sprinkles

Vanilla Frosting-Dipped Fruit & Cookies

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Home Cooking: Vanilla Frosting-Dipped Fruit and Cookies!  Sometimes providing a last minute dessert is easier than you think. The trick is making others believe you spent hours creating such a masterpiece. Choose your favorite fruit, cookies, and frosting. (Now some may really need to cut corners and buy the ready-made frosting as well. I’ll pretend that doesn’t happen so I can share my easy buttercream frosting recipe with you today.)

VANILLA FROSTING-DIPPED FRUIT & COOKIES

Ingredients:

1 pound strawberries, whole with stems

1 package Strawberry Macaroons

2 ounces white nonpareils

12 bamboo skewers

Frosting Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

3 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

1-2 tablespoons milk, warmed

Instructions:

Cream butter and sugar on low speed with hand mixer. Gradually add extracts. Blend until smooth. Add enough milk to keep it creamy, but not runny. Spoon a portion into a small microwave-safe dish and warm frosting 10 seconds in the microwave. While the frosting is warm, dip a piece of fruit or a cookie into the bowl. Using a swirling motion, rotate each piece to cover. Immediate dip into the nonpareils to coat. Place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Repeat until all desired pieces are covered. Refrigerate for half an hour or until firm. 

Lemon Citrus Cookies

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Lemon Citrus Cookies. With the arrival of Springtime comes the refreshing citrus flavor of this season’s lemons. Even if you’re not a fan, think about the benefits to your immune system. And then have another cookie…..or two. 

LEMON CITRUS COOKIES 

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened 

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon lemon zest

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

2 1/4 cups flour

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together. Add egg and beat well. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. When blended, add salt, baking powder, and flour. Mix together into dough. Roll cookies into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly golden on the edges of the cookies.

Lemon Icing:

3 cups sifted powdered sugar

1/3 cup butter, softened 

1 1/2 teaspoons lemon extract

2 tablespoons milk

In a large bowl, beat butter and powdered sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Stir in lemon extract and milk; beat until frosting is smooth and of spreading consistency. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel. 

Spread evenly on cooled cookies; top with yellow sprinkles. 

Impromptu Sprinkle Wafers

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Graze or Gobble: Impromptu Sprinkle Wafers! Who likes the crunch of sprinkles on desserts? Is it because sprinkles add texture? Could it be the vibrant colors that scream “WOW”? Or is it all about the candy? Sprinkles seems to transform an ordinary day into a celebration event. They also spread joy, happiness, and excitement. Once you become a fan, you begin to notice all the bazillion colors, shapes, and dazzle connected to sprinkles. Mix ‘n match or pile ‘em high. Sprinkles are incredibly magical. 

IMPROMPTU SPRINKLE WAFERS 

Ingredients: 

12 ounces white chocolate chips

8-ounce package strawberry wafer cookies, about 2 dozen 

1/2 cup assorted sprinkles 

Instructions:

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. In a microwave-safe bowl, place the white chocolate chips. Heat on HIGH setting for 30 seconds. Stir and repeat until all chips are melted and smooth consistency, about 2 minutes total. In a shallow dish, combine assorted sprinkles of choice. Taking one wafer at a time, dip a third of the strawberry wafer cookie into the white chocolate. Place on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with assorted sprinkles. Repeat until all cookies are dipped in chocolate and layered with sprinkles. Allow the white chocolate to set 30 minutes before serving. Store in an airtight container. 

Valentine State-of-Mind

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Time To Eat: Valentine State-Of-Mind! There’s no need to wait for February every year for “My Heart” sugar cookies. Anytime you want to share the love with friends and family, coworkers and neighbors, whip up a batch and see the magic. Sugar cookies are delectable simply because their buttery goodness is slightly sweet, soft, and chewy with hints of vanilla and almond. They practically melt in your mouth. And the sprinkles……talk about a way to lift your mood. The visual alone creates giggles and laughter. You’ll see.

VALENTINE STATE-OF-MIND

Ingredients for Cookies:

1 cup butter, room temperature

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

2 large egg yolks

2 1/4 cups flour

Ingredients for Frosting:

1 ounce cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, room temperature

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

3 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup milk, as needed

Pink Sprinkles, for garnish

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Mix in salt, vanilla extract, almond extract, and egg yolks until blended. Add flour, one cup at a time, mixing as you go, until just combined. Shape dough into a ball. Place on top of a baking mat and roll out to 1/4” thickness. Chill dough 15 minutes. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, place cookies about an inch apart on a baking sheet. Bake for 7-8 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before transferring cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. While cookies are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a large bowl, combine together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add almond extract and salt. Stir. Add I cup of powdered sugar, followed by one tablespoon of milk until all the powdered sugar is used. Mix on high speed, using a hand mixer. For light and fluffy results repeat until all milk is used. Spread frosting on cooled cookies. Add sprinkles, if desired. Store in an airtight container.

Raw Honey Peanut Butter Cookies

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Splurge-Worthy Goodness: Raw Honey Peanut Butter Cookies! No baking required. Wait, whaaat? These bite-size morsels are not only healthy as an energy snack, they can be made in a matter of minutes with ingredients you probably already have on hand in your pantry. So, what exactly is raw honey, you wonder. Most beekeepers will tell you it simply means the honey is strained right before it is bottled. That translates to nature’s sweetness with all its beneficial nutrients and antioxidants. By eliminating the intense processing stage of heat filtration, what you get instead is honey that comes from the bee hive to your home. No extra sugar is added either. To make sure you are getting raw honey, always check the label.

RAW HONEY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

Ingredients:

1/3 cup raw honey

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter, creamy

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups whole grain oats

Sprinkles, for garnish

Instructions:

Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Pour sprinkles into a dish. Set aside. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine raw honey, creamy peanut butter, and vegetable oil. Microwave on High for 30 seconds. Stir. Repeat. Add vanilla extract. Mix well. Add whole grain oats. Stir to incorporate until cookie dough forms a large ball. Using a cookie scoop, press dough to make bite-size uniform cookies. Dip into sprinkles. Place on prepared baking sheet. Cookies will “set up” on their own. Transfer to a covered container for storage.

Cereal Milk Smoothie

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Splurge-Worthy Goodness: Cereal Milk Smoothie! After yesterday’s post, it’s only fair to give the kids equal time on a delicious treat. Grown-ups, simply tap your heels together to be transported back to a time where you started your day at the kitchen table with a bowl of your favorite cereal. Remember how the sugary sweet morsels crunched their way to mushy softness leaving the milk at the bottom of the bowl tasting like syrup? At that point my brother would put down his spoon and lift the bowl to his mouth to slurp up the remaining goodness. Of course Mother never saw it, as she was usually standing at the counter buttering toast with her back to us. Well nowadays, the nostalgic flavor of cereal milk smoothies are a thing. Anyone with a sugar addiction is jumping for joy. And why shouldn’t they? It brings out the inner child in all of us.

CEREAL MILK SMOOTHIE

Ingredients:

1 cup Crispix* cereal

1/2 cup skim milk

1/2 cup Greek yogurt

1 banana, sliced and frozen

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons agave nectar, separated

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Sprinkles, for garnish

Instructions:

In a blender, combine cereal, skim milk, Greek yogurt, frozen banana slices, cinnamon, nutmeg, and one tablespoon agave nectar. Pulse until smooth. On a sheet of waxed paper, crush a few cereal pieces until almost fine. Add sprinkles; mix together. With the remaining agave nectar, apply to the rim of a glass. Dip the glass into the topping to coat the rim. Fill with cereal milk smoothie. Add a paper straw. Serve immediately.

*I receive no recompense for mentioning this product.

Impromptu Sprinkle Wafers

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Graze or Gobble: Impromptu Sprinkle Wafers! Who likes the crunch of sprinkles on desserts? Is it because sprinkles add texture? Could it be the vibrant colors that scream “WOW”? Or is it all about the candy? Sprinkles seems to transform an ordinary day into a celebration event. They also spread joy, happiness, and excitement. Once you become a fan, you begin to notice all the bazillion colors, shapes, and dazzle connected to sprinkles. Mix ‘n match or pile ‘em high. Sprinkles are incredibly magical.

IMPROMPTU SPRINKLE WAFERS

Ingredients:

12 ounces white chocolate chips

8-ounce package strawberry wafer cookies, about 2 dozen

1/2 cup assorted sprinkles

Instructions:

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. In a microwave-safe bowl, place the white chocolate chips. Heat on HIGH setting for 30 seconds. Stir and repeat until all chips are melted and smooth consistency, about 2 minutes total. In a shallow dish, combine assorted sprinkles of choice. Taking one wafer at a time, dip a third of the strawberry wafer cookie into the white chocolate. Place on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with assorted sprinkles. Repeat until all cookies are dipped in chocolate and layered with sprinkles. Allow the white chocolate to set 30 minutes before serving. Store in an airtight container.

Unicorn Holiday Bark

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Delicious Holiday Foods: Unicorn Holiday Bark! Everyone remembers a childhood of mythical creatures, especially the unicorn which resembled a horse with a pointed horn spiraling out of its forehead. Some believed it had magical powers in addition to being a symbol of purity and grace. Only a virgin had the power to tame the unicorn, according to art from the Middle Ages now hanging on museum walls. Today the thought of unicorns make us happy. Perhaps they represent childhood dreams, or wishes, filled with hope for a future. It should be no surprise that pink swirls of white chocolate and candy glitter in sparkly hues appear in food to further those good feelings. Think of Unicorn Holiday Bark for your next festive occasion. Kid-friendly, husband-approved.

UNICORN HOLIDAY BARK

Ingredients:

2 pounds white chocolate chips

Food coloring of choice

1 tablespoon rainbow sprinkles

1 tablespoon glitter sprinkles

1 tablespoon candy pearls

Instructions:

Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Depending on how many colors you choose (I used 3), place 1/3 cup white chocolate chips per color in separate microwave-safe bowls. Warm on Low setting for 15 second intervals in microwave, stirring often. Continue until chips are melted. Add food coloring to desired tint. Hint: One drop of red will produce a pastel pink. Prepare tinted chocolate first before finishing with the remaining plain white chocolate. Once the white chocolate is melted, spread it onto the baking sheet. Smooth into an even layer, approximately 1/4” thick. Working quickly, dot tinted colors over the white chocolate in a random pattern. Take a wooden skewer, or toothpick, and drag it through the colors creating swirls. Next, scatter the rainbow sprinkles, glitter sprinkles, and candy pearls on top. Refrigerate baking sheet for 30 minutes, or until firm. Once set, break the bark into pieces, reserving a curved edge for the unicorn’s horn. Let the magic begin!

Ole Smoky Cherry Drops

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Enjoyable Eats: Ole Smoky Cherry Drops! For those who think this is a strange name for something sweet, allow me to explain. The Great Smoky Mountains form one of the most beautiful mountain ranges along the Tennessee-North Carolina border. Nestled in “The Holler” is a distillery made famous by its 100-year-old recipe base for signature flavors of moonshine. Can you see where this is going? Stick with me. From the fermenting grains of the moonshine stills come the most extraordinary combinations you can ever imagine. Bottled in quart jars are what appear to be a dozen or more moonshine variations that go by names like Apple Pie, Hunch Punch, Blue Flame, Lemon Drop, Dill Pickles, and Moonshine Cherries. Since I found a jar in my pantry, I thought going into the holidays, this might present an interesting dessert opportunity. It definitely passed the “flame test” in my house.

OLE SMOKY CHERRY DROPS

Ingredients:

1 quart jar Ole Smoky Moonshine Cherries*

12-ounce bag white chocolate chips

4.6-ounce jar rainbow sprinkles

5.2-ounce jar sanding sugar

14-ounce bag sweetened coconut flakes

Party Picks

Instructions:

Several steps are necessary to prepare your workspace. Using a slotted spoon, carefully remove maraschino cherries from jar. Reserve moonshine for another use. Gently pat dry each cherry and set aside. This is important before coating them in white chocolate. Place each topping (rainbow sprinkles, sanding sugar, and coconut flakes) in a separate dish. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Set aside. To melt white chocolate, place half a bag of chips in a microwave-proof bowl. Warm at 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval. Repeat until the white chocolate is smooth and no lumps remain. Working quickly, pierce a cherry with a cake tester. Coat it halfway in the white chocolate, then dip it in one of the toppings. Place decorated cherry on the waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Repeat until all cherries are decorated. Chill to set. Two things: As the white chocolate cools, gently warm and stir. When it becomes necessary to use the remaining white chocolate chips, begin with a clean bowl. This will eliminate waste. Cherry Drops should be stored in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Serve with party picks.

*I receive no recompense for mentioning Ole Smoky Moonshine Cherries.