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Cherry Chocolate Chunk Brown Butter Blondies

Posted on July 25, 2018

Decadent brown butter blondies with fresh cherries and rich dark chocolate are a perfect summer treat! Well, it’s been a few minutes since I last blogged. So many minutes in fact, that I didn't remember how to login and create a new blog post at first! I'm back, though, to share an amazing recipe with…

Jewish Apple Cake

Posted on April 30, 2017

Traditional Jewish apple cake made the perfect addition to a Shabbat dinner or weekend brunch. Photo credit: Raúl Velasco with Alejandro Photography You know I love making new and interesting versions of traditional desserts: Vanilla Bean Apple Cake; Roasted Strawberry Banana Bread; Mocha Brownies with Espresso Sea Salt; etc. But sometimes, holidays come around or…

Mini Moon Pies

Posted on April 17, 2017

Shortbread cookies sandwiched with marshmallow filling and covered in a generous rich chocolate coating. You know it’s been a long time since you blogged a recipe when you barely remember how to use your camera! Things have been busy and I’ve been occupied with life in our new house and my favorite boy over the…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 1/28/16

Posted on January 28, 2017

Happy weekend! I don’t have any new recipes to share yet, but I have been making some old favorites (see below). Along with that, I’ve been enjoying some time to cook and bake from other blogs. Below are some recipes that my family and I have enjoyed over the last few weeks: Grain-Free Peanut Butter…

The Top Keep It Sweet Desserts of 2016

Posted on December 27, 2016

It seems everyone has some mixed feelings about 2016. The year definitely had its challenges but I’m now choosing to look back on all the good. I’ve recently been reminded how lucky I am to have such a wonderful and supportive family. L brings me constant joy (and headache as only a two-year old can),…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 12/20/16

Posted on December 20, 2016

I’m still here! I had no idea I’d take such a hiatus from blogging, but moving into a house under construction was all-consuming. We are just now finishing up the last touches (or are we???) and even my kitchen is still being finished. It’s been operational since right after Thanksgiving, but it’s almost, almost done…

Six Peppermint Chocolate Desserts You Need To Try

Posted on November 28, 2016

Six peppermint and chocolate dessert recipes to kick off the holiday season. Peppermint Mocha are my favorite holiday season guilty pleasure and it’s no surprise that I’ve translated a variation of that drink flavor into a few different desserts. The holiday season is upon us so it’s time to get baking! Double Dip Mints Peppermint…

Keep It Sweet Thanksgiving Favorites

Posted on November 14, 2016

This is such a weird holiday year for me. There has been so much going on and now Thanksgiving is somehow approaching. We don’t have an operating kitchen yet, but that doesn’t stop me from thinking about all of my favorite holiday foods. Here’s what I’m dreaming about baking right now: Big Crumb Cranberry Coffee…

Big Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted on October 26, 2016

Perfect pumpkin cookies! These pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are chewy in the middle and crispy around the edges. !!!!! I’m trying not to go crazy with anxiousness right now. We move into our house in just a few days and I can barely believe it. It’s been a long road since we closed early in…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 10/9/16

Posted on October 9, 2016

How is everyone doing as we settle into fall? I’m admittedly all over the place these days. Between the house, L’s upcoming 2nd birthday, holidays, and the general back and forth to everywhere, I feel like my head is spinning round and round! I’ve prioritized all of that real life “stuff” and as a result…

Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Fudge

Posted on September 29, 2016

Super easy homemade peanut butter and chocolate fudge made with just four ingredients! Life has been so hectic here, and I suspect I’m not alone. With busy work schedules, back-to-school time and life in general, sometimes cooking or baking for the family can take a back seat. There are so many weeks that I’m scrambling…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 9/10/16

Posted on September 10, 2016

Where do I even begin? So much has been going on around here that sometimes I feel like I’m running around with my head about to fall off. Normal? We wrapped up the summer with my sister’s amazing wedding (it was SO much fun and she was GORGEOUS), a couple of birthday celebrations for me…

Vanilla Ice Cream with Salty Candied Peanuts and Dark Chocolate

Posted on September 1, 2016

Super creamy no churn vanilla ice cream with salty candied peanuts and dark chocolate chunks. I had to share just one more ice cream recipe with you before summer is (unofficially) over. Truth be told, I made this ice cream almost two months ago, and ate it so quickly I almost forgot about it. Don’t…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 8/16/16

Posted on August 16, 2016

Things are continuing to be crazy but exciting here! The house renovation is underway (see the demo photos below) and Matt and I are working our way through all of the details and decisions that wan to be made. Can someone just explain to me how there are so many faucet options? Sometimes I’m tempted…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 8/6/16

Posted on August 6, 2016

This summer is just crazy. One day we are kicking off my sister’s wedding festivities and the next we are buying a house. It feels like we’ve been running around since then and now we are about to start the big house renovation (!!!!!) and my sister’s wedding is this month. What a summer! Even…

Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream

Posted on August 1, 2016

Rich and creamy no-churn peanut butter ice cream with swirls of milk chocolate and peanut butter. Part of me wants to apologize for the fact that all I want to make and eat is ice cream. I can’t even blame pregnancy or breastfeeding for this summer’s obsession. But you know what? No churn ice cream…

Blueberry Cake with Vanilla Bean Glaze

Posted on July 25, 2016

This fresh blueberry bundt cake with a sweet vanilla bean glaze might be the highlight of your summer desserts! I’ve been so busy making ice cream this summer (seriously, it’s almost embarrassing how much ice cream I’ve made and eaten) that I forgot how much I like to actually bake, you know, with an oven.…

Double Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

Posted on July 11, 2016

Rich chocolate ice cream full of dark chocolate chunks; no churn ice cream for the chocolate lover! Anyone who has raised a toddler knows that meal time can go in any direction. On a good day, your child will happily eat everything on his or her plate. On a bad day, a child yelling “no…

Brownie Krispie Treats

Posted on July 7, 2016

Thick, chewy rice krispie treats “glued” to a fudgy brownie base with a layer of marshmallow fluff! A few weeks ago, my mom and I hosted my sister’s bridal shower. Leading up to the party, my mom and I (and actually, my dad, too) spent hours and hours brainstorming, theme planning, cooking, baking, decorating and…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 7/2/16

Posted on July 2, 2016

There is big news to share today!!! We bought a house! Finally homeowners! Picnic dinner in the new house. Our own outdoor space! After three months under contract, we finally closed. I’ve been dying to share the news, but I was so nervous that something would fall through that I didn’t want to say anything…

Graham and Milk Chocolate Ice Cream

Posted on June 28, 2016

No churn graham cracker ice cream with rich milk chocolate chunks. I’m here! Our internet is fixed, I survived my sister’s bachelorette party (I came back in almost one piece), and I have so many recipes piling up and ready to be shared. There are a few that I’m quite in love with, but since…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 6/11/16

Posted on June 11, 2016

These past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind. Last weekend was my sister’s bridal shower, a major high! I have a lot I want to share (menu, recipes, etc.) from the party… hopefully one of my favorite desserts from the event will be on the blog this week. The shower came together really well…

Blueberry Crisp Oatmeal Cookies

Posted on June 7, 2016

Summer’s favorite dessert in the form of a buttery, chewy and delicious cookie! Yes, I’m still here! Between life’s craziness and some computer issues I haven’t been able to post much over these last few weeks but I’m back… with cookies! And not just any cookie, but perhaps summer’s favorite cookie. I love a warm fruit…

Cinnamon Bun Cookie Ice Cream

Posted on May 24, 2016

No churn ice cream swirled with cinnamon roll filling and full of cinnamon roll cookie pieces! , Every time I make a new ice cream flavor, I convince myself that it’s a new favorite and I can’t possibly come up with another that I will enjoy as much. The last batch, which was so good…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 5/21/16

Posted on May 21, 2016

Happy weekend! We are heading up to Boston to for my sister’s tea ceremony! It’s the kick-off to a summer full of wedding celebrations and I’m so excited. Unfortunately it’s a really short trip, so I won’t get to eat my way through the city like I normally would want, but it will be fun.…

Chocolate Almond Butter Banana Cookies {Gluten-free} {Vegan}

Posted on May 12, 2016

These easy-to-make soft and chewy cookies are made with wholesome ingredients that make them the perfect kid-friendly snack!   Before I tell you all about my new snack obsession these cookies, I need to tell you about the cookbook, Eating Clean: The 21-Day Plan to Detox, Flight Inflammation, and Reset Your Body.   Before you…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 5/7/16

Posted on May 7, 2016

Happy Mother’s Day weekend! It’s my second year as a mom and I definitely understand why the holiday can be such a big deal. Being a mom can be hard and while it’s truly rewarding to be a parent, it’s nice to get an extra special thank you on occasion. Matt and L have already…

Peanut Butter Chocolate Covered Pretzel Ice Cream

Posted on May 2, 2016

No churn peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter chunks and chocolate covered pretzel pieces. I’ve been working very hard to bring you the very best no churn peanut butter ice cream you will ever eat. And by working hard, I mean eating my weight in peanut butter ice cream. No regrets over here! While…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 4/30/16

Posted on April 30, 2016

It’s been a few weeks since I gave much of a personal update on the blog and while life seems crazy, I don’t think all that much has changed! Our trip to Florida was wonderful but already seems forever ago. The days were full of sunshine, family, friends, swimming and ice cream eating (can you…

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Bars

Posted on April 25, 2016

Cheesecake bars are an easier but equally delicious way to enjoy cheesecake. To be honest, I’ve barely baked over the last few weeks. Last week I made ice cream (recipe coming soon, it was pretty much the best ever) and a simple Passover dessert, but that was it. Between our week in Florida and every…

Chocolate and Pistachio Cookies

Posted on April 21, 2016

Big bakery-style chocolate and pistachio cookies are the ultimate cookie treat! I feel a little bad because I’ve been keeping these cookies to myself for a few weeks now. They are exactly what I expect a perfect bakery-style cookie to be: BIG (when it comes to cookies, bigger really is better) Full of contrasting texture…

Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake Cups

Posted on April 13, 2016

Raspberry-swirled lemon cheesecake cups filled with fresh whipped cream and raspberries are the perfect Spring treat! Today we are channeling SPRING to celebrate my favorite blogger and good friend, Joanne! Joanne is for sure one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. She’s a also good friend, so thoughtful, super smart, extremely creative, funny and…

The Fudgiest Fleur de Sel Brownies

Posted on April 5, 2016

The fudgiest brownies you will ever eat topped with fleur de sel are rich, decadent and completely satisfying. These brownies are, what I like to call, a piece of ultimate chocolate bliss. They are thick and ultra fudgy, studded with chocolate chips, layered with a naturally crackly top and sprinkled with fleur de sel. They…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 4/2/16

Posted on April 2, 2016

Anyone else have a rough week? Poor L has been sick since Sunday and I was just in complete survival mode. Luckily he’s finally on an antibiotic for strep throat and mostly back to normal. Poor Matt caught some L’s germs too. I’m crossing my fingers that (for a change) I don’t catch any of…

Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes

Posted on March 29, 2016

Moist cupcakes bursting with lemon flavor and bursts of poppy seeds are topped with a creamy vanilla bean frosting. Before I tell you all about these pretty spring cupcakes, we have to talk about a special cookbook that is officially launching TODAY. My friend Andie (author of this book that I love), just published her…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 3/27/16

Posted on March 27, 2016

How has everyone’s week been? We’ve got so much going on over here. It’s good and exciting, but so busy! I think that’s just this time in life. Mostly good stuff here like making plans for trips and my sister’s bridal shower and finally finding a dress for Jess’s wedding. I’ll just try to forget…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 3/20/16

Posted on March 20, 2016

I hope everyone’s having a great weekend and kicking off the first day of Spring on a happy note! I’m currently writing from my parents’ in the midst of a big celebratory weekend. My sister, her fiancé, Matt, L and I have been planning to be together this weekend and celebrate my parents’ big birthdays…

Banana Pudding with Peanut Butter Cream

Posted on March 16, 2016

Classic homemade banana pudding is even better when topped with fresh peanut butter whipped cream! Ever since our trip to Charleston (yes, I really owe you a post on that!), I’ve been craving banana pudding like crazy. On our last night of vacation, we ordered dinner to the room. I had ratatouille with a fried…

Triple Chip Cookies

Posted on March 14, 2016

Crispy, chewy and loaded with three types of chocolate chips, these triple chip cookies are divine! Life has felt a little bit all over the place lately. Things are really good, but having a toddler has kept me on my toes to say the least! L’s the best little one-year-old you will ever meet, but…

Blood Orange Chocolate Truffles

Posted on March 7, 2016

Rich and decadent dark chocolate truffles with a hint of blood orange. These are the best homemade candy! Over the last few years it’s gotten increasingly harder to schedule plans with friends. Between kids, family obligations and the seemingly speed-of-light passing of time, everyone’s schedules fill up fast. The “let’s do this again, and soon…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 3/5/16

Posted on March 5, 2016

Hi from the land of I-am-so-behind! I probably could have gotten some recipe posts up for you this week but I gave myself a break for a change and tried to sort of take it easy. L had a bit of a cold that I’m now recovering from (the usual cycle) and it slowed me…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 2/27/16

Posted on February 27, 2016

Weekend time! I’m am pretty excited for this weekend because Matt and I are getting a little 24-hour staycation in the city. Without L. This is actually going to be my very first night without him since he was born over 16 months ago. Kind of crazy! I know I’ll miss him a lot but…

Fluffernutter Cookies

Posted on February 26, 2016

Soft and chewy peanut butter cookies sandwiched together with marshmallow buttercream. It’s been a long time since I've had a fluffernutter sandwich, but the memories of soft white Wonder Bread slathered with creamy Skippy (most definitely not all natural) and sweet marshmallow fluff are still vivid in my mind. Everything just melded together in one…

Blood Orange Pancakes

Posted on February 24, 2016

Fluffy whole wheat Greek yogurt pancakes infused with the flavors of a blood orange make the best winter breakfast! It's a special day today, and that's not just because we are having mid-week pancakes. Today is the day we celebrate Audra's growing family! My friend, The Baker Chick, has a baby girl on the way…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 2/20/16

Posted on February 20, 2016

Happy weekend! How was your (hopefully) short week? Things were pretty good around here and I’m looking forward to enjoying the weekend. We have a bunch of friends coming over for Mexican food tonight. I hand-juiced a lot of limes last night for margaritas so you know it will be fun. Guacamole, enchiladas and some…

Brown Sugar Caramel Pear Crisp

Posted on February 19, 2016

Warm caramel pear crisp topped with a crisp oatmeal topping is perfect the cold late winter days. Every February I get that feeling that Spring isn’t too far away. And while in some parts of the states that is probably true, here in the Northeast we don’t get real spring weather until close to May.…

S’mores Layer Cake

Posted on February 15, 2016

Graham cracker cake layered with toasted marshmallow and milk chocolate buttercreams. This cake embodies the flavors you love in a s’more! It's cake birthday season here! We kicked things off with a bang last weekend celebrating Matt's Mom's and my sister-in-law's overlapping birthdays. And since it was a double birthday, I knew that the dessert…

S’mores Layer Cake

Posted on February 15, 2016

Graham cracker cake layered with toasted marshmallow and milk chocolate buttercreams. This cake embodies the flavors you love in a s’more! It's cake birthday season here! We kicked things off with a bang last weekend celebrating Matt's Mom's and my sister-in-law's overlapping birthdays. And since it was a double birthday, I knew that the dessert…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 2/13/16

Posted on February 13, 2016

As we navigate through the challenge that is the transition from two naps to one, things are definitely improving. L’s at least willing to nap in his crib, it’s just not for nearly as much time as I’d like. So dramatic, isn’t it? Before being a mom I never understood why parents would obsess over…

Red Velvet Blondies

Posted on February 11, 2016

Chewy red velvet blondies with white chocolate chips are a perfect Valentine’s Day treat! They are chewy, fudgy and delicious. *This post is sponsored by T-Sugars. All thoughts and opinions are my own.* Chewy, gooey, red velvety perfection. If you are looking for an easy but ultra delicious recipe to celebrate Valentine’s Day, this is…

Easy Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Posted on February 8, 2016

Healthier banana chocolate chip muffins are easy to make and great for grab-and-go breakfasts. No mixer needed to make this muffin recipe! L’s appetite hasn’t been that great over the last week (teething? cold? toddler-itis? who knows!). But you better believe when I gave him one of these banana chocolate chip muffins that within minutes…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 2/6/16

Posted on February 6, 2016

What a difference a week makes! Things have been going a lot better here and I’m feeling SO much more human. I actually had a pretty productive week and got a couple of things done that weren’t even on my to-do list. Shocking! We have a fun weekend planned including birthday celebrations and Super Bowl…

Fudgy Brownies with Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream

Posted on February 3, 2016

Super thick and fudgy brownies covered in bakery-style vanilla frosting. A great alternative to cake for a celebration. I’ve talked in the past about how, as a kid, I never wanted traditional birthday cake. For years my first choice dessert was a Baskin-Robbins’ ice cream pie followed by brownies as a close second. Cookie cake…

Vanilla M&M Shortbread Cookies

Posted on February 1, 2016

Vanilla bean shortbread cookies are even better when there are M&Ms in them! These shortbread cookies are easy to make and delicious to eat. Use pretty pink M&Ms for a Valentine’s Day treat! I love that there are plenty of excuses to bake around Valentine’s Day. Kid’s class parties, sweet treats for friends, and of…

Vanilla M&M Shortbread Cookies

Posted on February 1, 2016

Vanilla bean shortbread cookies are even better when there are M&Ms in them! These shortbread cookies are easy to make and delicious to eat. Use pretty pink M&Ms for a Valentine’s Day treat! I love that there are plenty of excuses to bake around Valentine’s Day. Kid’s class parties, sweet treats for friends, and of…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 1/30/16

Posted on January 30, 2016

This was not my proudest week. In the world of parenting, it’s been tough, and I have not been the best at dealing it. I’ve been taking out my lack of patience on too many people and really need to turn that around asap, or at least before my husband and mom decide to ignore…

The Thirty Best Dessert Dips To Make for The Super Bowl

Posted on January 29, 2016

The Super Bowl is infamous for being the snacking holiday of the year. Chips and dips are synonymous for watching football games and I just don’t understand why cookies and sweet dips don’t get the same attention. Well, it’s time to change that. Here are the 30 best dessert dips that you should make for…

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip

Posted on January 25, 2016

Cookie dough dip made with brown butter, cream cheese and lots of chocolate chips is a perfect super bowl treat! Sometimes I’m a really good wife. And sometimes, I make pure crack cookie dough dip when my husband’s on a diet. Sorry, Matt. But can you blame me? We were in the midst of a…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 1/23/16

Posted on January 23, 2016

Boy am I feeling behind on life! We had an amazing vacation but it’s been a rough week trying to get back to work since a certain little someone has decided to boycott all naps. I have so many recipes waiting to be made and vacation pictures to share but they are just going to…

Peanut Butter Cup Football Cookie Cake

Posted on January 18, 2016

Peanut butter cup cookie cake shaped and decorated like a football for Super Bowl! While you should be excited about making a fun football-themed treat for Super Bowl, you should be really, really excited about how good this cookie cake is. I warned you about the peanut butter treats this month and this cookie cake…

Valentine’s Day Brownie Pops

Posted on January 13, 2016

Fudgy delicious brownie pops made from scratch! These heart-shaped treats are perfect for Valentine’s Day! I was in the mood to make something pretty, fun and ultra delicious for Valentine’s Day this year. And while I love cake pops, the idea of brownie pops came to mind for a change. So instead of making a…

Grown Up Puppy Chow Popcorn

Posted on January 11, 2016

Salted chocolate and peanut butter popcorn dusted with a light layer of powdered sugar. I grew up in a popcorn family. During high school, we'd eat gigantic bowls of air-popped popcorn doused in Old Bay seasoning as an afternoon snack. At night, it's a frequent TV-watching accessories at my parents'. And around Christmas, my mom and…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 1/9/16

Posted on January 9, 2016

As you read this, I’m headed to Charleston with Matt and L. I’m so excited for a week for the three of us to explore the city,  eat all the food, and just get some quality family time. Anything we must see or do while we are in town? This will be our first flight…

Over 30 Gluten-Free Desserts Without Any Weird Ingredients

Posted on January 8, 2016

Over 30 delicious gluten-free desserts made with ingredients that are already in your kitchen! You probably have at least one friend who avoids eating gluten. And with new year’s resolutions underway, they might be even more common. When you don’t bake gluten-free recipes often, it can be intimidating to try to make one. Many recipes…

Peanut Butter Snickers Brown Butter Cookies

Posted on January 6, 2016

Brown butter, peanut butter AND snickers all in one seriously good cookie! As it turns out I have lots of peanut butter recipes coming this month. So, if your resolution was to eat more peanut butter (perfectly reasonable), I’ve got you covered! Alternatively, if you are watching your sweets consumption, I promise that all of…

Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Smoothie

Posted on January 4, 2016

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #StartWithJifPowder #CollectiveBias A green smoothie that tastes like a sweet treat! This peanut butter, chocolate and banana smoothie is a perfect way to start your new year. I mentioned in my weekly post that I’m trying to continue to…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 1/2/16

Posted on January 2, 2016

Happy New Year! 2015 sure had some bumps (let’s make 2016 a healthy one, everybody!) but as a whole, it was a really great year. As for resolutions? I’m not really setting any. Maybe I want to try to find a little more balance of me time, family time and blog time but that seems…

The Top Keep It Sweet Desserts of 2015

Posted on December 29, 2015

2015 was a big year for me. It started out slow on the blog as I was consumed with a newborn baby. But as L grew, I became more comfortable as a mom and found my blogging groove again. It felt good to put hard work into something I was passionate about and as I…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 12/26/15

Posted on December 26, 2015

I hope you all had a wonderful coupe of days celebrating Christmas or just enjoying an extended weekend! We kicked holiday off by seeing some friends on Christmas Eve and then an afternoon of eating Chinese food, dinking and building gingerbread houses with my family. The adults did all the building and then L proceeded…

Five Champagne Desserts for New Year’s Eve

Posted on December 25, 2015

The top five desserts made with champagne to make your holiday celebration extra festive! Just because Christmas is over doesn’t mean the holiday baking is! Whip up one of these special treats for your New Year’s Eve celebration to make it extra special. Another excuse for some bubbly? Don’t mind if I do! Pink Champagne…

Lemon Truffles

Posted on December 23, 2015

No-bake white chocolate lemon truffles are a refreshing change of pace for the holidays. Make this sparkly treat for your New Year’s Eve festivities! Sometimes you just want to make something that tastes good and is extra pretty. These lemon truffles are such a gorgeous little treat that you can't help but ooooh and aaaaah over. They…

Gingerbread French Toast

Posted on December 21, 2015

A perfect breakfast for Christmas morning! Homemade gingerbread cooked in the skillet makes a delicious holiday breakfast treat. It’s normal to have French toast as a mid-morning snack, right? Oh, that’s just me? Oops. I’d actually been wanting to make this Gingerbread French Toast for a while now. And luckily, thanks to recipe testing for…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 12/19/15

Posted on December 19, 2015

I am beyond happy for this week to be over. The second half of the week wasn’t so bad but on Monday night I was in a car accident with L. Thankfully neither of us was hurt (I’ve been counting my blessings all week), but it was definitely the scariest car accident I’ve ever been…

Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies

Posted on December 18, 2015

Fudgy and gooey chocolate cookies full of intense chocolate flavor, melted marshmallows and peppermint pieces make the best Christmas dessert. It’s beginning to smell a lot like… cookies! I made this batch of Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies for Matt’s co-workers as a holiday treat, but struggled not to eat many, many of them myself. Even…

Ginger Pecan Candy Crack

Posted on December 16, 2015

Crazy addicting Christmas candy in a very good way. This  sweet and salty “crack” is made with toasted pecans, ginger spiced caramel and dark chocolate. Last week my sister and fiancé had us over for a fun weeknight Chanukah dinner. Jess and Quoc made a delicious dinner that included perfectly crispy latkes, salmon with dill…

Gingerbread Loaf with Caramelized White Chocolate Ganache

Posted on December 14, 2015

This Christmas dessert is a lightened up gingerbread loaf topped with an indulgent caramelized white chocolate ganache. Something very major happened this weekend. I had an entire day (over six hours straight!) to myself. If you are wondering why this is such a big deal I must tell you, this is the longest period of…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 12/12/15

Posted on December 12, 2015

It’s been a bit of a busy week so I’m going to keep this short and sweet! I hope you’ve been keeping up with my holiday recipes because I really love the ones I’ve shared so far. And good news for you, I’ve got some others up my sleeves! As always, check in with my…

Keeping it Sweet with Milk Sugar Love

Posted on December 11, 2015

An interview with Emma Taylor of Milk Sugar Love! I’ve known Emma, the creative and talented owner of Milk Sugar Love, my very favorite ice cream store in Jersey City, for a few years now. We met while working in a shared commercial kitchen (I still remember the day I fell in love with her…

Peppermint Chocolate Pavlova Parfaits

Posted on December 9, 2015

Holiday parfaits layered with peppermint whipped cream, fluffy meringue and shaved chocolate. I’m having a bit of a moment with pavlovas. Something seemingly simple can be playful and surprising when you translate it into a new and different flavor combination. Over the summer we enjoyed a refreshing lemon berry combo then warmed up in the…

Chocolate Covered Oreos, Three Ways

Posted on December 7, 2015

Chocolate covered Oreos are the best homemade Christmas gift! The three different recipes for this easy no-bake treat are so much fun. Chocolate covered Oreos aren’t exactly a new thing. I’ve been making them for years and have seen them sold in many candy stores. Usually, though, they are plain milk or dark chocolate. After…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 12/5/15

Posted on December 5, 2015

While the holiday season really snuck up on me, I actually can’t believe Thanksgiving was just last week. I’m in some sort of weird time warp where time speeds up and slows down in strange ways. Regardless, I’m just happy to have made it through this week in one piece! After Thanksgiving I went through…

Holiday Gift Guide: Cookbooks for Food Lovers

Posted on December 4, 2015

The ultimate cookbook gift guide for the holiday season. PLUS, a cookbook giveaway (7 cookbooks!!) for one lucky winner! I’m so excited to share this gift guide with you today. It’s full of cookbooks I love by bloggers I admire AND one lucky winner is getting a copy of every.single.one. That’s right, the winner gets…

Cinnamon Cake with Chile Chocolate Buttercream

Posted on December 2, 2015

A light and airy cinnamon cake frosted with the fluffiest, creamiest chile chocolate buttercream.    Here’s the thing. This post is all about the buttercream. The buttercream, it is so stinking good. Can you see the little flecks of cayenne pepper hiding in there? Can you see how light, creamy and just spoonable it is?…

Easy Chai Cookies

Posted on November 30, 2015

Crispy buttery shorbread cookies with the warm and spicy flavors of chai. Have you recovered from your Thanksgiving food coma enough to start making Christmas cookies yet? I’m so ready! Last year, I think I only made one batch (newborn mom life) and the years prior it was business cookie baking 24/7. I’m looking forward…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 11/28/15

Posted on November 28, 2015

I hope that everyone is enjoying an extra long weekend with their families! We are at my parents and have been enjoying lots of good food and fun. Despite the fact that I lost my voice (blah!) it’s been such a nice weekend. The holidays are much more special with a baby and since L…

The Ultimate Food Lover’s Gift Guide

Posted on November 27, 2015

A holiday gift guide for food lovers. This gift guide features the five small food businesses that I love. People often ask me if I miss running my bakery. It’s a difficult question to answer, because in my current life, I know there is no way that I could do it the way I would…

Peppermint Mocha Truffles

Posted on November 25, 2015

Rich dark chocolate truffles with a hint of coffee and splash of peppermint. The best no-bake edible Christmas gift!      Peppermint mocha is my ultimate holiday weakness. The drink, the sweets, everything. In fact, despite the fact that I’ve mostly given up fake sweeteners and usually drink coffee sans sugar, the skinny peppermint mocha latte…

Banana Pecan Bourbon Flapjacks

Posted on November 23, 2015

Thick buttermilk pancakes with a maple bourbon banana pecan sauce. This is the ultimate breakfast for dinner! It might seem a bit odd to share a pancake recipe the week of Thanksgiving, but I have a few reasons for this. You probably already have your Thanksgiving menu planned out so giving you an additional recipe…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 11/21/15

Posted on November 21, 2015

What a week! I feel like a lot happened in the last seven days but in a good way. A huge highlight was a Friendsgiving dinner in the city on Thursday. Phoebe, Serena, Anna, and Amie hosted an amazing group of women bloggers at Maman (such a beautiful space!). The group largely consisted of healthy…

Brown Sugar Chai Spiced Caramel Fondue

Posted on November 20, 2015

A chai spiced caramel sauce perfect for holiday entertaining. I’m very enthusiastically jumping onto the chai bandwagon! There’s no looking back now. (In fact, can we take a quick moment to drool over Christina’s chewy chai bars?) In all serious, though, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be joining me. The flavors of chai are so…

Hot Cocoa Cookies

Posted on November 18, 2015

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SweetenTheSeason #CollectiveBias #ad Rich, fudgy and ultra chocolatey cookies with melted marshmallows taste like the best cup of hot cocoa you’ve ever had! It’s no secret that I love baking cookies, especially for the holidays. While I don’t…

Brown Butter Chocolate Pecan Blondies

Posted on November 16, 2015

Rich brown butter blondies with toasted pecans and rich dark chocolate are a perfect Thanksgiving dessert! It was very difficult for me to set aside my own personal distaste for nuts in blondies and brownies and throw some crunchy toasted pecans into these blondies. But Thanksgiving is coming and it would be a shame to…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 11/14/15

Posted on November 14, 2015

Edited to add: This post was scheduled before I heard about the senseless violence that occurred in Paris. My heart and thoughts go out to those affected by the brutal attacks. This is one of those weeks where I kind of felt like I was running on a wheel. No matter how fast and hard…

Milk Chocolate Tart with Peanut Butter Pretzel Crust

Posted on November 13, 2015

An easy no-bake dessert that only uses four ingredients! This tart is simple but impressive. I'm currently joining in on the chorus of everyone asking how Thanksgiving is now less than two weeks away. My theory is that the warm fall weather we have had was actually a huge mind trick. How could Thanksgiving be coming…

Peanut Butter Caramel Bars

Posted on November 11, 2015

Gooey peanut butter cookie bars are layered with chocolate and salted caramel for a decadent bite-sized treat. Sometimes you need a dessert that makes you feel good on all levels. When it’s dreary outside or you want to eat your feelings (ahem, me.) there are only certain desserts that will cut it. You need a…

Big Crumb Cranberry Coffee Cake

Posted on November 9, 2015

New York style crumb cake layered with fresh cranberries. This is the perfect holiday coffee cake! There are people who eat coffee cake as it’s probably intended, all of the components in one bite. And then there are the rest of us (most of us?), who are inclined to eat all the crumbs off the…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 11/7/15

Posted on November 7, 2015

I’m afraid to say it out loud, but this week I started to get my life back a little bit. L’s sleeping is more normal (phew!) so I can actually work again! So other than trying to grocery shop without my wallet(yup.), things are good. Sleep = happy baby + happy mommy! Highlights of the…

Fall Pavlova with Caramelized Apples and Cinnamon Whipped Cream

Posted on November 4, 2015

A special Thanksgiving dessert that happens to be gluten-free. This fall inspired pavlova is layered with cinnamon whipped cream and caramelized apples. While I have a hard time understanding the idea of being “too full” for dessert, some people have brought this concept to my attention in the past. And apparently, at Thanksgiving, this can…

How to Make a Monkey Smash Cake

Posted on November 2, 2015

A chocolate smash cake that looks like a monkey! This first birthday cake is made from scratch and delicious. Most people were pretty shocked to find out that L’s first taste of something “sweet” was at his first birthday party. It took a lot of restraint, but it definitely made his first experience with sugar…

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 10/31/15

Posted on October 31, 2015

While we are still dealing with molar teething over here (seriously, why did no one warn me about this?), this week was a little bit better than last. There was one day where L actually took his naps and I got some things done. Other than that, it was more driving around just to get…