Miniature Cookie Cakes

I received some cute silicone bakeware two semesters ago and have recently been brainstorming how to actually use it. When I found out I would be babysitting at my apartment this evening, I decided to make cookies for us to decorate together. Chocolate chip cookies are the best thing ever. So, I put these three things together and decided to make shaped chocolate chip cookies.The cookie dough (here's a tip for chocolate chip cookies-add a teaspoon or two of cornstarch to the dough to give them that perfect chewy texture!) could just be applied straight to the pans. I placed them on a cookie sheet in the oven, baked for 10-12 minutes, and they came out beautifully with no mess.

I decided to make double layer cookie cakes for my Resident Assistant (RA) this semester and for my roommate who had a birthday this summer. I frosted one cookie and placed the other on top, just like a double layer cake. After frosting the outside, I used my VERY elementary piping skills to decorate. I really love how this one came out!Here's Morgan's double-layer-star-shaped-chocolate-chip-cookie-cake with tie-dye frosting hanging out in the fridge waiting for her to move in tomorrow.I frosted some cookies to give to my Resident Director (along with a bird card, of course!)And here's the rabbit cookies we decorated this evening!Ada had fun putting sprinkles on the cookies. . .And eating the sprinkles!!P.S. Just for information, I don't believe you actually have to have a Blogger account to comment on blogs. Not that I'm hinting or anything!

Valentine's Luncheon

Two Sundays ago my friend Morgan and I held a Valentine's Day luncheon for some of the actors we've been working with in our directing class. I spent most of Saturday baking and cleaning the house. I made a heart layer cake, a couple pans of cinnamon rolls, and an egg and cheese bake. Morgan rounded out the event with some hash browns. There were a few kinks in our plans. For one thing, the roll dough did a terrible job rising. (I suspect that old yeast may be the culprit!) Our hash browns turned black when they cooked (!) Apparently, potatoes oxidize if they're not submerged in cold water. You learn something new. . . They still tasted fine though :DHere is the cake!It's filled with chocolate mousse and strawberries which kept the cake really nice and moist. Thanks to my sister-in-law Naomi and culinary accidents for giving me this lovely frosting recipe that doubles as chocolate mousse and cake filling! The original recipe calls for an 8oz container of whipped topping, 1/4 cup cocoa, and 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar. Naomi accidentally put in a half cup of the cocoa and the sugar. The result was a decadently rich dark chocolate confection. I put it to good use this weekend! Here is my friend Priscilla later in the day eating chocolate mousse made from this very recipe (notice the adorable heart shaped tin!) Oh-I also spent Saturday making these chocolate favors for our guests. They were very simple to make and I was pleased with how well they turned out. I took a heart cookie cutter, greased the inside, and placed it on a plate covered with wax paper. I melted about 1/8 cup of chocolate chips in the microwave and emptied them into the cookie cutter. I covered the top of the chocolate with sprinkles. After letting the candies harden in the freezer for several minutes, I removed them and melted some white mint melting wafers in a Ziploc bag. From a small hole cut in the corner, I piped the names of our guests on the side of the chocolate not covered in sprinkles. They looked lovely and tasted good too!