Chocolate Hugs & Kisses

Finally have a moment to bake. In honor of the new year I decided chocolate overload was in order.

Triple Chocolate Cake box.

Chocolate glaze.

Chocolate buttercream.

Hershey's Kiss.

Pink sprinkles.

Made the cake as directed but subbed butter for oil and milk for water. I wanted to make these last night, but it's been so long since I've had a chance to bake that I got out of the habit of keeping sticks of butter at room temperature. I've got 5 stick out now... ready to go for the next experiment.

Anyway, I've mentioned before that I like to use the jumbo cupcake papers in the regular pan:

I love the little white collar that remains above the cupcakes... plus, it makes it possible to pool the glaze!

I winged the chocolate glaze. I didn't have the ingredients to make the Wilton Chocolate Glaze, so I made the confectioner sugar glaze and added a tbls of coco powder.

Next, chocolate buttercream. Okay, don't know if I've mentioned this... but I strongly believe that the key to buttercream icing is b-u-t-t-e-r. Many people will make buttercream with shortening. They do this because it doesn't spoil or need to be refrigerated... It also doesn't need to be consumed. (That's just my big ol' opinion.)

Add a kiss and sprinkles... and you are sure to get hugs.

Cocktail Balls

Finally Wilton has changed their home page... I am a little over Christmas cakes. They are now pushing cake balls... which is totally not as fun as the featured idea in the middle of the page, Cocktail Balls.

Kill Me Now. My life is complete. I am too immature to handle/pass up the chance to make a food called Cocktail Balls. These non-alcohol treats will be delivered to the office on Tuesday.

Photos to come (when I've actually made them).

So please, join me for Cocktail Balls on Tuesday (they will be labeled as cocktail bon-bons at the office.)

Te to the he.

Let's see how close to Wilton's picture I can hit, here's the goal:

Happy New Year!

2011, officially the year of amusements.