Eggnog Gingerbread Layer Cake #ChristmasSweetsWeek #Sponsored

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sweets & Treats, LorAnn, and Dixie Crystals, 
#ChristmasSweetsWeek sponsors. I received complimentary product for the purpose of review and recipe development, 
but all opinions are honest and they are my own. This page may contain affiliate links.

Well, we're at the end of #ChristmasSweetsWeek! Much gratitude to Terri of Love and Confections and Christie of A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures for coordinating this amazing event. Not only did they keep all of us bloggers organized, but they lined up some great sponsors. Please visit my kick-off post for information about the prizes and to enter the giveaway. You may also enter at the bottom of this post. Good luck!

And now for the final line-up of Christmas Sweets...

Beverages

• Frozen White Hot Chocolate from Jonesin' For Taste
• Instant Pot Peppermint Hot Chocolate from The Crumby Kitchen
• Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate from Rants From My Crazy Kitchen
• Salted Caramel Mocha Latte from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks

Breakfast

• Cranberry Breakfast Cake from Family Around the Table
• Easy Homemade Eggnog Pancakes from Love and Confections

Candies

• Grinch Rice Krispie Treats from Cheese Curd in Paradise
• Homemade Fudge from Juggling Act Mama
• Pecan Rum Balls from Take Two Tapas

Desserts

• Eggnog Gingerbread Layer Cake from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Italian Anise Biscotti from Blogghetti
• No Bake Gingerbread Cheesecake from Daily Dish Recipes
• Orange Meltaways from An Affair from the Heart
• Snowman Christmas Cake from The Redhead Baker
• Snowmen Macarons from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures

Eggnog Gingerbread Layer Cake

So, I can admit that this is the third gingerbread layer cake I made. The cake part was fine, but the frosting and decorations needed a little work. Thankfully, my tastetesters were game and didn't tire of it! And I finally did make a cake that not only tastes good, but looks good, too.

In this recipe I used sugar from Dixie Crystals, eggnog flavoring from LorAnn Oils, and fun sprinkles from Sweets & Treats*. Again, it's great to have such generous event sponsors.

Ingredients

Cakes (makes two 9" rounds)

• 1-1/4 C butter, room temperature
• 1 C unsulphured molasses
• 3/4 C granulated sugar (prefer Dixie Crystals)
• 3/4 C light brown sugar, lightly packed (prefer Dixie Crystals)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 t pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 t eggnog flavoring (prefer LorAnn)
• 3 C flour
• 1-1/2 t baking powder
• 1-1/2 t baking soda
• 1 T ground ginger
• 2 t ground cinnamon
• 1 t ground nutmeg
• 1/2 t ground allspice
• 1/2 t ground cardamom
• 1/4 t ground cloves
• 1/4 t ground fresh black pepper
• 1 C eggnog

Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting

• 12 oz cream cheese, softened
• 12 oz butter, softened
• 1/2 C  light brown sugar, lightly packed (prefer Dixie Crystals)
• 1 t pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 t eggnog flavoring (prefer LorAnn)
• 3-1/2 C powdered sugar (prefer Dixie Crystals)
• 3 T eggnog

To Finish

• sprinkles (prefer Sweets & Treats)
• Spiced Eggnog Sugarmen cookies 

Procedure

Cakes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and line two 9" round cake pans with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until lightened and fluffy. Add in the molasses and sugars. Continue beating until well-combined. Beat in the eggs and extracts.

In medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices until combined. Alternating between the dry ingredients and the eggnog, mix everything together to form a thick batter.

Divide batter between prepared cake pans. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center of the pan should come out clean or with crumbs, but not batter.

Allow cakes to cool for 10 minutes and then run a butter knife around the rim of the cake pan to loosen from the sides. Allow cakes to cool completely in pan before inverting and icing.

Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and cream cheese. Beat in the brown sugar until well-combined. Add in the extracts, then gradually add powdered sugar to mixture. Beat until mixture is lightened.

To Finish

Once cakes have cooled, scoop a dollop of frosting between layers. Then apply an even layer on the top of the cake and sides of the cake. Sprinkle to decorate as desired. And, just before serving, press the cookies to the top and sides of the cake. Don't adhere them too early as they will get soggy.

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#ChristmasSweetsWeek products 

included in this recipe...

You may find Dixie Crystals on the web, 

on Twitter, on Pinterest, on Instagram, and on Facebook.

You may find Sweets & Treats on the web, 

on Twitter, on Pinterest, on Instagram, and on Facebook.

You may find LorAnn Oils on the web, 

on Twitter, on Pinterest, on Instagram, and on Facebook.

*DISCLAIMER: Thank you ChristmasSweetsWeek Sponsors: Dixie Crystals, Cabot Cheese, Lorann Oils & Flavors, Torani, Joyjolt, and Sweets & Treats Boutique for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for ChristmasSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are my own. The ChristmasSweetsWeek giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 & up. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Six (6) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. The ChristmasSweetsWeek Bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the ChristmasSweetsWeek posts or entry.

A French Winophiles Fête: Foie Gras, Pain d'Épices & Champagne Drappier #Winophiles #vignoblessignatures #clubvignobles #Sponsored

This is a sponsored post written by me in conjunction with the December #Winophiles event.

Wine samples were provided for this post and this page may contain affiliate links.

This month, Lynn of Savor the Harvest, is hosting the French Winophiles as we celebrate the holidays French-style. You can read her invitation: here. Merci beaucoup to Michèle Piron, Vinconnexion, and Vignobles & Signatures, our generous event sponsors!

I received four beautiful bottles of French wine and will share all of them in turn, but for this French Winophiles Fête, I'm sticking with a quintessential classic: Champagne. This bottle from one of the event sponsors Drappier.

There were more than a few discussions of what makes something 'French-style'. And you can see the outcome. If you are reading this early enough and are so inclined, join us on a live Twitter chat: Saturday, December 15th at 8am Pacific. Or search for the hashtag - #Winophiles - and read all the posts. These will come online live between Friday and Saturday. Cheers.

Here's the #Winophiles' French-Style Season offerings...

• Camilla from Culinary Adventures with Camilla whips up A French #Winophiles Fête: Foie Gras, Pain d’Épices & Champagne Drappier.
• Jill shares from L’Occasion shares How To Bring French Holiday Traditions Home.
• Gwen at Wine Predator has Season’s Greetings French-Style.
• Wendy at A Day InThe Life On The Farm gives us A Holiday Gathering with French Foods and Wines.
• Martin at ENOFYLZ Wine Blog  shares A Taste of French Inspired Holiday Food and Wine.
• Deanna from Asian Test Kitchen tells writes about Ants Climb a Tree with French Wine.
• Lauren at The Swirling Dervish tells us about Parisian Holiday: A Few of My Favorite Things.
• Michelle of Rockin Red Blog writes about A French-Inspired Holiday Alsatian Style.
• Kat from Bacchus Travel and Tours writes about Noel en Provence.
• Jeff from FoodWineClick! discusses What is French-Style Season?
• Payal writes at Keep The Peas shares Bonnes Fêtes à la #Winophiles.
• Robin at Crushed Grape Chronicles entices us with Un repas de Noël pour les fêtes de fin d’année (A Christmas Dinner for the end of the year celebrations)…with wine.
• David Crowley from Cooking Chat shares Festive Pairings for Pouilly-Fumé and Other Special French Wine,
• Lyn writes at L.M. Archer tells us about The Hedonistic Taster: French-Style Season Edition.
• Jane cooks things up at Always Ravenous shares A French Inspired Winter Dinner.
• Nicole from Somms Table shares Crocus l’Atelier Malbec de Cahors with Château Mercuès Saffron Chicken Soup.
• Liz from What’s In That Bottle tells us how to Frenchify Your Festivities with Fun Wines.
• Rupal from Journeys of a Syrah Queen shares French Inspired Holiday Wines.
• And on Savor the Harvest, Lynn shares how to Give a Little Touche Française to Your Holiday.

Foie Gras

As for me, I decided to do something I love: combining sweet and savory. And I also decided to do something I don't usually do: eat foie gras. Don't get me wrong, it's not the foie gras controversy that keeps me away (remember, my state of residence has banned foie on and off for years); it's just not something I usually buy. In fact, when something is banned - say a book or a food product - I am more apt to hunt it down and partake. Really. Besides, many a French holiday meal typically starts off with foie gras.

You might ask: is it ethical to eat foie gras? I say, yes. In this country, foie gras is produced by just a handful of farmers who have the highest of standards and practices for their animals. This foie gras is from Hudson Valley. If you're curious, you can google them. They have some nice clips about their process. And when compared to the mass-produced nightmare that is factory farmed meat, foie gras looks idyllic.

Pain d'Épices

I've had foie gras seared. And I've had it with a slice of toasted brioche. I love that combination. But when I read about pairing an unctuous slice of liver with grilled gingerbread slices, pain d’épices, I was sold. I made small gingerbread squares, places seared foie gras on top of the cookies, then added a smear of lemon marmalade for a rich, spicy, tart holiday nibble.

Ingredients makes lots more cookies than needed!

• 1 C butter
• 1 C organic dark brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 C unsulphured molasses
• 6 C flour + more as needed
• 1 C ground almond meal (or almond flour)
• 2 T baking powder
• 1 T ground ginger
• 2 t ground cinnamon
• 1 t ground nutmeg
• 1 t ground cloves
• 1/2 t ground allspice
• 1/2 t ground white pepper
• 1/2 t ground cardamom
• Also needed: cookie cutters (I used a small rectangle), parchment paper, rolling pin

Procedure

Melt the butter and whisk in the molasses, sugar, and eggs. Add dry ingredients and blend till you have a stiff dough. Split dough into quarters and roll into a ball. Wrap tightly with plastic and refrigerate for at least an hour. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll out dough between two pieces of parchment paper to about 1/4" thick. Use cookie cutters and place the cookies on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Place the trays in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes before baking.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes, depending on thickness. They should be firm and nicely browned. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for a minute or so before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat process with remaining dough. 

Champagne Drappier

Drappier is a Champagne producer based in the Urville region of Champagne, at the heart of the Côte des Bar. Founded at the beginning of the 19th century, Drappier Champagne produces both vintage and non-vintage cuvee. And this one - Brut Nature - is a no added sulphur, 100% Pinot Noir wine.

To the eye, it's a beautiful golden color with flecks of rose. On the nose, I get citrus. And, on the tongue, it has a generous array of herbs and stone fruit. This is a lovely Champagne that paired beautifully with the foie gras.

And because I didn't want to leave the boys out of this fête, I tracked down some sparkling apple-pear juice from France.

Two more things are needed for a truly fabulous French-style feast, in my opinion: cheese and dessert. So, in addition to the foie gras, I served warmed Camembert with slices of bread. That's always a hit. 

And for a truly French-style seasonal dessert, I would present a Bûche de Noël. I didn't make one for this post, but we make one every year for our Christmas baby. And you really can't go wrong with a Bûche de Noël. Ever. This was our Nutty Bûche de Noël from a couple of years ago. And the one below was posted here.

Well, that's a wrap on our 2018 French Winophiles event. Thanks to all the bloggers who have sipped, posted, and taught me so many things this year. Join us, again, in January when we are exploring the Biodynamic Wines of France with Gwen of Wine Predator leading the conversation. À Notre Santé...Joyeuses Fêtes!

Spiced Eggnog Sugarmen #ChristmasSweetsWeek #Sponsored

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sweets & Treats, LorAnn, and Dixie Crystals, 
#ChristmasSweetsWeek sponsors. I received complimentary product for the purpose of review and recipe development, 
but all opinions are honest and they are my own. This page may contain affiliate links.

Well, we're almost at the end of #ChristmasSweetsWeek! Much gratitude to Terri of Love and Confections and Christie of A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures for coordinating this amazing event. Not only did they keep all of us bloggers organized, but they lined up some great sponsors. Please visit my kick-off post for information about the prizes and to enter the giveaway. You may also enter at the bottom of this post. Good luck!

One of the event sponsors - Sweets & Treats - offered us some festive sprinkles and I immediately picked their Reindeer Food collection which includes gingerbread man quins, red sugar pearls, brown jimmies, white nonpareils, and other classic sprinkles. It's so fun and was the perfect bling for my Spiced Eggnog Sugarmen.

Another sponsor - LorAnn Oils - offered us super-strength oils and I picked my favorite holiday flavor: eggnog! These super strength oils are 4 times as potent as extracts, so adjust accordingly.

But, first, here are today's Christmas Sweets...

Beverages

• Bourbon Salted Caramel Coffee with Whipped Cream from With Two Spoons
• Chocolate Eggnog Pudding Shots from Rants From My Crazy Kitchen
• Cookie Butter Eggnog Cocktail from My Suburban Kitchen
• Hazelnut Hot Chocolate Drops from Family Around the Table
• Mulled Red Wine Sangria from Platter Talk
• Red Velvet Hot Chocolate from Live Love Texas
• Salted Caramel Affogato from Tara's Multicultural Table
• Salted Caramel Apple Cider Martini from Sweet Beginnings
• Salted Caramel Chocolate Martini from The Crumby Kitchen
• Salted Caramel Mocha Smoothie from An Affair from the Heart
• Sugar Cookie Martini from Strawberry Blondie Kitchen

Breakfast

• Baked Cranberry Eggnog French Toast from The Spiffy Cookie
• Maple Bourbon Old Fashion Bread Pudding from Cheese Curd in Paradise

Candies

• Pecan Butter Rum Toffee from Take Two Tapas
• Christmas Grinch Bark from Blogghetti
• White Christmas Sugar Cookie Dough Fudge from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks

Desserts

• Black Forest Cheesecake from Kate's Recipe Box
• Butter Rum Cheesecake from Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt
• Christmas Cornflake Wreaths from The Mandatory Mooch
• Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Cookie Cups from Love and Confections
• Cookie Butter Shortbread Bars from Eat Move Make
• Fluffernutter Truffles from Mildly Meandering
• Frozen Mint Meltaway Pie from Cooking with Carlee
• Vegan Gingerbread Cupcakes with Eggnog Frosting from The Baking Fairy
• Spiced Eggnog Sugarmen from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Peppermint Mocha Cupcakes from The Beard and The Baker
• Red Velvet Cupcakes with Eggnog Butter Frosting from Lady Behind the Curtain
• Slice 'N' Bake Grinch Cookies from Big Bear's Wife
• Snowmen Macarons from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures

I call these 'sugarmen' because they're shaped like gingerbread men, but it's a sugar cookie base. You get it, right? These have just a quick squeeze of royal icing in the shape of a scarf...and that's where I put the sprinkles. 

Ingredients

Eggnog Sugar Cookies

• 2-3/4 C flour
• 1 t baking powder
• 1 t salt
• 3/4 C butter, softened
• 1 C granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 t pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 t eggnog flavoring (prefer LorAnn)
• 1/2 t ground cinnamon
• 1/2 t ground nutmeg
• 1/2 t ground cardamom
• zest from 1 organic lemon

Royal Icing

• 3 egg whites, or more to thin icing
• 6 C organic powdered sugar, or more to thicken icing (prefer Dixie Crystals)
• juice from 1 to 2 organic lemons (I used a Meyer lemon)
• 1/4 t eggnog extract (prefer LorAnn)
• sprinkles to finish

Procedure

Sugar Cookies
Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom. Set aside in a bowl.

Beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add eggs, vanilla extract, eggnog flavoring, and zest. Mix. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing completely.

Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill dough for at least 2 hours. Roll out between two pieces of parchment paper.

Shape them with your cutters, using flour to keep them from sticking. Place on a silicone mat-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 9-11 minutes, depending on size of cookies. Cool completely on wire racks. Make the royal icing while the cookies cool.

Royal Icing

Beat the whites until stiff but not dry. Add sugar, eggnog extract, and lemon juice. Beat for another minute. If the icing is too thick, add more egg whites; if it's too thin, add more sugar. This icing may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To Finish

Pipe the royal icing over cooled cookies. As I mentioned, I made little scarves on my sugarmen and sprinkled them with the sprinkle mix. Let icing set before storing or serving. You'll see these spiced sugarmen on top of my cake that I'll share tomorrow for the last day of #ChristmasSweetsWeek.

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#ChristmasSweetsWeek products 

included in this recipe...

You may find Dixie Crystals on the web, 

on Twitter, on Pinterest, on Instagram, and on Facebook.

You may find Sweets & Treats on the web, 

on Twitter, on Pinterest, on Instagram, and on Facebook.

You may find LorAnn Oils on the web, 

on Twitter, on Pinterest, on Instagram, and on Facebook.

*DISCLAIMER: Thank you ChristmasSweetsWeek Sponsors: Dixie Crystals, Cabot Cheese, Lorann Oils & Flavors, Torani, Joyjolt, and Sweets & Treats Boutique for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for ChristmasSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are my own. The ChristmasSweetsWeek giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 & up. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Six (6) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. The ChristmasSweetsWeek Bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the ChristmasSweetsWeek posts or entry.

Snickerdoodle Fudge #ChristmasSweetsWeek #Sponsored

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Dixie Crystals, a #ChristmasSweetsWeek sponsor. 

I received complimentary product for the purpose of review and recipe development, but all opinions are honest and 

they are my own. This page may contain affiliate links.

Welcome to the fourth day of #ChristmasSweetsWeek! Much gratitude to Terri of Love and Confections and Christie of A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures for coordinating this amazing event. Not only did they keep all of us bloggers organized, but they lined up some great sponsors. Please visit my kick-off post for information about the prizes and to enter the giveaway. You may also enter at the bottom of this post.

Beverages

• Puerto Rican Coquito from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• Frozen Salted Caramel White Russians from Blogghetti
• Gingerbread Salted Caramel Coffee Martini from Daily Dish Recipes
• Hot Buttered Caramel Apple Cider Mix from Tip Garden
• Salted Caramel Martini from April Golightly
• Slow Cooker Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate from Cheese Curd in Paradise

Breakfast

• Chocolate Hazelnut Doughnuts from Kate's Recipe Box
• Cranberry Eggnog Quickbread from Jonesin' For Taste 
• Cranberry Orange Bread from Juggling Act Mama
• Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls from Moore or Less Cooking
• Eggnog Cinnamon Roll Donuts from Strawberry Blondie Kitchen

Candies

• Chocolate Marshmallow Fudge from Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt
• Cranberry Eggnog Fudge from Sweet Beginnings
• Snickerdoodle Fudge from Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Desserts

• Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies from Seduction In The Kitchen
• Chocolate Espresso Mousse from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Cranberry Champagne Cupcakes from Our Good Life
• Eggnog Gelato from The Redhead Baker
• Festive Coconut Macaroons from For the Love of Food
• Gingerbread Latte Cupcakes with Coffee Buttercream from Love and Confections
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Scones from Rants From My Crazy Kitchen
• Peppermint Pattie-Stuffed Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies from Platter Talk
• Peppermint Red Velvet Macarons from The Crumby Kitchen
• Rum Spiked Eggnog Cupcakes from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
• Salted Caramel German Chocolate Dessert Shooter from Take Two Tapas
• White Christmas Cupcakes with White Chocolate Peppermint Buttercream from Family Around the Table
• White Chocolate Cranberry Coffee Cake from Who Needs A Cape?

Snickerdoodle Fudge

Let me start with this: I had never had fudge before I met my husband. Well, I didn't even eat chocolate until we were already married and I was pregnant with our oldest son. But one version or another of fudge always ends up on our Christmas cookie platters because everyone else seems to like it! We've made DalMINTian Fudge, Pumpkin Fudge with Candied Kumquat Peels, and one R called 'Darkies Fudge.'

This fudge is amazing! And it's incredibly easy to make.  I know we all get busy around the holidays but you only need a handful of ingredients, about 10 minutes of active time, and to be patient for a couple of hours.

And, with this creation, I knocked two things off the boys' most-requested-during-the-holidays list: fudge and snickerdoodles. Snickerdoodles are probably D's favorite cookies in the world; he's made Pumpkin Snickerdoodles and Snickerdoodle Ice Cream Sandwiches in addition to the regular cookies! So, he was more than eager to help me create a Snickerdoodle Fudge.

Ingredients

• 3 C white chocolate chips
• 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 t vanilla extract
• 1-1/4 t cinnamon + 2 T for sprinkling on top
• 4 T granulated sugar for sprinkling on top (prefer Dixie Crystals)

Procedure
Mix 2 T cinnamon and 4 T sugar together in a bowl. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan melt white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk over medium-low heat. Stir continuously. Once completely melted together remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and 1-1/4 t cinnamon. 

Pour into a baking dish lined with buttered foil or parchment paper. Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture over the top. Let chill for 2 hours. Cut into one-inch squares.

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#ChristmasSweetsWeek products 

included in this recipe...

You may find Dixie Crystals on the web, 

on Twitter, on Pinterest, on Instagram, and on Facebook.
*DISCLAIMER: Thank you ChristmasSweetsWeek Sponsors: Dixie Crystals, Cabot Cheese, Lorann Oils & Flavors, Torani, Joyjolt, and Sweets & Treats Boutique for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for ChristmasSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are my own. The ChristmasSweetsWeek giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 & up. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Six (6) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. The ChristmasSweetsWeek Bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the ChristmasSweetsWeek posts or entry.

Salted Caramel Hot Apple Cider #ChristmasSweetsWeek #Sponsored

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of JoyJolt and Torani, #ChristmasSweetsWeek sponsors. 

I received complimentary product for the purpose of review and recipe development, but all opinions are honest and 

they are my own. This page may contain affiliate links.

Welcome to the third day of #ChristmasSweetsWeek! Much gratitude to Terri of Love and Confections and Christie of A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures for coordinating this amazing event. Not only did they keep all of us bloggers organized, but they lined up some great sponsors. Please visit my kick-off post for information about the prizes and to enter the giveaway. You may also enter at the bottom of this post.

For now, here are the bloggers' recipes to inspire you to make some Christmas Sweets...

Beverages

• Boozy Salted Caramel Apple Cider from The Beard and The Baker
• Christmas Punch from Juggling Act Mama
• Frozen Caramel Hot Chocolate from Eat Move Make
• Crockpot Red Velvet Hot Chocolate from April Golightly
• Gingerbread Spice Caramel Latte from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
• Gingersnap Eggnog Shooter from Seduction In The Kitchen
• Glogg from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• Hot Buttered Rum from Moore or Less Cooking
• Peppermint Hot Chocolate from Mildly Meandering
• Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate from The Bitter Side of Sweet
• Salted Caramel Hot Apple Cider from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Sugar Cookie Cocktail from Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt
• Vanilla & Spice Hot Mulled Wine from The Baking Fairy

Candies

• Almond Roca from Everyday Eileen
• Christmas Cookie Bark from The Mandatory Mooch
• Creamy Cheese Fudge from Take Two Tapas
• Grinch Fudge from An Affair from the Heart
• Milk Chocolate Toffee Fudge from Rants From My Crazy Kitchen
• Reindeer Food Snack Mix from Big Bear's Wife

Desserts

• Chocolate Mint Cookies from Platter Talk
• Dark Chocolate Dipped Almond Shortbread Cookies from With Two Spoons
• Gingerbread Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting from Sweet Beginnings
• Gingerbread Cupcakes from The Redhead Baker
• Holiday Pavlova from My Suburban Kitchen
• Hot Chocolate Whoopie Pies from Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
• Joulutorttu (Finnish Christmas Tarts) from Tara's Multicultural Table
• Merry and Bright Marshmallow Filled Christmas Cupcakes from Lady Behind the Curtain
• Minty Grinch Dip from Who Needs A Cape?
• Oatmeal Maple Cream Pies from Blogghetti
• Pecan Pie Cheesecake from The Crumby Kitchen
• Peppermint Stick Cookies from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Red Velvet Cookies from Live Love Texas
• Red Velvet Truffle Sugar Cookie Cups from The Spiffy Cookie
• Santa Belt Cupcakes from 4 Sons 'R' Us
• White Chocolate Dipped Gingerbread Cookies from Cheese Curd in Paradise

When I saw that Torani was an event sponsor, I did a little happy dance. We have lots of bottles of Torani in our cupboards. We add them to sparkling water for an easy homemade Italian soda; my husband and I add them to coffee for a special sweet treat. But when I received the bottles of Salted Caramel and Vanilla syrups, the boys asked for steamers and hot cider. Done!

And I served the cider in the Caleo double-walled mugs from sponsor Joyholt. You can read my thoughts about the mugs in my Gløgg (Danish Mulled Wine) post from earlier in the week.

Salted Caramel Hot Apple Cider 

Ingredients serves 8

• 10 C apple cider
• 3 to 4 cinnamon sticks + more for garnish
• 5 to 6 whole cloves
• 4 cardamom pods, cracked open
• 4 T mulling spices (my homemade version)
• 5 to 6  pieces candied ginger
• peel from 1 organic lemon (I used a Meyer lemon) + more for garnish
• 8 to 16 t Salted Caramel syrup (prefer Torani), divided, depending on tastes (we opt for less)

Procedure

Place all of the ingredients - except the syrup - in a large pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat immediately. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain out spices.

Pour 1 to 2 t of syrup into each serving mug. Pour strained cider into mugs. Garnish with a cinnamon stick. Serve immediately.

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#ChristmasSweetsWeek products 

included in this recipe...

You may find Torani on the web, 

on Twitter, on Pinterest, on Instagram, and on Facebook.

You may find Joyjolt on the web, 

on Twitter, on Pinterest, on Instagram, and on Facebook.

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Papas Bravas + Santiago Ruiz Albariño 2017 #AlbarinoHoliday #Sponsored

This is a sponsored post written by me in conjunction with a virtual wine tasting event hosted by 

Snooth for Rias Baixas. Wine samples were provided for this post and this page may contain affiliate links.

After the virtual Snooth tasting of Rias Baixas wines*, we headed over to our Spanish friends' home. They showed me some great Spanish recipes, including their Papas Bravas. It was great to stand around the island in their kitchen, talking about books with the kids, and digging into the potatoes while washing it all down with another Albariño.

In the Glass

The Santiago Ruiz Albariño 2017 is comprised of five different grape varieties native to Rias Baixas. It's a blend of Albariño, Loureiro, Godello, Treixadura, and Caiño Blanco. I've only ever heard of the first grape!

All of the grapes come from the O Rosal area, from vineyards in San Miguel de Tabagon and Tomiño. Clear and bright, this wine has an intense, complex nose that includes fruit, herbs, and minerals. And, for being a white wine, this is surprisingly full-bodied.

On the Plate

Papas Bravas

Susana sent me the recipe she used...and her adaptations. Thankfully she translated it for me because I definitely wouldn't know what "1 cucharada de pimentón picante" meant. Also, in the photo above, the lighter colored sauce is hers; the darker one is a commercial bravas sauce. The homemade one was much, much better!

Potatoes

• 2 pounds of potatoes, peeled and cubed
• water
• oil for frying

Cover cubed potatoes in water and bring to a boil. Cook until the potatoes are fork tender. Drain and set aside. Heat oil in a rimmed pan and pat the potatoes dry. Fry the potatoes in batches until they are golden brown and have a nice crust on the outside. Drain and serve immediately with the salsa.

Salsa

• 1 cebolla picada (1 chopped onion)
• 250 g de tomate natural tamizado (250 grams of diced tomatoes - I put a can of diced tomatoes)
• Pimientos chiles 2, (si te gusta más picante 4) (2 chile peppers)
• 7 dientes de ajos partidos en trozos grandes (the recipe states 7 cloves of garlic, I added 3 cloves)
• Pimientos choricero (sundried red pepper paste, I did not use because I did not have any)
• Aceite virgen extra 150 ml (150 ml extra virgin olive oil)
• 1 cucharada de pimentón picante (1 T paprika)
• 60 ml de vinagre blanco (60 ml of white vinegar- I did not put any because we do not like it very much)
• ½ cucharadita de orégano seco (1/2 t oregano)
• Una pizca de comino (1/2 t cumin)
• Una cucharadita de perejil picado (1 t parsley)
• salt to taste
• hot sauce, if needed

Heat a splash of oil in a skillet and heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, approximately 8 minutes. Add the garlic, paprika, chile peppers and stir to combine. Cook until fragrant, approximately 1 minute. 

Add the tomatoes and their liquid, oregano, cumin, and parsley. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened. Transfer the sauce to a blender.

Purée until smooth. You should remove the small cap from the blender lid and cover the space with a kitchen towel; this lets steam escape and prevents the blender lid from popping off. Add the vinegar, if using. Season to taste with additional salt, vinegar (if using), or hot sauce as desired.

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Snooth on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram

*Disclosure: I received sample wines for recipe development, pairing, and generating social media traction. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the organizer and sponsors of this event.