Double Chocolate Cupcakes
I want to start out by saying that for me, Valentine’s Day is an overrated holiday in which men and women – mostly men – spend too much money on disposable items. The items offer only temporary enjoyment which is more for the recipient’s onlookers like friends and colleagues than themselves. It is a visual [...]
Raspberry Ombre and Coffee Chocolate Overload Cake
In the last few weeks I had a few cake orders which are keeping me busy. The raspberry ombre cake was more for me than for anyone else. I wanted to try an ombre cake so badly. The opportunity presented itself and I took it! The cake was my basic white cake with a vanilla [...]
Thomas Kellers Oreo’s to say “Goodbye, Halcyon Days”
I took some time away which many have noticed to take a step back and a look at my life. We are in a state of transition and exploration, which is new to us. The thought of a home and family isn’t as scary as it once was, even wistful at times. We liked our [...]
Chocolate Toffee Cupcakes
One of my fabulous friends sets up a cupcake day with me every few months. This time she said she wanted something with a toffee flavor or almonds, and I was happy to indulge her! Chocolate toffee cupcakes like this have been on my mind for a while now because of my trips to Angel Food bakery [...]
Oreo Brownies Recipe
I didn’t know what was up with Oreo brownies. I’m a bit of a purist when it comes to my sweets. I think box mixes are the devil and turning several boxed/packaged desserts together into one abomination is enough to make me want to throw up. Seeing pictures of these creations on Pinterest are often [...]
Chocolate Raspberry Cake
This summer has been beyond hot. I moved to Minnesota because of the famously cold winters (no lie!). I love the cold, the snow and cuddling up with a warm cup of tea or coffee. This summer though is getting to be way too much for me and my desire to have the oven on [...]
Double Dark Chocolate Semifreddo
Do you have a chocolate craving that you just can’t satisfy? Do you like chocolate ice cream? Do you like dark chocolate and maybe cocoa nibs? Then my friends this latest semifreddo we cooked up will rock your little chocolate-smeared world. Behold, an chocolate semifreddo so intense and creamy you’ll be breathing out a cloud [...]
Cocoa Nib Macarons w/ Espresso Ganache
Cocoa nibs: Roasted, peeled and crushed up cocoa beans. Also, my new obsession! I’ve seen these little things around for the last couple of years but never thought much about them. I love chocolate, so you would think that I would have tried them by now but as you know just because you watch TV [...]
Julia Child’s Queen of Sheba Cake
Oh Julia, you do know best. You changed the world of home cooking forever and we are so grateful for it. No one will be able to impact the professional and domestic inspired way of cooking like she did. When I first purchased her very famous book I could barely contain my excitement as every recipe is [...]
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies! A repost! And an anniversary of sorts! I got a text from a close friend that just said she was coming by to make chocolate chip cookies. No reason other than just “it’s a long story”. It ended up being for one of those great “I win” moments in a relationship when someone [...]
Chocolate Ginger Cake with Bourbon Caramel Sauce
Back in October we went to my favorite restaurant for dinner and the dessert of the week was a chocolate ginger cake. After the first bite of this cake I was convinced that I had to try to replicate it. It tasted like Christmas. Yes, I realize this is late for a Christmas cake, but [...]
Brown Butter Brownies
I made these brown butter brownies again this weekend and they turned out so good I thought I should give this recipe a bump and a new picture. I didn’t change anything with the recipe and they turned out better than ever. So read on and enjoy! Originally posted on March 11th, 2011 It’s Friday, [...]
Chocolate Macarons with Coffee Buttercream
Honestly, I don’t need this many chocolate macarons in the house and I wish all of you could show up just to take some away, but now I understand the term macaron madness. I cannot believe how much fun I am having making these things! They are just too hard to resist eating. For this [...]
Quick Chocolate Mousse
My husband and I were having a massive chocolate craving, so I rummaged around in my fridge and freezer to see what I had. I peeked my head out of the kitchen and shouted “mystery box challenge!” Yeah, that was a MasterChef Australia reference. I’m a big dork, but at least I acknowledge it and [...]
Chocolate Salted Caramel Tart
As some may or may not know I have a addiction like many others to MasterChef Australia. Which is weird because I am from the US (but I can watch it on their website thanks to our VPN connection). Skipping past that, let me tell you about the show. Love, Love, Love it, a little [...]
Nutella Cupcakes + Cream Cheese Frosting
So, what is the one of the best things about working again? Playing cupcake fairy on birthdays! This week a girl at work turned 18 and I asked her what flavor(s) she wanted for her birthday cupcakes. She said chocolate with chocolate, maybe cream cheese, oh and Nutella is awesome. As most of you know [...]
Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes Recipe
The name of these cupcakes alone makes me want to take a shot. But it’s ok, it’s 4pm here. If you are not familiar with this shot that inspired this amazing confection let me give you a brief rundown. You get a small tumbler filled with Guinness (I am a HUGE fan of Guinness). Then [...]
Coconut Macaroons
I asked my brother for some ideas as what I should make, and he mentioned coconut macaroons. There was this bakery in downtown area of Mt.Vernon, WA. We used to get these big coconut macaroon mountains from there with our mom, and he said make those. I still had some coconut in the pantry and [...]
Eggless Mocha Ice Cream
One day recently I asked my aunt for some recipes and this was among the ones sent. She said she found it when she had to make ice cream for someone with an egg allergy. I have been looking for some ice cream and sorbet recipes that do not require an ice cream maker either [...]
Spiced Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
I wanted to give these cookies a try. I have not made these cookies in probably 20 years. They are almost like a brownie. There is so much chocolate flavor and amazingly rich yet just so different at the same time. With things I have learned about textures, and spices I added my own little [...]