Dem Bones Sugar Cookies

Two years ago when I saw these cookies on the Sprinkle Bakes blog I knew I wanted to make them. So, I ran out and got the pan, put it away, and never gave it another thought until a couple of weeks ago when number one son came over to help me excavate the pantry, and there it was.

Thank goodness I got them made in time for Day of the Dead, even if I did come right down to the wire. Sadly, the bone pan is no longer available (Local readers are welcome to borrow mine.), but I had to post about these delicious cookies because this recipe from the back of the pan packaging is so good and such a dream to work with that doubtless you can use it for cut-out cookies or to fill another Wilton molded cookie pan. This dough and the glaze (and perhaps a sprinkling of sanding sugar for some sparkle) would work perfectly with the Wilton snowflake cookie pan, for example.

Dem Bones Sugar Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups confectioner's sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons white food color
1 tablespoon almond extract
Milk

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray pan cavities with baking spray.

Cream butter and sugar until well blended. Beat in egg and extracts; mix well. Combine flour and salt; add to butter mixture. Beat just until combined. Press dough into cavities, filling each 2/3 full. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light brown around the edges. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Turn pan over, lightly tap pan on counter and cookies will pop right out. Cool completely on a wire rack. Allow pan to cool before refilling it.

For glaze: Combine confectioner’s sugar, Icing Color, and almond flavoring in a large bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of milk and stir slowly with a wire whisk.  Gradually add more milk, a little at a time, until the mixture loosens and the glaze falls in a thick ribbon from a spoon. The mixture should not be so thick that it sits on top of the cookie and doesn’t run off the edges. Allow the cookies to dry (about 2 to 3 hours) before transferring them to an air-tight container for storage.

This post is linked to: Inspire Me Tuesday, Tuesdays At Our Home, Two Cup Tuesday, Celebrate Your Story

Make Party Favors in Less Than an Hour

If you, like me, enjoy setting a tasty little morsel at each place setting for your dinner guests to take home and enjoy later, then this project is definitely for you.  If you also, again, like me (obviously we are soul mates), like to have something in hand when you go to holiday parties, this is also for you.  There is just one tiny problem.  It requires the buying of a candy mold.  Now, this is not a sponsored post, no one asked me to write this, or sent me this wonderful candy mold although, people at Wilton! if you are listening, I LOVE stuff like this!!  But I digress…

Christmas Eve Day I took dinner to my dad, accompanied by my number two son and daughter-in-law.  I’m not gonna lie here, this has been a tough year and a difficult Christmas.  Despite the fact that this is the second one without my mom, there is still a giant void in both our lives and our celebrations.  To add to the angst, this year Mr. O-P is in the hospital as well.  I tried to make the dinner as festive as possible serving comfort food of Honey Baked Ham, Party Potato Casserole, Green Bean Casserole, salad, rolls, with luscious cupcakes for dessert provided by Andrew and Emma. 

As I was getting everything together that morning I knew something was lacking and that was in providing my usual favor.  Remembering that I had bought this mold, I grabbed it, washed it up, and followed the simple instructions. How cute are these?  And they are tasty, and they are so fast and easy that you will not believe it.

After the mold has been cleaned and thoroughly dried, place 30 candy melts in each section; I used both dark and light chocolate melts.

Pop the mold into the microwave and microwave for a minute at half power, then open the door of the microwave, give it a jiggle and microwave for an additional 30 seconds at half power.  Continue this process until the candy is melted and smooth.

Carefully remove to a flat surface and sprinkle the tops with colored sugar, toffee bits, nuts, coconut, dried fruit, or crushed peppermint (as I have done here).

Put it into the fridge, set the timer for 25 minutes and get something done.  When the 25 minutes are up, invert the mold and each candy will pop right out, resulting in crunchy peppermint on one side, and holiday greetings on the other.

Package them in clear cello bags, tie with a ribbon, and you have a cute, tasty favor in no time.  It’s too late for this year, but pin this to your “Christmas 2015” Pinterest board so you’ll be ready well in advance next year.  Now don’t you feel organized?  You’re welcome!

Merry Christmas everybody!!

This post is linked to:

Show and Tell Friday 

Friday Unfolded
Fridays Flash Blog
Simple and Sweet Fridays