FUNnel Cake

Happy New Year my friends!!  What's a more FUN way to ring in the new year than with homemade FUNnel cake?!

 

So I was browsing Pinterest looking for a yummy cake to make with what I had in my pantry (since I refuse to go anywhere on New Year's Eve) and funnel cake appeared. I thought it was appropriate that I chose this recipe from none other than Martha Stewart herself. 

 

It was surprisingly easy and very quick to make.  And it was so freaking good!

I wanted to put a sparkler in the top and light it but the hubs thought I would burn the house down.  Oddly enough, I agreed.



A coffee table party seemed like the perfect end to this CRAZY year!

 

My boys loved the FUNnel cake too...

 

...all my boys.

 

As I was frying up the batter I realized (after tasting every most of the pieces) that I liked it a little more done because it added some extra crunch.

 

I think it will still be good for breakfast in the morning. ;)

 

 

2012 has been bittersweet for me.  This year has brought some intense challenges to my little family but we've made it. We've come through stronger and wiser. This year has made me even more grateful for each new day the 4 of us have together. 

 

On the sweeter side, I never could have imagined that my name or my cookies would appear in the Martha Stewart Living Magazine much less on her website.  I never could have imagined that I would have so much awesome support from people all over the world.  I am so grateful to each of you not only for ordering cookies, stopping by or checking in, but mostly for continuing to motivate me.

 

Before I go, I have to say a special thanks to my mom (my sous baker). Mom, thank you for staying up with me until the wee hours of the morning baking, flooding cookies, packaging or cleaning piping bags.  I could not have made it through 2012 with out you. (and may not make it through 2013 without you either) ;)  I love you more.

 

I can't wait to see what FUN things 2013 has in store!  

 

  XOXO

Peppermint Bark Shortbread Cookies

I am so excited to have participated in The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2012. Oddly enough, I've never received cookies in the mail before.  I know, crazy!  It feels pretty good.  Now I know how all of you feel. :)  Not only was this a great opportunity to get to know some other cookies makers, it was also a good cause.  A donation to participate in the cookie swap was given to Cookies for Kids' Cancer.  I was also excited to get creative and to make something new.  So I made Peppermint Bark Shortbread Cookies.

 

 

Before go into more detail about what I made, let me show you what I got...

 

Don't let these simple looking chocolate cookies fool you; they were packed with a tastey surprise...caramel!  How did Amy of CakeStar know that I loved chocolate and caramel??!  These were delish and she even included her recipe. :)

 

Next, I opened this lovely box to find some super cute Christmas cookies made by the talented Elizabeth of Lizy B Bakes.  I didn't want to eat these!  They were so cute and I was so mad that I didn't think of making them myself. ;)  Genius.

 

Finally, I fell in love with the peppermint crunch chocolate chip cookies that I received from Anne of Have a Cookie!  I am a sucker for a good chocolate chip cookie and the peppermint was a bonus! 

 

Thank you so much ladies for taking the time to share your yummy treats and talent with me. Muah!

 

Now to give you the scoop on what I made.  These cookies were so simple to make.  When you whip up a batch, you will seriously call me a cheater for getting out so easy.  I wanted to make some decorated cookies but I just ran out of time AND sleep.  I also wanted to make something Holiday-ish so peppermint bark came to mind and then I thought, why not put it on a yummy shortbread?

 

I started with the recipe for the shortbread cookies that I fell in love with a few years ago from Joy of Baking.com.  You can find the recipe I used here.  I chose this particular circle cookie so that it would fit nicely in the boxes that you'll see in a minute.

 

 

There might be better chocolate to make almond bark with but this is what I had.  Candy melts are easy to find at your local bakery supply, Michael's or Hobby Lobby.

 

I used light cocoa on half, dark chocolate on the other half and then a bag of white chocolate/vanilla candy on all of them. Put the chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl and then pop it in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir until it is smooth and you are good to start dipping.

 

For the first layer, I dipped the cookies right into the chocolate and placed them on a cookie sheet to dry/harden. Once the bottom layer was set/dried, the top layer was spread on with the bottom of a spoon.

 

Because the chocolate dries so quickly, it's important to work fast when you are sprinkling on the peppermint.  I picked up the peppermint sprinkles at my happy place - World Market. 

 

And voila; finished products!!  My perfectly imperfect, Holiday-ish cookies. They actually kind of taste like peppermint E.L. Fudge cookies.  I wish I had one right now with a huge glass of milk. 

 

I only had to wait a few minutes for the chocolate to harden before I packaged them.

 

I picked up these little boxes from Michael's in the baking section.  There are 3 cookies in each section separated by striped parchment paper that I cut into squares (also purchased from World Market).

 

I didn't want the chocolate to get on the window of the box so I cut a sheet of wax paper to lay on top.

 

Aren't they pretty??  I am still hoping and praying that they got to their final destinations looking just like this.  Since they were going to different places all over the country, I put each one inside a separate box full of packing peanuts.

 

I hope that Rene, Megan and Stacey enjoyed these. 

These cookies would also be fun and easy to make with the kiddos. :)

To see more amazing cookie recipes from the cookie swap, click on Part 1 and Part 2 (mine are on part 2) 

Happy Baking!