Heather Baird's Blog, page 69

Gift This! Five Spice Candied Pecans

Beep-beep! Special delivery for all those on Santa's 'nice' list!

These salty-sweet pecans make great little stocking stuffers (or for stuffing into your purse when you're marathon Christmas shopping and need a snack - guilty!). These start out on the stovetop for a quick toss in a brown sugar-spice mixture, and then they're finished in the oven. Your kitchen will smell heavenly during this process, and the most difficult part is trying not to eat all of them before you get them packaged for gift giving.
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Gift This! Instant Eggnog Mix

I suppose I should tell you that's there's not one egg in this nog, but believe me when I tell you that it's truly delicious and pretty close to the genuine article. It's not quite as thick as the original, but it's close! This instant mix keeps for up to six months, so if you're like me and crave eggnog after it's gone from grocery store shelves, then you'll appreciate this recipe!
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Gift This! Double Chip Chocolate Cookie Mix

Hello December! 
This month I'm trying something new. I think homemade gifts are the best gifts, so each day from now until Christmas I'll post a new gift-worthy treat that's easy to make and delightful to give. I'm so excited to share all the sweet things I've cooked up. First up - one of my favorite cookie mixes!
Homemade baking mixes are so convenient at Christmastime. It cuts the dough prep work in half, and that's especially nice if you have little ones that want to help you bake Christmas cookies. It's a great way to create special memories without turning your kitchen upside-down. 
This baking mix is a little more awesome that most - not only because it's delicious and super chippy, but because the mix yields about 4 dozen cookies. That's plenty to share! It's perfect for busy folks with upcoming cookie swaps or multiple holiday parties to attend. Continued, click to read more...

Owl Butter Cookies for The Etsy Blog!

How cute are these guys?  I can't help but giggle at them a little. I had them sitting on the kitchen counter on a serving plate and their eyes would follow me as I worked in the kitchen. They didn't stay there too long though! These cookies are irresistible with their buttery flavor and soft texture.
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Peppermint Checkerboard Sandwich Cookies

There's a very good reason why I'm posting this Christmas cookie well before Thanksgiving. Better Homes and Gardens is preparing to hold the "World's Largest Cookie Exchange" and they asked me if I'd like to join the festivities. There was only one answer: Heck.Yes. I imagine arranging such a thing takes a lot of time and organization, so no wonder the participants have been asked to post their recipes early. No harm in getting a head start to your holiday cookie plans anyway, right?

I've always wanted to try my hand at checkerboard cookies, and I felt this was a great opportunity to just go for it. It's not as difficult as it looks! I think you'll be surprised at how easily they come together.
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Ricotta Fig Phyllo Cups for BHG and a Book Giveaway!

Today I'm sharing a recipe from the Sea Salt Sweet cookbook on the Better Homes and Gardens blog. It's such an easy little treat to make - pretty too. Phyllo cups are filled with sweetened ricotta cheese, figs, walnuts and then drizzled with honey. I use fresh figs when they're in season, but sliced pears are a good alternative.
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Double Frosted Salted Caramel Mocha Cake

Hello from the land of salty and sweet!

First of all, my new book Sea Salt Sweet launched yesterday! I'm sure most of you know that already, but if you weren't aware then you should know I'm hosting an awesome giveaway that includes copies of the book, gourmet sea salts, a beautiful Mosser Jadeite cake stand and one of my favorite kitchen tools - a Vitamix! So hop on over and enter for a chance to win!

Now let's discuss this cake. This cake!
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It's Here! The Sea Salt Sweet Book and a Giveaway!

Today’s the day!

It’s the official release date of  Sea Salt Sweet: The Art of Using Salts for the Ultimate Dessert Experience . And wow –what a delicious year it’s been baking and writing this book. I can’t wait for you to bake from it, too.


At heart, this book is about creating fantastic, memorable desserts by combining the ultimate flavor combination: salt and sweet. I give sea salts special focus because they are flavorful and more widely available than ever before! All of the recipes focus on using salt in a mindful way to produce desserts with true 'wow' factor. The following composite picture is just a small sampling of the types of recipes you'll find in the book (those brownies - omg!).

L to R: Double Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownies; Lemon Pie with Soda Cracker Crust;
Buttered Popcorn Panna Cotta; Chocolate Chunk Kettle Chip CookiesToday we’re celebrating this book launch with cake and presents , which is pretty much how I celebrate every special occasion (no sense in breaking tradition, right?). Plus, a few of my blogging friends are helping me spread the word by giving away copies of the book, too! Be sure to click the links at the end of this post for more chances to win. Some bloggers even made recipes, so you can get a closer look at some of the sweets.

Here's what's in store for a few lucky readers!
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Watercolor and Gold Leaf Cake DIY Kit

Hi friends, today I have something super fun and exciting to share!

One of my favorite trends in the confection world right now is the beautiful aesthetic of watercolor and gold leaf together. Watercolor technique has been popping up all over the web on all kinds of sweets: cupcakes, cookies, celebration cakes, wedding cakes - you name it! You may even remember the watercolor cake I decorated earlier this year (if you haven't picked up Sweetapolita's Bakebook yet, you definitely should!).

Brit and Co. asked if I'd help them put together a Watercolor Gold Leaf Cake Kit. This kit has all the tools you need to create a beautiful watercolor cake of your own - but no need to stop at cakes! You can use it on all kinds of different sweets. I love that the kit comes with everything you need - food colors, brushes, extracts, and especially gold leaf, which can be hard to find and rather expensive at specialty shops. The best thing? You can re-use all the supplies over and over again!


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Mascarpone Stuffed Fresh Figs and a Fair Trade Giveaway!

October is in full effect here with falling leaves, overcast skies, and chilly weather countered by many cups of hot tea brewed with my electric teakettle. This atmosphere makes me long to bake bread, but alas, I have no kitchen. Temporarily. But seriously - take a look. I'm going through baking withdrawals already. However, there are a few sweet bites to be made and enjoyed without the virtue of an oven, like these Mascarpone Stuffed figs I've made for Fair Trade Month.

Yes! It's Fair Trade Month, which means I've got a box full of Fair Trade goodies to give away to one lucky reader! If you've been reading this blog for very long, then you know each year I love to promote this worthwhile cause (see previous entries here, here, here and here). In a nutshell, buying Fair Trade means Buying Fair Trade means you’re getting quality products and the people who grow, sew and craft them get a fair deal for their hard work. In fact, your everyday purchases can help farmers and factory workers in 70 countries work in safe conditions, earn extra money to invest in their communities and improve the lives of their families.


Coffee, drinking chocolate, chocolate chips, chocolate spread... this year's box may be the best yet! 
To enter,  just leave a comment at the bottom of this blog post with what you'd love to make with these Fair Trade goodies.
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