Diabetic Frostings

Quite often I have students ask for diabetic frosting recipes.  So I asked my fab cake friends and collected these recipes...

DIABETIC BUTTER CREAM FROSTING
2 1/2 tbsp. flour
1/2 c. butter
10 (1 gram) packets Equal (sugar substitute)
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Combine water, dry milk and flour, and stir until smooth. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat until thick and smooth. Or cook in microwave on high for 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Place container in cold water and stir until cool. Set aside. Cream butter and Equal until light and fluffy. Add cooled sauce, 1 tablespoon at a time, while beating at medium speed. Add vanilla and beat at high until light and fluffy. Refrigerate unused portion. Return to room temperature.

DIABETIC CHOCOLATE FROSTING
1 oz. unsweetened chocolate
6 tbsp. evaporated milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. liquid sweetener
Melt chocolate over water. Stir in milk, mix and cook until thick. Remove from heat and add vanilla and sweetener. Add a little water if it's too thick.

Candy Cane Cookies (A New Christmas Tradition)

My grandmother has sent us a box of homemade cookies every year since my mom and dad got married (that was 1981). Due to illness this will be the second year without grandma's cookies.

So I started thinking, I can't do what she did (she made something like 20 varieties, baking all year (ok, maybe not ALL year) and freezing them until it was time to box and ship them to EVERYONE) but I can start small.

These Candy Cane Cookies are easy for the kids to help with and I can send them along with the Candy Cane poem.

The Legend of the Candy Cane  Look at the Candy Cane What do you see? Stripes that are red Like the blood shed for me White is for my Savior Who's sinless and pure! "J" is for Jesus, My Lord, that's for sure! Turn it around And a staff you will see Jesus my shepherd Was born for Me!  This was originally posted on my personal blog on December 2, 2008. 

Gingerbread House

I found LOTS of videos for making a Gingerbread House and wanted to share...

Dyann Bakes - Overview...



Supplies...



Start with a good base...nothing ruins a great cake or Gingerbread house faster than an ugly or flimsy base...



Of course you need a Gingerbread Recipe...my favorite is the Wilton Grandma's Gingerbread...http://www.wilton.com/recipe/Grandmas-Gingerbread
(don't want to bake gingerbread?  scroll down...

Helpful Video from YouTube member cgtlv:


And icing...Royal Icing...http://www.wilton.com/recipe/Royal-Icing (HOT TIP: Make sure everything is grease free when making Royal Icing!)

From YouTube ExpertVillage (actually they have SEVERAL videos I want to share...)


And patterns...

Another helpful Video from YouTube member cgtlv:


King Arthur Flour PDF Booklet


Wilton 1974-1 (PDF) 
Wilton 1974-2 (PDF)
Wilton 1977-1 (PDF)
Wilton 1977-2 (PDF)

Ultimate Gingerbread Designs Barn           Barn Instructions
Ultimate Gingerbread Designs Church       Church Instructions
Ultimate Gingerbread Country Store          Country Store Instructions
Ultimate Gingerbread Designs Elf House   Elf House Instructions 
Ultimate Gingerbread Farmhouse              Farmhouse Instructions
Ultimate Gingerbread Pixie House             Pixie House Instructions
Ultimate Gingerbread Row House             Row House Instructions


OR use Graham Crackers!



And MORE Ideas...

Wilton Gingerbread House Ideas
Wilton Ways to Decorate Gingerbread Houses