Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Yummy gingerbread cranberry muffins. Mix, mix just as fast as you can.


You better run, run just as fast as you can if you want to get some of these gingerbread and cranberry muffins. 'Cause they smell pretty delicious while they're baking and I like to eat them when they come out of the oven and are still warm.

But seriously don't stress, they are so easy that you can whip up another batch in no time so if they all get snaffled up.


I made up these gingerbread and cranberry muffins for the kids lunch treats yesterday and then I decorated the left overs for afternoon tea.

At this time of year it's easy to go into sugar overload and my kids diet has not been as great as I would like it. They have been having way more fast food than I would choose for them when they are out at other activities. We normally eat pretty well with lots of vegetables and I've noticed they are pretty tired and cranky at the moment.

But y'know sometimes I want to give them a treat and although I did decorate a couple super fancy for the photo's the actual muffin are wholemeal and have fruit in them so I didn't feel too guilty when I served them up.


Gingerbread Muffin (makes 12) recipe adapted from Sweets on a Stick
I send these to school unfrosted but for special occasions you can add the simple cream cheese, butter frosting (recipe below). Gingerbread decorations and sprinkles are optional, make your own or see the links before for easy pre-made versions (see aff. links at end of recipe).

2 1/4 cups wholemeal self raising flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 cup olive oil (I use light which means light flavour not lo-fat)
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 large eggs
1/3 cup treacle
1/4 cup brown sugar lightly packed
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 160C (325F) and line 12 hole muffin tin with paper cases.

Place all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix by hand until combined.

Spoon mixture into paper cases.

Pop in oven for around 23 minutes they are done when a skewer comes out clean.

Allow to cool on wire track.

You can eat while still warm

Simple Cream Cheese Butter Icing

30g cream cheese
30g unsalted butter
3/4 cup icing sugar, sifted

Mix together all ingredients until light and fluffy.



Linda Vandermeer is a blogger, baker, maker and author of the Children's cookbook Sweets on a Stick: More Than 150 Kid-Friendly Recipes for Cakes, Candies, Cookies, and Pies on the Go! Published in the USA in 2011 the book is still available at Amazon and many online bookstores.

Affiliate links may earn me money and contribute to supporting this blog.

Original ideas, photography and recipes Linda Vandermeer please do not reuse without permission except for non commercial purposes where you may use 1 image, give credit and link back to original post.


Saturday, December 5, 2015

It's an amazing day to bake, laugh and live


I haven't been posting very much lately as I've been spending all my time with the children over the past few months as we go through the process of a marital separation.

Life goes on, we are doing well considering the situation and focusing on a the amazing aspects of our life.

I have been baking but mostly comfort food: cookies, cinnamon rolls, banana raspberry muffins, making and decorating cupcakes with the kids.

I have plans to make macarons this week, some gingerbread cookies and maybe a Christmas cake, although you might remember in the past I am more for the anti-fruit cake variety.


These are images I took for the latest issue of 'Tickle the Imagination' magazine where I share 10 fabulous reasons to bake up some fun with your kids.

Kids wear aprons by Greengate similar available Simply Sweet Home

I also share a recipe for a healthier donut to make with the kids which is baked in a donut pan instead of fried and has a banana muffin base. It's a great alternative to all those super sized treats that are around at the moment.


Tickle the Imagination magazine is available online here and at selected newsagents and outlets.



Linda Vandermeer is a blogger, baker, maker and author of the Children's cookbook Sweets on a Stick: More Than 150 Kid-Friendly Recipes for Cakes, Candies, Cookies, and Pies on the Go! Published in the USA in 2011 the book is still available at Amazon and many online bookstores.

Affiliate links may earn me money and contribute to supporting this blog.

Original ideas, photography and recipes Linda Vandermeer please do not reuse without permission except for non commercial purposes where you may use 1 image, give credit and link back to original post.



Sunday, November 8, 2015

Extra entry and Last days to enter to win this cute geometric mould


EDIT this competition is closed the winner is - Felicity
Prize has been claimed and sent.

There are just a couple of days left to enter to win a geometric silicone mould here on the Bubble and Sweet Blog so you can make your own gorgeous chocolates.

It's easy, just click onto the rafflecopter giveaway below and just click to enter the giveaway. If you like me on Instagram as well that's another entry.

Plus if you comment on this blog post you can have an extra 2 entries. The comment wont show up straight away, but you can enter once you make the comment and press enter.


Good luck everyone

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linda Vandermeer is a blogger, baker, maker and author of the Children's cookbook Sweets on a Stick: More Than 150 Kid-Friendly Recipes for Cakes, Candies, Cookies, and Pies on the Go! Published in the USA in 2011 the book is still available at Amazon and many online bookstores.

Affiliate links may earn me money and contribute to supporting this blog.

Original ideas, photography and recipes Linda Vandermeer please do not reuse without permission.



Sunday, October 25, 2015

Free video how to make easy no bake ghost treats for Halloween

These no bake ghost cookie truffles for Halloween are so super easy you are going to love them.



One of my top 5 posts ever, it is always a hit at this time of the year so I whipped up a quick video to show you how easy it is to make them.

Or if you are more of a written instruction type person here is the link to the original post: CLICK HERE

Related Recipes
Oreo Tuffle Pops recipe
Tim Tam Truffle Pop recipe

If you like this recipe check out my 10 fun Halloween Foods to Make post CLICK HERE


Linda Vandermeer is a blogger, baker, maker and author of the Children's cookbook Sweets on a Stick: More Than 150 Kid-Friendly Recipes for Cakes, Candies, Cookies, and Pies on the Go! Published in the USA in 2011 the book is still available at Amazon and many online bookstores.

Affiliate links may earn me money and contribute to supporting this blog.

Original ideas, photography and recipes Linda Vandermeer please do not reuse without permission.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Win this amazingly cool geometric chocolate mould


EDIT this competition is closed the winner is - Felicity
Prize has been claimed and sent.

How super cool are these geometric shaped chocolate covered Oreos.

Yup and so easy to make as well, although I did have to trim the cookies a little bit to fit, but that worked out ok I just used the chunks in the next batch.


Anyhoo I have an extra mould still in it's packaging that I did not use and seeings a I am having a clean out at my house I am giving it away to a lucky reader.

Just enter via the rafflecopter below, extra entry for following my instagram account :) Open worldwide see terms and conditions on rafflecopter for other details.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linda Vandermeer is a blogger, baker, maker and author of the Children's cookbook Sweets on a Stick: More Than 150 Kid-Friendly Recipes for Cakes, Candies, Cookies, and Pies on the Go! Published in the USA in 2011 the book is still available at Amazon and many online bookstores.

Affiliate links may earn me money and contribute to supporting this blog.

Original ideas, photography and recipes Linda Vandermeer please do not reuse without permission.





Sunday, September 20, 2015

Swan Princess Birthday Party


It's party time again around here and Bubble celebrated with a swan princess party with a pretty mint, gold, white and black theme.

It was a low key event with just a few friends so I decided to have it indoors and turned my creative craft space into the dessert table which worked well and ended up being a great decision as the weather threatened rain as the party was starting.

Party Decorations

OK I know you all want to know it, where did I get that amazing green feather garland 'cause it's pretty gorgeous, and let me tell you even more so in real life. I picked it up at Lark to decorate Bubble's bedroom with and when it arrived it just begged to be used for my party table seeings as it matched the plates I bought perfectly.



Yup, I saw these plates online a little while back and I had to make them mine. They might be some of the most awesome paper plates I have ever seen. No I am not being paid to say this I just like to share this stuff so y'all can have pretty parties too. I bought them from Lark, they are made by Bash Party Goods.


The honeycomb balls were from discount dollar stores they were a couple of dollars each for the large ones and the smaller ones were in packs of 3 for the same price.


I made the swan pinata which involved the (humane) sacrifice of a unicorn pinata, I will do a post with a few progress pictures shortly.


I also made my own glitter dipped balloons by spraying adhesive glue spray to gold balloons and then sprinkling glitter onto them.

A few hours before the party I popped out for coffee with a friend and afterwards found those multi sized gold glitter dots at a discount store down at the local shop which were perfect placed randomly on the wall either side of the garland. The whole pack of dots cost $2.50 and if I don't keep them the kids will use them for craft so it's pretty much win win.

The geometric mint vase holder/ tealight holders were from the reject shop, and the cake stand and candy jars I have had for years.

Party Food with links to my recipes on this blog

We had an elegant mint green colour butter cream cake which was actually a chocolate layer cake filled with cookies and cream (CLICK HERE FOR CAKE RECIPE).


 It was decorated with edible gold edged macarons (including a couple of empty macaron shells on the side of the cake) and some stars of buttercream piped randomly with a #195 tip. I stacked filled and decorated the whole cake in under an hour which was a lovely change for me.


Macarons in a matching mint shade (CLICK HERE FOR MY MACARON RECIPE) for the party table and as I made them myself I was able to make a variety of sizes to decorate the cake with.


Simple swan cookies in mint and white decorated with a little edible gold leaf which once again were quick to make (CLICK HERE FOR MY COOKIE RECIPE and how to add gold leaf to cookies).


We had chocolate covered Oreo's in ombre shades from black through to green with a little edible gold leaf. There was matching candy sixlets and bon bons.

Funny side story the whole reason I went for a swan party was to make choux swans after I got the Retro Baking (The Australian Women's Weekly) and I didn't end up making them or the really cool cake pop idea I had.

Yup this is my creative space room all dressed up to party.
CLICK HERE for details and more pics from when I renovated it

Finally I picked up some bunches flowers from the grocery store for under $30 for the lot and split them up between glass jam jars and one larger vase to fill up the spaces on the table and yay now I have fresh flowers for the rest of the week.



Linda Vandermeer is a blogger, baker, maker and author of the Children's cookbook Sweets on a Stick: More Than 150 Kid-Friendly Recipes for Cakes, Candies, Cookies, and Pies on the Go! Published in the USA in 2011 the book is still available at Amazon and many online bookstores.

Affiliate links may earn me money and contribute to supporting this blog.

Original ideas, photography and recipes Linda Vandermeer please do not reuse without permission.



Monday, September 14, 2015

Healthier chocolate donuts


Healthier donuts, yes for real and Mr Sweet has given them a taste test stamp of approval.

But I can not tell a lie. Before we get carried away here these donuts are not actual health food. They are just a healthier option than the dozens I have been buying from all the fabulous donut shops that have been popping up around the place.

Yup donuts are definitely the new cupcake around here anyway and the trend is the more loaded with sugar, candy and lollies the better. In fact pop a donut onto a cream loaded milkshake, add cookies and chocolate and pretty much you have an Instagram viral photo that everyone will swoon over.

I'm not complaining I love an over the top sweet as much as the next person, but I still like to fit into my skinny jeans, so in truth on a daily basis I am more likely to indulge in something like these healthier option donuts.

Made with wholemeal (wholewheat) flour, yogurt, olive oil, baked not fried, I have then topped them with dark chocolate because I read somewhere it's full of antioxidants ;)


In fact I sometimes send these donuts without the chocolate glaze to school and donut :) feel guilty about it at all.

To make these you will need a donut baking tin. I picked mine up from Big W (Australia for about $14) and I have used it for a few different donut related baking treats so I felt it was a worthwhile purchase.

I've found you can bake most cupcake or muffin mixes in the tin, just be sure to only fill it 1/3 to 1/2 full. I like to use a disposable piping bag to fill my tins, way less mess and if you don't have any handy you can use a plastic ziplock bag with the corner cut out.

Also in un-donut related news, I have had a few people sharing their pictures when they make my recipes or decorated cookies lately and I just love it, always feel free to pop through a post or tag me HERE on instagram.


Healthier Chocolate Donuts makes 10 donuts, recipe can be doubled
If you don't have a donut pan you can make 6 regular sized muffins. If you like you can glaze the donuts with a simple ganache (recipe below) and add chocolate crisp pearls or sprinkles.

1 cup wholemeal (whole wheat) flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup 2% fat greek yogurt (I used Chobani)
2 Tbsp 2% fat milk (US 2 Tbsp + 2tsp)
1 large egg
1/4 cup sugar
Olive oil spray

Preheat oven to 160 C fan forced (325 F)

Place all ingredients in a large bowl and mix with a spoon until well combined.

Spray donut baking tin with olive oil spray



Place mixture in a large disposable piping bag, cut off the tip and pipe the donut mixture into the prepared donut baking tin. Only fill each cavity 1/2 fill as the mixture will rise.

Bake in preheated oven for 10 -12 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. 

Remove donuts from pan, serve warm if you like or cool on a wire rack and dip in chocolate glaze (recipe below). 

Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.


Chocolate Ganache Glaze for dipping approx 10 donuts
60 grams (2oz) dark chocolate
30 grams (1 oz) cream

Place chocolate and cream into a microwave safe bowl and heat at high for 50 seconds. Remove, let sit for 60 seconds and then whisk until smooth.

Hold each donut by the edges and dip the tops into the chocolate glaze, add sprinkles if desired. Chocolate glaze will take a few hours to set, but that's ok you can eat it before it sets.


Linda Vandermeer is a blogger, baker, maker and author of the Children's cookbook Sweets on a Stick: More Than 150 Kid-Friendly Recipes for Cakes, Candies, Cookies, and Pies on the Go! Published in the USA in 2011 the book is still available at Amazon and many online bookstores.

Affiliate links may earn me money and contribute to supporting this blog.

Original ideas, photography and recipes Linda Vandermeer please do not reuse without permission.