Like a summer blockbuster movie, these cookies are chock full of explosions: they’re both infused and garnished liberally with Pop Rocks. This not only makes them crackle like fireworks but also pays homage to that other all-consuming american obsession: truly trashy candy (and I say this in the most loving way possible).

So–are you ready to make your fourth of July extreme?

Go read the whole thing, and get the recipe at Cakespy:  Pop Rocks Cookies

Start planning ahead now… many cookie recipes can be made ahead and frozen, which makes things easier when the season gets more hectic. Plus, that leftover halloween candy you’ve been trying to get rid of is great for replacing chocolate chips in your fave chocolate chip cookie recipe!

• 12 Days of Ass Friendly Christmas Cookies from The Novice Chef… Some really tasty looking treats, and under 100 calories… I love the Chocolate Hazelnut Pinwheels– They can double as an edible ornament! (though I think I’ll make some with Jam inside instead)
• From Tip Junkie: Semi-homemade food gifts – from peppermint bark, to ‘ready to make’ rice krispy treats.
• Also from Tip Junkie: A roundup of peppermint treat ideas… lots of good ones.
• Chocolate-Hazelnut Spritz Cookies at La Mia Vita Dolce
• Norwegian Sand Cookies at Pam’s wonderful site: Gingerbread Snowflakes
• Candy Cane Cake pops at Hostess with the Mostess (and check out these Rock Candy Trees!)
• Gingerbread houses and More at Crafting in a Green World – and here’s some great ideas for a Gingerbread house party from Chica & Jo
• Chewiest Molasses Cookies at Can You Stay For Dinner – I LOVE molasses cookies.
• Almond Joy Truffles at Duhlicious. These are so pretty.
• Chocolate Crinkle Cookies at Little Brown Pen. Easy and Pretty!
• Salted Toffee Chocolate Squares at Pink of Perfection
• Super Easy Last Minute treats – Holiday Pretzel Kisses at Little Birdie Secrets
• Cookie Tree ideas at the Kitchn (Dabbled’s own Cookie Trees are at Foodwhirl — pictured above!)

My 5 year old has discovered the world of iPhone games, and loves Angry Birds.  So in honor of him, here’s a roundup of some fun Angry Bird things you can eat, play with, or make!

EAT THESE:

Twitter bud @robynski shares the how-to on making Angry Birds cookies on her blog

Angry Birds Cupcakes at Confessions of a Cookbook Queen

Angry Birds Cake! via Great White Snark … plus you can buy Edible Angry Birds cake toppers.

And a Playable Angry Birds Cake… Really!  via Craftzine

Also found at Craft, Make Angry Birds Bagel Sandwiches!

Bento Box Angry Birds by My Mealbox! (via neatorama)

MAKE THESE:

Needle felted adorable Angry Birds tutorial at Craft

How to make an Angry Birds magnet game at Geek Crafts

At Superpunch – Papercraft Angry Birds – download them here.

Angry Bird Plushies at My Paper Crane

Having an Angry Birds themed party?  Here’s how to make your own balloons!

and..{Free Printables} Angry Birds Party Printables

Angry Birds in Lego at Craftzine

Just for fun…

Real Life Angry Birds video

• 12 Days of Ass Friendly Christmas Cookies from The Novice Chef… Some really tasty looking treats, and under 100 calories… I love the Chocolate Hazelnut Pinwheels– They can double as an edible ornament! (though I think I’ll make some with Jam inside instead)
• From Tip Junkie: Semi-homemade food gifts – from peppermint bark, to ‘ready to make’ rice krispy treats.
• Also from Tip Junkie:  A roundup of peppermint treat ideas… lots of good ones.
• Chocolate-Hazelnut Spritz Cookies at La Mia Vita Dolce
• Norwegian Sand Cookies at Pam’s wonderful site: Gingerbread Snowflakes
• Candy Cane Cake pops at Hostess with the Mostess  (and check out these Rock Candy Trees!)
• Gingerbread houses and More at Crafting in a Green World – and here’s some great ideas for a Gingerbread house party from Chica & Jo
• Chewiest Molasses Cookies at Can You Stay For Dinner – I LOVE molasses cookies.
• Almond Joy Truffles at Duhlicious.  These are so pretty.
• Chocolate Crinkle Cookies at Little Brown Pen.  Easy and Pretty!
• Salted Toffee Chocolate Squares at Pink of Perfection
• Super Easy Last Minute treats – Holiday Pretzel Kisses at Little Birdie Secrets
• Cookie Tree ideas at the Kitchn (Dabbled’s own Cookie Trees are pictured above – I just recently reposted the recipe at Foodwhirl!)

Click through the links below to see the original photos — several have tutorials, too!

1. Turkey Cake Pops, 2. Thanksgiving_Turkey_Cake_Stuffing, 3. Thanksgiving Turkey cookie with pop up timer…. POP! Let’s EAT!, 4. Thanksgiving Cake, 5. Mmmm Oreo Turkey Cookies, 6. Turkey Dinner cupcake, 7. turkey cookies, 8. Thanksgiving Cake, 9. Pilgrim Pumpkin Cake

Instructions and Recipe below the pics:

Ingredients:
2 Sticks butter, softened.
1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 c all-purpose flour (fluffed with fork or sifted)
1 teas baking soda
1 teas salt
3 cups oatmeal
1 1/2 c raisins (or instead, 1 1/2 c chocolate chips & 2 cups chopped pecans)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375.
Cream butter, sugars, and vanilla until light and fluffy
Add eggs and beat well.
Combine flour, baking soda, and salt (I like to sift them together)
Add to creamed mixture
Add oatmeal and raisins (We did this in the much loved Kitchen Aid mixer, but if the mixture is too think, stir in by hand.)
Drop onto a slightly greased cookie sheet. (a disher makes this really neat and easy)
Bake at 375 degrees F for 8-10 minutes, until light brown.
Remove from oven, and transfer to cooling racks.
Lick beaters!
Eat warm cookies!

(And if you’re concerned about small children and the joy of licking the beaters vs the tiny risk of salmonella, use pasteurized eggs.)

Related:
Make a Blueberry Pie
Make a Lemon Pie
Make Carrot Vichyssoise

Stumble It!

– More cool how to projects

Instructions and Recipe below the pics:

Ingredients:
2 Sticks butter, softened.
1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 c all-purpose flour (fluffed with fork or sifted)
1 teas baking soda
1 teas salt
3 cups oatmeal
1 1/2 c raisins (or instead, 1 1/2 c chocolate chips & 2 cups chopped pecans)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375.
Cream butter, sugars, and vanilla until light and fluffy
Add eggs and beat well.
Combine flour, baking soda, and salt (I like to sift them together)
Add to creamed mixture
Add oatmeal and raisins (We did this in the much loved Kitchen Aid mixer, but if the mixture is too think, stir in by hand.)
Drop onto a slightly greased cookie sheet. (a disher makes this really neat and easy)
Bake at 375 degrees F for 8-10 minutes, until light brown.
Remove from oven, and transfer to cooling racks.
Lick beaters!
Eat warm cookies!

(And if you’re concerned about small children and the joy of licking the beaters vs the tiny risk of salmonella, use pasteurized eggs.)

Related:
All Holiday 08 Posts
Make a Blueberry Pie
Make Fancy Stacked Christmas Tree Cookies

Tomorrow:
More entrants in the Dabbled Holiday Contest. Get yours in now!
… and Don’t forget to Enter your Christmas Card Designs in our mini Art Contest.

Stumble It!

When we got to our thanksgiving destination, they were making these, so I had to grab the camera and document the process for you guys. And of course I got roped into doing a few myself too!

The instructions are below the How To picture below. Click through to see larger.

Directions:
1. Make/bake your sugar cookies ahead of time. You’ll need Star shaped cookie cutters in 4 sizes. You’ll need 8 cookies per tree, 2 in each size. Here’s some star shaped cookie cutters– hey, you can always reuse for the 4th of July!
IMPORTANT: Your cookie dough recipe should not have any leavening in it (ie no baking powder or baking soda), so the cookies bake flat–here’s one.

2. Icing – Use green food coloring to tint your icing green. We used a buttercream I think, but it really shouldn’t matter, as long as the icing dries hard. Ice the largest cookie first, then ice the second of the same size. Immediately press the iced cookie on top of the first one, centering the points of the stars between the ones of the previous layer, so they do not overlap. Continue building the tree in this manner, with successively smaller stars. Mine were messier than Jennifer’s, hers are the prettier ones! But exactness isn’t needed, just make sure you ice the tips since that’s what shows.

3. Decoration – You can decorate any way you like, but we used packaged royal icing flowers, which you can purchase from a cake supply shop or online. Just google royal icing flowers. Just press one on top while the top star’s icing is still wet. We had some sugar stars we considered standing up on the top of the tree, but we didn’t try that while I was there.

4. Trunk. the original idea didn’t include a trunk, but the boxes they were packaging them in for gifts were tallish, and they decided the tree needed to be taller. Hence, a stem made from a mini Reese’s Cup and glued on with icing! Mmmm always nice to add chocolate anyway, right?

5. Packaging – They used clear acetate favor boxes ordered online, tied with a gold ribbon. Let the tree dry thoroughly before transferring to packaging. Use icing to ‘glue’ the tree to the bottom of the box.

Related:
Wedding Cake Cookies Tutorial
Blueberry Pie Tutorial

Hope you find this useful! If you try it, be sure to let me know…
Later this week we’re doing Oatmeal cookies, so Stay Tuned! (Don’t miss anything – Subscribe!)

Instructable HERE!