My three reasons for the season!

I know this is a blog of sweets and treats, however, I just had to share a photo of the little nuggets that run my life these days. I took this photo on a November morning. I didn't quite know what was going to happen with my 3 year old, 2 year old , and newborn all snuggled up together. I was utterly surprised to see that one of the photos actually turned out. I caught them in their own element, and boy are they ever cute(in my opinion of course). So here are my reasons for the season!

Nugget #2 Turns TWO!

I can't believe that my baby is turning 2! When I started this blog I was still in full out baby mode, nursing and all. Now my little guy is swinging a baseball bat and asking us to hike him the football.  So, it seemed fitting to celebrate baseball style. The cake idea was an inspiration from Christie's Cakes that I found on Pinterest. I love the way it turned out. I made a white cake with raspberry filling and vanilla buttercream frosting. My favorite part was the look of the fondant letters. I chose to use white fondant and then spray them blue with icing spray. A different look than just using blue fondant.

Monkey Smash Cake

Smash Cake!
I have had the opportunity to make several smash cakes to help celebrate first birthdays. I enjoy baking for little ones...they truly enjoy the sugar! I have been to several blogs and websites throughout the past year tyring to find the perfect yellow cake recipe. I have found several that are good, but they always seem to be a little on the dry side or they don't bake well. Several blogs have boasted that they have found a great recipe for white birthday cake. I've tried dozens and not until yesterday did I finally find a recipe that makes a moist, but dense vanilla butter cake. The recipe actually came from my Grandma, who has been using it all these years to make cakes.

SUCCESS...the cake tasted great...the cake held its form great(which is very important for decorating)...and the monkey was pretty cute!

This monkey smash cake was a great success.  Not only are the decorations important, but I was confident that the taste of the cake was the best part!

Salted Caramel Cupcakes...
I wanted to make something different, but special to bring home for Christmas dessert this year. Salted Caramel was an easy choice. My husband has been drinking salted caramel mochas all holiday season. So, I decided to go with the crowd on this one and I was not disappointed.

The recipe I used is from a blog called Chef in Training.

Here is the finished product...late at night of course...after the nuggets are sleeping...

Egg Nog Cupcakes

Until this year, I had never tried eggnog...the sound of it always turned me away.  However, after trying a fa la la latte at Caribou coffee, I realized I might actually enjoy a little eggnog flavor. I found this recipe for eggnog cupcakes from Annies Eats http://www.annies-eats.com/  It is amazing...right down to the cinnamon dusting on top!

Vanilla Peppermint Buttercream

It's here...time to bake all of the delicious treats I have been pinning for months!

 This is a red velvet cupcake with vanilla peppermint buttercream frosting...I could have ate the frosting all by itself, but I am a frosting girl!

It's an Elmo Celebration!

How special!  I was able to create a cake and cupcake spread for my special little nephew Erik's 2nd birthday party.  They flew in all the way from California to celebrate. I actually got to join in the eating of these cupcakes!  YUM!!!

Here's some picts of my little nuggets eating some of those yummy red velvet Elmo cupcakes!