Deb's Sweets, Breads, and Treats

OK, September has hit and the world is throwing up pumpkin spice.  So why not jump on the bandwagon right?? I found this recipe for pumpkin cupcakes several years ago and it was from Dulce Delicious.  Although I can't seem to locate the original link, this one from Red Apple Cinnamon appears to be the same.  The buttercream, however, is my own.  I tried their recipe and wasn't happy so I tweaked it, and it is perfection in my opinion.  I have made these as large cupcakes, mini cupcakes, and also gluten-free.   All turned out well.  Happy Fall y'all!!  Enjoy these little bites of pumpkin spice deliciousness!!

Cheers!  

xoxo Deb

Here's my favorite recipe for strawberry shortcake, although I've kicked it up a notch by adding lemon curd.  True Shortcake is like an English Biscuit and it is slightly sweet with a bit of a crunchy edge.  I've made many shortcake recipes, and this one is truly amazing! Give it a try, you'll be glad you did! 

Lordy, lordy,  these brownies are the best thing ever.  You begin with boxed brownie mix, so they are super easy, but oh so yummy.  I don't even remember where I first had these, but I knew that I had to immediately find a good recipe and make them.  I'm a total peanut butter and chocolate nut, so this combines the best of both worlds.  These are easy enough for a weeknight treat, but look fancy enough to take to a gathering.  You can also pre-cut them and put them in little individual wrappers for a special event.  I hope you enjoy this recipe and as always, shoot me any any questions!  Cheers! That's today's dish!

xoxo Deb 

Blondie's are one of my favorite treats ever, and if you've never had one you're missing out!  They are a brownie, but instead of chocolate they are butter and brown sugar based. I adore anything with a strong vanilla flavor.  I took a few recipes and tweaked them into my own, as always. These are great served on their own or slightly warm and smothered in ice cream with a drizzle of caramel or butterscotch!   

xoxo 

Deb

Hi Friends,

This is my recipe for the perfect chocolate chip cookie!  They are perfectly crunchy and soft at the same time.  They have a blend of bittersweet chocolate and milk chocolate chips or chunks and you can always add toasted pecans or walnuts if you'd like!  Let me know if you have any questions!  

xoxo Deb 

 I have eaten cremè brûlée many places.  Sometimes it's fabulous and sometimes it's really mediocre, but this recipe is the best version I have ever had.  It trumps any restaurant anywhere.  Making cremè  brûlée can be daunting because you have to simmer cream and if you're not careful it can scorch.  You can also end up with scrambled eggs if you don't temper them with hot liquid when blending everything.  However, if you follow the recipe you will be just fine.  It's the perfect dessert not only for the holidays but any special occasion.  

xoxo Deb

  I wanted to share a super easy, yet fabulous summer dessert.  This light and refreshing pineapple pie is the perfect ending to any summer barbecue.  When I say it's easy, I mean five ingredients easy.  I got this recipe years ago from a fellow teacher and teachers always seem to have the best recipes to share, especially easy recipes because we're always on the go!  I hope that you enjoy this wonderful dessert and as always, shoot me any questions that you might have.   

This recipe is for the most fabulous white chocolate cheesecake.  One of the best things about this recipe is that it can be tweaked many different ways to change the flavor profile.  Just a few variations that I've tried are with fresh lemon zest and blueberries, topped with fresh raspberries, topped with traditional cherry pie filling (homemade of course), an Oreo version, salted caramel,  and I have also added peppermint extract and topped it with crushed peppermint for Christmas. 

This recipe is for chocolate lava cake and is one of the most decadent desserts.  We have used this recipe countless times and it comes out perfectly every time.  It is best served with a scoop of ice cream melting all over the top.  Enjoy!

This recipe is one I found after getting a load of fresh pears and needing to use them.  It is a beautifully simple recipe to make and is absolutely delicious.   We served this with salted caramel gelato  and it was perfection.  Don't panic when you open the link, it's on the same page as the lava cake.  Just scroll down to find it. Enjoy!

This is a beautiful, basic scone recipe, but one that I love to enhance with fresh blueberries and lemon!  After all, lemon and blueberries go together like peanut butter and jelly. This is a wonderful recipe and scones are fairly easy to make.  I got this recipe from a favorite recipe anthology but added a few of my own twists, and it's the best!  I hope you enjoy this recipe as a breakfast treat, or any time of the week.  You can also make this a savory recipe! Cheers and happy eating! 

 This recipe is so easy and completely fabulous!  It's a combination of my Mom's recipe and another one that I found years ago and loved.  The great thing about sweet breads is that if you have a dietary restriction or allergy, you can easily make them with gluten free flour and they turn out perfectly. You can also substitute applesauce for the oil, and a sugar substitute if necessary.  You can also add your favorite chopped nuts, crushed pineapple, coconut extract, or raisins, but for this bread, I typically do not. What can I say, I'm a purist!   

Dutch babies are beautiful little pancakes, sometimes called a German pancake, that is like a sweet popover.  It is derived from the German Pfannkuchen and the flavor is a cross, in my opinion, between a pancake and a funnel cake.  The best way to eat these is covered in powdered sugar with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, but they are delicious with maple syrup, or just about any topping you choose! This recipe is fairly simple to make and I promise that you'll love them!  Oh, and if you are gluten-free, any cup for cup gluten-free flour works perfectly!   

This incredible cake is filled with white chocolate mousse, chocolate mousse, and covered in dark chocolate ganache. But the best part is decorating it with sugared cranberries, rosemary, and sage leaves.  It's sure to be a hit! 

I baked this beautiful cake for a very special friend of my daughter.  It was a huge hit. I decorated it with vanilla buttercream, filled it with raspberry filling, and topped it with fresh flowers!  It was a show-stopper! The raspberry coulis filling is listed above with the cheesecake recipe. 

This is the best beer bread recipe ever!  It is not my own, but one I had to share.  It's buttery, delicious, so easy, and the perfect accompaniment to any meal. You'll love it!  Happy baking!