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ICING ON THE CASKET, the ninth book in the Cookies & Chance Mysteries by Catherine Bruns, is another heart-warming addition to an entertaining series! Protagonist Sally Muccio Donovan has finally achieved her heart’s desire: married to her high school sweetheart and finally a mother to an adorable baby girl, nicknamed “Cookie”. Not only that, her cookie shop, Sally’s Samples, is successful and her baker/best friend, Josie, cranks out delicious treats to tempt the town. One of Ms. Bruns greatest strengths is creating characters that readers love to get to know and then follow as the stories unfold. Sally, her friends, and especially her close-knit family are people I enjoy spending several hours with and feeling like I’m a part of their antics. The author paints each scene with vivid words that make them come alive and I couldn’t help but laugh out loud as Sally and her husband adjust to parenthood. I’ve also found Sally’s father, Domenic Muccio, and his Father of Death blog quite humorous and I was pleased to see that this newest book gives him a larger role.
When Domenic’s good friend, Eddie, (a funeral home owner) disappears and is subsequently found murdered, her father can’t help but pull Sally into finding out what happened despite her promise she’d steer clear of murderers. Honestly I’ve been a bit squeamish about mothers getting involved in investigations and putting themselves and their children at risk for violence. However, Ms. Bruns does an admirable job of writing an exciting read yet not overstepping the boundaries of what makes me uncomfortable. The investigation takes Sally, her father, and her best friend into the funeral home realm and let me tell you, I had no idea there were so many undertaker and funeral puns and jokes! This humorous approach to finding the killer lightened the scenes and kept me entertained as I turned the pages, without taking a pause, until I’d read the very last word!
With Sally’s Samples taking center stage and with Josie baking tempting cookie treats, it’s a natural fit for delectable cookie recipes to be included at the back of the book. I had the pleasure of creating not only a cookie recipe for Ms. Bruns to use, but baking and designing the casket cookies that were used on the cover of the book! In past stories, Domenic has commissioned Josie to create casket cookies to help promote his Father of Death blog. In ICING ON THE CASKET the funeral home has decided the casket cookies are a good marketing tool to offer at funeral receptions. Thanks to an ample stock of cookie cutters on Amazon, I was able to find the perfect one to make… although unlike Father of Death, I think I’ll save this design for Halloween, which made me think of autumn, which made me think of apples and apple cider. I ended up creating a Spiced Apple Sugar Cookie recipe which relies on packets of spiced apple cider mix to give it a unique taste. These cookies ended up being so popular with my taste testers that they asked for the recipe long before the book (and this blog post) came out. Of course you can use your own cookie cutters or simply cut into squares or triangles instead. No matter the shape, these tasty treats are worth sharing whatever season it is!
Amazon Synopsis
Full-time baker and sometime sleuth Sally Muccio finally has everything she’s always wanted—a beautiful baby, loving husband, and a thriving business. Now that she’s a mother, Sal has vowed she’ll stay out of future murder investigations. But when her eccentric father’s friend, mortician Eddie Phibbins, is found dead in one of his own caskets, Sal’s father begs her to help find the killer.
With their famous coffins cookies in hand, Sal and her best friend Josie “undertake” the process of questioning mourners and employees at the funeral home, hoping for a lead to Eddie’s killer. Between a recently fired hearse driver, resentful family members and a wacky, love-struck makeup artist there’s no shortage of suspects. Once again, Sal’s snooping has attracted the attention of a killer, and her good intentions may have only succeeded in digging herself an early grave…
A special thanks to Catherine Bruns for providing one lucky winner with their choice of print or an e-book copy of ICING ON THE CASKET! Print limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 (0.74 oz.) packets spiced apple cider mix (e.g. Alpine brand)
- 3 cups (14.4 oz.) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
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With an electric mixer, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until fluffy.
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Beat in the egg, then mix in the vanilla and spiced apple cider packets.
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In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Gradually add to the sugar and butter mixture and mix until incorporated.
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Divide the dough in half and wrap each portion in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
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Lightly sprinkle work surface with flour and roll out dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. If dough is too hard, allow to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Cut out desired shapes and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
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Refrigerate cut-out shapes while the oven preheats to 375 degrees (F).
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Bake cookies at 375 degrees (F) for 9 - 11 minutes, just until the edges turn golden-brown.
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Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack and cool completely before decorating.
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I was provided an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I would love a print copy. Thank you for the chance.
I would love a print or ebook of this book.
I’d love to win a print copy. ?
I would like to win a print copy. I just received my copy of Penne Dreafful earlier this week!
LOVE Catherine Bruns’ books! Can’t wait for the opportunity to read “ICING ON THE CASKET”. Shared but hoping to be the very fortunate one selected. If I were that lucky one, I would prefer a print copy.
I’d love a print copy. Can’t wait to try these cookies
The cookie recipe sounds very good. I would like to try it in the fall. I would love to have a print copy of “Icing on the Casket”.
The cookie recipe looks amazing and the cookie decorating is beautiful. I would prefer a print book.
I would like a print book please.
I would love a print copy. I can’t wait to try the cookies!
Ebooks!!
I would love to win a print copy!
I prefer paper (dead tree) versions of any book I buy or hopefully win. E anything has the possibility of disappearing from your reader at the worst times..
Thank you for the chance. Print copy would be nice.
I would love either print or ebook. However, print would be my first choice! Thanks for the chance to win one!
I would prefer a print copy. Thanks for the great review and the yummy recipe!
I read books on both versions. I like my kindle to be able to read in bed before I go to sleep so I don’t have to leave the light on. I like paperbacks when I travel so I can keep it with me instead of carrying kindle so less chance of losing it and possibly losing all of books.
I prefer a print copy. Thank you!
I prefer a print copy. Thanks for the giveaway!
Ohhh those cookies look and sound amazing! An e-copy would be fine if I win
I would love a print copy. Thanks for the giveaway.
I would love a print copy 🙂 But of course – I will need to LOVE an e-copy as I am not in the US. Thanks for the opportunity.
I like both but reading on. My Kindle is so nice!
I prefer printed, guess I am old fashion.
I prefer a print copy.
I prefer print copies. Love the cover.
I would love a print copy. Thanks for your great generosity.
I prefer a print copy of Icing On The Casket. Thank you for a chance to win it.
I read both formats, but I love print books! Thanks for the chance!
Would LOVE to win a print copy! And I am definitely making those cookies! So cute!
Would love to get a print copy and thanks for the recipe!
I prefer ebooks. Thanks. These cookies sound good.
Love those coffin cookies! I would love to read this book! Print, please.
print copy
I’d love a print copy.
Sounds good. Can’t get the entry form to load though.
I prefer a print copy. Thanks for the chance.
I prefer a Print copy, please!!!! Cool looking cookies! Yum
I prefer print books, but I also read e books.
Love your unique cookies. Perfect for a Halloween party. I’m newer to the series but trying to catch up. Would love a print copy.
This recipe is awesome! I prefer print books. Thank you for this chance!
Would prefer ebook!
I usually prefer ebooks. legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com
My preference is for an ebook. Thanks for offering this book!
Amazing looking cookies and I would love a print.
I prefer print copies.
I’m old school, like print books.
I prefer a print book and this looks great.
Print copy please – and this looks like fun! And the recipe – thank you!
Print please thank you for the chance the cookies look amazing
Ebook please
It would be a pleasure to have a print book. Thanks for sharing Catherine’s newest book with us.
I prefer a print copy. Thank you.
Love print books
I read both but I prefer ebooks so I can read them in bed at night. I absolutely love and cherish my signed print books.
I prefer print copies as they are easier on my eyes. Thank you so much for this chance.
Thank you for all the fun and information and all the contests. I would prefer a print copy please.
Woohoo! A mystery with food!! Love them!
If I cooked, I’d try the recipe.