Runs on Coffee and Cream

I have to share the most amazing and creative gingerbread creations I've ever seen. My fellow IGGPPC staff member, Rosa, is a whiz at gingerbread creations. Don't believe me? Take a look at some of her finished work. If you click on each title you can see more photos from these finished projects.

Hogsmeade at Christmas



Jurassic World



This Is Halloween



Crazy, right? Go and check out more of her gingerbread creations at Gingerbread Sagas.

xo Jen

5. Once cookies are completely cool, melt chocolate chips in microwave in a microwave-safe bowl. I added in the chips a little bit at a time and microwaved in 20 second intervals and stirred vigorously in between to prevent burning the chocolate.

6. Once you have the consistency you like, dip cookies in white chocolate and place on wax paper to dry. If you want sprinkles, add them at this point while the chocolate is still wet.



7. Let the cookies harden completely before packing them in a container. You may want to put the cookies in the refrigerator to help harden the chocolate.


These are by far one of my favourite ginger cookies I've ever had. Slightly chewy and very spicy. The chocolate adds a nice bit of sweetness to them, but I think the next time I make these I'll omit the chocolate. They're the perfect compliment to a cup of coffee or tea.

And now that I have leftover molasses on hand, be prepared for all the gingerbread recipes!

xo Jen

Certain foods and flavours just scream 'Christmas' to me.... gingerbread, eggnog, cranberry, shortbread, peppermint. Any recipe that contains one or more of these flavours is usually considered a holiday recipe to me. I've been falling in love with some holiday recipes on Pinterest lately. These recipes are definitely giving me ideas for my holiday baking this month!

Umm I seriously don't know where November went. It was a great month filled with prepping for Christmas, and other fun adventures.

Let's start the November pictures off with our Jack-O-Lantern from Halloween... He got a little soggy on our balcony and turned into an old man:

Snow showed up:




Target opened and I bought so many Christmas items:


I've been stocking up on gingerbread things (see previous picture too):

I reorganized my craft room and sewed up a bunch of pouches: 


We went to Hamilton for a weekend where we hit up Kool Stuff and went to a wedding: 


The photo booth was so much fun at the wedding: 

I mailed away SO many Etsy orders this past month!! And a few IGGPPC packages:

I bought stamps for the Holiday Card Swap and they're so adorable:

Logan being a handsome boy:

A cleaning session:


Did you enjoy November? It's exciting that tomorrow is December and there's only 25 days until Christmas (ahhhh!). I have baking plans and a date with a Christmas movie and a stack of holiday cards this week.
 xo Jen

As Winter settles in and Christmas gets closer, I'm still loving and enjoying all pumpkin-flavoured goodies. But, at this time of year, gingerbread starts to take over my heart.... cookies, cupcakes, lattes, and now doughnuts! After my craft show today me and Mary headed over to Tim Hortons to pick up their new gingerbread doughnut. And let me just say that it was delightful! It's so good and the glaze on top compliments the gingerbread flavour perfectly!

Next week me and Adam will be decorating our gingerbread house which has become a tradition for us. And after finding some amazing recipes on Pinterest, I will definitely be making a batch of gingerbread cupcakes this month too.

How amazing are these houses?!?



Gingerbread and Egg Nog cupcakes? Yes please!


Gingerbread Latte Cupcakes


It's late, but I have a date with a Christmas album and some Christmas decorations!
xo Jen

I have been baking up a storm lately! We always have homemade cookies on hand and with Valentine's Day coming up, I tend to bake a bit more than usual because I know how much the Mr. likes homemade sweets.

For my grandparents' 50th Wedding Anniversary party I made chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting. They turned out pretty yummy but I'm having a hard time finding a perfect chocolate cupcake recipe... they tend to be a bit dry. Either way, all the cupcakes were eaten up at the party.



There was a decent amount of frosting leftover so I made up a batch of gingerbread whoopie pies that I received as a gift for Christmas. I used the first mix from the box to make whoopie pies almost a month ago and I filled the whoopie pie pan (yes, I have a pan for them) too full. They were so fluffy!



Ridiculously tall, but yummy!



The second time around? Much better! I also preferred my vanilla buttercream over the mix they give you in the box. I think piping the frosting in the middle looks much nicer as well.



Last weekend I did make cookies which turned out to be so good. Too good. I cannot stop eating them. I have a recipe I use all the time. I just mix up the sweet stuff - raisins, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, etc. - to change them up. These are my favourite.

White Chocolate-Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter or margarine (I used 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups quick or old-fashioned oats
1 cup dried, sweetened cranberries
1 cup mini white chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in oats, dried cranberries and chocolate chips.

Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake for 7-8 minutes for chewy cookies. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes, remove to wire racks to cool completely. Makes approx. 4 dozen cookies.



They are sooo good! I highly recommend trying this recipe. Using applesauce makes the cookies so much fluffier and lighter as well. The rest of this month will be another bakeathon for me! Between Valentine's Day and 2 birthdays for special ladies in my life, I have a lot to make.

xo Jen