{One Eyed Monster Cookies}

Bean loves to dress up. He's very into drama, he's been in his drama club at school since 6th grade, he attends drama camp, and he performs in a local kid's theater in the summer months.

He hasn't actually Trick or Treated since he was in 5th grade, but dress up? YOU BET.

When he was little my favorite costume was this one

I mean, c'mon! My little stinker.

When he started choosing his own costumes, they were, well, not the norm. Like, seriously, what 8 year old begs to be D'Artagnan for Halloween? Just mine.

When he was 13 he wanted to be The Dread Pirate Roberts for a Halloween Dance. I'm so proud.

When he was 14 we went to the Ohio Comic Con. He wanted to be Doctor Horrible. Awesome.

I can't even begin to tell you how many people asked for photos of him. It was insane.


This amazing re-creation was made by my talented Mother in Law. (along with the skunk and D'Artagnan- as well as many others through the years). Rule 1 here. Tina doesn't sew. Ever.


And this, just last week at our Youth Group Fall Fest...

V from V for Vendetta.


There have been many, many other costumes in between, from dressing up for Ren Fest, to Eleven for our Doctor Who party, to Ron Weasley for our Hogwarts parties, to all his costumes for plays... He does enjoy a good disguise.

One thing he never dressed as? A monster. No idea why, but he never, ever dressed as anything creepy or spooky. Probably why my Monster cookies are cute instead of creepy, eh?

These guys are totally fast and easy. A great project for your little ones this halloween (or anytime, monsters are always in season!). Kids will love rolling these in the jimmies!

This starts with a basic Snickerdoodle cookie. You will tint the dough, then, instead of rolling in cinnamon and sugar, you will roll in jimmies. These could be any color you want, I just really liked my purple jimmies. I even think they would be totally cute if they were rolled in the (very easy to find) rainbow jimmies! Top with a big dot of buttercream, then with buttercream tinted black, draw on your pupil and mouth. Give him a lopsided grin, give him a wiggly mouth, big grin, little grin, it's all up to you!

Easy, no special skills required.

Done!

And lookit how cuuuuuuute.

However, Dear Monster, no matter how cute you are... you are going in my belly!

Sorry, not sorry!

NOW, for more eyebally goodness, step on over to Bakingdom and check out the Soft & Chewy Googly Eye Cookies  that Darla made! You won't believe your EYES. (I HAD to say it).

Tina

PS, tint these puppies green and roll in green jimmies and you have Mike Wazowski!


You can find lots of great jimmies at Bake it Pretty.


One Eye Monster Cookies
by Tina @ Sugar Bean Bakers

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening (I prefer Crisco)
1  1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2  3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
food coloring*
jimmies

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cream together butter, shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour, cream of tartar, soda and salt. Add food coloring and mix until well blended. Shape dough (about a tablespoon) into balls. Roll balls in jimmies. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets (or parchment/silpat lined sheets). Lightly flatten. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until set but not too hard. (I baked mine 8 minutes)

Allow cookies to cool completely. 

Make up a batch of  buttercream. Use this to pipe** on the eyeballs. Pipe the pupils and mouth from buttercream tinted black.

*I recommend gel colorings

**Wilton Tip numbers: Eyeball- 1A,  Pupil- 12,   Mouth- 13

.

slightly adapted from this recipe found at www.allrecipes.com.

{Giveaway: 3rd Blogiversary}

It's hard to believe that I first set type to blog 3 years ago on this date.

However, it is, in fact, quite true. I opened Sugar Bean Bakers on Oct. 24, 2010. A lot has happened over the last 3 years. Never did I think anyone beyond my own friends and family would actually read my blog. I've gone from recipes only to recipes and party plans. The party plans are actually some of the most popular posts on my blog. Cool, right? I think so! :)

Today, in honor of my blogiversary, I am having a giveaway!

I have 2 awesome prizes that you are going to LOVE.

First, from my wonderful friend, Heather, a copy of her gorgeous (and delicious recipe filled) book, SprinkleBakes. Heather has another book in the works! I seriously can't wait to see what she has in store for us this time. If you haven't, you must check out her beautiful website (SprinkleBakes) too. She has some of the most aesthetically pleasing desserts you'll ever see. Be sure to click over there. Really. SO. Pretty.

Photo by Heather  Baird

 Secondly, from my most favorite baking supply site, Bake It Pretty, a surprise box of goodies!

I don't even know what will be in the box, so I'm as excited as you are to find out. You'll have to let me know what you got if you win!

I love Bake It Pretty, they always have just what I'm looking for. From cupcake liners (and OH what a selection they have) to the adorable mini glass milk bottles I use often in photos, to stripey straws and so much more. I mention using their products quite often here on SBB, not only for baking, but often for my parties too. I also love that they ship priority mail. I know I'll have my box of good stuff in 2-3 days, which is always awesome for procrastinators like me.

There are TWO prizes. There will be TWO winners. The prizes are individual.

So, here is the deal, you have 3 entries. 1 is required, 2 are optional.

1. Required entry:  Over the last 3 years I have posted many, many recipes and party plans. Please state below which has been your favorite! (Be specific with the post name).

for extra entries (NOT required)

2. Like Sugar Bean Bakers on Facebook
 (if you already like Sugar Bean Bakers on Facebook, just post and say so, you still get the extra entry)

3. Share this post on Facebook

Please, leave a separate comment for EACH entry. A winner will be chosen via a Random.org drawing

Please leave your email in each comment so I can contact you if you win! If there is no contact info, I will draw again.  If you are the winner, your prize will be shipped to you directly from Bake It Pretty or SprinkleBakes.

Contest closes 10/28/13 at 8 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time

The winner will be announced on Oct 28th, 2013.

 Thanks for participating in my Blogiversary Giveaway! Good luck!

Thanks to Heather of SprinkleBakes & Bake It Pretty for sponsoring prizes & to all of you for reading Sugar Bean Bakers.

3 years later and it's still so much fun :)

Tina