Desserts for a Delightful Crowd

In November, the little sister of one of my very best friends was married in her home town of New Orleans. But, also being a Texas girl at heart, Emily had her bachelorette party here in Cowtown. I provided the desserts. Is this a great backdrop to sweets or what?


If there was a star of the show, it was these bride-requested red velvet and carrot cupcakes with mascarpone and cream cheese icing, topped with the couple's monogram.

These warmly spiced madeleines, a shell-shaped sponge cake-like cookie, and more savory rosemary orange madeleines were lightly dusted with powdered sugar.

Seriously. Rich and fudgy brownies. With perfectly ripe raspberries. No need for explanation.

The bottom tier is filled with french almond macarons, half filled with a strawberry buttercream topped with a strawberry puree and the other half filled with a soft caramel. The top tier is stacked up with homemade marshmallows: raspberry, chocolate, vanilla almond, and the big winner of the night, pumpkin spice.

I had a great time perfecting these recipes and am really looking forward to the next dessert-themed bash. Congratulations, Emily and Brandon. I would bake for you even if I didn't already like you so much.

Pretty Little Co-ed Wedding Showers

Happy nearly wedding to Dan and Lindsay B. I hope you enjoyed your elegant co-ed wedding shower sugar cookies on what may have been the most major downpour of the year in west central Fort Worth.

My husband and I surely enjoyed the leftovers!

Easter Never Gets Old

And neither do Easter cookies, really, though it's possible that is because they are never given the opportunity. I know the leftovers of this order were gobbled up by my family pretty quickly. I received an order for 4 dozen Easter cookies and immediately knew I would enjoy making these. Since I was without my in-house photographer, the pictures are scarce, much like the cookies by the following afternoon.

These sugar cookies are delicious and soft, covered in perfectly sweet royal icing decorations. Indeed, stacks and stacks of chicks, butterflies, tulips, and at least a dozen Easter eggs are a really fun way to celebrate the arrival of spring and salvation.

Engagement Cookies

I was pleasantly surprised by a sweet lady who ordered sugar cookies for an engagement party a few weeks back. She had clearly done her research into cookie ordering and I think these turned out just as she was hoping. We also recalled a good lesson when you're party-planning with the male species, Be Flexible! These little darlings went through a few changes before they finally got gussied up for the big night.

Packed up for their cross-town trip

By the way, these are made with a delicious and lightly sweet sugar cookie dough that takes a lot of a baker's self-control not to eat right out of the bowl. They are decorated with royal icing and marshmallow fondant.