Sweets of My Labor
Amid the craziness that was my Thanksgiving, I forgot to post the โafterโ shots from my recent cookie-baking frenzy (and even more disheartening: I forgot to take a photo of my two completed cookie towers that were set out on Thanksgiving Day).
Enjoy these in-progress and completed cookie shots!
Black cherry-chocolate linzertortes - before the final "sprinkling." Click to enlarge.
The final 'sugared' product. Sandwiched between the two cookies: bittersweet chocolate and black cherry preserves. Click to enlarge.
Cherry chocolate chip walnut cookies. Click to enlarge.
White Chocolate Dream Cookies (orange zest gives these cookies a nice touch). Click to enlarge.
These sugar cookies and the following took a day to decorate. Click to enlarge.
Yes, those are bats that have absolutely nothing to do with Thanksgiving. But, as you recall ... I love bats! Even brown ones.
Chocolate-raspberry thumbprints. Click to enlarge.
My new favorite cookie: this guy with its chocolate-peanut butter base has a surprise hiding underneath. A marshmallow!
Full confession: I made a seventh kind of cookie. But it’s naughty-looking, so I decided not to picture it! You can probably imagine what it looks like by its name, “chipple.” It was a joke to get a reaction from my brothers in law. But with a brownie base and peanut butter dollop, they were pretty darn good, too.
The only thing sweeter than these treats? The time again, with my house restored to normal – finally – to curl up with a good book.
Hope your holiday was sweet!
December 2nd, 2013 at 4:16 pm
Oh YUM!! They are beautiful works of art, Melissa.
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Melissa Crytzer Fry Reply:
December 8th, 2013 at 7:53 am
Thanks, Cynthia. I only bake cookies like this every couple of years, so when I do, I go all out.
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December 2nd, 2013 at 4:19 pm
YUMMMY!! I’ve made no cookies and of course now I’m jealous and mustโฆ even though I am certain I won’t be able to decorate so beautifully! Nice!!
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Melissa Crytzer Fry Reply:
December 8th, 2013 at 7:53 am
I’ve seen your cookies before! They will be gorgeous!
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December 2nd, 2013 at 5:12 pm
Melissa – I’m going to hold you personally responsible for the calories I inhaled through my screen while drooling over these delicious-looking cookies!
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Melissa Crytzer Fry Reply:
December 8th, 2013 at 7:54 am
If we COULD gain calories from online drooling, I’d be in BIG trouble, Laurie. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.
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December 2nd, 2013 at 5:41 pm
Those all look amazing! It’s a lot of work to bake like that, but so worth the effort. Now I’m inspired!
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Melissa Crytzer Fry Reply:
December 8th, 2013 at 7:55 am
Have you done any baking, Shary? I was a bit ahead of the true holiday baking season, so I’m done for now. Hope you have fun with your confectioner’s creations.
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December 2nd, 2013 at 5:49 pm
Wow, you were busy!!! It all looks sooooo good! Bet you made everyone happy with all those treats.
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Melissa Crytzer Fry Reply:
December 8th, 2013 at 7:57 am
Yes, my brother-in-law lived up to his “Cookie Monster” persona. He had a cookie hanging out of his face every time I turned around. ๐
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December 3rd, 2013 at 7:01 am
Oh my dear–the drool!! Those are incredible–seriously, those are more magnificent than any I have seen in the boutique-y bakeries–and I don’t even dare imagine how delicious they must TASTE!
I have been thinking about you and your family and knowing you were winding down from the holidays–thank you so much for sharing this special peek into some of the joy:)
Hugs! (And yes, the bat ones might be my favorite;))
E
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Melissa Crytzer Fry Reply:
December 8th, 2013 at 7:57 am
What a compliment, Erika. Thank you. Any time for cookie-baking with you and the girls?
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December 4th, 2013 at 10:08 pm
These all look AMAZING, Melissa! My stomach started grumbling just looking at them. I can only imagine how beautiful and delicious they must’ve looked arranged on the cookie tower! Hope they were enjoyed by all!
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Melissa Crytzer Fry Reply:
December 8th, 2013 at 7:59 am
Sigh. The cookie towers that weren’t pictured. But, yes, a hit. So fun to share with people who appreciate the work and time — and love — that goes into them!
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December 8th, 2013 at 7:32 am
How could I even pick a favorite? The only thing I could decide would be which one I would try first.
First, the linzer cookies. I think. Then I would move on to the chocolate peanut butter cookie. Then I’d try the thumbprint cookies. Oh, my mouth is watering.
I love the “eyes” on the bat cookies. ๐ I bet they were just devoured!
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Melissa Crytzer Fry Reply:
December 8th, 2013 at 8:01 am
You are a woman after my own heart, Jackie. The linzers were great, but my two favorites are the thumbprints and the ones with the chocolate-peanutbutter base. Sadly, the marshmallow ones have disappeared (she says, as she wipes chocolate crumbs from her face)
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December 9th, 2013 at 12:06 pm
ooooh, yummy. It shows that we’ve known each other for a while because I remember your other cooking frenzies here and there. They’re always fruitful!
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December 9th, 2013 at 1:52 pm
Those first ones makes me want to crawl through the screen and devour! So yummy-looking and beautiful! ๐
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December 13th, 2013 at 5:59 am
I am so glad I didn’t post photos of my cookies…. ๐
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December 13th, 2013 at 9:12 am
These look so beautiful, Melissa! You’ve inspired me: I think I’ll try some linzer cookies for Christmas.
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December 22nd, 2013 at 3:45 pm
These look incredible! I’ve Ben baking all weekend too. It’s fun and I love my creations. But like you, I’m so ready to just sit on the couch and read!
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