Peanut Butter & Date Creamy Hot Cocoa

Tomorrow I am having my last but one exam. But instead of reading up for examinations I am writing this post (it will be short today)). Everyone who celebrate today is busy with setting the table, cooking a Christmas meal and making the last preparations. So, I just want you to take a break for a few minutes and drink a cup of hot cocoa, because what is a winter holiday without a warming drink!)) Especially when it is sugar-free!

And of course I am writing today, because I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas! Let it be full of peace, happiness and love!

(recipe after the jump)

Ginger Molasses Cookies with Candied Orange Peels

Actually we celebrate Christmas on the 7 of January. But with all these crazy awesome Christmas preparations going on around, I've caught a Christmas spirit way earlier than I expected. Seriously, my Instagram feed is just screaming in  my face about gingerbread men, candy canes and gift wrapping ideas! Anyway, it is already a holiday time (even thought it feels like spring outdoors! and I still have examinations until December 27!) . So, I can plunge into it without any feeling of guilt!

Chocolate & Espresso B-Day Cake

Am I the only one so excited about every new cake I make?  I always say that exactly this particular cake is the best I have ever made! There is something magical about making a cake. First of all, cakes are beautiful. Secondly, you never know exactly whether it all will go right. Sometimes it just doesn't work (especially on the stage of making a frosting - I own that frostings are my weak point). But the most thrilling part is assembling. Actually, I never know how my cake will look like. I can picture every detail in my head and live with it for a week. But when the time comes and I begin layering the cake, usually I end up with something completely different. Isn't it magic? Magic of creation.

 

Lemon Cupcakes with Blueberry Buttercream

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have to confess.
Never.
I have never in my life made chocolate chip cookies!!
The easiest recipe you could only imagine, chocolate chip cookies are something that even  child can make. I'd say that these cookies are what children learn to bake in the first place. And now it is my turn.

Pumpkin Cake with Mascarpone Frosting & Chocolate Ganache

Where are my 36 hours a day?! It is unfair! Because I am literally short of time. As were promised in my last post, this Sunday was devoted for pumpkin baking. But I just hadn't have any chance to make up a few sentences and to edit the photos. And right now instead of learning by heart the Universal declaration of human rights in both German and Ukrainian languages (can you only imagine that? crazy, right?!), I am writing about this cake. Pumpkin cake with Mascarpone frosting and Chocolate Ganache. And you know why am I so irresponsible? Because I can't wait any second longer to share the recipe for this cake with you, guys!!! When I told you that this cake was the best I ever made, I was so wrong! Without doubt Pumpkin cake steals the show.!

Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins with Walnut Crumble Topping

I' ve been planing the whole week to bake some pumpkin pie, cheesecake, scones, bread...it is a pumpkin season still. I fell asleep and woke up with thousands ideas in my head. I even had some sketches of the future photos. But this weekend everything changed abruptly. My parents decided to visit grandparents. And since my granny has a rather impressive garden with a not less impressive butternut squash harvest, I thought it would be way better to use a homegrown pumpkin instead of a store-bought.... So, my excuses, but the pumpkin post is going to come into the world only in a week. Nevertheless, this week I have something really special.