Gluten Free Sugar Cookies

Every so often, I get asked the question, " do you make gluten free sugar cookies?" And my answer has always been - "no...not yet." I was always focused on making my with gluten cookies that I didn't think it was possible to make a gluten free version that was AS good as the real deal.

I told those individuals that if I got enough interest that I would "look into it." Well...that day has finally come.

I went to Pinterest to find a recipe that I thought was similar to my recipe yet with the gluten free flour. Well I am proud to say that I had success with the first recipe tried although finding the right ingredients was key!

I know Fred Meyer's down the road from my house has a really good Organic and Gluten Free section so I started there. Unfortunately they didnt have what I was looking for. Stumped...I remember "HEY! There is a GF MARKET right next to Trader Joe's"...and sure enough they had a whole SLEW of GF flour to chose from and the right one I needed.

I used XO Baking Co. Gluten Free All Purpose Flour and it worked great. Yeah it smelled a little different and when I taste tested the dough it tasted different. And the hardest part was rolling out the dough. It was especially precarious to roll and lift up onto the pan to bake. So I had to use my spatula to transfer them from the counter to the pan.

Gluten Free Sugar Cookies

After baking them and letting them cool I used my regular buttercream frosting recipe, no gluten there and they turned out just great! I think I honestly like them just as much as the real deal! They are still soft but slightly different in texture.

Gluten Free Seahawk Cookies

Since the Seahawks were playing I thought I would make some football themed cookies and they are my "most popular" cookie shape.

Gluten Free Sugar Cookies

So without further a-do I am happy to say I can now offer GF sugar cookies! GO SEAHAWKS!

If you have questions or would like to order some, please email me.

Happy Halloween!

This blog post is dedicated to all things SPOOKY. I have to be honest...I miss trick or treating. I know I could just go to the store and buy some candy for myself (which I knew do) but something about dressing up and running around the neighbor is just more glamourous.

Cute Little Fox Cookies

The good news for the Trick or Treaters is it luckily stopped raining. This morning it was down pouring and didn't look like it was going to stop. I took my dog out for a walk before dinner and before it got dark. I was hoping to spot some kids and I did but they were more like big kids...like junior high and they were barely dressed up...maybe they were just "hipsters" hanging in the park...could be - it was getting dark after all...just kidding they were kids. 

Cat Face Cookie

I remember I milked trick or treating until I was in high school and some people would come to the door and be surprised by the "big kids" standing there and not the little guys. One lady I remember even said "oh aren't you a little big to be trick or treating" ...yes but give me the candy anyways please! 

OK OK Enough about me...more about the cookies you say? Well let's start with the above few. I found a clever idea to turn my cat face cookie cutter into a fox face. I know foxes aren't really Halloween themed necessarily but they are definitely fall-ish and so I decided to try it out and I loved them. If you don't know I have a little dog who looks like a fox... 

Halloween Friends

As for Mr. Frank, that cookie cutter is actually using the "skull" head shape. I thought it would be cutter to mix some green into the mix! Loved how these Frankenstein cookies turned out and they might be my favorite!

I actually didn't have a witches hat cookie cutter. So I ran out to the store the night before halloween to find some black sanding sugar which was a bit of a challenge but found it and got the last one! At the store they had a bunch of cute cutter and one being the witches hat! 

Witch's hat

I got the idea for the spider webs off of pinterest as well. I am always looking for fun ways to turn my cutters I already have into a different shape (like the cat-fox above) a circle could really be turned into anything and for Halloween it was perfect for some creepy spider cob webs!

Spooky Spider Web cookies

Pumpkin Cookies

Of course it isn't halloween without pumpkins! 

BOOOOooooo

The other shape I had I had fun with was the bat. This was the purpose of the "mission: black sanding sugar." I liked how these little guys turned out and looked great with the spooky ghost and coffin. 

Getting Batty

RIP Coffin Cookies

The last little cutter I picked up at the store was the "scared-y cat" as I call him. Again, using that coveted black sanding sugar! muahaha! I mean...MEOW! 

I almost forgot to put this in my blog. I am really bad about transferring photos from my phone to my computer, but I posted this on my insta too. I loved the monotone contrast of this picture of the skull and cross bone cookies. VERY halloween. 

ok ok and it wouldn't be completely halloween if I didn't do a little flashback friday shout out to my friends for "that one time when we dressed up as 80s chicks after a run to the goodwill to make our costumes" and then we went trick or treating! I think we were actually sophomores in this picture...or were we juniors...HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

Ready to Pop Baby Shower

I am getting to "that age" where some of my friends are getting married but even more are on the brink of having babies... *sigh* now that I am in my late twenties. Well this baby shower wasn't exactly for me or anyone I know. But the them was ready to pop! And all things that go POP were just about represented...but lets focus on the fun dessert...

Yellow and Blue Cake Pops

Cake POPs are the perfect little pop for this shower. A bouncing baby boy P is on the way!

Baby Shower Dessert & Treat Table

Of course it wouldn't be a Ready to Pop party with out POPcorn! 

Chocolate Dipped Rice Krispy Treats

POPsicles...well not quite but chocolate dipped rice krispy treats are sure to delight! 

Custom Baby Shower Cookies

And I guess cookies don't really go POP but there are cute anyways and look great on the dessert table. 

Rainbow Paint Party

Children's birthday parties are not what they used to be. With the invention of Etsy, kids's parties today are practically on steroids. A birthday party is not just about picking a theme and having matching plates and table covers...maybe a pinata....now it is all about dessert tables, craft tables and beyond!

For my cousin she lucked out. Her two daughters both have September birthdays. So it makes it a little easier to plan an all out birthday party extravaganza and she only has to do it once. This year they were celebrating 4 and 2. The theme was Rainbow Paint Party and she went - ALL OUT. 

Mom and Dad with the birthday girls

All about the detail! Adorable dessert table to go with the paint party theme. There were cookies, cupcakes, cake pops and chocolate dipped rice krispy treats made by - your's truly as well as an ice cream dessert bar. 

Rainbow Cupcake Dessert Palette 

The cupcake display was just too cute! A paint palette with the cupcakes as the "paint" - who's ready to get creative?!

Birthday Girl Ruby turning 2 

Birthday girl Addison turning 4

I think the birthday girls like it...

mmmmm....cupcake...

Paint palette cookies

Here is a little closer look at the paint palette cookies I made! These were absolutely adorable and fun to make. Really easy too. The hardest part was making up all the "paint" colors. I had about 8 different piping bags full of frosting and I only messed up on the colors twice! Should have just went with my gut instinct to begin with.

Rainbow paint palette cookies

Rainbow cupcakes

Dont you just want to lick the frosting? You know you want to...These cupcakes are using my favorite homemade vanilla cupcake recipe...well actually it is a recipe for "funfetti" I just skipped out on the sprinkles but it probably would have been perfect for the them now that I think about it...

More rainbow cupcakes

Here is a few more cupcakes to drool over! I know I mentioned I made other desserts like the cake pops and the chocolate dipped rice krispy treats...I forgot to take a close up picture of them...I get lazy... If you have never had a rice krispy dipped in chocolate...you are missing out my friend. I just had one for the first time and I thought I died and went to heaven!! 

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Feel free to email me for information on a custom dessert for your next party!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Cookies

The very hungry caterpillar...I can't remember the last time I have read that book...maybe when I was in kindergarten?
So when I got a request for some custom cookies for a very lucky 1 year olds birthday, I had to jog my memory.

I know that it obviously, has a caterpillar in it and he is VERY hungry...ok I am just messing with you. I looked it up on wikipedia and then the juices really started flowing for these cookies.

For these special cookies, I of course made the caterpillar which I ordered from an awesome vendor that I use for great cookie cutters, found HERE - you're welcome.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Cookies

And also had to pick up a cute little strawberry cookie cutter. Since this cookies were intended as party favors I also packaged them in a cello bag. Each bag got 1 strawberry cookie and then either a cupcake cookie, apple cookie, a butterfly or Mr. Caterpillar cookie himself.

Now since he was very hungry...this little caterpillar ate a whole through the cupcake and apple cookies. hehe. Ok not really, I just cut a hole in them. But so much fun to make! I posted these on my instagram (follow me!)  and ALL of my teacher friends just about freaked out. I literally had no idea that this book was still so popular for how old it is! 

And since we are talking about caterpillar cookies, there was another little bug friend who came in and visited my kitchen and it was Mrs. Lady Bug! 

Lady Bug Cookies

These little guys I just used a 3" circle cutter and free hand drew the lady bug design on. I am going to make these for valentines day this year but make the spots a heart shape instead and call them "love bugs" hehe.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Bridal Showers & Brides Oh My!

One of my favorite cookie orders to make are for bridal showers! They are so girlie and fun to make. Plus the color combinations are endless! However, one theme that seems to be very in style right now is pale or dusty rose pink with white and gold accents!

Gold Wedding ring Cookies

Gold is a very difficult color to make with buttercream frosting without having to airbrush, which in my opinion can alter the taste. So I opted for something tastier SPRINKLES! Who doesn't love gold sprinkles?

Bridesmaid Dress & Engagement Ring Cookies

I am not sure if the pink is the actual color of the bridesmaid dresses but the dress is one of my absolutely favorite cutters to use. You can do many different "style" of dresses, but my go to is the ruffles.

Gold Engagement Ring Cookie "I DO!"

Hopefully these words will be said on the big day ;)

Wedding Dress Cookies

 Oohlala! So many dresses! Bridesmaids and the bride! 

Bridal Shower Cookies

K+M = <3 Congratulations to the Bride and Groom to be! 

Flower Swirl Cookies

Heart Cookies

Monogram Initial Cookies

 Cheers to the future Mrs. L!

Monogram L cookies

Wedding cookie Platter

So Many Cookies! 

As if this week wasn't busy enough for me, I also had my first wedding to bake for which was really exciting! I had the fun job of making 250 cupcakes! In planning my own wedding, I must say I have a hard time paying $3/cupcake when I can bake them myself. Sure it takes time, but if you are on a tight budget then you have to find a way to make it work.
This little budget savvy bride is my future cousin-in-law. She got married this past weekend and had about 175 people attend. It took place in eastern washington on a hill over looking the beautiful Columbia River. The view was absolutely breath taking!

Despite all the fires in eastern washington right now, she really lucked out. It was sunny, there was no smoke in the valley, but there was a very strong breeze that was hard to work with. Since it was so warm out (about 90 degrees), we had to wait to put the cupcakes out since they couldn't be in direct sunlight - they were just buttercream frosting. The cake with stood the weather, but that is not something I can take credit for. 

Everything came together nicely. She had a "peacock" color theme. We did an assortment of mini and big cupcakes in vanilla and chocolate. As well as vanilla and chocolate buttercream. My favorite was vanilla cake with chocolate frosting. Since those didn't really go with the "theme" (brown frosting) those got put out after the cake to the face smashing...I mean, the cake cutting. 

For frosting the cupcakes, I did either a "ruffle" or "big swirl" pattern as I call them.  I am so happy for the bride and groom! What a fun day and I was so honored to be apart of it, even if it was just a small part!