake :) Beautiful!

[Michelle]

Florida is in the wrong direction... you should head out west. It's wild out here! :)

[Heather]

Love these Amanda! They are all so pretty and look delicious.
Have fun at Disney! We just took our girls in October and it was so much fun! Your little ones are going to love it. Safe travels! Wow! Minnesota to Florida in a car too...I admire you! Have fun!

[Bethany]

You are driving? I'm not heading up to Fargo, the man the bought it from was headed south and met up with my parents. I'm bummed. I was hoping to meet you and Larua.
I love to come over and look at the yummy stuff you post. The I love the little typo you fessed to. :) Since I can't spell worth a darn, it made me laugh. Good to know there's occasional company. At least you have preggo brain to blame it on.

[Amy K]

I certainly shouldn't be surprised an these amazing creations of yours...AWESOME job as always. I'm positive I didn't have this much drive when I was expecting any of my children!
It's a good thing we're not neighbors, because I think I would be stalking your kitchen...:)
I'll have to get out my recipe for Bun Bar recipe to share with you. It's the most requested of my family.

Blessings and safe travels...

[grace]

red and green all over the place! how did those colors become associated with christmas, i wonder? hmm.

[Glory]

Love the faith cake! And of course everything you do is super beautiful!
I have some "glorious sweets" for you... on my blog "Glorious Treats" =)
www.glorioustreats.blogspot.com

Have a great vacation!

[Brisha]

omg I love your holiday sugar cookie designs! ADORABLE! I can't wait to make some cookies this year! Me and my little sissy are actually going to make some this week and I am definitely going to use yours as inspiration! And I'm sure they will turn out nothing like those beauties but we will try =) And also that christmas layer cake is amazing!!! can't wait to try it! I made your rainbow layer cake for my mom for mothers day and it was a huge hit! there are pictures of it on my blog
you ROCK!

[Elisa_Croatia]

Just beautiful treats. I love oatmeal cranberry cookies!

Enjoy your upcoming vacation.

[Tickled Red]

Okay your treats are to pretty to eat darlin'!! Simply gorgeous.

[Jeri]

Hope you're having a wonderful trip. We love Disney:-). I'm doing sugar cookies this week with one of my friends & we are letting the kiddos decorate. I just finished all my Christmas fudge & Ginger cookies.

My husband & I love looking at all your creations. We love the detailed simplicity & thought you put into every creation. You truly are a confection artist:-). Thanks for sharing!

[Heather]

Inspired by your posts, I tried your sugar cookies and glaze icing for the first time last week. My colors are pale comparisons to yours. How are you getting that vivid Christmas red and green?

[Amy K]

Better late than never I guess...BEWARE, they are incredibly rich...Enjoy!

Bun Bars

1 lg. pkg. chocolate chips
1 lg. pkg. butterscotch chips
18 oz. creamy peanut butter

Melt the above ingredients together and pour half (reserve other half for later) of it into a jelly roll pan. Freeze until this first layer is firm.

2/3 c. milk
1 c. butter
1 small pkg. instant vanilla pudding
2 lbs. powdered sugar

Mix these ingredients together until smooth and spread over first layer. Refrigerate until 2nd layer is set.

Mix reserved half of chocolate mixture with 1 lb. dry roasted peanuts; pour over 2nd layer. Refrigerate until set.

Cut into small squares. Let set at room temperature for a short while before serving.

[Alicia]

Oh my gosh!!!!! Just when I thought I've seen it all!! You are just simply AMAZING!!!!! Have fun on your vacay!!

[Ydanis DeStasio]

Wow! These are so adorable! What size tip do you use for your writing and what consistancy of icing. I've never been able to write neat with icing.

[JoAnne Carson-Loudenslager]

I am a friend of Donna Spadaro in Florida. She wants me to friend you...says you have wonderful recipes.