BRONZE BUDGET BRIDE

I didn't know until today that it's as easy as pie to make vanilla extract. How didn't I know that? Thank God I know now because they would make great gifts for friends and family, especially my mom-in-law who loves to bake. They would be great to give as wedding favors too which is why I am posting the recipe.

To make Homemade Vanilla Extract, you'll need:

• Vanilla beans
• Vodka
• Bottles

Directions:

1. Split the vanilla beans, leaving one end intact.

2. Place in bottles.

3. Top with Vodka.  A good ratio is 1 vanilla bean per 1/3 cup of vodka.

4. Store in a cool, dark place for at least 6 weeks before using.  The longer it sits, the darker the extract will become.

Find this recipe with more photos here at Bake At 350.

Thanksgiving is upon us and what wonderful treats these Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies would make at a gathering this season. They would also wonderful favors for a Fall Wedding or a bridal shower during the autumn months.

Ingredients

Cream Cheese Filling:

• 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions

If pink is one of your wedding colors, these Pink Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies would make such cute favors. They would fit perfectly at a bridal shower or baby shower for a little girl too. Even if you don't give them as favors, how about baking some for your bridesmaids. Can you imagine how delighted they would be to get homemade, pink, chocolate chip cookies from you. I know I'd be thrilled...so go ahead and bake a batch for them today.

Ingredients:

* 1 pouch Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
* 2 sticks butter, softened but NOT melted
* 2 cups powdered sugar
* 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
* pink food coloring paste

Directions:

Step 1. Beat the butter until fluffy in a stand mixer. Add the cookie mix and powdered sugar and pink food coloring. Mix well.

Step 2. Add the chocolate chips to the dough. Mix well.

Step 3. Form 2" rounds of dough, press the tops down just slightly. Place on a nongreased baking sheet.

Step 4.  Bake in an oven preheated to 330 degrees for 15 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Total Time: 20 Minutes
Servings: 36 cookies

Courtesy: Calligraphy By Jennifer

Edible favors are always a hit at a wedding and I love that with this cheesecake guests can eat a little at your reception but take home what's left to enjoy the next day. I can't imagine that there will be any left behind if you choose to make these as wedding favors especially since you can give guests the option of adding their own toppings...the way you would with an Ice Cream Sundae Bar!

Cheesecake in a Jar is such a fabulous favor option especially for an outdoor, Summer wedding and here's how to make them!

Ingredients:

½ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
zest of one lemon
2 packages cream cheese, 8 oz each; room temperature
2 large eggs; room temperature
¼ cup heavy cream
1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Begin to boil a large pot of water for the water bath.

3. In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with your paddle attachment, combine the sugar and lemon zest and mix until the sugar is moistened and fragrant. Add in the cream cheese and cream together until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Make sure to scrape down the bowl in between each egg. Add heavy cream and vanilla and mix until smooth.

4. Pour batter into canning jars until about ¾ of the way full. Place jars into a larger pan and pour boiling water into the larger pan until halfway up the sides of the jars.

5. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, the edges will appear to be set, but the center will still have a little jiggle to it.

6. Carefully remove the cheesecake jars from the water bath and place on a cooling rack to cool completely. Once the cheesecakes are completely cooled, place them into the refrigerator for at least 5 hours. Top will fresh berries and serve.

To find the entire recipe and notes on making glossy berries to top your cheesecakes click here to visit MyBakingAddiction.com!

Cake pops are simply bite size cakes on a stick. They are easy to make as you have seen in the video and all you need to make them are cake, frosting, candy melts and lollipop sticks! They are a hit at any event so you can make cake pops for your engagement party, bridal shower and for your wedding reception!

Here are some cake pop displays that I hope will inspire you to make these delicious balls for your event!

Bakerella is a genius when it comes to putting desserts on a stick and these Macaroon Pops are just another one of her recipes that I had to tell you about. You can make them in any color you want, it's just a matter of buying the right food coloring and finding one to match your wedding colors should not be a problem. These pops would be fabulous on a dessert table but they are perfect to give as favors too, whether at your bridal shower or on your wedding day. So go get the recipe here at Bakerella.com and don't forget to share photos with us when you make them!

Looking for delicious, home-made wedding favors for your guests? You can package some Super Chunky Cookie Mix in a jar using the ingredients I've added below that comes to you courtesy of FoodNetwork.com! From the photo you can see how beautiful they will look when you're all done but don't forget to print the recipe for each one so your guests will know how to make them when they get home.

Ingredients

• 1 cup toasted shredded coconut
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chunks
• 1/2 cup chopped cashews
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup red and green M&M's
• 1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2-liter glass jar

Beat 1 1/4 cups butter and 1 stick butter with a mixer until fluffy. Beat in  1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Add the Super Chunky Cookie Mix and mix until well combined. Scoop big round cookies (about 2 heaping tablespoons each) onto a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees until set, about 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on a rack.

In the photo above are the Homemade Caramel Popcorn with Peanuts I made Sunday with my kids. They were very easy to make and were crisp, sweet and delicious. As a matter of fact they tasted way better than Cracker Jacks, they were the best caramel popcorn I've ever had!

If you are having a Popcorn Buffet you should definitely try this recipe at home because they are really good! You can even make them a day or two ahead because we still have some saved in the refrigerator and they are still crisp and delicious!

What you'll need:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cups brown sugar
• 1/4 cup corn syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 8 cups of popped popcorn
• 2 cups of peanuts

Directions:


You can buy 25 of these Retro Popcorn Bags for $3.50 but if like the idea of making your own cones then you'll need:

• Solid Card Stock Paper
• Tape
• Scissors

To make one cone, draw a circle almost the same size of the card stock using something with a circular shape, I used a stove top cover. Once you have the circle drawn, cut it out with your scissors. Fold the paper in half and cut the circle in two. Now you roll one of the halves into a cone and tape in place! The larger the paper, the larger cone.

You can find Solid Card Stock Paper or Scrap Book Paper at Staples, Walmart and ScrapBook.com!

If you are making your own wedding favors or a cookie buffet at your wedding, these are easy to make and so very cute, so I've added the recipe below for you!!

Ingredients

• 2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon(s)salt
• 1 cup(s) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup(s) confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
• confectioners' sugar, for decoration
• 1/2 cup(s) seedless raspberry jam

Directions

1. In a small bowl, combine flour and salt. In a large bowl, with electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla. On low speed, beat in flour mixture just until blended. Shape dough into 2 disks; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper. Between 2 sheets of floured wax paper, roll 1 disk 1⁄8-inch thick. With floured 3-inch heart-shape cookie cutter, cut out cookies. Cut out centers of half cookies with floured 1 1⁄2-inch heart-shape cookie cutter. Slide cookies on wax paper to another large cookie sheet and refrigerate about 15 minutes, or until firm. Remove heart-shape centers from cookies; place cookies on prepared sheets, 1 inch apart. Bake 13 to 15 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden. Cool on parchment paper on wire racks. Repeat with remaining dough, rerolling scraps.
3. Sift confectioners' sugar over cookies with cut-out centers. Spread 1 teaspoon jam on each plain cookie; top with remaining cookies to form sandwiches.

courtesy of delish.com