Gobble Gobble

German Themed Cookies

 

Smile!

 

Dog themed Birthday



Collie and Yellow Lab Sugar Cookies

Two-layer Yellow Cake with Chocolate Buttercream

Christmas and New Year's Ordering

If you'd like to place an order for Christmas, please be sure to email me your order by Wednesday, 12/18.  If you'd like an order for New Year's, please let me know by Sunday, 12/22.  Simply send me an email at catesbites@gmail.com.

Just a reminder that I have seasonal offerings for the holiday season.  Additionally, I am offering the following:

9" Chocolate Peppermint Cake: Four layers of chocolate cake filled with a decadent chocolate ganache, white chocolate peppermint cream and topped with a fluffy peppermint marshmallow frosting $40

9" Chocolate Salted Caramel Cake: Four layers of rich chocolate cake filled with chocolate ganache and salted caramel.  The cake is iced in a dark chocolate ganache frosting $40

Chocolate Peppermint Cake - $40

 

Chocolate Salted Caramel Cake - $40

 

Latest Creations

I've been a bit busy on the cookie decorating front these past couple of weeks. I have a bit of quiet time until it's go time for Thanksgiving. I'm excited to plan the menu for desserts!

What do you have in mind for Thanksgiving dinner? Have you given it thought?

 

 

 

 

Fall and Winter Offerings

I've added some fun new items to the menu for the upcoming holiday season.  These treats will be available to order from October 1 - January 1.

9" Pies - $12-18 each

Pumpkin

Pecan

Apple
Caramel apple
Lemon meringue

Sweet potato

Other treats:

Apple crisp - $12
Pumpkin bread (available plain, with nuts, cranberries or raisins) - $8

Pumpkin whoopie pies - $18/dozen

Chocolate peppermint whoopie pies - $18/dozen

Pumpkin cheesecake: Buttery cookie crust with a smooth and creamy pumpkin cheesecake filling - $30

Chocolate pumpkin cake: Two-layer 8" chocolate pumpkin cake frosted with a delicious buttercream frosting and topped with a velvety chocolate ganache - $25

Please visit the ordering section for more ordering and pricing information.

Racing Themed Birthday Cookies

Graduation Cookies

Cherry Vanilla Cake

Hi! Just a quick post to show you the most amazing cake I've ever made and eaten! The full recipe can be found on www.sprinklebakes.com.

Strawberry Margarita

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  I have a delicious margarita recipe to share with you, so I'll just get right to it!

Strawberry Margarita
Serves: 2

1/2 cup lime juice (about three limes)
1/2 cup strawberry puree (recipe below)
1/2 cup margarita mix (I used homemade, recipe below)
6 oz. tequila
Ice

Combine all ingredients in a jar or cocktail shaker and combine.  Best served on the rocks.

Strawberry Puree
2 cups sliced strawberries
2 tsp agave

Combine berries and agave in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.  You can remove the seeds by placing the puree in a fine mesh sieve, but I don't mind the seeds and just left them in the puree.

Margarita Mix
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups water
Juice and zest of one orange, lime, and lemon

Combine ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat until the mixture comes to a slow boil and the sugar is dissolved.  Strain to remove the zest and chill.

Jumbo Bakery Style Cookies

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty picky when it comes to everything cookies. Some would even call me a snob... And they wouldn't be wrong! I have been burned too many times by cookies from a bakery that look delicious, but end up tasting horrible. I like a combo of a chewy and crispy cookie and this recipe delivers on both!

The original recipe calls for all-purpose (AP) flour and two cups of chocolate chips, but this time I decided to use half whole wheat and half AP flour.  I also used a combination of butterscotch and semi-sweet chips as well as mini-marshmallows. I've also made these with a combo of peanut butter and milk chocolate chips.  That's what's so great about this recipe - The possibilities are endless.

You can certainly make these cookies "normal" sized, but I love how big these are.  People seem very impressed when they see these on a cookie tray.  This recipe has come be to my go-to recipe.  I urge you to make these soon.

For the recipe, please visit Picky Palate.

Enjoy!

Refreshing Grapefruit Cocktail

The warm whether we've had caused me to crave a light and refreshing cocktail! I had a grapefruit and lime that needed to be used quickly. At first, I thought of a grapefruit margarita, but realized I didn't have any tequila.  I decided that gin would be the perfect choice.  I know some people detest gin, but I love it!

This is a light, crisp, and refreshing cocktail and you should go make it now!  I don't have exact measurements listed because everyone's tastes are different.  Depending on how sweet your grapefruit is, you may or may not need to add the sugar.  I also like the taste of the pineapple because it doesn't overpower the crispness of the grapefruit.  Make this now.  :)

Refreshing Grapefruit Cocktail
Serves: 1

Juice from 1 pink grapefruit
Juice from 1 lime
Splash of pineapple juice
Sprinkle of sugar
Ice

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake until combined.  Best served over ice.  Enjoy!

Luck of the Irish!

Happy belated St. Patrick's Day!

Ahoy! Brendan Turns 5!

My nephew Brendan turned 5 this past weekend and he had a pirate themed party. Take a look at the cookies I created!

Popcorn Sugar Cookies

I had the pleasure of making sugar cookie favors for an adorable little boy's 4th birthday party. He and his friends had a special movie day planned, so his mom requested popcorn sugar cookies.

Since I didn't have a popcorn box cookie cutter, I ended up using two different cutters to get the shape I wanted. I started off with a beer mug cutter. I cut off the handle as well as the "head". I then used a flower shaped cutter to use as the popcorn. I cut out part of the mug using the flower cutter so that the two pieces would fit. I've never done this before, so I made sure to bake extra in case they fell apart. I'm glad I did, because three or four did end up breaking!

I started off by outlining and filling the boxes using red and white stripes.  I let those dry overnight.  I decided to use ivory and yellow to make the popcorn more realistic.  I really like how the popcorn turned out! I did this part of the cookie in layers so that there would be more texture. The last step was adding an oval to the box with the number four.  I think this tied in the whole cookie. 

I'm really pleased with how they looked when done and I think the birthday boy enjoyed them too! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you all enjoyed a day full of love, fun, and chocolate!

XO,
Cate ❤

Almond Joy Truffles

Valentine's Day is two days away and it's a day for spoiling my friends and family with homemade treats. I found a recipe for coconut truffles on one of my favorite blogs - How Sweet It Is. I followed the recipe almost exactly. The only difference is I topped my truffles with an almond before I enrobed them in chocolate. They are super simple and a tad messy (as you can see in the photo!), but I highly recommend making these.

How do you like to spoil your loved ones on Valentine's?

Cookie Butter Cups

Oh heeyy! I've been snowed in for almost 30 hours and I'm bored out. of. my. mind! What is a girl to do when she's stuck in the house for days? Make candy, of course! Most people stock up on bread, milk, and eggs when a blizzard is on its way. I, on the other hand, stock up on butter, sugar, and chocolate!

With not much else to do than watch the storm coverage (yes, I looked out my window and see it's snowing, thankyouverymuch), I decided I'd make some treats for the special Valentines in my life! At first I planned on making peanut butter cups, but remembered I had a jar of cookie butter in the pantry. I immediately changed my mind and decided to make cookie butter cups. Instead of just using cookie butter for the center, I decided to add some Rice Krispies for crunch and I think it was the perfect addition!

These were really simple to make and I think they'll make a yummy addition to my Valentine treat boxes... That is, if they last until the 14th! ❤

Cookie Butter Cups

Adapted from Iowa Girl Eats

Iowa Girl says her recipe yields 24, but I had lots of extra filling.  I will make more once I get around to melting more chocolate.  :)  I ended up putting chocolate in the cup, adding some of the cookie butter mixture and topping with more chocolate.  I put the cups in the fridge for about an hour to completely set.  Store in fridge.

Happy 2013 - Healthy Recipe Roundup!

Happy New Year!  If you're anything like me, you try to start the year off right with some healthier eating.  I've recapped some of my favorites from over the years.  After looking through some of my older posts, I found some recipes I'd forgotten about and haven't made in a while.  A couple of these recipes will definitely be on the menu over the next month or so.

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili

Summer Shrimp Scampi

Spinach and Basil Pesto

Chicken Sausage with Apples

Shrimp Fried Rice - Under 500 Calories!

Pumpkin Oat Pancakes

Strawberry and Greek Yogurt Stuffed French Toast

I hope you try some of these recipes soon.  Have a safe and happy 2013!