Sweets for Santa

I can't believe Christmas is almost here.  Where has the time gone?  I feel like I just put all the decorations up.  Today and tomorrow, I'll be busy baking but I wanted to share a really cute cookie recipe.  You can find the recipe here at the cutest little things blog.

Aren't they cute?  It's a really good recipe too because the cookies didn't spread.  However, I used silpat liners and chilled them prior to baking.  Tint the dough in different colors and mold them into ear muffs, scarves, and hats with your hands.  To make the hair, push a small clump of dough through a clean garlic press and then place it on the unbaked cookie.  After baking, you add the eyes and rosy cheeks.

I love their little faces!  Mix a drop of red food coloring with water to dilute and brush the cheeks with a new paintbrush.  Instant charm!

Allie loves to bake and help out in the kitchen so I wasn't surprised when she wanted to enter the gingerbread house contest at school.  I couldn't help her at all with the decorating; it had to be her concept completely.  It warmed my heart to see her rolling out the fondant and cutting out little shapes all by herself.  She piped royal icing to glue it together and used lots of little candies to decorate.

Here she is at the table with her certificate of participation.  I'm so proud of my little first grader!

I hope everyone is having fun making last minute preparations.  Thank you for stopping by and have a Merry Christmas.

Linking to:

•           The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays