Throughout the year I have been asked numerous questions about baking and if I had any helpful tips. Therefore, I have decided to share some of my most used tips/tricks/items I love with you. 
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Baking Tips/Tricks
1. How to correctly measure flour: This is huge. Have you ever made cookies and they turned out really dry? I have, many times. The problem could be how you're measuring the flour. 

1. First check to see if the recipe calls for flour sifted or not. For example, the recipe might say 2 cups four sifted. Sift your flour first and then measure. 
2. Flour is NOT meant to be packed in the measuring cup. To properly measure flour you must scoop it out of the bag or containerwith a spoon and then from the spoon pour it into the measuring cup. Once the measuring cup is full you can level it off with the back of a knife (adults do this part, NOT children). Video belows shows this trick. 

​Happy New Year and Valentine’s Day! 2020 was a little intense for everyone and I am looking forward to a fresh start in 2021. This year I have some big plans for Sweets By Christa and my goal is to stay on top of all the cake/cupcake/treat trends, so I can offer only the best to my community. 
*Make sure to read all the way to the end for a fun, special Valentine’s Day activity to do with your children.
 
Cakesicles
I want to introduce you all to a cutie that I have perfected at the end of last year and the beginning of this year. The cakesicle! What is a cakesicle? It is a cake pop in the shape of a popsicle. Yes, that’s right, it’s a super duper extra large cake pop. I have begun seeing them pop up on Pinterest and Instagram and I knew I had to check them out. Cakesicles are amazing because they make a nice treat to share with your friends COVID friendly style. Each cakesicle is made from a cake flavor of your choice and mixed with my own chocolate or vanilla buttercream. The cake is surrounded by either white or milk chocolate and then a stick is placed into it. Cakesicles can be decorated and personalized to your needs. The finished cakesicle is individually wrapped for ease of handing out to people. 
 
How to store cakesicles:

1. Keep them at room temperature for 24 hours.
2. If you want to keep them for 1 week-1 month, place them in an airtight container and place the container in the fridge. 
3. Cakesicles will last 1-3 months if you place them in a large plastic bag, tightly sealed with no air in it and placed in the freezer. 

 
Honestly though, eating the cakesicle within the first week is my family’s preference.
 
Another major treat I am working on to bring you all this year is macarons. Ok, I know I have made macarons last year, but this year I want to offer more flavors more often. I am also going to be offering special order macarons for any occasion. This means that you don’t have to wait for one of my sales to order them. If you have a special occasion coming up and want to order some, please let me know! I am still throwing around the idea of a Macaron of The Season Club. This means that you would be guaranteed a half dozen or dozen mix of my seasonal macarons. They would be available Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter Holidays (December).  If you are interested in this please let me know. 
 
Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is going to be here in a few weeks and I’m wondering where has January is gone? Now is the time to order some sweet treats for your special someone. I am offering several treat boxes this year that include cakesicles, hot cocoa bombs and per request of my husband, chocolate covered Oreos. I am also going to be offering hot cocoa bombs in 3 flavors: Classic, Pink Cookies and Cream, and Strawberry. Please note that for these cocoa bombs, I have created my own cocoa mix that is free of preservatives and I promise you can pronounce every ingredient listed. My boys have been drinking this cocoa mix for several weeks and think it’s better than the store bought kind! 
 
I also am going to have Valentine’s Macarons for sale as well. These will be a variety pack and you can order either a dozen or half dozen at a time. Flavors include: cookies and cream, chocolate strawberry, vanilla, and raspberry white chocolate. I am also working on making Big Mac Hearts. These will be supersized vanilla macarons, like the size of 2-3 macarons put together, in the shape of a heart. Great for sharing or just eating on your own. I will be having a limited amount of all of these available for purchase.  Macaron orders will open up this week. 
 
*Please note that all Valentine’s Day Pre-Sales will close on February 6th to allow me time to bake all these treats.

Lastly, I wanted to share with you a special Valentine’s Day activity to do with your children. I did this several years ago with my boys and each year they ask for me to do it again.  I make, or you can buy, 28 paper hearts that are about 6 inches wide. I do 28 because I have 2 children. You will need 14 hearts per child. Starting February 1st, each night after they fall asleep, I write a saying on the heart. The saying can be as simple as “You are amazing” or more complex like “I love you to the stars and beyond”. Be creative and make them personal. Once I have the saying on the heart I will tape the heart to my child’s door. This way when they wake up in the morning they get to see what new heart is on their door. ​