We just celebrated Lily’s birthday. Like all parents, I can’t believe that she is already two years old. It seems like just yesterday that she was a newborn, sleeping in her carrier next to my desk in the Bramble Berry offices. It has been ridiculously fun to watch her personality emerge. She is the sweetest, most happy baby and makes Chris and I smile every day with her charming temperament.
To celebrate the occasion, I made butterscotch, butterscotch, butterscotch cupcakes. Butterscotch is a family favorite thanks to my dad (you can read about his love for butterscotch here). The cupcakes were a combination cake mix and homemade ingredients. They were easy to make (though were multiple steps), and most importantly, tasted amazing!
Soft Almond Sugar Cookies
I’m certain that when desserts are pink, they somehow taste better. I don’t have any hard evidence for this theory, but looking at my dessert choices (such as these Chocolate Chip Beet Cupcakes, Ombre Layer Cake and Pink and Blue(berry) Shortbread Cookies) my taste buds certainly agree. Even savory dishes such as this Goat Cheese Beet Dip just taste better with a vibrant pink hue.
These Soft Almond Sugar Cookies are reminiscent of the large pink cookies from coffee stands. Soft, fluffy and buttery, the almond flavor gives them a pleasant twist. Shaved almonds are sprinkled on top to give a slight crunch. While the red food coloring in the frosting is completely optional, the pink frosting takes these cookies from delicious to delicious and adorable.
Soap Queen Cuisine: Lemon Rosemary Doughnuts with Raspberry Glaze
Like mixing fragrances for soapy projects, I love experimenting with pairing unusual flavors in the kitchen. In particular I like introducing herbs to sweets, such as these Lemon Rosemary Doughnuts with Raspberry Glaze! The rosemary introduces a touch of earthiness, which creates a complex flavor combination. The similar effect is achieved in the Browned Butter & Basil Shortbread that I made for the holiday cookie party in 2013.
Because these donuts are baked and not fried, they are a great way to indulge without feeling guilty. The glaze is easy to make, and can be created with both fresh or frozen raspberries. Don’t you love the vibrant red color it gives the doughnuts? So pretty! I made these doughnuts for the office this week, and they went super fast!
Soap Queen Cuisine: Mango & Coconut Chia Seed Pudding
When the weather becomes gloomy and gray, small reminders of warm, tropical locations can do wonders. These reminders may come in the form of a spicy fragrance, lush colors or a fruity flavor. This past week, tutorials using tropical fragrances and vibrant hues (such as the Vibrant Mehndi Cold Process) have been highlighted…now it’s time for a fruity (edible) treat!
Made from fresh mangos, creamy coconut milk and nutritious chia seeds, this pudding is guilt-free and full of flavor. If you are unfamiliar with chia seeds they small, tasteless and full of omega-3 fatty acids, calcium and fiber. Once they come in contact with liquid, after a few hours they transform the liquid into a creamy, thick consistency.
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SQ Cuisine: Banana Avocado Pudding
Part of the prep work for the Moisturizing Avocado Bar, my favorite recipe in the Soap Crafting book, involves mashing up half a real avocado. When we filmed the recipe for a live Soap Crafting Club session, we had some leftover avocado and I wasn’t about to let it go to waste!
I love eating avocados on their own, but for this quick recipe I threw in a banana, some cocoa powder and voila! I had myself a pudding packed full of nutrients. This recipe was too easy — and too delicious — to not share with you all. 
What You’ll Need:
1 banana
1/2 ripe avocado
2 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
Optional: 1 – 2 tbs. honey for sweetness
ONE: Put all in ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy! Be sure to eat this pudding within 24 – 48 hours as the banana and avocado won’t keep well!
Sunday Night Spotlight: Dark Rich Chocolate Fragrance Oil
If you’re a dark chocolate fanatic like I am, you know that it’s almost impossible to avoid it over the holidays (or for that matter, anytime). With our Dark Rich Chocolate Fragrance Oil, you can indulge as much as you want without any of the calories!
This sweet scent is as realistic as they come. In a review of the fragrance, one soaper’s teenage son thought she was actually baking a chocolate cake! Sugary top notes with deep mocha and cocoa bottom notes give this fragrance excellent staying power in cold process soap. Because it’s such a luscious fragrance, it does discolor to a deep ebony brown.
Edit: We asked for it and you delivered! You suggested so many blends with this wonderful fragrance that we’re listing them below. You can read through the original thread on Facebook here.
- 1 part Dark Rich Chocolate, 1 part Energy Fragrance Oil, 1/4 part Patchouli Essential Oil.
- 1 part Dark Chocolate 1 part Coconut Cybilla Fragrance Oil
- 1 part Dark Chocolate 1 part Sun Ripened Raspberry Fragrance Oil.
- 1 part Dark Chocolate 1 part Black Raspberry Vanilla Fragrance Oil
- 1 part Dark Rich Chocolate 1 part Creamsicle Cybilla Fragrance Oil
- Dark Rich Chocolate and Chai Tea Cybilla
- Dark Rich Chocolate, Plumeria Fragrance Oil and Coconut Fragrance Oil
- Dark Rich Chocolate and Morrocan Mint Fragrance Oil
- Dark Rich Chocolate and Oatmeal Milk and Honey Cybilla
- Dark Rich Chocolate and Peppermint 2nd Distilled
- Dark Rich Chocolate, Turkish Mocha Fragrance Oil and Black Amber & Lavender Fragrance Oil
- Dark Rich Chocolate and Baby Rose Fragrance Oil
- Dark Rich Chocolate, Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil and Fresh Snow Fragrance Oil
- Dark Rich Chocolate and Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil
- Dark Rich Chocolate and Orange 10x Essential Oil
- Dark Rich Chocolate and Amber Fragrance Oil
- Dark Rich Chocolate and Spearmint Essential Oil