Cake Poll: WINter Wonderland Giveaway!
Monday, November 10, 2008 
Halloween and the election are over...whew! And now, we're at the cusp of the sweetest season of the year, that series of two months where we eat copious amounts of delicious pumpkin pie and christmas cookies. That's right--November is the point of do not pass go, do not diet until New Year's.
And in celebration, we're offering a seasonal sweets poll! It's a bounty of five sweet prizes--for five separate winners! The following prizes are being offered:
- One lucky winner will receive a cupcake tote bag from Penguinbot! Love is in the details with this sturdy, durable vinyl tote--it's delicately reverse-appliquéd with an adorable cupcake, with the an inner lining of bright, contrasting pattered fabric. It's an extremely well-made bag which would usually retail for $50 (and would be worth every penny). Even if you don't win, you should probably buy one (you know, to help the economy); you can get one here.
- Two lucky winners will receive Elisa Strauss' new book, Confetti Cakes for Kids. Even without kids, these recipes are super fun and the pictures are amazing to look at!
- Two winners will receive a pack of Cakespy Holiday notecards! Each pack includes an assortment of cards which are guaranteed to make this the sweetest holiday season ever!
What do you have to do to enter? Don't worry, it's easy. All you have to do is answer the following two questions.
1. What is your favorite Thanksgiving dessert?
2. What is your favorite Christmas cookie?
But wait, there's more! If you copy and paste (or include a link to) a recipe for either of your responses, you'll be entered into the drawing twice! That's right...double your chances of winning!
SORRY--THE POLL IS NOW CLOSED!
cake poll
Reader Comments (219)
My favorite Thanksgiving Dessert is homemade apple pie. (Well not really from a receipe in my family, but still made at home. That counts, right?)
http://www.myhomecooking.net/apple-pie/
My favorite Christmas cookies are Chocolate Crackle Cookies.
2 cups chocolate chips
2 cups brown sugar
2/3 cup oil
3/4 cup eggs (3 or 4)
2 tablespoons vanilla
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 tablespoon salt
1 cup nuts
1 cup powdered sugar
* dough needs to chill for at least 3-4 hours.
In large saucepan, melt chocolate chips with oil. Remove from heat, add sugar. Then add beaten eggs and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients, except for the powdered sugar, and add to mixture. Add nuts. After refrigeration and dough becomes firm, roll into balls and then roll in powdered sugar. Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes (they will still be a little soft). Remove from cookie sheet while warm.
Mmmmm... my favorite Thanksgiving dessert is pumpkin cheesecake with gingersnap crust.
And Christmas cookies? My new found favorite is ginger molasses with chocolate chips. They just feel wintery to me. Mexican wedding cakes might be a close second. Are those Christmas cookies?
What a fun contest! My favorite Thanksgiving dessert is my apple pie...my favorite Christmas cookie is sugar cookies, decorated to the nines.
Cooel! I'd love to win something. I have to say that my favorite thanksgiving dessert would have to be pecan pie. Christmas cookies would have to be a shortbread, more specifically dorie greenspan's world peace cookies. Nom nom...
My favorite thanksgiving dessert... not very seasonal...but anything chocolate... carmel brownies are nice!
My favorite Christmas cookie... choc chip!!
This is my favorite Christmas cookie recipe. http://canadianbaker.blogspot.com/2007/12/tender-sugar-cookies.html
Thanksgiving would be pumpkin pie, i could it eat it all.
good old fashion pumpkin pie is my favorite thanksgiving dessert
http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/detail.aspx?ID=18470
christmas cookies are all yummy, but these kitchen sink cookies are great for cookie exchanges and they are so yummy!
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/kitchen-sink-cookies
Fave thanksgiving dessert is pumpkin cheesecake. And for Christmas it's my mom's Italian three layer cookies.
Cheesecake recipe here: http://www.cooksillustrated.com/recipes/detail.asp?docid=6303
My favorite Thanksgiving desert is pecan pie, specifically Bourbon-Chocolate Pecan Pie found here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/bourbon-chocolate-pecan-pie-with-vanilla-bean-ice-cream-recipe/index.html
My favorite Christmas cookie are either gingerbread or those chocolate ones rolled in powdered sugar.
Oh my, this was so easy.
Thanksgiving Dessert: I'm not sure muffins count but I LOVE pumpkin muffins (this recipe tastes like the ones at Panera): http://whitesparrow.wordpress.com/2008/10/30/pumpkin-muffins/
And Christmas: I'm old fashioned and I know it's not "just" a Christmas dessert but I love a good chocolate chip cookies (this is the best recipe I have ever made): http://whitesparrow.wordpress.com/?p=167
nom. nom:)
Favorite Thanksgiving pie is easy, pecan! With lots of pecans and cool whip. My favorite Christmas cookie was sugar but I have a new favorite now, Crispy Salted White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies from this recipe http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/05/crispy-salted-oatmeal-white-chocolate-cookies/ Be warned, they are highly addictive!
Ahh, I love desserts! My favorite thing to make on Thanksgiving is a warm Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding with Vanilla Bourbon Sauce:
http://newlywedcooking.blogspot.com/2008/07/im-back-with-bread-pudding.html
My favorite cookies are Gingerbread men:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Eileens-Spicy-Gingerbread-Men/Detail.aspx
T'giving: Chocolate Pie. Mmmmm...
Christmas Cookie: Starry Chocolate Mint Sandwich Cookies. Mmmmm...
Me me me me! I feel so selfish right now:)
Oh yeah, my favorites.
Pecan pie at Thanksgiving and probably a good sugar cookie at Christmas. But not made by me because I am terrible at sugar cookies and I think they are too much work.
1. Pumpkin pie! Definately!
2. My favorite Christmas cookie are the Hershey kiss cookies, especially the way my stepmom makes them!
1. Carrot cake
2. Good ol' sugar cookies with buttercream frosting.
This is a recipe I received from someone who claims people tell her she makes THE BEST sugar cookies. I've never had her cookies, so will be making this recipe to judge for myself.
Cut-Out Cookies and Frosting
1/2 cup butter flavored Crisco
1/2 cup regular margarine
or butter
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
In a large bowl mix together Crisco, butter, and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix completely. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to other mixture and blend.(You can add more flour if the batter is too wet or sticky) Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour. On a lightly floured surface roll out a small batch of the dough. Use cookie cutter to make desired shapes. Keep dough you are NOT working with in the refrigerator to keep it chilled. Place cut cookies on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper or sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes (DO NOT BROWN)Remove baked cookies to a cooling rack. (Always use a completely cooled cookie sheet for the next batch of cookies to bake on) Frost or decorate cookies when completely cooled.
Buttercream Frosting
1/3 cup margarine or butter
2 cups confectioners' sugar 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1-2 Tablespoon(s) milk
Blend until smooth.
Those are some really cute goodies. I can't pass up this opportunity!
My favorite Thanksgiving dessert is Pumpkin Bread
http://www.bhg.com/recipe/quickbreads/double-decker-pumpkin-bread/
And my favorite Christmas cookie is good ol' Sugar Cookies with powder sugar icing. Oh, yum!
http://www.bhg.com/recipe/cookies/sugar-cookie-cutouts/
Definitely a toss up between pumpkin pie & pecan pie.
Christmas cookies, another toss-up between simple sugar cookies with powder sugar icing & true homemade shortbread.
A bit of a traditionalist when it comes to holiday sweets!
1. My favorite Thanksgiving dessert are Gobs/Whoopie Pies. I got the recipe from a friend in Ohio and look forward to making it every Fall. Here's the link:
http://evas-mommy.blogspot.com/2008/10/whoopie-pies-gobs.html
2. Favorite Christmas cookie is my mother-in-law's frosted/decorated sugar cookies. One day, I'm going to convince her to share her recipe with me!
My favorite Thanksgiving dessert is a chocolate cobbler that my aunt makes. Unfortunately, I'm not a fan of pies, so I'm kind of out of luck on that front.
My favorite Christmas dessert is peanut blossom cookies. It looks like the recipe http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/detail.asp?id=5191" REL="nofollow">on the Hershey site is the same one that we use. The only difference is, we bake them for seven minutes, then add the kiss and bake for one minute more. It makes them deliciously melty!
What a great giveaway!
My favorite Thanksgiving pie is the double layer pumpkin pie: http://www.readycrust.com/recipe_detail_template.aspx?recipeid=4281
My favorite Christmas Cookies are Molasses Sugar Cookies: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Molasses-Sugar-Cookies/Detail.aspx
My favorite Thanksgiving dessert is pumpkin pie with TONS of whipped cream.
My favorite Christmas cookies are decorated sugar cookies.
Favorite Thanksgiving dessert - my mom's flourless chocolate cake. Mmm...
Favorite Christmas cookie - my nanny's brown eyed susans, shortbread with delicious chocolate glaze.
Seeing a trend here?
1. Pumpkin Pie!!! You can't go wrong with anything Deb of Smitten Kitchen makes: http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/11/silky-smooth-pumpkin-pie/
2. My favorite christmas cookie is gingersnaps, Chez Panisse style!
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2007/10/chez_panisse_gi.html