One thing you don’t mess with is a good thing. A good thing like my mother-in-law’s DEEElicious brownies. You just don’t mess with them. Unless, of course, you just bought a Wilton brownie pop mold.

I’ve been seeing brownie pops here and there on various food blogs and I couldn’t wait to give em’ a go, so I drove 20 minutes to the nearest Micheal’s and yippeee, I got the last mold in stock.

“These things are selling like crazy,” said the cashier, as she scanned my 50 percent off coupon.

On the way home I loaded up on various coloured sugars and meltable chocolate wafers to decorate my creations.

I set up my decorating station, and off I went to whip up a batch of brownies. Thankfully, the Flintstones had a particularly compelling episode that afternoon which enraptured my children for a full half an hour (miraculous!). This meant that my husband could pitch in and help with the brownie pop making.

Unfortunately, impatience + baking = trouble and I am not a patient person. I try, but when I get really jazzed about something, I want IT NOW. So, in my haste to decorate my brownie pops, I did not let them cool long enough and the brownie pop stick kept sliding through the end of the brownie. So, keep this in mind if you decide these are something you want to make. Also, I think it would help keep the stick in place if you dipped them in melted chocolate before inserting them into the brownie. Next time, that’s what I will do.

None of my brownie pops looked ‘perfect’ and if perfection is your thing, you might want to get a local baker to make these for you or at least decorate them for you especially if you are making them for your wedding. That said, my imperfect brownie pops were fun and super yummy to eat and I will make them again soon.

I think these would make a superbly fun snack for a wedding shower.

Here is the brownie recipe. If you don’t have brownie pop molds, you can make them in a pan and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and insert a cookie stick. Read the tutorial on how to make cookie cutter brownies over at Twig and Thistle.

Barb’s  Brownies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1/2 cup butter (I use salted butter.)

2 scant cups brown sugar

2 eggs

1 cup flour

5 dessert spoons cocoa

1 tsp vanilla

Cream butter and add sugar. Cream well. Add eggs and beat until fluffy. Add salt and vanilla. Mix in flour and cocoa.

How to Make Brownie Pops

Spray silicone brownie mold with vegetable oil. (You can get the molds from my Amazon affiliate link here if you want: Wilton Round Brownie Pop Mold.) Fill each mold cavity 2/3 full with brownie batter. Place mold in oven and bake at 350 degrees for 30 mins. (Time will vary depending on your oven and the type of pan you are using.) According to Wilton.com, you can also bake for 15 to 20 minutes, remove from oven, carefully insert cookie sticks, then return to oven for the remaining cooking time. Maybe this would help the cookie sticks to set?

Place pan on cooling grid and cool completely. Pop brownies from mold. I turned my mold over and carefully pushed in the bottom of each cavity. They released easily.

Gently insert cookie sticks.

Melt chocolate wafers. (I nuked mine). Gently dip brownie pops in melted chocolate. (When the chocolate eventually hardens it will help to seal the end of the brownies.)

Gently dip brownie pop in sprinkles or colored sugar. Let cool. I had to let my brownie pops cool with the brownie part facing down. I tried to turn them over to cool but the stick went through the end. I suspect this would not have happened if I had let the brownie pops cool down more before inserting the cookie stick and dipping them in the chocolate.

Enjoy!!

If you are making brownie pops for your wedding or bridal shower you can place them in mason jars and simply have your guests help themselves. (They would also make cute favors.) One thing is certain: They will go fast!!

I’d love to hear about your attempts at making these. Please drop me a line if you do!!

This creative couple created DIY save-the-dates by taking photos of themselves in Brooklyn, New York. They didn’t even hire a photographer!

“We took these ourselves with a remote and a tripod one early weekday morning down by the abandoned trolley in Red Hook, Brooklyn” says Jessica, the bride-to-be.

The couple is getting married in Red Hook, and the old trolley wreck is parked on the shore of the New York Harbor in the neighborhood. Jessica explains that Red Hook is an industrial /arts neighborhood that is fairly isolated from other parts of Brooklyn because there is no subway there.

“The trolley really reminds us of the neighborhood,” says Jessica.

As for the banner, Jessica made it herself with fabrics that she had on hand.

“I was trying to think of a way to visually incorporate our date into the image itself, so dusted off the sewing machine and threw the banner together from scraps in my fabric stash,” she says.

The concensus?

“So far people seem to really like them!” she says.

What a fabulous project! I’m sure Jessica will inspire other brides to dust off the sewing machine (and the tripod) and get creative!

I’ve been noticing more and more benches popping up in photos for outdoor weddings. Some are padded, some are pillowed. Some are white and some are rustic wood. I think they are a refreshing alternative to Chiavari chairs, don’t you?

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Aside from your ability to really splurge on the things that matter, a small wedding opens up the doors to a variety of venue options.

What better way to have a ‘wow’ wedding than in a charming setting? Here are five intimate wedding venues that are sure to charm:

Restaurant – Are you a foodie? Do you have a favorite bistro, or fine dining restaurant? Why not find out if the venue can host your wedding? Restaurants and lounges are becoming an increasingly popular choice for couples looking for small wedding venues.  Although all restaurants are different, many have intimate surroundings that are ideal for small guest lists. And they can save you money. Having a restaurant reception means not having to rent tables, chairs, tableware and glassware. Some venues will also provide linens. And as far as convenience goes – there’s no need to hire a caterer. The chef is already in the house! Read about Diane and Doug’s dazzling restaurant wedding.

Inn or Bed and Breakfast – Inns and bed and breakfasts are ideal small wedding venues. Whether you want a small decadent indoor wedding or a simple garden wedding on a budget, there’s sure to be an inn or bed and breakfast to suit your needs. Although many couples choose inns that they have previously stayed at to get married, some couples choose small wedding venues they’ve never visited. It might be an inn just a few blocks away, or one on the other side of the country – or even the globe. Read about Alex and Scott’s east coast inn wedding.

Art Gallery – Are you an artsy type? Why not have your wedding reception at an art gallery? A few years ago, art gallery weddings were about as fringe as Mohawk hairdos. But as popularity of more personalized and intimate weddings has risen, so has the need for unique venues. Art galleries across North America have quickly caught on and many are now marketing themselves as ideal places to hold a wedding reception. Both large and small galleries offer rental space for weddings – and many offer full blown wedding packages. If you are more the DIY type, there are plenty of galleries that will let you ‘have at it’ for your wedding day.

Winery – Miles of rolling hills strung with lush green grapevines that are ripe with plump, sweet grapes. It’s no wonder that so many brides and grooms head to wine country to tie the knot. A vineyard is a gorgeous setting to say ‘I do.’ Whether you are looking for an outdoor ceremony amidst the vines, or an intimate wine themed reception indoors overlooking the vineyard, wineries are ideal small wedding venues for couples wanting to add the splendor of nature to their nuptials. Wineries not only provide a picturesque setting, many are equipped to meet a couple’s wedding day needs from start to finish.

At Home – The words wedding and home don’t always go together, especially if you are having a big guest list. However, if you have opted for a small wedding the two can be a match made in heaven. At-home weddings are becoming increasingly popular, especially for couples who want to add a personal touch to their weddings. With 60 percent of couples living together, many already own homes and love the idea of tying the knot there. Others couples may choose to get married at the home of a relative or friend. Read about Sherry and John’s backyard wedding.

Remember that just because you choose to have a small wedding, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t start your search for a venue early. Places can book up over a year in advance – especially if they’re high on charm. So go ahead, sit down with your spouse-to-be and make a list of potential sites. Is there a place that has special meaning to you?  Maybe it’s the bed and breakfast you stayed at last summer or the restaurant on the corner. Or maybe it’s your own backyard.

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If you are looking for ideas for DIY wedding programs, check out this gem on Better Homes and Gardens. It has photos for 18-Easy-to-Make-Wedding-Programs.

If you don’t see any that catch your fancy, check out this tutorial for DIY wedding fan programs, or this free wedding template for a DIY wedding fan program. There are also scroll programs, stitched programs and 25 wedding program ideas from Martha Stewart.

Still need wedding program ideas? Stay tuned for upcoming posts.

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