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A Smart Upgrade For My Front Door

Thursday
Dec / 5 / 2019
Comments 4

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Schlage. All opinions are 100% mine.

Today I’m excited to share how I gave my front door a much needed and smart upgrade!

First, a bit of backstory. I bought my current home a little over a year ago. All of the exterior doors on my house required a key to lock them. Nothing strange about that, right? Wrong. They also needed the key to lock them from the inside. Dealing with this has been a mini-nightmare. I can’t begin to count the number of times someone has come to my front door, but the door is locked, and I can’t find my keys.

After replacing two sets of doors during my kitchen remodel this past summer, there was one exterior door left to tackle. The front door. So, when my friends over at Schlage reached out and asked if I wanted to try the Schlage Encode™ Smart WiFi Deadbolt, I jumped at the chance. I knew this would be the perfect opportunity to fix this problem and at the same time upgrade my door with cool new smart home features!

The Schlage Encode Smart WiFi deadbolt is a smart lock that enables remote access from anywhere. Yep, you can lock and unlock your door even when you’re not home. You can also unlock the door physically with a key or a code.

While I was familiar with smart locks, I had no idea of their capabilities until I had this opportunity to install one. You can read about the many features of this particular lock here on the Schlage website, but I thought I’d share a few of my favorite features as well.

First, I was able to install the deadbolt lock myself. I did have to drill some larger holes, but once that was done, the system was a breeze to install. I also downloaded the Schlage Home app to manage my new Schlage Encode. It was simple to set up, and I found the app intuitive and easy to use.

When I installed my new smart deadbolt, I also took the opportunity to install a matching door handle. Both the deadbolt and door handle are available in matte black or satin nickel. You can also choose between a modern style called “Century” or a more traditional style called “Camelot.” Since my door is black and my home has a colonial look, I opted for the Camelot in satin nickel. I think this was a great choice. The new door handle looks beautiful on my front door.

Here’s what it looked like before …

… and now.

That’s quite an upgrade, isn’t it?

Another wonderful feature of this particular Schlage smart lock is that it also includes a key. The lock runs on batteries, and while the app will give you notice when the batteries are running low, it’s reassuring to have a manual back-up

Still, another feature that I especially like about my new smart lock is the ability to create up to 100 unique codes for recurring, temporary, or permanent access. This means you can give a different code to your pet sitter, house cleaner, contractor, delivery person, and so on. This allows you to monitor when the lock has been accessed and based on the code use, by whom. I will soon be setting up a code for my cat sitters.

Although I don’t currently use voice assist in my home, you can pair this lock with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. Amazon Alex ;allows you to lock and unlock your door with the sound of your voice. This smart lock even works with the Ring Video Doorbell so you can see who’s at your door.

And finally, the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt also includes an auto-lock feature which is super handy. I have lost count of how many times I have had to run back home to check if I locked the door. With the app, you can set an auto-lock that allows you to select a delay time range from 15 seconds to 4 minutes. You never need to worry about locking your door again.

All-in-all, I’d say this lock is an incredible upgrade. And while I’m obsessed with all of the smart features, I’m probably most excited about finally being able to lock my door from the inside without a key. It’s the little things in life, my friends!

I hope you find this review helpful. If you’re looking for a smart lock deadbolt, I heartily recommend the Schlage Encode™ Smart WiFi Deadbolt. I think you’ll like it as much as I do!

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Woodland Glam Christmas Tree

Holidays

Wednesday
Dec / 4 / 2019
Comments 42

It’s time to share another of my 2019 Christmas trees. Today I’m thrilled to show you how I decorated the Woodland Glam inspired Christmas tree in my entryway!

Woodland Glam Christmas Tree

When I bought my house, I never thought I’d be able to fit anything other than a tabletop Christmas tree in my entryway. However, because of my kitchen remodel this year (which ended up affecting my entryway), I now have a full-size Christmas tree in here.

And I have all of you to thank for it. Back in October, I shared my updated entryway. After I removed the closet (I have plans to replace it this coming year.), many of you mentioned that the newly opened space would be ideal for a tree. Two months later, allow me to introduce my Woodland Glam Entryway Christmas Tree!

I’m smitten with this tree. I will tell you all about it, but first, here’s a bit about how the design idea came to be. I was flipping through magazines and happened upon this tree in Southern Living. The credit indicated it had been styled by Lindsey Ellis Beatty. (Thank you, Lindsey, for the inspiration!)

What attracted me most to the tree was the gorgeous pheasant ornaments. Once I was able to track them down online, I ordered one to see it in person. When it arrived, I was in love and ordered a handful more. From there, I sought out inspiration from my other favorite holiday sources, and this tree is the result!

I couldn’t be more pleased with it. Now for the details:

Woodland Glam Christmas Tree Decor:

(I will include a source list at the end of this post. I will try to link up everything I can for you.)

Let’s start with the tree. I sourced it from Balsam Hill, my favorite place for trees. This is their 6.5 ft Nantucket Blue Narrow Tree with Micro Lights. It’s such a pretty tree, and it makes the perfect base for my ornaments.

First, I put on the ribbon. (If you’re curious about how I did that, I have a full blog post and video tutorial on the subject. You can find that here.)

Once the ribbon was in place, I added solid glass ball ornaments. The large gold and silver balls are from the Balsam Hill Essential Metallics collection. They are stunning and such a great size.

I also decided to bring in a pop of color: turquoise! This was inspired by the shades of green and turquoise in the pheasant ornaments. The color works so well on this tree and looks lovely with my navy walls.

Since this is a woodland-themed tree, I needed a few other animals to join the party. Have you spotted them all?

There are whitetail deer (bucks and fawns), owls, and squirrels.

While I adore all the ornaments, I can’t get over the squirrels. They are just the cutest things, I found them at HomeGoods.

From there, I filled in with a couple of other ornament sets from Balsam Hill. This Silver and Gold Ornament Set added the perfect amount of bling. This is Woodland GLAM after-all.

Icicle ornaments were a must as well. I think of icicles as Mother Nature’s wintertime jewelry. This set, also from Balsam Hill, was a fabulous addition.

Near the top center of the tree is an extra special and unusual ornament – a cuckoo clock! When I spotted it on one of my local shopping adventures, I knew I had to have it. It is large and was rather pricey, so I only bought one. However, I think its uniqueness adds to its appeal.

My final additions were a bunch of glass pinecone ornaments I found at Walmart. I had been hunting for weeks and weeks and couldn’t’ find them anywhere. Then, lo and behold, on a random trip to Walmart, I spotted them. Serendipity!

For the tree topper, I used this beautiful antique snowflake I got two years ago form Balsam Hill. While I think it works perfectly, and I love the twinkle from the jewels, I had had my heart set on this Starry Crown from Terrain. However, It’s been on backorder and is expected to be in stock again by 12/9. I’m still on the fence about whether to order it.

I tucked a cable-knit tree skirt around the base and filled in with presents. I also displayed this little Glowing Winter Village for even more interest and sparkle.

I don’t believe I showed you the vintage wood bench I found for my entryway. While I eventually plan to build in a closet and bench in the entryway, I wanted some sort of seating in the meantime, and this bench fits wonderfully. A throw and extra presents make it feel festive.

I also put garland and a few other festive touches on the banister. I’ll share those in my full Christmas Home Tour which I’m hoping to get live late next week.

And there you have it: my Woodland Glam Christmas Tree! Isn’t she a beauty?

This year I have three Christmas trees. I posted about my Cozy Lodge Christmas Tree a couple of weeks ago. (You can find that here if you missed it.) I’ll be showing you my third tree sometime next week. Stay tuned for that!

Thank YOU for joining me on the blog today for a look at my Woodland Glam Christmas Tree. If you’re wanting more Christmas tree decorating ideas, check out this post here. It features most of my Christmas trees. There’s a lot of inspiration to be had.

Happy decorating, friends!

Woodland Glam Christmas Tree Sources:

Christmas Tree: 6.5ft Nantucket Blue Narrow Tree with Micro LED Lights
Christmas Ornaments:

Tree Topper: Antique Snowflake
Metallic Houses: Glowing Winter Village
Tree Skirt: HomeGoods
Bench: Antique
Throw: Thrifted
Paint Colors: Details HERE

*Balsam Hill was kind enough to offer IBC readers a coupon code. Enter code: IBC10OFF at checkout. This will save you 10% off your order of any amount. This can be used on sale items and regular-priced items on the site. It’s a great deal. The coupon is valid now through December 15, 2019.

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Linzer Cookies

Recipes

Tuesday
Dec / 3 / 2019
Comments 10

Delicious Recipe for Christmas Linzer Cookies #linzer #cookies #raspberry #recipe #christmas #holiday #cookie #holidaybaking

Grab your baking supplies, because today we are making Linzer Cookies. Filled with raspberry jam, these classic butter cookies make a beautiful and delicious holiday treat.

How to Make Linzer Cookies:

I think it’s safe to say we have officially entered the Christmas season. Thanksgiving has passed, trees are being decorated, and now we’re baking cookies. Today I’m excited to add this recipe for Linzer Cookies to my Christmas Cookie Collection.

I’m also tickled because I’ve once again teamed up with my Tastes of the Seasons 24+ blogger friends. Each blogger is sharing a delightful holiday cookie recipe. If you’re looking to add new cookies to your holiday baking repertoire, this is the post for you. All the cookie recipes will be linked at the end of this post. We’d also love to have you join in on the fun. Share a picture of your favorite Christmas Cookie on Instagram. Tag me @inspiredbycharm and use the hashtag #BestChristmasCookieRecipes. I can’t wait to discover YOUR favorite!

Before we get to that, let’s talk about these Linzer Cookies.

How to Make Linzer Cookies:

You may have never heard of them, but for many folks, Linzer Cookies are a holiday classic. Linzer Cookies are crispy, but flakey, buttery sandwich cookies with a jam filling. Raspberry jam is typical, but you could use whatever flavor you like best.

What makes these cookies special is that the top cookie in the cookie sandwich has the center cut out to reveal the delicious jam inside.

You can get as creative as you want with the cookie cutters you use for this recipe. I selected a round scalloped cutter for the base of the cookie and then used different holiday shapes for the cutouts. Small cookie cutters can be tricky to find, so if you like what I used, I will link to them here. I do not have a source for the round cookie cutter because it is vintage. However, it’s pretty standard, so finding it shouldn’t be difficult.

With your cookie cutters chosen, you’ll whip up a batch of dough in your stand mixer. The dough is quick and easy to make. Just in case you have trouble with the dough holding together, a little milk (or even water) will help the process along.

The dough needs to be chilled before it is rolled out, so be sure to plan your cookie-making schedule accordingly or make the dough a day ahead.

Roll out your dough on a floured surface and cut out your cookies. Remember, you’ll need one cookie for the bottom without the center cut out, and one cookie for the top that has the center cut out.

The cookies get baked on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Remove them from the oven before they start to brown. This will result in a pale and pretty cookie.

While your cookies are still a bit warm, spoon a bit of jam on the bottom cookie. Like I said above, I prefer raspberry. (Bonne Maman is my personal favorite, but homemade would be extra delicious!) Then, put on the cookie top. (The top has the cutout.) Lightly press the top and bottom together to seal the deal.

Once the cookies have cooled, sprinkle them with confectioners’ sugar for the perfect finishing touch.

As you can see, the result is a beautiful cookie that’s ready to be served to your holiday guests.

You’ll notice that I also baked the little cut-out shapes from the tops. I thought the tiny cookies were a fun and cute addition to my cookie plate.

I also brought out my adorable DIY Christmas Cookie Bags. Aren’t they sweet? I made them last year and even shared the free printable with all of you! Click here for the printable and tutorial.

I may be partial to the “Elf” version, but both are so cute. They’d also make lovely bags for gift cards too!

Want more Christmas Cookie Recipes? You’ll love these:

All-in-all, I’d say these Linzer Cookies are a lovely and sweet cookie I’m proud to add to my cookie tray.

Below the printable Linzer Cookie recipe, you’ll find links to all my blogger friends’ cookie creations. They’ve made delicious holiday cookie recipes I know you’re going to love. We’d also love to have you join in on the fun. Share your favorite Christmas Cookie on Instagram. Tag me @inspiredbycharm and use the hashtag #BestChristmasCookieRecipes. I can’t wait to discover YOUR favorite!

Happy baking!

Linzer Cookie Recipe:

Linzer Cookies

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: christmas, christmas cookie, cookie, holiday, holiday baking, linzer

Servings: cookies

Prep Time 1 hr

Cook Time 12 mins

Total Time 1 hr 12 mins

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Grab your baking supplies, because today we are making Linzer Cookies. Filled with raspberry jam, these classic butter cookies make a beautiful and delicious holiday treat.

Pin It!

Ingredients

5 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups cold unsalted butter - cubed
1 large egg
1-2 tablespoons cold milk - if needed
1 jar (13 ounce) raspberry jam
Confectioners' sugar for garnish

Instructions

Add the flour, sugar, and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low for 10-15 seconds to combine.
Next, add the cold butter and beat until crumbly. Add the egg and then beat at medium speed until the dough starts to form. If the mixture is not coming together well, add 1-2 tablespoons of cold milk until the dough begins to form.
Turn out the dough on a floured surface and knead by hand to form a smooth dough. Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate about 1 hour until firm.
Once the dough has chilled, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a couple of cookie sheets with parchment paper (or silicone mats). Set aside.
On a floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Use a round cutter to cut out the cookie; then use a smaller shaped cutter to cut out the center of half the cookies. (Remember, you'll need one cookie for the bottom without the center cut out, and one cookie for the top with the center cut out.)
Transfer the cut-out cookies to your prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes. The cookies should be baked, but not browned.
(Repeat this process with the remaining dough.)
Remove the cookies from the pans and let the cookies cool on a wire rack. Before they are completely cooled, add about 1 teaspoon of raspberry jam onto the bottom side of the cookies without the cutout. Then, place the cookies with the cutout on each jam-topped cookie. Gently press the two cookies together. Allow the sandwich cookies to cool completely; then dust with confectioners' sugar.
The cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 139kcal • Carbohydrates: 17g • Protein: 2g • Fat: 7g • Saturated Fat: 4g • Cholesterol: 22mg • Sodium: 92mg • Potassium: 20mg • Fiber: 1g • Sugar: 5g • Vitamin A: 219IU • Calcium: 5mg • Iron: 1mg

Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!

Tastes of the Season Christmas Cookie Recipes:

Double Chocolate Junior Mint Cookies by Ella Claire & Co. | Snowball Cookies with Pecans by Live Laugh Rowe | Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies by Boxwood Avenue | Chocolate Covered Peppermint Cookies by Rooms for Rent.

Pie Cookies by Handmade Farmhouse | Linzer Cookies by Inspired by Charm | Pistachio Cardamom Butter Cookies by The Chronicles of Home | Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies by Anderson + Grant

Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies by Jenna Kate at Home | Iced Peanut Butter Cookies by Maison de Pax | Caramel Thumbprint Snickerdoodles by Summer Adams | Peanut Butter Cookie Cups by Town and Country Living

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies by French Country Cottage | Reindeer Cookies by Shabbyfufu | Chocolate Chip Cookies by Happy Happy Nester | Gluten/Dairy Free Spritz Christmas Cookies by Zevy Joy

Pecan Tassies by On Sutton Place | Snowball Cookies by Julie Blanner | Braided Sugar Cookie Stick by Tidbits | Sugar Cookie Trees by My 100 Year Old Home

Gooey Butter Christmas Cookies by Tidy Mom | Toasted Coconut Einkron Cookies by Farmhouse on Boone | Christmas Candy (M&M) Cookies by Nina Hendrick | White Chocolate Peppermint Oreos by My Sweet Savannah

Praline Snickerdoodles by So Much Better with Age erdoodles/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Praline Snickerdoodles by So Much Better with Age

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Bloody Mary Bar

Entertaining

Monday
Dec / 2 / 2019
Comments 3

I love having a well-stocked bar cart and changing it to fit the current season or an event I’m hosting. In this post, I want to share the Bloody Mary Bar I created. With its red, green, and gold colors, it would be perfect for the holidays.

Bloody Mary Bar:

Bar carts have been popular in recent years and continue to be common home accessories. These beverage carts are especially useful when entertaining. Since many are on wheels, you can roll them where ever your guests are. Plus, you can outfit the cart with supplies and accessories that fit the theme of your celebration.

I always enjoy styling a bar cart. In case you haven’t seen it, I have a post on IBC in which I share creative holiday bar cart ideas. You can find that here.

How to Style a Bloody Mary Bar:

On my Bloody Mary Bar, I started with the basics – ice, hot sauce, spices, Bloody Mary mix, and vodka. Use your favorite brands. You can also create your own homemade Bloody Mary mix if you’d like. I have yet to perfect my recipe, but once I do, I’ll be sure to share!

Alos, if you’re interested this this particular bar cart, you can find it here.

Although I didn’t have any on hand, I think it would be nice to also include black pepper vodka or jalapeño vodka for people who like things extra spicy.

Next came the garnishes – olives, pickles, celery, peppers, lemon wedges, and asparagus, I could have included lots more – everything from cooked bacon to shrimp to fried mozzarella sticks. (Yes, I’ve seen each of those served in a Bloody Mary.) However, I decided to keep things simple on my cart.

On one of my shopping trips, I purchased modern highball glasses for serving the Bloody Marys. And I found a beautiful gold cocktail shaker set and brass cocktail picks. All of these items perfectly suited my setup!

To finish things off, I set out small bowls of a few favorite nibbles – pistachios, peanuts, and wasabi peas. My goal was to offer a variety of savory snacks that complement a Bloody Mary. I also made sure they were things my family members and friends like.

Finally, I styled everything on my small gold bar cart and placed plates, napkins, and seasonal décor along with a few extra glasses and supplies on the second shelf.

As you can see, the Bloody Mary add-ins (olives, pickles, peppers) are in white serving dishes that set off their colors. I love having simple pieces like these because they always come in handy for entertaining.

And with that, my Bloody Mary Bar was complete and ready for enjoying with my guests!

You can certainly set up a Bloody Mary Bar any way you want. If you don’t have a bar cart, use a cabinet or counter. I hope seeing what I did inspires you to have fun with your own choices and styling.

Cheers, my friends!

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DIY Vintage Ornament Wall Decor Tree

DIY

Friday
Nov / 29 / 2019
Comments 20

Learn how to make this DIY Vintage Ornament Wall Decor Tree #christmas #holiday #vintage #ornament #tree #walldecor #decorating

Want to add color and vintage style to your home this Christmas? Today I’m showing you how to make this fun and festive DIY Vintage Ornament Wall Decor Tree.

If you’ve been a follower of IBC for some time, you know I can’t get enough of vintage Christmas decor. Inspired by my stash of vintage ornaments, I made this DIY Vintage Ornament Wall Tree. Check it out!

How to Make a DIY Vintage Ornament Wall Decor Tree:

I wish I could take credit for this genius idea, but I can’t. It’s my understanding that the concept originated when someone hung ornaments on a screen. If you’ve seen trees like this, you’re probably familiar with that method. You just hook the ornaments on an old wood window screen in the shape of a tree or any design you prefer. Simple!

I love that look, and it was my first thought when I decided to make one for my home. However, since I’d be hanging the ornament tree in my dining room, I realized I needed something a little more refined. I continued searching online and saw that folks had made similar versions on bulletin boards using straight pins. I loved that idea and thought it would be perfect in my space. (If you’d like you can get a full look at my Christmas dining room here.)

I searched a few stores for just-the-right bulletin board and found a winner at HomeGoods. I had a feeling HomeGoods wouldn’t let me down. It took me a couple of weeks of hunting and going to a few different stores, but I finally found THE board for my project.

While I did pick up a few new ornaments to make this wall tree, I had a pretty good collection to start. I used about 65 small- and medium-size ornaments for this project. I also ordered a set of these 1 1/4-inch pearl top straight pins. They turned out to be the ideal length.

With all my supplies on hand, I got started on my project!

If you like DIY and vintage ornaments, you will also want to check out the DIY Vintage Christmas Ornament Wreath that I made last year. It’s one of my favorite holiday creations! You can find it here.

How to Make a DIY Vintage Ornament Wall Decor Tree:

You will need:
-bulletin board (Mine is 18×30-inches.)
-ornaments (I used about 65 small- and medium-size ornaments.)
–pearl top straight pins

Begin by hanging your bulletin board on the wall.

Next, start at the bottom of your tree shape. (Don’t forget to leave room for a “trunk”.) Add an ornament and secure it in place with a pin. Continue across the bottom row, adding ornaments to fill the entire row.

Move up to the next row and continue adding ornaments to fit. Continue this method, going up the bulletin board. As you move up, your rows should get shorter and shorter to form a tree shape. (You can make this a more permanent decor project by hot gluing the ornaments to the bulletin board.)

If you’re using a variety of sizes and shapes of ornaments, it may take a bit of trial and error to figure out which ornaments fit best where.

Finish off the top of the tree with a star ornament and use one or more uniquely shaped ornaments for the trunk.

And with that, your DIY Vintage Ornament Wall Tree is complete!

Other than the time it took to go through my ornament collection and hunt down some additional ornaments at a local antique store, this project came together quickly!

I did end up using a few new ornaments, but I think they fit in with the look. I also stuck with all glass ornaments for a more cohesive look.

Like this project? See more of my holiday DIYs here:

Isn’t this a great piece for this space? I love that it adds a little sparkle and a bold pop of color. Plus, since it’s mostly comprised of vintage ornaments, there’s a touch of nostalgia.

I hope you enjoyed this easy DIY Vintage Ornament Wall Tree. With a few simple modifications, this would even be a fun craft activity for a holiday get-together with friends.

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Vintage Christmas Cupboard

Holidays

Tuesday
Nov / 26 / 2019
Comments 17

Vintage Christmas Cabinet Decorating Ideas #christmas #vintage #putz #holiday #decor #ideas

Inspired by the vintage cardboard Christmas houses I found, I put together this little Vintage Christmas Cupboard in my dining room. I’m excited to show you how it came together.

Can you believe it’s already the week of Thanksgiving? This year has flown by, but it seems that November has gone even faster. I had a long list of ideas for the blog, and even though I worked constantly, I was hoping to get more done. Many of you have told me how much you enjoy the holiday content here on IBC, so I’m doing my best to give you all I can.

Having said that, I must confess that my creativity and mental fuel tank are just about tapped out. Although I had intended to fill your feeds with a new post every day this week, I’ve decided to take the rest of the week off and return to blogging on Monday. I’m heading home for a few days to celebrate Thanksgiving, and then it’s back to work on Sunday. It’s not a long break, but I’m hoping a couple of days in the bosom of my family will give me the recharge I need. I hope you also get a little break this week to reenergize and fortify yourself for the month ahead.

Now that I’ve shared my plans, let me show you my vintage Christmas cupboard.

Vintage Christmas Cupboard:

I debated whether to post this. I think it’s super cute, but it has issues, and in some ways, doesn’t feel “good enough” for the blog. Still, I think there’s beauty in the imperfect, so I’m sharing it and hoping you enjoy it.

I picked up this cabinet this past summer. I found it thanks to my blogger friend Bre of brepurposed. She lives in Ohio and spotted it at an antique shop that happens to be only an hour or so from me. Bre wasn’t planning to purchase the cabinet, so I decided to go check it out. As you can see, it came home with me. It’s just the right size for this corner of my dining room.

If you’re interested, you can see more of my dining room Christmas decor here.

The cupboard’s been collecting junk for the past few months so I decided to give it a mini-makeover. The interior was previously painted brown to match the wood, so I painted over the brown with a brighter paint color. I also replaced the shelves since the old ones were falling apart. As you can see, I did a terrible job matching the stain color of the new shelves to the color of the cabinet. In my defense, the stain color on the can looked like the perfect match. I will likely end up staining some new shelves, but this works well enough for now. Perfectly imperfect!

A couple of weekends ago I spotted these little Putz paper Christmas houses on sale at a local antique store. I thought that when paired with some of my white serving pieces, this little village would make the cutest vintage-inspired Christmas cupboard.

So I filled and styled the shelves, and the cupboard was complete.

I’ve been wanting a collection of little paper houses like this for years, so I’m thrilled to finally have them. I did mix in a couple of new houses that are meant to look like the old ones. It doesn’t bother me to combine new with old as long as the items look good together.

I also added a few other antique finds, including a bowl of vintage cookie cutters. I’ve been collecting cutters with red or green handles as well as pine tree-shaped ones. Why? I’m not sure. I suppose I get overwhelmed looking through piles of cookies cutters. Having a few favorites in mind helps to narrow my focus when I’m out antiquing.

I also found wood-handled kitchen tools on my antique adventures, so I tucked those in, too. They are nestled in my favorite baking pans from Staub. I often get questions about these pans when I share my recipes. I have them linked on my shop page if you’re interested.

And that’s it. My little cupboard is dressed for Christmas. As I said, it’s not perfect. But sometimes good enough is good enough. Right?

I hope you enjoyed this look at more of my Christmas decor. I’ll meet you back here next week with more recipes, peeks into my home, and Christmas decoration ideas!

Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving. May you be filled with love, gratitude, and turkey!

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

Recipes

Friday
Nov / 22 / 2019
Comments 3

The classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate shines in these delicious Peanut Butter Chocolate Shortbread Cookies. Although I’m serving these on my holiday cookie tray, they would be delicious at any time of the year.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Shortbread Cookies:

Ok, I’m doing it again. – I’m mixing peanut butter with chocolate to create another delicious treat! You know this combination is a weakness of mine. Since I also love a shortbread style cookie, I couldn’t say no to these Peanut Butter Chocolate Shortbread Cookies.

If you’re a fan of peanut butter treats, IBC is the place for you. I have an entire blog post dedicated to them. You can find that roundup of all my favorite peanut butter-inspired recipes here.

Want more cookie recipes? I’ve got you covered there too:

The concept behind these cookies is pretty straightforward. A chocolate shortbread cookie is topped with peanut butter or chocolate icing. That is drizzled with even more peanut butter and chocolate.

In my perfect world, I would have made all of these chocolate cookies with peanut butter icing. However, I know there are lots of chocolate-only fans out there, so I wanted to provide a couple of options.

Let’s get baking!

How to Make Peanut Butter Chocolate Shortbread Cookies:

Start by making the shortbread dough.

In case you’re new to cookie baking, I need to tell you that shortbread isn’t the easiest cookie dough to work with. You might want to start with another type of dough. I do have confidence in you, but be warned that shortbread wants to break and crack. It’s a bit more fragile than most doughs.

I like to mix shortbread dough by hand, but you could do this in a food processor. (The full ingredient list and instructions are listed in the printable recipe card below.)

Once the dough is made, roll it out on a floured surface. You can use whatever cookie cutter you’d like to cut out your cookies. I recently found this fluted round cookie cutter on one of my antiquing adventures, so that’s what I used!

After the cookies are baked and have time to cool, they are ready to be frosted.

The icings are made from melted chocolate chips and melted peanut butter chips. A little vegetable shortening is added to each to keep the icing soft.

Half of the cookies get frosted with the chocolate icing, and half get frosted with the peanut butter. The leftover icing is drizzled on the cookies for a decorative touch. (Before you start this step, set the cookies on wax paper to make clean-up easy.)

Allow the icing to set, and you’re ready to enjoy these tasty Peanut Butter Chocolate Shortbread Cookies!

If you love peanut butter and chocolate and buttery soft cookies, you’re going to adore this sweet treat.

Enjoy your baking!

Want more Peanut Butter Chocolate Treats? Try these:

Peanut Butter Chocolate Shortbread Cookie Recipe:

Peanut Butter Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: christmas, cookie, cookies, dessert, holiday

Servings: cookies

Prep Time 24 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 44 mins

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