Graduation

Biscoff Stuffed Puff Pastry Rolls

May 16, 2014 by Lynsey Leave a Comment

I am so excited to share today’s recipe with you! Not only is it simple, it is elegant, amazingly delicious, and would be the perfect addition to your dessert table at your next party. Another plus, they are only 3 ingredients, 4 if you sprinkle them with a little sugar.

These puff pastry rolls come together in a matter of minutes; it’s simply unrolling the puff pastry, spread the biscoff and roll. Then wait about 15 minutes and you’re ready to taste the most yummy dessert you’ve ever sunk your teeth into. The puff pastry is the perfect base to spread the sweet Biscoff spread on, and I topped it with few miniature dark chocolate chips. I had to practice self restraint with these little babies, and I’m sure you will too!

These rolls would also make cute diplomas at your graduation party. Simply tie a piece of twine, ribbon or rope around the center, line them on a platter and watch your guest be tickled at the presentation and then giddy with delight after devouring them.

A word of advice, I would definitely make a double…maybe a triple batch because these little rolls will fly off the table and your guests will be coming back for seconds and thirds.

Biscoff Stuffed Puff Pastry Diplomas

Ingredients:

1 Package puff pastry dough
1/2 Cup Biscoff spread
2 Tbsp mini chocolate chips
Sugar, for topping-optional

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

Unroll both sheets of puff pastry and cut each sheet into 4 squares. Place one tablespoon of biscoff on each square and spread evenly, leaving 1/4 inch of a border. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of the mini chocolate chips on each square. Roll square, semi-tight and pinch the edge to secure. Also, pinch the ends to secure, repeat with remaining squares.

Sprinkle with a touch of sugar, if desired. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove, allow to cool slightly and serve.

To make them look like diplomas, tie a ribbon around the center of each and place on a platter.

Recipe source: A Lynsey Original

Chocolate Pinata Graduation Cap Cookies

May 15, 2014 by Lynsey Leave a Comment

Graduation season is here and it’s in full swing. Parties are happening and graduates (of all ages) are being honored. In a matter of a few days and in the upcoming weeks graduates will be walking through their school campuses for the last time and walking across a stage in a crowd filled auditorium to collect their diplomas.

There are 2 symbols that are synonymous with this time of year; the diploma and the graduation cap. And the foods and desserts portray those symbols and are displayed in abundance. When I was looking around the internet trying to figure out what exactly I wanted to make to share with you, I found A LOT of cute ideas that proudly portrayed these symbols but I wanted to do a little something different. Something that still screamed graduation but something that wasn’t readily seen.

Then I saw it. I instantly knew that I wanted to, no, I HAD to make these. Chocolate cookies that were formed into graduation caps, but it didn’t stop there. They were like little pinatas and stuffed with mini M&M’s and then given candy tassels. These wouldn’t only be a fun addition to the dessert table, but a fun surprise to all who ate them.

Cookies alone are fun to eat, and they bring a smile to everyone’s face who partakes. But imagine getting a 3-D cookie that is filled with a surprise. Something unexpected and so fun! Just as many will have fun eating them, I had a blast making them. Rolling, cutting, sculpting and “gluing”; making and assembling these were so much fun.

These will definitely be crowd stoppers as well as conversation pieces at the celebration for your graduate. If you really wanted to customize them for your graduate, you could attach tassels in the school colors. You could even go one step further and fill them with candy in the school colors, too!

Chocolate Pinata Graduation Cap Cookies

Ingredients:

10 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 Cup granulated sugar
1 Egg
1/2 Tsp vanilla
1/3 Cup cocoa powder
1/4 Tsp baking powder
1/2 Tsp salt
1 3/4 Cup flour

1/2-3/4 Cup chocolate frosting, homemade or store bought
12 Scoops (about 1 tbsp) miniature candies
String candies, cut into strips
12 small candies

Directions:

In large bowl combine butter and sugar and beat on high to cream, about 2-3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and beat on high until incorporated and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes. In a bowl combine cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt and stir to combine. Add to wet ingredients and mix until incorporated. Add flour and mix to combine.

Roll the dough into a ball and warp in plastic wrap. Place in refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes to an hour.

Preheat oven to 375.

Once the dough has chilled, remove from refrigerator and place between two pieces of parchment paper. Roll out to 1/8 of an inch in thickness. Cut 24 (2 1/4 inch) circles and 12 (2 1/2 inch) squares. Place 12 circles and 12 squares on a baking sheet and place in the freezer to chill for 15 minutes. Place in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.

Cut a small pie piece out of the remaining 12 circles. Turn a mini muffin tin upside down and place the circles on the muffin cups, and wrap them around the cut, slightly pinching the pie piece to seal. Cut off any excess dough, if needed. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Immediately after removing from the oven, press the tops of each cookie with a spatula to create a flat surface. Allow the cups to cool, then gently remove from the tin.

To assemble-
Scoop tablespoon fulls of candy into each cup. Pipe a rim of chocolate around the edges of each of the flat circles and place over the cookie cup. Once the topped cups have set a few moments, turn over and place a dollop of frosting on the flat surface of the cookie cup and place the square cookie on the dollop of frosting.

For the tassel-place a little dot of frosting in the center of each square and attach the strips of candy. Place another dot of frosting on the tassels and secure the miniature candy.

Recipe source: Hungry Happenings
Cookie recipe adapted from Lila Loa

College Dorm Room Survival Basket

May 14, 2014 by Lynsey Leave a Comment

In a matter of a few months high school seniors will be gaining the title of college freshman. Along with that newly earned title, they’ll be learning their way around a new campus, meeting new friends and, of course, making their way to their new home away from home.

That means learning to make it own their own, and without all of the luxuries they had at their parent’s house. So to help the freshman transition to dorm room life a little more easily, a little “survival basket” will be a small answer to both the teen’s and parent’s prayers.

I’ve put together a simple little basket that includes a few of the many things that the new college attendee will need. This basket is a fun way to help prepare them for the road ahead and can include as many personalized goodies as you’d like to stuff in there. You could even take it a step further and coordinate it with colors of their new school…like Razorback red! Woo Pig Sooie!

This particular basket includes a few essentials along with some snacking goodies to get them through a few of their many late night cram sessions. I chose to take a large basket, with holes in the side, that could be used for a shower/toiletry caddie for them to take their essentials to the shower. This will particularly come in handy if they have a community shower versus a personal bathroom. Inside the basket is a smaller basket that can be used for smaller toiletries, pins, a few snacks or whatever else they’d like to throw in there. Along with that is a small hand towel, plastic cups, coffee (for those late night study sessions and early 8:00 a.m classes), chips, chocolate milk packets, granola bars, laundry detergent and softener, and gum.

The options are endless with these survival baskets; add a copy of Daphne Oz’s Dorm Room Diets to help them eat healthy, in a dorm room and on a budget. A set of hangers would come in handy, alarm clock, flashlight, first aid kit, shower shoes; the list goes on and on. Personalize to for the graduate you have in mind.

Graduation Oreo Cookie Pops

May 14, 2014 by Lynsey Leave a Comment

Oreo cookies are one of my all time favorite cookies, and I believe pretty much everyone of you out there would agree with me. At any point in the day, there’s nothing better than getting a couple of Oreos and a tall glass of ice cold milk and dunking those deliciously crunchy wafer cookies into milk and devouring them. What, if anything, could take this insanely delicious cookie up a notch? Well, coating it in white chocolate. And yes, Oreo’s also thought of that too.

Since it’s graduation time and everything’s cuter on a stick, and tastes better once it’s been enveloped in chocolate; I thought it would be a fun idea to make custom Oreo cookie pops with personalized messages to this years senior class. And, to add a pop of color they’ve been rolled in colorful sprinkles! To customize them even more you could use sprinkles that are the schools colors.

These would be a fun gift to give to guests who have attended your graduates party. Simply wrap them in a cellophane bag and tie with a cute ribbon in the school colors. These would also be a fun addition to the food table for the guest to snack on while they are at the party. No matter whether they’re favors or to snack on during they party, they’ll be a hit with the graduates and party guests!

Graduation Oreo Cookie Pops

Ingredients:

10 Oreo cookies
2 Cups white melting chocolate
10 Cake pop sticks
Sprinkles
Food Writing Pins or Royal frosting

Directions:

Line a clean work surface with wax paper. Carefully split the Oreos in half and lay them on the wax paper. Gently press the sticks in the center of the filling, being careful not to break the wafer. Place the chocolate in a microwave safe dish and heat in 20 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until completely melted.

Once the sticks are placed on the cookies, place half a teaspoon of melted chocolate on top of each stick and gently but firmly press the other wafer on the melted chocolate. Continue process with the remaining cookies. Allow to sit for a few minutes until the chocolate has set.

Meanwhile, place sprinkles in a shallow bowl. Once the chocolate has set, coat each cookie in the white chocolate. Roll the edges of the chocolate coated cookie in the sprinkles, set aside and allow to dry. Continue process with remaining cookies.

Once the chocolate has set, write messages on the cookie with pins or pipe with royal frosting.

Wrap in cellophane bags for favors or place in a stand or vase for a party.

Graduation Candy Gift Basket

May 13, 2014 by Lynsey Leave a Comment

It’s May; the school year is coming to an end and summer is almost upon us. Another thing that is right around the corner is graduation time. Senior rings and caps and gowns have been ordered, invitations have been sent, and senior parties and celebrations are taking place. In a matter of a few days seniors everywhere will be crossing the stage, shaking the principal’s hand and collecting their diplomas. Then it’s time for the next chapter to be written.

But, before they take off on their next journey it’s time to shower the graduates of 2014 with fun and gifts. From words of wisdom and encouragement to gifts of towels, dorm room supplies, money and much more. These graduates will be showered with it all.

I have a gift to share with you that is fun, easy and suitable for every graduate. This is a perfect gift for the graduates that already have it all or those that you’re just uncertain what to get them. This idea simply takes a cute and encouraging poem and pairs it with a bucket full of candy. Now who wouldn’t love that?

I had some individuals eyes these buckets as I was putting them together, so I’m sure they’ll be a hit for any of the individuals that receive them. Congratulations to all the 2014 graduates and good luck!

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