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This appy’s are so simple – and we really, really mean it. Think refrigerated dough cut into squares and then tucked into a mini muffin tin. Add a slice of Brie and a spoonful of mango chutney, pop into the oven, garnish with mint and done. Didn’t believe us when we said it was easy? We’d never lie to you! Now, let’s get cooking.

What You’ll Need:

• Refrigerated Premade Dough
• Brie
• Mango chutney
• Mint leaves
• Mini muffin tin
• Cooking spray

Brie Bites with Mango Chutney

Firstly, preheat oven to 350°. Spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray and then spread the dough onto a counter or cutting board (you may need to sprinkle some flour to prevent sticking) and then roll out the dough. Cut the dough into 24 squares.

Place dough squares into the muffin tin slots.

Cut the Brie into small slices and then place inside of the dough squares.

Top each square with a spoonful of mango chutney.

Bake for 10-15 minutes.

We recommend topping each Brie Bite with a mint leaf. Unfortunately, due to supply shortages in the times of COVID, we did not have any mint available to add to our tutorial!

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Brie Bites with Mango Chutney

These Brie Bites made of fluffy pieces of golden pastry, topped with mango chutney, and a mint leaf make for a tasty appetizer that are a guaranteed crowd pleaser. They are the perfect passed appetizer for New Year's parties – elegant, tasty and easy to make!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword appetizer, brie, mango, minty, new years

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 24 bites

Calories 93kcal

Cost $25

Equipment

• Cooking spray
• Mini muffin tin

Ingredients

• 1 tube Refrigerated Pastry Dough Crescent dough, pizza dough or pie dough will all work for this recipe
• 1 wheel Brie
• 1 cup Mango chutney
• 24 Mint leaves

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°
• Spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray
• Spread the dough onto a counter (you may need to sprinkle some flour to prevent sticking) and roll out the dough
• Cut dough into 24 squares
• Place dough squares into the muffin tin slots
• Cut the Brie into small slices and place inside of the dough squares
• Top each square with a spoonful of mango chutney
• Bake for 10-15 minutes
• Top each bite with a mint leaf and serve warm

We hope you loved these Brie Bites. If you’re looking for more New Year’s party ideas check out our Pink Whitney Champagne Cocktail, Confetti Backdrop and then our New Year’s Countdown Clock.

The post Brie Bites with Mango Chutney appeared first on Champagne and Sugarplums.

This blog post may contain affiliate links. What does that mean? We may get a small commission if you make a purchase using our links, which helps us to keep posting new holiday content every week.

This recipe is fairly simple, great for picky eaters. But there’s lots of room for kicking up the flavour – try adding shredded rotisserie chicken, avocado, refried beans, green onions and any other toppings you love.

What You’ll Need:

• Tortillas
• Red pepper
• Onion
• Salt and pepper
• Oil
• Cheddar and Mozzarella shredded cheese
• Salsa
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Large pan

Firstly, thinly slice the onion and red pepper.

Add the sliced onions, red peppers, salt and pepper, and oil to a pan.

And then cook on medium heat for 5-7 minutes.

Place a tortilla on a cutting board.

Use a sharp knife to cut eyes into the tortilla.

And then some nostrils,

and finish the face with a scary smile.

Top another tortilla with some of the cooked onions and red peppers,

and then the two shredded cheeses,

and then some salsa.

Top the quesadilla with the scary face we cut out earlier.

Cook the tortilla in a pan on medium heat for about 10 minutes. We recommend not flipping the tortilla as the cheese will melt through the face holes and will certainly leave a bit of a mess.

These creepy quesadillas are such a fun Halloween food idea – perfect for lunch, dinner and party appetizers!

Easy Creepy Quesadillas

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Creepy Quesadillas

An easy Halloween great for lunch, dinner or appys!

Course Snack

Cuisine Holiday

Keyword appetizer, cheese, easy, halloween, kids, quick, tortilla

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

0 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 3 Quesadillas

Calories 123kcal

Cost $20

Equipment

• Pan
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp Oil
• 1 Red pepper
• 1/2 Onion
• Salt and pepper To taste
• 1 cup Mozzarella cheese Shredded
• 1 cup Cheddar cheese Shredded
• 1 cup Salsa
• 6 Small tortillas
• Cooking spray

Instructions

• Thinly slice the red pepper and onion.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Add peppers and onion and season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook until soft, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. 
• While the pepper and onion are cooking, use a sharp knife to cut creepy faces into three tortillas.
• Top three un-creepy tortillas with the cooked veggies, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses and salsa.
• Top the filled tortilla with the creepy face we cut out earlier.
• Heat a pan on medium heat and spray with cooking spray or oil. Add the creepy quesadilla and toast for 7-10 mins until the cheese has melted.

We hope you loved this creepy Halloween dinner recipe. If you need a Halloween dessert idea, certainly check out our Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes, so cute and so tasty!

The post Easy Creepy Quesadillas appeared first on Champagne and Sugarplums.

This blog post may contain affiliate links. What does that mean? We may get a small commission if you make a purchase using our links, which helps us to keep posting new holiday content every week.

It might seem odd to add maple syrup to a cocktail, but seriously, try it! The syrup sinks to the bottom, so when you drink with a (environmentally responsible) straw you get a delicious sweet taste which nicely complements all the tartness of the apple. Perfect.

And this fall we have developed an obsession with cinnamon sticks as a garnish. Let the cinnamon soak in the cocktail while drinking and it will release spice in to the drink, changing the flavour as you go. If you’re feeling really adventurous, try lighting the end of the stick until it is smouldering – it will give another dimension by adding a smokey flavour.

What You’ll Need:

• Apple juice
• Maple syrup
• Vodka
• Prosecco
• An apple corer
• A jigger or shot glass
• Cinnamon sticks
• Ice

Fill your cocktail glass about halfway full with ice cubes.

Pour 2oz of apple juice in to the glass, over the ice.

Add 1tsp of maple syrup.

Throw in 1oz of vodka,

And then top it off with some prosecco.

We use an apple corer to make the ring garnish. If you don’t have one, no worries! You can cut a ring using a knife – or skip the rings and add thin cut apple slices instead. The taste of fresh apple is more important than the shape.

Finish by adding a cinnamon stick garnish. Let the cinnamon sit in the cocktail, the flavour will diffuse into the drink for a fabulous spicy flavour.

We really hope you and your guests love these Maple Apple Cocktails – we definitely enjoyed making them! Round out Thanksgiving this year with an apple theme and try our Baked Apples with Caramel and Brown Sugar for dessert.

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Bubbly Maple Apple Cocktail

This is an easy, quick and delicious drink recipe perfect for Thanksgiving!

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword apple, Drink, maple, prosecco

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes

0 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 1 glass

Calories 384kcal

Author Champagne and Sugarplums

Ingredients

• Ice
• 2 oz Apple juice
• 1 tsp Maple syrup
• 1 oz Vodka
• 6 oz Prosecco amount will vary, dependant on glass size
• 1 Cinnamon sticks garnish
• 1 Apples slice, garnish

Instructions

• Fill a cocktail glass halfway full with ice
• Add apple juice, maple syrup and vodka
• Top up the glass with Prosecco
• Add a cinnamon stick and apple slice garnish

Video

Notes

• The amount of Prosecco will vary, depending on the glass size, which could alter the total calorie count

The post Bubbly Maple Apple Cocktail appeared first on Champagne and Sugarplums.

This blog post may contain affiliate links. What does that mean? We may get a small commission if you make a purchase using our links, which helps us to keep posting new holiday content every week.

WHY MAKE THIS BACK TO SCHOOL COCKTAIL?

There are so many reasons you should make The Teacher’s Pet. Here are a few:

•  First – its super easy! Just pour the ingredients and serve. There’s no shaking, stirring, frothing or blending involved. Its perfect for parties, after work. after school, before school…
•  The ingredients are easy to find – grocery store easy. And budget friendly.
• It is a perfect drink for for bridging the season. As Summer ends and Fall and Winter set in, its tasty, tipsy, and warm, but on ice and with line wedges, its also refreshing and surprisingly light.

What You’ll Need:

• Highball glasses
• Ice
• Spiced Rum
• Apple Cider
• Ginger Ale
• Lime Wedges

Let’s Make The Teacher’s Pet!

Put ice into a highball glass.

Pour one ounce (or one shot) of spiced rum over the ice.

Add four ounces (or four shots) of apple cider,

and then top off with some ginger ale.

Garnish with a lime wedge,

Kick back, relax and enjoy the happiest season of all!

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The Teacher’s Pet

Let the countdown begin – it’s time to go back to school! It's time for fresh sneakers, first day jitters, school buses and classrooms filled with new friends. It's time for parents to take a breather and for teachers to dive in. In honour of this happy season (sorry kiddos!) we've created a cocktail with Spiced Rum and Apple Cider – a nod to the fall flavours that start arriving this time of year. (Pumpkin Spice anyone?) Top it off with some Ginger Ale and our Teacher's Pet – the Back to School Cocktail – is the perfect drink to cheers with this September.

Course Cocktails

Cuisine American, Canadian

Keyword apple, cider, cocktail, rum

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes

0 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 1 Cocktail

Calories 157kcal

Cost $10

Equipment

• Highball glasses
• Jigger

Ingredients

• Ice
• 1 ounce Spiced Rum
• 4 ounces Apple Cider
• Ginger Ale Top Off
• Lime Wedges

Instructions

• Add ice to a highball glass
• Add spiced rum
• Add apple cider
• Top off with ginger ale
• Garnish with lime wedge

Video

We hope you enjoyed The Teacher’s Pet Back to School Cocktail! Remember to post your creations in the comments or on our Instagram. For more Back to School fun check out our seasonal creations here.

The post Back to School Cocktail – The Teacher’s Pet appeared first on Champagne and Sugarplums.

Don’t forget to follow us over on Facebook,  Pinterest or Instagram for more seasonal projects, recipes and more – see you there!

This blog post may contain affiliate links. What does that mean? We may get a small commission if you make a purchase using our links, which helps us to keep posting new holiday content every week.

What you’ll need to make some cute Felt Pencil Toppers for Back to School:

Apples:

• Two apples – red or green
• One green leaf
• One brown stem
• Green or red embroidery thread
• Needle
• Scissors
• Black marker
• Google eyes
• Glue gun

Ladybug:

• Two red circles
• One black half circle
• One black line, the length of the circle
• Two smaller black lines
• Red embroidery thread
• Needle
• Scissors
• Google eyes
• Glue gun

Bumblebee:

• Two yellow ovals
• One black half circle
• Three black lines, the width of the oval
• Two smaller black lines
• One small black triangle
• Yellow embroidery thread
• Needle
• Scissors
• Google eyes
• Glue gun

Cut out all of the felt you’ll need for the pencil topper you’ve chosen. This step by step is for the green apple, but the steps are pretty similar for each topper. But, you can see the step by step instructions for each pencil topper in our YouTube video, linked above.

Place the two apple shapes together and sew around the outer edge. A blanket stitch is perfect this, but a simple straight stitch works too! Make sure to leave a gap the size of a pencil in the middle of the apple on both the top and bottom.

Use a glue gun to attach the apples accessories,

eyes,

stem and then leaf. The stem and leaf will be glued to the inside of the apple – in the gap where the pencil will go.

Give the little guy a smile with the marker and you’re done!

We hope you and any little ones you make these for love them as much as we do! For more Back to School fun, check out our Teacher’s Pet Back to School Cocktail, Easy Felt Pencil Cases (Made by Kids for Kids) and our Desk Top Organizer – a Dollar Store Craft.

The post Felt Pencil Toppers for Back to School appeared first on Champagne and Sugarplums.

This blog post may contain affiliate links. What does that mean? We may get a small commission if you make a purchase using our links, which helps us to keep posting new holiday content every week.

You’ll only need three supplies, which can all be found at the dollar store – tissue paper, scissors, and a stapler. Choose fall coloured paper like oranges, golds, yellows and reds.

What You’ll Need:

• Tissue paper
• Stapler
• Scissors

To start, layer about four or five sheets of the tissue paper on top of each other.

Cut the tissue paper in half lengthwise, to get two sets of long rectangles.

Take one of the rectangle piles and fold it in half.

Make cuts in the tissue paper along the unfolded edge – be sure not to cut all the way through the fold.

Once you’ve made a fringe, unfold the tissue paper and staple the sheets in a few spots along the fold.

Tightly twist the tissue paper along the fold.

Repeat and then staple strips together to make a long garland or two.

How perfect is this Tissue Paper Garland for Thanksgiving? We made a few of then and displayed some on a hutch, and used some as a centerpiece. It looks great anywhere you use it!

Looking for more Thanksgiving inspiration? Check out our Mini Pumpkin Centrepieces , Cute Kids Turkey Craft, and our Pumpkin Nanaimo Bars.

The post Thanksgiving Tissue Paper Garland appeared first on Champagne and Sugarplums.

This blog post may contain affiliate links. What does that mean? We may get a small commission if you make a purchase using our links, which helps us to keep posting new holiday content every week.

What You’ll Need:

• 25 Corks
• Orange paint
• Green Paint
• Floral Wire
• Felt or Silk Leaves
• Paint Brush
• Glue

We’ll start with 24 of the corks. Start by pouring some orange paint onto a plate or dish and then dip the end of each cork into the paint. Dab excess paint onto a paper towel. Repeat for all 24 corks and then let dry. Repeat the same again on the opposite sides of the corks.

Paint the remaining cork green to make the stem.

Glue the orange painted corks together in rows, which should make five rows. The first and fifth row and have four corks, the second and forth rows have five corks and the middle row has six corks.

Attach all the rows together to form a pumpkin.

Add a stem to the top of the pumpkin, curling the floral wire around a thick paint brush or dowel to create a curly Q vine. Attach the vine, stem and then leaves to the pumpkin.

To make the pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern, use some black paint to make eyes and then a mouth.

We hope you had fun making a jack-o-lantern cork pumpkin, Happy Crafting!

The post How to Make a Simple Jack-O-Lantern Cork Pumpkin appeared first on Champagne and Sugarplums.

This blog post may contain affiliate links. What does that mean? We may get a small commission if you make a purchase using our links, which helps us to keep posting new holiday content every week.

What You’ll Need:

• Wood blocks
• Acrylic paints
• Small plastic skulls
• Paint pen
• Sandpaper
• Paint brushes
• Glue

Paint two square blocks in a solid colour and then set aside to dry completely. We chose a bright green as it gives a fabulous pop of colour underneath the black overlay.

Paint three small plastic skulls black and then let dry.

While the skulls are drying, paint black on the two blocks to cover the green and let dry.

Paint the base block black and then set aside to dry.

Use some gold paint to dry brush over the skulls. Dry brushing is a painting technique where a dry paint brush is used with a minimal amount of paint. The result is brush strokes that have a scratchy look that lacks the smooth appearance regular painting commonly has.

Use sandpaper or a sanding block to remove some of the black paint to reveal the green underneath, therefore giving them a distressed look.

Stencil numbers onto the Halloween blocks. One block should have numbers 0 through 5 and the second should have 1,2,3 and 0, so every day in the calendar can be read.

On the base block, write ‘Days Til Halloween’ with the paint pen or stencil.

Lastly, glue the skulls to the side of the base in a tower.

Let the countdown begin – we hope you have fun making these Halloween Advent Blocks – happy crafting!

The post Countdown to Halloween Advent Blocks appeared first on Champagne and Sugarplums.

This blog post may contain affiliate links. What does that mean? We may get a small commission if you make a purchase using our links, which helps us to keep posting new holiday content every week.

What you’ll need:

• Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
• Chocolate icing
• Chocolate sprinkles
• Buttercream icing – medium consistency (we’ve included our recipe at the bottom of the post)
• Gel food coloring – orange and green
• Piping bags (2)
• Leaf piping tip
• Large circle piping tip (size 2A)
• Pretzel sticks

Let’s Decorate Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes!

Use a spatula to ice the tops of the cupcakes with chocolate icing. We used a store bought pre-made icing, but if you have time, you could make your own. We like this recipe from Lyne at Ottawa Mommy Club.

Pour a generous amount of dirt (otherwise known as chocolate sprinkles!) to cover the chocolate icing.

Add the pumpkins. Use a large circle icing tip for this. Apply consistent pressure to the piping bag. As the icing begins to build up, move the tip up, never losing contact with the icing. Stop squeezing when you are happy with the size of the pumpkin, and then lift the tip up and away from the ball.

Add one or two smaller pumpkins to the patch.

Break some pretzel stick stems and then add them to the pumpkins.

Use green icing to pipe leaves onto the pumpkins. To make the leaves squeeze the piping bag tightly at the base of the leaf, and thereleasing the pressure as you pull up and away. Stop squeezing completely and then pull the tip away.

TIP: If your leaves are cracking and don’t want to stick to the pumpkins, your icing may be too stiff, try adding 1tsp of water or milk at a time until you have a medium consistency icing. If your leaves fall flat, your icing may be too soft and you may want to add a bit of icing sugar so it will stiffen a little.

Finally, add more leaves at the base of the pumpkins to fill out the patch.

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Buttercream Icing Recipe

A deliciously creamy buttercream recipe, perfect for cakes, cupcakes, cookies and more. Use it for decorating festive desserts or as a filler.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword buttercream, creamy, dessert, icing

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes

0 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 1 dozen (cupcakes)

Calories 295kcal

Author Champagne and Sugarplums

Equipment

• Electric mixer

Ingredients

• 1 cup Butter
• 2 tbsp Vanilla extract
• 4 cups Icing Sugar
• 3 tbsps Milk

Instructions

• Use an electric mixer to beat the butter until light and fluffy, 1-2 minutes.
• Add the vanilla flavour and mix well.
• Add the icing sugar, one cup at a time.
• Add milk and mix until thoroughly combined. Creamy and delicious!

We hope you had as much fun decorating these cupcakes as we did! If you need some pumpkin decor to match your dessert – certainly try making our Wine Cork Pumpkin – it’s easy elegance wrapped in DIY.

The post How to Decorate Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes appeared first on Champagne and Sugarplums.

This blog post may contain affiliate links. What does that mean? We may get a small commission if you make a purchase using our links, which helps us to keep posting new holiday content every week.

We recommend serving this vodka drink in a martini glass – or break out some mason jars for a fun poolside vibe. But don’t forget the rainbow candy garnish! Not only is this vodka drink pretty, it has a delicious flavour, with each layer of slush adding to the taste.

What do you need to make a Rainbow Vodka Slush?

• Ice
• Blender
• Blue Curacao
• Pink Whitney
• Vodka
• Lemon juice
• Lime juice
• Simple syrup (optional)
• Nerd candy
• Sponge
• Cocktail glass

How do you make a Boozy Rainbow Slush?

• Grind Nerds candy into tiny pieces using a blender or food processor.
• Rim a cocktail glass generously with the candy pieces.
• Blend the Blue Curacao with ice until it is the consistency of crushed ice.
• Repeat with the Pink Whitney. Add two parts simple syrup for a sweeter cocktail.
• Repeat one more time with vodka and ice, adding lemon and lime juices. Add another two parts of simple syrup here if desired.
• Freeze each slush mixture for 3-4 hours.
• When ready, use a spoon to layer the slush into the prepared cocktail glass.
• Begin with the vodka slush, then the Blue Curacao, followed by the Pink Whitney
• Garnish with some rainbow candy and enjoy responsibly!

Boozy Rainbow Slush easy tutorial:

Grind Nerds candy into tiny pieces using a blender or food processor. Then rim a cocktail glass generously with the candy pieces. First, use lemon juice around the rim of the glass, then dip the dampened rim into the crushed candy.

Blend the Blue Curacao with ice until it is the consistency of crushed ice. Repeat with the Pink Whitney. Add two parts of simple syrup for a sweeter cocktail. Repeat one more time with vodka and ice, adding lemon and lime juices. Add another two parts of simple syrup here if desired.

Freeze each slush mixture for 3-4 hours.

When ready, use a spoon to layer the slush into the prepared cocktail glass. Begin with the vodka slush.

Add the Blue Curacao slush.

Finally, add the Pink Whitney slush.

Top with some rainbow candy!

We hope you loved this Boozy Rainbow Slush as much as we do! For more summer drinks, recipes and crafts, certainly check out our other ideas.

More Summer Recipes:

• Easy Homemade Ice Cream Recipe
• Mango Chicken Pizza Recipe
• Amazing Campfire Cupcakes
• Peach Moscato Cocktail

Summer Craft and DIY Ideas:

• DIY Ice Cream Apron with FREE Printable
• “Good Vibes” Dollar Store Bottle Opener
• Kids Craft: Beaded Wind Chimes
• Party Decor: Easy Breezy Pineapple Garland

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Boozy Rainbow Slush

Course Cocktails

Cuisine International

Keyword candy, cocktail, pink whitney, Rainbow, slush, vodka

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes

Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes

Servings 1 Cocktail

Calories 145kcal

Cost $10

Equipment

• blender
• Cocktail glass
• Jigger
• Plate
• Sponge

Ingredients

• Nerd candy Crushed
• Ice
• 1 part Blue Curacao
• 2 parts Pink Whitney
• 1 part Vodka
• 1 part Lemon juice plus more for glass rim
• 1 part Lime juice
• Simple syrup optional

Instructions

• Crush the Nerd candy in a blender or food processor
• Rim a cocktail glass with lemon juice and then dip into the crushed candy and set aside
• In a blender, mix some ice and the Blue Curacao until the ice is crushed
• Repeat with the Pink Whitney. Add two parts simple syrup for a sweeter cocktail
• Repeat one more time with the vodka, adding the lemon and lime juices. Add another two parts simple syrup here
• Freeze the all of the slush for 3-4 hours
• When ready, use a spoon to layer the slush into the prepared cocktail glass. Beginning with the vodka slush, then the Blue Curacao, followed by the Pink Whitney
• Garnish with some nerd candy and enjoy responsibly!

The post A Boozy Rainbow Slush appeared first on Champagne and Sugarplums.