Add a dollop of cute to your cookie cutter collection with these Critter Cookie Cutters from Crate & Barrel. The seven-piece set includes an owl, fox, penguin, rabbit, deer, bird and bear, and they range in size (a 2-inch owl, the 4-inch deer). The delicate tin cutters (hand-wash only) come in a bright red tin box. The set is $16.95. A store locater:crateandbarrel.com.
Cupcake, candy and cookie makers already know how to crush candy canes or red-and-white circles of mint to use in holiday goodies. But when time is tight, a jar of Peppermint Crunch from King Arthur Flour is a cool, timesaving solution. Pure peppermint oil flavors this sweet sugar-corn syrup confection. A 6.5-ounce jar (about 1 cup) is $7.95. At kingarthurflour.com.
Dulce de leche fans, and there are many who love the caramel-like sauce made from slow-cooking milk with sugar to a lovely golden brown, should delight in two new flavored versions from Maine’s Stonewall Kitchen. The specialty food-maker does a Maple Dulce de Leche, but it’s the Espresso Dulce de Leche deep flavor that won us over. Nibbled on its own is an option (2 tablespoons equals 110 calories), but it’s also divine with ice cream, a simple cake or dabbed on a breakfast scone. A 12.5-ounce jar is $6.95. At stonewallkitchen.com.
