Kids just love food on a stick. I’m not quite sure why – maybe it’s the fact that it encourages you to play with your food a bit. And let’s face it – even as adults, treats on a stick are a bit more fun and festive. That is why Linda Vandermeer’s new cookbook, Sweets on a Stick: More than 150 Kid-Friendly Recipes for Cakes, Candies, Cookies and Pies on the Go! will appeal to the kid in all of us!
What I like most about this book (besides the fact that the recipes are YUMMY!) is that the recipes range from easy enough for small children to make (Fairy-Bite Marshmallow Pops, Rainbow Fruit Kabobs) to more advanced decorating (Safari Mask Cookies, Gumball Pops), with every skill level in between. Whether you are looking for an activity for a child’s birthday party, something to make as a gift, or just a festive addition to an everyday meal, you will find the perfect recipe in this book!
As part of her blog tour to promote Sweets on a Stick, I asked Linda Vandermeer a few questions about the appeal of skewered food:
RC: What do you think makes food on a stick so much more exciting for kids?
LV: Kids are so creative and fun, their minds are still open to so many new and exciting experiences and they are naturally inquisitive. In my experience kids can find fun in almost anything, but the addition of a stick seems to add that something special. Spaceships are zoomier, Butterflies flutter higher and wands have a little bit extra magic. I’m not exactly sure why it works, maybe it’s just by extending the fun past their normal reach everything becomes bigger and greater than what they are used to.RC: Any ideas for savory treats on a stick?
LV: Marinated kabobs are a bit of a hit with the kids in our household.RC: What is your personal favorite “sweet on a stick”?
LV: I really like the Oreo truffle pops from page 123 of the book, they are relatively easy to make, only require a couple of ingredients, don’t need baking and can be decorated like any of the cake pops in the book. My favorite cake pop decorating instruction is the Big Mouth Monster pop from page 28, they seem to appeal to both boys and girls and to such a wide age group.
Of course, I also had to try out a few of Linda’s recipes, too – and I already found a few favorites of my own! The PBJ and Chocolate Bites were little mouthfuls of childhood memories! Even though the cupcake is chocolate (and really, that’s just a bonus, isn’t it?), the fluffy, light texture of the cake exactly mimicked the texture of the Wonder Bread every good PB&J sandwich belongs on. Add to that the addictively delicious peanut butter frosting and the strawberry jelly filling, and these mini cupcakes are pure happiness!
The Sticky Cinnamon Roll Sticks quickly became a favorite in the Random household! When you first bite into them, the taste and crispy, flaky outside are a little reminiscent of an elephant ear pastry…then you sink your teeth into the soft, sweet, sugary, cinnamon-y roll, and you realize this easy-to-prepare treat (made from packaged puff pastry!) tastes like you’ve been baking all day! And how adorable would these pops be on a brunch buffet?
With permission, the recipe for Linda’s ridiculously yummy Sticky Cinnamon Roll Sticks follows below. But first, here’s the rest of her blog tour schedule, complete with plenty of chances to WIN a copy of this whimsical cookbook!
1/9/12 JoAnn Mathias, Moogie and Pap blog (Review)
1/9/12 Vicky Flores, Mommy Loves Giveaways (Review/Giveaway)
1/10/12 Shelley Zurek, Still Blonde after all these YEARS (Giveaway)
1/11/12 Holly Burtchaell, Random Cravings Blog (Review with recipe/Q&A)
1/11/12 Kathleen Walck, Katy and Kid (Review/Giveaway)
1/12/12 Lawna Noe, Giveaway Blogs (Review/Giveaway)
1/13/12 Rachel Tiller, Consumer Queen (Giveaway)
1/14/12 Ellen Christian, Confessions of an Over-worked Mom (Review/Giveaway)
1/15/12 Mallory O, Mommy Pants blog (Review/Giveaway)
1/17/12 Jennifer Ball, Mom Vs. the Boys Blog (Review/Giveaway)
1/19/12 Emmi Langer, Mommy’s Free Time blog (Review)
As promised, here is the recipe for the Sticky Cinnamon Roll Sticks – but be careful – once you have tasted them, you will need to make them over and over again to satisfy the cravings you have created!
Sticky Cinnamon Roll Sticks (From Sweets on a Stick: More than 150 Kid-Friendly Recipes for Cakes, Candies, Cookies and Pies on the Go by Linda Vandermeer. Copyright © 2012 Linda Vandermeer)
- ½ stick (2 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 package frozen puff pastry dough sheets, thawed
- (2 sheets, around 17.3 ounces)
- 12 wooden paddle pop sticks
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ⅓ cup milk or cream
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil.
2. In a medium bowl mix together the butter, sugar, and cinnamon with a spoon until well combined.
3. Spread ½ of the cinnamon mixture evenly over one of the sheets and then roll it up, starting from the long side, to make a long log. Cut the log into 6 pieces and lay each piece onto the prepared cookie sheet. Repeat with the remaining sheet of puff pastry and cinnamon mixture. Gently push a wooden stick about halfway into each of the rolls.
4. Bake 25–30 minutes until golden. Leave to cool a little on the cookie sheets and then, using a spatula, lift them onto a wire rack to cool, being careful not to disturb the sticks.
5. Sift the powdered sugar into a bowl and mix in cream and maple syrup.
6. Top each roll with a dollop of the maple syrup glaze and serve.
Linda Vandermeer started cooking with her mother as a child and now encourages her three children to help her in the kitchen. Inspired by their creativity, she started her blog BubbleandSweet.blogspot.com, which features all of her delectable creations. Her recipes have been published in Peekaboo Magazine and Adore magazine. A stay-at-home mom, she lives with her husband and three children.
