Holiday Treats and Sweets

It's that time of the year to enjoy the holidays with family and friends...Christmas or from my last post, Festivus! What brings friends and family members happily fighting and conversing at the dinner table more than anything else? The delectable sweets, which can be bought in store or made in your very own kitchen (because let's face it, anything sweet, fun, unique, and of the holiday spirit will make anyone run head first to the desserts) are sure to make anyone light up with joy!

My take on the very classic chocolate chip cookie turned into a rather festive kind...I give you the Dark chocolate chips and walnuts Peppermint cookie!

Inspired by a recipe I found for Chocolate chip Peppermint cookies, I wanted something a bit more flavorful and because my sweet tooth always calls for dark chocolate, it just had to be done. While intensely addicting due to the walnuts, dark chocolate, peppermint AND butter, this cookie puts you in the holiday spirit no matter what. Homemade is surely the way to go.

But of course my holiday baking extravaganza does not just stop at cookies. With all the baking supplies I have lying around, I was inspired to whip up something crazy (yeah...right...crazy..pshh): Matcha green tea and chestnut cupcakes with a matcha green tea frosting. Voila!

My love for gluten free products extends to the baking products I use. To be completely honest, I admire those who are gluten free bakers because gluten free products do not give you the same consistency as when you use normal unbleached all purpose flour. My chestnut flour, as gluten free as you can get flour to be, gave a consistency that was unlike any other. Knowing that my cupcake batter was not the right smooth consistency like a normal cupcake batter, I was nervous. Freaked out, actually. But before giving up completely, I decided to improvise to give it some moisture (or rather some life). Popped those suckers into the oven and bazinga! (see final product above). Christmas/ Festivus/ all around holiday baking has COMMENCED!