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Choosing the Best Artificial Flocked Christmas Tree

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Updated November 3, 2020. I have been a fan of artificial flocked Christmas trees for years. It is pretty difficult to find flocked Christmas trees in person, so many (including myself) have to resort to buying them online. Without being able to see them, who knows what you’re going to get, right?

I am pretty picky when it comes to picking out a flocked Christmas tree, so I thought I would share some of my tips for picking out a tree and some of my favorites.

christmas woodland themed tree
This tree is by Vickerman and is discontinued but probably 10-15 years old and still standing!

Choosing your Tree Shape and Height

I like trees that have branches of various lengths kind of protruding past the overall shape of the cone. I don’t really love the cone shaped trees and here’s why – I find it very difficult to place ornaments on them. You can see what I mean by looking at some of the ones I picked out as my favorites in the widgets below (note – some may be sold out already as they sell out quickly!) :

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no products

I like to pick slightly shorter trees than the ceiling height because I like to boost the tree up and put items below the tree. For instance, this room has a 10′ ceiling and an 7.5′ tree that I placed on a bin and covered with a tree skirt. This also leaves room for plenty of presents!

woodland tree

It’s All About the Amount of Flocking!!

I like trees that really look like fresh snow had just fallen on them. I love clumps of snow just like you would see in real life. I like seeing a bit of green underneath as it adds to the realism. Can you see this tree below and how there are clumps of snow on it? This is what I look for!

How to make your Christmas tree look its best

Let’s Talk about the Lights

  1. LED vs. Incandescent: I’ll be honest, I prefer the look of incandescent lights better because they have a softer glow and I feel that LED lights still have not been able to emulate this. THAT said, the LED lights are much more power efficient and when one LED light goes out the entire stupid tree doesn’t go out. I know that some incandescent trees state that when one light goes out they all won’t… but that’s not always true!
  2. I recommended about 100 lights per foot for the height tree for maximum wow factor on a tree. So, if you have a 7.5′ tree, you want around 750 lights on the tree. If you have an unlit tree (real or faux), I recommend one strand of lights (so 100 lights) per each foot of tree height. An 8 foot tree needs 8 strands of lights. Make sense?
  3. Colored vs White. I prefer white lights on a tree and let the ornaments act as my flash of color.

My Favorite Artificial Flocked Trees

I’ve rounded up some favorite trees below by trusted brands Vickerman and Sterling. I have had several flocked trees from these companies and have not been disappointed. Vickerman is by far my favorite.

I may earn a small commission if you purchase with these links

no products

Below is my favorite tree, the Slim Sierra Flocked Tree. This tree I own and is the one with the polar bears and white snowy animals under it, as pictured in the first picture in the post (Mine is a 10′ tree).

I just ordered this tree below for this year, the flocked Fremont Spruce 7.5′ tree: (this is now discontinued but this one here is very similar)

Now I also have this Sterling Flocked Slim Pencil tree – while I love that this can tuck into a corner, it is a little difficult hanging ornaments on the top branches because it is so slim! I have mine pictured above in this post.

You might also enjoy these other posts:

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree Like a Pro

My Amazon Christmas Picks

My Shop updated with Christmas!

The best artificial flocked Christmas trees
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Christmas Kitchen 2018

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My Christmas home tour ends with the Christmas kitchen.  It was the last room to officially be decorated.  

I moved the Santa from the bedroom to the kitchen.  He really shines out here! He is made by Ino Schaller… I would like to have more from this company!

On top of the refrigerator sits this new whimsical swan.  My Arctic Santa joins him.

In one corner of the kitchen sits the “Sweets Tree”.  This is a new themed tree to me this year!   I bought this colored lights tree several years ago.  It was previously the “pop culture/movie tree”.  I decorated that tree actually.  Then while unpacking ornaments, I noticed I had quite a few dessert ornaments, and a lightbulb went off! 

So I took down the movie tree, moved it to the kitchen, and went to town!   I had a number of these ornaments already, but then we just kept finding cute dessert ornaments this year and, well, now my tree is full!  

I moved my gingerbread Advent calendar to sit next to this tree.

I thought it went well with the sweets theme.

On the opposite side of the window from the sweets tree sits the chef tree.  

Chef ornaments fill this tree! 

We are in the kitchen, after all.  So here is one of our beverage stations for the holidays.  Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we will have thrown 5 parties! Wow! I am tired….

On this island sits my favorite German Christmas pyramid!  I didn’t light the candles for the picture, but it is so fun watching the pyramid spin around and around when the candles are lit.

Little German Erzegebirge angels sit below the pyramid.

And the scent of Frasier Fir fills the air in the kitchen! Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

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Traditional Christmas Table Setting

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I finally have set my Christmas table! I love the color scheme with the pops of red and green!

My mom let me borrow her little white candle village this year. She bought it at Pottery Barn years ago and it is one of my favorite things for Christmas! 

I used my Juliska Country Estate Plates and the Williams Sonoma tartan chargers.

I love the little gingerbread house napkin ring holders.  I forget who makes them but I picked them up at an after Christmas sale several years ago. 





These red pinecone goblets are new to me this year.  I’ve been looking for cut to clear red goblets for years now.  All of the ones I have found have been the wrong shade of red.  This year Williams Sonoma had these red pinecone goblets and they were the perfect color!  So we snapped them up.  The only other perfect red was Baccarat, which I had only been dreaming about!

I love the tablecloth with the gingerbread house, christmas tree, reindeer and Santa which also came from Williams sonoma here.  I feel like this is a giant ad for Williams Sonoma – uhh, this came from there too!  I swear I wasn’t paid to write this. How I wish! 

I hope you enjoyed my Christmas table.  WE enjoy sitting here with the fire crackling.  Okay, so the fire doesn’t crackle because it burns propane and burns clean, but hey, a girl can dream… 

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A Merry Musical Christmas Room and Woodland Tree

music roomWe use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Music plays an important part of creating the feeling of Christmas.  Today I’m showing you my little music room and talking about Christmas music and participating in a musical blog hop!! If you are coming from Decor To Adore, welcome!! A big thank you to Amber at Follow The Yellow Brick Home for organizing this hop!

woodland tree

These nutcrackers below remind me of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.  The music of that ballet is so beautiful.  We saw The Nutcracker at the San Francisco Ballet and it was a beautiful show.  The scene with the waltz of the snowflakes is magical.

french country christmas

We always try to go to one Christmas musical program a year.  Some years we don’t make it due to time.  We have been to all different types of Christmas programs. We’ve been to the Nutcracker, Handel’s Messiah, various programs of Christmas orchestra classics, church choral and musical programs, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a Charlie Brown Christmas, in addition to seeing plays such as A Christmas Carolfrench country christmas

My favorite Christmas album is A Charlie Brown Christmas, which is what I’m listening to write now as I write this post.

This year we’ve acquired an antique piano which I’ve displayed in the music room.  It is from France and it is from the mid 1800s.

music room

Unfortunately it isn’t to tune, and some of the keys are stuck.   We tried to have it tuned, but alas, it can’t be done.  I had played the piano when I was a child and had hopes and dreams of playing again.  I had really wanted an antique working piano, but I think the words antique and working just don’t go together!

christmas music room

Look at the harp, for instance.  My mom bought this harp for me when I was a child, hoping that it could be restrung.  However, it’s antique and thus having is restrung would break it!  We’ve kept it ever since though, just because it’s pretty. And who owns a harp? Like, no one… haha!  I should just call this the broken music room.  Well, I don’t care if they don’t work, I think they are pretty to look at!christmas piano music roomI put my snowman collection on top of the piano.  I love the snowmen!christmas snowmenImagine hearing Frosty the Snowman playing here on the piano.  snowman christmas decor  Sitting in the music room is my favorite tree, the woodland tree! christmas woodland themed tree

The woodland tree may not seem very musical to you, but I acquired a new little critter under the tree this year – a donkey!

woodland tree

This donkey, I’ve named Dominic, after my favorite Christmas song, Dominic the Donkey.  He sings, jiggity jig, hee haw hee haw… christmas donkey

I hope you enjoyed my woodland tree and Christmas music room!

french country christmas

Next up on the merry musical Christmas hop is My Thrift Store Addiction!  If you want to view all of the bloggers wonderful posts, you can visit them all in the InLinkz Link Up below!

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Farmhouse Christmas Home Tour

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Today I’m excited to share what I’m calling my Farmhouse Christmas tour AND I’ve also organized a Christmas Home Tour Blog hop, part of the “It’s a Wonderful House” Series!  

Today I’m kicking off the tour in my mudroom! 

French Farmhouse Christmas

Don’t be getting mud in here though, I’ve set up a little animal tree below. 

farmhouse Christmas
farmhouse Christmas

I’ve styled the mudroom with my boots – I did have to wash the mud off of them for the photo! 

farmhouse Christmas

A red French market basket holds greenery.  My husband found this for me – I love the red! 

farmhouse Christmas

Touches of greenery make the mudroom festive.

farmhouse Christmas
flocked animal tree

Sharing a few more pictures of one of my favorite trees, the animal tree.  All the ornaments on this tree are mohair ornaments by Steiff.

flocked animal tree

Now into the living room!  This is THE Christmas tree. It is 10 feet tall! 

This year Arctic critters have gathered under it! 

White Christmas tree with arctic animals

I love the little polar bear and cub! 

Flocked Christmas tree with arctic animals

I usually have a theme to my trees.  The theme for this tree is… Christmas! Many Santa ornaments adorn the tree, as well as snowmen, angels, and other symbols of Christmas.

White Christmas tree with arctic animals

Fragrance of fir trees fills the air. 

French Farmhouse Christmas

A faux fur throw and Christmas pillow. 

French Farmhouse Christmas

My little Christmas village sits under the tv.

Christmas home tour

This is the other side of the fireplace that you don’t see to often. 

French Farmhouse Christmas

This is one of the cat’s favorite places to sit!

French Farmhouse Christmas

I hope you enjoyed my Farmhouse Christmas tour!  If you missed it, you can check out my French Country Christmas tour  and my Christmas porch.

Next up on the Christmas Home Tour Hop is Raising a Farmhouse. You can visit all of the bloggers Christmas homes below!

Petite Haus || Raising a Farmhouse

 Virginia Sweet Pea || A Purdy Little House

From House to Home || Follow the Yellow Brick Home

Back to the South || Frazzled Joy

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French Country Christmas House Tour

French Country Christmas House TourWe use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Welcome to my French country Christmas house tour!  I’m so excited because I am sharing a bedroom which I’ve never shared before – and it’s all decorated for Christmas!

This is the guest bedroom and the red toile is a permanent fixture in this room, but it is seasonal appropriate as well!

I have a few Christmas touches – a German Christmas pyramid and mercury glass candle sit on this nightstand.

I love the touches of greenery against the red in this room!

Found this tree and Santa at the after Christmas sales last year!

I love this Santa!

This room is decorated more for Christmas than my own bedroom!

Across the from the bed is a French armoire, decorated with a wreath for the season. 

Now, this *is* a house tour, so off we go… in a hallway sits the “frosted” tree.  It is covered with glass ornaments and icicles as well as silver glittered branches.

It sets next to this French sideboard.

The sideboard has a pastel pink snowman, retro tree and wreath adorned with pink ribbon.

Across from the sideboard is this little area. It was so hard to get a picture since it is in  the hallway!

In this office is the flocked vintage tree.  It is full of retro ornaments – both new and old.french country christmas

I love the pops of blue ornaments on this tree – it goes with the curtains!

french country christmas I have so many Christmas trees because I love the indirect light they emit into each room.  I hate how dark Winter is – I couldn’t ever imagine living somewhere far North where it is only light for a few hours a day!

french country christmas

Alright, and now into the last room on this French country Christmas house tour.   A wooden cherub sits atop a pine sideboard.  The altar candlesticks I found at a local antique shop for a great deal!

french country christmas

Beneath the cherub I placed a wreath and used the clip-on candle ornaments.  A homemade advent wreath – well, I’m one candle short, but that’s okay, at least I won’t burn the house down.
french country christmas

The sideboard is in the dining room.  So this *was* the dining room, but for Thanksgiving we moved the dining table to the living room since we hosted 40 people here.  We moved a couch into this room.  I love the current set up – it’s so nice and cozy to sit here and read by the fire.
french country christmas

A vintage tree!french country christmas

I love all of the vintage style ornaments.french country christmas

On the other side of the tree is this French cabinet with Majolica.french country christmas

french country christmas

I like the clip on candle ornaments and the vintage glass Santa.french country christmas

The tree in all of its glory!french country christmas

A look at the dining room turned living room.

french country christmas

I couldn’t decide which picture of this fireplace to share, so I shared both!

I hope you enjoyed my French country Christmas tour this year!  Coming on Monday is more of my Christmas home tour!

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Snowball Cookie Recipe

Snowball Cookie RecipeWe use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Sharing one of my favorite Christmas cookies with you today.  My Aunt always brings cookies to Christmas.  When I see her big cookie tin full of a wonderful assortment of cookies, I immediately go searching for these cookies.

They have many names – snowball cookies, Russian teacakes or Russian tea cookies, Mexican wedding cookies, walnut ball cookies.

I don’t know why this cookie has so many different names, but it is a nutty shortbread cookie and a Christmas tradition.  I believe they originate from Germany/Hungary, and like most cookies from German, there isn’t a *ton* of sugar (as it is a shortbread cookie), which is one reason why I love them.

Ingredients

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 lb butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups ground walnuts (we like to do a mixture of walnuts and pecans)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. Sift the flour and salt together and set aside.
  3. Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla together.
  4. Add the flour and salt mixture until incorporated.
  5. Mixing with your hand, add in the ground nuts.
  6. Next, shape the cookies into 1/2 inch balls. I used a melon scooper for this.
  7. Place on a greased cookie sheet, and bake from 20-30 minutes. Mine finished at 20.
  8. Remove from oven, let cool until they are warm enough to pick up.
  9. While the cookies are still warm, roll in powdered sugar.  Enjoy the cookies cool.

You can freeze these cookies and make them in advance. To refresh the cookies, take them out of the freezer and toss them with powdered sugar again.  However, these cookies will last up to three weeks in an airtight container. The recipe makes about 6 dozen cookies.

I hope you enjoy making eating these cookies as much as I do!

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A Gingerbread Christmas Table Setting

Gingerbread Christmas Table SettingWe use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

The theme for my Christmas table this year was inspired by my Christmas tablecloth – a Gingerbread Christmas table!

Gingerbread Christmas Table Setting

We picked up this tablecloth several years ago at Williams-Sonoma.   I love the gingerbread houses on it!  Then I had a lightbulb! Ah ha! I’ll put gingerbread houses on my table!Gingerbread Christmas Table Setting

Last year during the after Christmas sales, I found these adorable gingerbread house napkin ring holders!

Gingerbread Christmas Table Setting

I had attempted to bake my own gingerbread houses from scratch for this.  It was a fail.  I rolled them too thick and then the icing was a bit too thin.  Needless to say, they fell apart despite my best efforts.  Oh well. I found these cute gingerbread houses instead.  Don’t they look real? Had me fooled in the store!

Gingerbread Christmas Table Setting

A few of the gingerbread remain though from my baking – so it wasn’t a complete disaster!

Gingerbread Christmas Table Setting

Here is a good look at the table cloth! I just adore it.  The trees have elements of the 12 days of Christmas in it!Gingerbread Christmas Table Setting

My favorite Christmas punchbowl has been the Christmas centerpiece since I bought it.  I am sure it will be the centerpiece for years!  It is filled with pomanders and cinnamon sticks. Smells delightful as you can imagine!Gingerbread Christmas Table Setting

Fresh cedar garland remains – however I will have to move it when my relatives show up for Christmas so I can seat more at the table!

Gingerbread Christmas Table Setting

A few plates of sweets decorate the table too.  I notice I eat the most sweets per day in December above all the months.

Gingerbread Christmas Table Setting

You can see the matching napkins that go with the tablecloth.

Gingerbread Christmas Table Setting

A last look at my gingerbread Christmas table!Gingerbread Christmas Table Setting

Gingerbread Christmas Table Setting Decor

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Traditional German Christmas in the Kitchen

Traditional German Christmas in the KitchenWe use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Welcome to my Christmas kitchen!  In the kitchen, I have placed most of my traditional German Christmas decorations.

Below is a Christmas pyramid spinning like mad!   I purchased it from Kathe Wohlfahrt on our most recent trip to Germany.

A band of angels surrounds the pyramid.  I love these little figurines!

Below is my chef tree filled mainly with handmade German wooden chef ornaments.

These ornaments are made by Steinbach and Christian Ulbricht – found at local stores and on the internet.  I love the chef tree! It sits in the corner of the kitchen!

Now just behind the kitchen sits the Steiff animal tree.  Steiff is a German teddy bear maker, if you have never heard of them before.  My mom and I collect these little ornaments – again, all handmade.  Most of these are made from mohair.  She put her collection the tree too – I forget which ones are mine and which are hers!

Some are ornaments, some are little miniature animals that we just tucked into the tree.  We have been collecting them for years as well and purchase them on our travels to Europe – and also on the internet!  My favorite is the kitten in the mitten bottom left. Here is the Steiff tree last year.

Here is the main part of the kitchen decorated for Christmas.  I added the Juliska cookie jar in the center.

German Christmas Decor

Small smokers sit next to the jar.  Smokers are a great alternative to nutcrackers as they are quite a bit smaller so you can tuck them pretty much anywhere!German Christmas Smoker

I love the vintage style wreaths that I placed around the candles.  The spice topiaries are handmade from Salzburg, I wrote about them here.

Vintage Christmas Decor

The German Christmas nutcrackers sit on top of the fridge.  Hmm, I kind of like them there!
Christmas Nutcrackers

Below, some more smokers sit on a cookbook shelf.

German Christmas smokers

The dairy barn sits in the kitchen too.  I love this little scene – had it since my childhood!

Christmas Barn

This part of the fireplace faces the kitchen.

Traditional Christmas fireplace

Pomander garland adorns this more rustic mantel.  This garland was also over the hood in the kitchen!

pomander garland

That concludes my tour in the kitchen!  If you missed the rest of my Christmas home tours, check them out here: Part 1 and Part 2!

German Christmas Decor

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How To Decorate Your Christmas Tree Like a Professional

Decorate your tree like a proWe use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

I love decorating Christmas trees and over the years I have learned some tricks that help your tree look its best and it will look like a professional decorated it!

Now, let me start, there is no “wrong” way to decorate your tree, but this post is about some tricks that the stores and pros use!

Think of a theme or color scheme for your tree

First I think it is helpful to think of your theme for your tree.  It can be just as simple as choosing a color scheme for the tree.  Not all of your ornaments need to follow the theme, but it is nice to have an overall cohesive look.

On this flocked tree, I like how red ornaments pop against the white flocked tree, so my color scheme is built around some red ornaments.  Now, not all of my ornaments on this tree are red – many are not, but your eye will catch the red ones.

How to make your Christmas tree look its best

Lots of Lights

If you do not have a prelit faux tree and have a real tree, be sure to add lots of lights.  One strand of lights for every foot of tree at a minimum.  Wind your lights back and forth, tracing the branches to create the best look.

Fluff the Branches

If you have a faux tree, make sure you fluff every branch on the tree. They do get smashed in the box.  I recommend also decorating the tree with its lights on!

Use Ornaments to Hide the Tree Trunk

With the ornaments that serve as the base for your color scheme, place them deeper into the tree to obscure the tree trunk.  They are great for those places where there isn’t a nice branch to hide the ugly trunk.  Make sure you place them deep in the tree – because we are going to be hanging more ornaments! These are your filler ornaments – several dozen will do!

How to make your Christmas tree look its best

Add Florals and Picks

If desired, add in additional florals and picks.  For my main tree I did not add additional florals, but for my woodland tree I did.  No need to wire them in unless they are heavy – just simply add it to the tree on top of the branches.  Use a maximum of three different types.  Below there are two types of pinecone branches and beaded fruit.

Decorate your tree like a pro

Layer Your Ornaments

Next, take your larger ornaments and start putting them in some of the larger “holes” in the tree.  I would put them mid-way onto the branch, not so deep in the tree as the red balls as above.  It helps to separate your ornaments by size before putting them on your tree so you know what you have!

I work my way to the branch tips, hanging the ornaments biggest to smallest.  You want your smaller ornaments at the tips of the branches because one, they are lightweight, and two, you want to be able to see them!

How to make your Christmas tree look its best

Add Large Objects

I recommend also adding a few items in that aren’t ornaments that are larger.  This creates more visual interest.  For instance, I added some nests below and also the white owl.  If you notice, this is a trick that many pros use – adding non-ornaments to their trees!  Take a note when you are looking in the stores and magazines and you will start to notice this trick of theirs!

How to Decorate Your Tree like a pro

 

Hanging your Ornaments 

Ornaments look their best when they aren’t hanging for miles from the branch.  You want to secure them as close to the branch as possible.  In my example below, you can see the top picture that the teacher ornament looks better secured closer to the branch than in the bottom picture.

If you secure your ornaments closer to the branches it does several things – one, it allows you to position the ornament better for a more desirable look (like in the bottom picture, he kept twisting and looking the wrong way and I fiddled with him for several minutes!). Two, it is more secure this way and less likely to break or get damaged.  Threeoften the strings that come with the ornaments are ugly and this hides them better.

When securing your ornaments with hooks, be sure to twist the hook all the way around the branch.  If you have animals or small children, this will help them stay more secure!

How to properly hang an ornament How to properly hang an ornament

Use Garland or Ribbon

Garland is the final crowning touch to any tree.  I actually have three types of garland on this tree, can you spot it?  This will help also with your overall tree theme and bring together the entire look.  Some recommend putting garland on first and then the ornaments – I put most of my ornaments on, then *very carefully* hang the garland, and then add a few smaller ornaments at the end.  Ribbon achieves a similar look.

https://www.petitehaus.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=972&action=edit#edit_timestamp

Now, time to sit back and admire your work.

Below is my traditional red tree.  I need to add more to it – it is my first year with this tree.  This one also contains my sentimental ornaments!
How to Decorate your Christmas Tree - Christmas Tree decorating tips

Below is my woodland tree – this is my favorite tree! This tree is the more perfectly themed tree and I think that is why it is everyone else’s favorite tree as well.

How To Decorate your Tree like a Pro

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How to Decorate your Christmas Tree like a Pro! Tips on Decorating your Christmas Tree
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Decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving – In a Subtle Way!

decorating for christmas before thanksgivingWe use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Ah yes, the never-ending debate.  Should you decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving or save it until after the pumpkin pie and turkey are gobbled up?

I have a tip for you on how to introduce Christmas decor before Thanksgiving without being obtrusive.

decorating for christmas before thanksgiving

Just introduce a little greenery here and there.  Above, I have some boxwood topiaries.  You may have spotted in the background a garland too.

Adding a garland is a nice subtle way to introduce Christmas decor subtly before Thanksgiving without being offensive!

decorating for christmas before thanksgiving

I recommend putting up a garland that isn’t full of poinsettias and bright reds.  Pick something more natural.  Faux or real.

French country Thanksgiving

Then I decided to put the turkey in the center of this breadboard.  The topiaries are a bit more Christmas (although frankly, I use them year round!).

French country Thanksgiving

The turkey is clearly Thanksgiving. 

I have always decorated for Christmas before Thanksgiving.  I find that it takes me such a long time to put out all of my decor that I want to enjoy it just a bit longer.

I confess I usually start putting up my Christmas decor around Veteran’s Day weekend.  But I take it down pretty much on New Years. I know some people leave it up longer.

I find decorating early helps me when I go shopping as there are many Christmas sales and open houses on Veteran’s Day weekend.  I want to know what I have so when I go shopping I don’t buy things that I already have and that aren’t cohesive.

decorating for christmas before thanksgiving

Do you decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving or after?

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Black and White Mackenzie Child Candlestick 

Ceramic Turkey (similar tureen)  and another tureen

bread board (similar, monogrammed)

boxwood topiary and another topiary

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Peppermint Chocolate Ganache Macarons

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

When I was thinking of what to bake for this year’s holiday dessert, I was actually inspired by Trader Joe’s Candy Cane Jo-Jo’s. Never had them? They are like Oreos but with flakes of candy cane in the filling. So I thought, how I can French-it-up?

And the peppermint chocolate ganache macaron was born.

These are seriously the best macarons I have *ever* made.

Materials needed: (affiliate links are used for your convenience)


    • silicone spatula

    • electric mixer (your hand will get tired whipping the meringue, I use this super professional one in cherry red, but this  model is wonderful too! )


    • a food scale (yes, you need this. I use this one)


    • a piping tip and piping bag (I like the ateco #806, I use these tips and piping bag)


    • Food coloring (the gels or dry powder works best, not the liquid store stuff)

    • A macaron template
    • food processor (I use this one)

I also couldn’t stop taking pictures of them.


Peppermint Chocolate Ganache
1 cup heavy cream
9 ounces dark chocolate chips (or bittersweet chocolate, chopped)
1 tbsp unsalted butter
3/4 tsp – 1 tsp peppermint extract
1/4 tsp salt
crushed candy canes in a separate bowl

  1. In a sauce pan, bring the cream to a simmer over medium heat (the purpose of this is to get the cream hot enough to melt the chocolate!)
  2. Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl.  Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let sit for a minute.
  3. Add the peppermint, salt, and butter. Whisk until glossy and smooth. (If you like your ganache more pepperminty, add 1 tsp, if less, then add 3/4 tsp)
  4. Cover in plastic wrap and chill for about an hour  (If you chill it too long until it is hard, that’s okay, just use a spoon to whip it up and it will get soft again!)
  5. Once chilled, scoop the ganache into a piping bag with a round tip.  Pipe on one of side for the macaron at the edge.  Place the other macaron shell on, sandwiching the ganache in the center.
  6. Roll the macaron in the crushed candy canes in the bowl so that they stick to the ganache!
  7. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate! These taste best served the next day, so resist the urge and let them rest overnight! They will keep for several days in the fridge in an airtight container.

I feel like I could sell these they were so good!

 

 

I’ve included some outtakes from this photoshoot.  Chloé the cat decided to do some photobombing and I thought I’d share…

***Jaws Theme Music Starts***

 

 

Why yes, I’l take a lick of the candy cane…

She left… then came back for another round. “What?” she says??

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