My (AKA Mr. Sweet-Tooth!) Top 7 Favorite Holiday Dessert Recipes

Image via nothingmakesmehappier.com

Hey Ya’ll,

Whether you’re hosting a “Desserts Only” evening soiree or just looking to add something sweet to your spread, the holidays are the perfect time to indulge in decadent treats!

So, here are seven of my all-time favorite desserts to make during the holidays:

1) Iced Sugar Cookies

2) Spritz Cookies 

3) Dark Chocolate Peppermint Brownies

4) Homemade Holiday Cake Pops!

5) Red Velvet Cheesecake

6) Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Image via marthastewart.com

7) Christmas Almond Toffee 

What is your favorite holiday sweet and what is the recipe? Let me know in the comments section.
-Brian

More Posts About Sweet Holiday Treats:

Sweet Treats and BYOB Drinks Party: Host Tips

Sweet Treats and BYOB Drinks Party: Guest Tips

Holiday Party Round Up

My Top 10 Tips for Hosting an Easy Holiday Party

What’s Your Favorite Holiday Pie?

Hey Ya’ll,

I’ve often heard it said, that there’s nothing more American than apple pie…

So I guess it makes sense that during the American holiday season, pies become the grand finale and shining star of Thanksgiving dinners and holiday spreads all over the United States.

Get this pie recipe here: http://noblepig.com/2008/11/the-pilgrims-would-approve/

In fact, the Pilgrims and early settlers brought their pie recipes with them to America, adapting to the ingredients and techniques available to them in the New World.

The very first American pies were based on berries and fruits pointed out to them by the Native North Americans.

As a kid growing up in Texas, I remember my mom having these great pie plates that had a different recipe for different pies printed on them. Now they are being sold as vintage on websites like Etsy! Anyhow, we had a set of three and the cheesecake was always my favorite… yum!

So, on the heels of Thanksgiving Day, I thought it would be fun to do a “Pie Poll”, by having all of you answer a few questions in the comment section below.

1) What is your favorite kind of pie and do you like to bake it yourself or buy it from a specific store?

2) Do you like to eat your favorite pie à la mode (with a scoop of ice cream) or all by itself?

I can’t wait to hear about your favorites and find out how each of you and your families celebrate the holidays with classic American pies. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving, everyone!
-Brian

Image credit: http://www.glutenfreespinner.com

P.S. Click HERE for the recipe to make this DELICIOUS looking pie that I found on a Gluten-Free baking blog called, www.glutenfreespinner.com. Enjoy!

Friday Favorites: The World’s Most Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe + ‘Modern Bite’ Giveaway Winner Announcement!

Hey Ya’ll,

As promised, today I’m announcing our Modern Bite giveaway winner! So, without further ado, the lucky winner is… Geraldine!

Ger, I love the fact that you have your own baking blog (Pretty Baking by Ger) and you seem to have a BIG sweet tooth like me! So, please send an email to BrianWorley007@gmail.com, with your full name and mailing address, so that we can send you a beautiful and delicious cookie gift box. Congrats!

If you didn’t win today, be sure to check next week’s Friday Favorites post for another chance to WIN more fantastic product!

And if this giveaway left you craving cookies, I recommend whipping up a batch of my decadent chocolate chip cookies to calm your inner Cookie Monster!

In all fairness, this was actually my friend’s recipe, but I decided that they would taste even better with a few additional ingredients. (I have the world’s biggest sweet tooth, so trust me when I say, it is difficult to eat more than one of these bad boys because they are so sweet!)

Please note: You don’t have to destroy your kitchen like I did (see above), but one thing I highly recommend doing is pulling your cookies out of the oven while they are still a little undercooked. You do NOT want to over-cook these cookies. The gooier, the better!

Here’s the recipe:

The World’s MOST Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookies:

2  ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon hot water
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
3/4 cups packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
2 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips (16 ounces)

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Next, you’ll want to line two large baking sheets with parchment or wax paper. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.

Beat together butter and sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla to butter mixture, beating with mixer until creamy, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and mix in flour mixture until just blended; add teaspoon of hot water, then stir in chips.

Scoop 1/4 cup batter for each cookie, arranging mounds 3-inches apart, on two baking sheets. Flatten mounds into 3-inch rounds using moistened palm of your hand. Form remaining cookies on additional sheets of parchment. Bake, one sheet at a time, until golden, 13 to 15 minutes. Transfer cookies to a rack to cool and continue making cookies in same manner using cooled baking sheets.

That’s it. Enjoy!
-Brian

P.S. I’d like to say a BIG thank you to Modern Bite for letting me feature their delicious baked goods as last week’s Friday Fav! Congratulations again, to Geraldine.

Break Me Off a Piece of That!

Image via annies-eats.net

Hey Ya’ll,

Everyone has their favorite when it comes to cookies. Sometimes it’s a
specific brand, like Nabisco Oreos and sometimes it’s a type of cookie,
like classic chocolate chip or peanut butter. Me? I’m a Funfetti kinda
guy!

Funfetti Birthday Cake style cookies via http://leahsthoughts.com

Funfetti cookies are my fav because they’re fun to look at and eat!

This Downtown Cookie Co. version is so buttery and delicious,
it’s impossible to have just one. Also, these rainbow sprinkled morsels
are a great way to add color to your next event’s menu!

What’s your favorite type of cookie? If you have a great cookie
recommendation or recipe be sure to share it in the comment section
below.

-Brian

My First Attempt at Cake Decorating!

Hey Ya’ll,

Today I’m sharing a photo of my very first attempt at cake decorating! What do you think of my little white creation?

I love trying new things, so when the professional cake decorator at the Hotel Del Coronado offered to let me decorate one of their cakes for our big photo shoot, I jumped at the opportunity.

Do you have any fantastic cake decorating tips? Feel free to share them in the comment section below.
-Brian

For more of my recent posts about cake, be sure to check out my “March Wedding Series”, particularly, HERE and HERE.

Give a Little Love: Last Minute Valentine’s Day Gifts!

Hey Ya’ll,

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day! Are you ready? If not, today I’m sharing a few last minute gift ideas that work for just about any kind of Valentine… as long as they have an appetite!

Personally, whenever I’m struggling in the gift department, I usually go for a bottle of wine or flowers or something edible because let’s face it, almost everyone loves being surprised with a treat! In terms of sweets, cupcakes and cakepops are all the rage right now. Here are a few of my favorite creations:

If mini-cakes aren’t your sweetheart’s thing, whip up a batch of heart-shaped rice crispy treats!

Add red dye to the marshmallow and rice crispy mix or lightly dust the hearts with sprinkles before they cool for an even more festive gift. Wrap each individual heart in cellophane and top them off with pink or red ribbon.

Homemade cookies and suckers are also a fun gift to make for Valentine’s Day. Here are a few cute ideas:
If you really want to be unique, surprise your Valentine with a hearty breakfast…

via petitekitchenesse.com

via poppytalk.blogspot.com

My last edible gift idea is one that caught my eye on Pinterest (Check back Wednesday for more on this awesome website!)…
You’ll need, a days-of-the-week pill divider, seven different types of candy, plus, seven thin strips of paper with sweet nothings printed on them.

Tip: Instead of putting candy in every compartment, insert tiny tokens of your affection like jewelry or trinkets that remind you of them or your favorite dates or places you’ve been together.

That’s it! I hope these last minute gift ideas help you create extraordinary experiences this Valentine’s Day. And remember, the best gift of all is your undivided love and attention, so don’t forget to give that to your Valentine too!
-Brian