Ancestor to the croissant, kipferl cookies are fragile crescent-shaped cookies that literally melt in your mouth. They are made from ground almonds and have the slightest hint of almond flavor and a sweet vanilla sugar coating. These cookies are so good that my husband fought over the last cookie of both batches I made. Despite their "fancy"…
Handwritten printable gift tags Growing up, we always bought packs of colorful, illustrated "Santa" tags for $1-2, but I love that the internet makes it so easy to find pretty, trendy tags that match your style without the designer price of some of the high-end brands in the store. I'm excited to use these "handwritten"…
Reed diffusers are another way to embrace the scents of Christmas throughout the holiday season. While the scent from the diffusers won't be as strong as a room spray or electronic diffusers, these will add a light scent to the air, especially when used in a smaller room. The options for scent combinations are virtually…
Hot cocoa in a jar I haven't been able to stop thinking about this idea of hot cocoa in a jar since I made meringue angel kisses a few weeks ago, and sure enough, these little jars turned out just like store-bought individual hot chocolate packets...except so much cuter! To start, I modified the Alton Brown hot…
When my sister tried one of these cookies yesterday, she exclaimed, "Mmm! Tastes like a snickerdoodle." Which I suppose is a good thing since they are, in fact, snickerdoodles! With a cup of King Arthur Flour's melt-in-your-mouth cinnamon chips and a coating of cinnamon-sugar, these snickerdoodles (which I adapted from this King Arthur Flour recipe) offer…
Create a shaving kit for the men in your life with this DIY shaving cream and aftershave! Actually, who am I kidding? DIY shaving cream and this refreshing aftershave would make a great gift for a woman too! Scent both products with classic Christmas scents like peppermint. Choose something fresh like vanilla and orange, or mix…
It doesn't take complicated crafts to make my girls happy or keep them occupied; it's usually the simplest projects that hold their attention best. Popsicle Stick Snowflakes is one of those projects! Chances are you remember this craft from your childhood, and the fun part is in customizing your snowflake since the possibilities are virtually endless.…
Printable take-out boxes I think this may be one of my favorite printables to date, and I'm already dreaming up how I can use them for passing out Christmas goodies this year, especially since they're the perfect size for my nonpareils! Simply print out the template of your choice on regular paper (for a light…
Madeleines, or French tea cakes, are really more cake than cookie, although we tend to think of them as a cookie anyway. These light and fluffy sponge cakes are baked in a shell-shaped pan to give them their distinctive shape, and they can be made with a variety of flavored extracts or decorations for a…
I love decorating with Cinnamon-scented pine cones from the first chill of fall to the last day of winter, and we always incorporate them as part of our Christmas decor, hanging them on the tree or piling them in a bowl. I've purchased the big bags of Cinnamon-scented pine cones before, but this year I…