Easy Gingerbread Cookies (Egg Free)

Christmas time is in the air and nothing screams Happy Holidays louder than gingerbread cookies.

Can I just take a minute to say how much fun I had with this photo shoot. I'm getting so much better at styling my photos and using daylight (although challenging with babies) to my advantage.

Oh, and also, I discovered that I have absolutely no self control. I ate every.single.cookie. Every last one of them.

I'm so happy that I finally have an egg free gingerbread cookie recipe... and just in time for our Christmas Tree decorating party!

Do you have any cookie recipe you make every Christmas?

Ingredients

5 cups Flour
1 cup Butter
1 cup Sugar
1 cup Molasses
1/3 cup Plain Yogurt
1 tsp Baking Soda
3 tsp Ginger
2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Ground Cloves

(makes about 75 small cookies)

Steps

1. Mix the dry ingredients together.
2. Add the wet ingredients and mix.
3. Roll dough and use cookie cutters to make pretty shapes.
4. Carefully place each cookie on a platter and bake at 350F for 9-10 minutes.

I have to be honest, the gingerbread cookie, in my opinion, is all about the molasses. A brown molasses will make a milder tasting cookie than a darker one.

I ended up making another 2 batches of cookies to serve at a family Christmas event and they were devoured. DE-VOU-RED. They are seriously yum.

Mini S'Mores on a Stick

Remember all that left over chocolate from Easter that we froze? Well, I just found a new use for it; gotta use it all up right?

We have a newborn at home, and I really wanted to go camping this year, like, really really. But, um, I don't particularly think it's a good idea to sleep outdoors at 15 Celsius with a 1 month old. So, I had to find a way to bring camping to us!

Ding!

(That's the sound of the light bulb that went off in my head) Backyard camping!!! We can enjoy the same things, and go to sleep indoors when it gets too cold. I know what you're thinking: "But it's not really camping without s'mores!" My answer: "S'mores on a stick; problem solved." I'm so proud of myself right now.

“Have you ever camped in your backyard? What kind of activities would you do to make it just like real camping?”

By the way, this is my first official try at food styling (or creating a mess, whatever you want to call it), what do you think? Win or lose?

INGREDIENTS

Mini marshmallows
Chocolate
Graham cookie crumbs

STEPS

1. Melt the chocolate. If you use the microwave, make sure you do it in small intervals. Heat for a few seconds, take it out, stir, repeat until melted. If you try to melt it all in one go it might burn.

2. Put the mini marshmallows on toothpicks.

3. Dip the mini marshmallows in the melted chocolate then in the graham cookie crumbs.

4. Leave out to dry and enjoy!

These little s'mores are such a tease, seriously, they just leave you wanting more (I haven't decided if that's good or bad yet...). Oh, and I may or may not have eaten all of the leftover chocolate as a fondue.

Eggless White Vanilla Cupcake

Last weekend was my son's 2nd birthday. I have a 2 year old son!!! I'm unbelievably proud to be the mom of such a good and sweet boy. In honor of his birthday, considering his egg allergy, I had to come up with an egg free cake recipe. All of the ones I found on the internet weren't simple enough for me, so I decided to make my own. I have to say I am more than satisfied with my recipe; it's moist, fluffy, and delicious.

Why do we even use eggs in almost every baking recipe? I know the white acts as a leavening agent and the yellow helps everything stick together, but I always wondered if we could do without. I figured a bit more baking powder and a bit of fruit puree or yogurt would do the trick (minus the protein and nutrients found in the eggs). The good news... it does! This eggless vanilla cake recipe is super yummy.

If you know anyone with an egg allergy, or simply want to make a cake for a baby's first birthday, this recipe is perfect! You can vary the flavor by changing the type of extract you use.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup Butter (salted)
1 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Plain yogurt
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup Flour
3 tsp Baking powder
3/4 cup Milk

Prep: 10 minutes
Bake: 30 minutes
Oven: 350F
Portions: 10

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven at 350F and prepare molds.
2. Cream butter, sugar and yogurt. Add vanilla extract.
3. In separate bowl, mix flour and baking powder.
4. Mix flour mixture and milk alternatively into butter mixture. Do not over mix.
5. Pour into molds (to about 3/4 of the cup) and bake for 30 minutes.

I have to be honest with you, these are simply amazing. Yes, I'm bragging, but when someone's first reaction is: "Wow, these are better than cupcakes with eggs." You can't help jump with joy. Yay! :)