Breakfast and a Snack All at Once: Cereal Milk Popsicles

Do you want breakfast, or do you want a sweet treat? Why decide, when you can have both in one deliciously summery form: cereal milk popsicles!

These delightful treats are featured in the fantastic new book Ice Pops! by Cesar and Nadia Roden. This fantastic book features some truly creative popsicle recipes, and beautiful, simple photography that lets the finished product shine. 

This is one of my favorite recipes in the book, for creamy popsicles that have the inimitable flavor of delicious leftover cereal milk. Here's the headnote from the book:

Cereal milk Popsicles

Inspired by the famous cereal‐milk soft serve that created a frenzy in New York City, we’ve created our own version by freezing Lily’s morning cereal onto a stick and it was quite a hit! You can experiment with your favorite cereal. We know you’ll agree it will taste even better in this frozen form.

8‐10

• 1 1⁄4 cups whole milk
• generous 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup your favorite breakfast cereal (we like Cheerios), plus extra to drop into the molds
• 1 ripe banana, cut into 3⁄4‐inch slices 5–6 tablespoons honey or maple syrup

Procedure

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, cover, and refrigerate overnight to let the liquid take on that unmistakably delicious cereal taste.
2. The next day, put the steeped mixture in a food processor and blend until smooth.
3. Pour the mixture into your ice pop molds, and drop in some extra pieces of cereal. Leave 1⁄4‐inch at the top to let the mixture expand when it freezes. Insert the ice pop sticks and freeze.

Reprinted with permission from Ice Pops published in 2015 by Sterling Epicure, an imprint of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. © Cesar and Nadia Roden. Photography by Adam Slama  

What is the most creative popsicle flavor you've ever tried?

Grandma's Killer Chocolate Cake from Author James Patterson

Here's a riddle: what kind of cakes do mystery writers like?

Happily, the new book The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook: Wickedly Good Meals and Desserts to Die For is ready and willing to answer this question in the most delicious way. It is a collection of recipes culled from famous mystery writers, and it makes for mighty sweet eating. 

When choosing an excerpt recipe to feature here, my eye was drawn right away to "Grandma’s Killer Chocolate Cake: via mystery writer James Patterson. I hope you'll enjoy!

Grandma's Killer Chocolate Cake

Recipe headnote:

Here’s one “killer” Alex Cross always loves to catch—Grandma’s Killer Cake! A special family recipe dating from the 1940s, this decadent cake seems to get better with age; it is tastier on day two. And you need to be a good detective around the house after it has been made, sitting there in its glass­domed cake stand, staring back at you with deadly temptation, because a piece seems to mysteriously disappear every time I go into the kitchen. Not to be caught red­handed, so looms the “Killer Cake Killer”!

YIELD: 1 SINGLE­ LAYER 9x12 INCH CAKE OR 1 DOUBLE LAYER 9­ INCH CAKE

CAKE

• 2∕3 cup butter
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 11∕3 cups buttermilk
• 11∕3 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in 2 ∕ 5 cup hot water 31∕2 squares bitter chocolate, melted gently
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

FROSTING

• 1∕2 cup butter
• 3 squares bitter chocolate
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2∕3 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs.

2. Blend in flour and buttermilk in alternating additions, starting and ending with the flour. Add baking soda mixture, followed by chocolate and vanilla extract.

3. Pour batter into one 9­by­12­inch pan or two round 9­inch springform pans. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool.

4. Combine all frosting ingredients in a saucepan, bring to a full boil, and boil for 2 minutes. Let cool. You can put saucepan on ice if necessary to cool quickly.

5. Remove the cake from the pan, frost, and serve.

About the author: James Patterson has sold 300 million books worldwide, including the Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Women’s Murder Club, Maximum Ride, and Middle School series. He supports getting kids reading through scholarship, Book Bucks programs, book donations, and his website, readkiddoread.com. He lives in Palm Beach with his wife, Sue, and his son, Jack.

Excerpted from The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook: Wickedly Good Meals and Desserts to Die For edited by Kate White. Reprinted with permission from Quirk Books. 

Fleur de Sel Shortbread with Vanilla Halvah

You guys. I was super excited to receive a review copy of Mindy Segal's new book, Cookie Love. Why?

Well, a few reasons. 

For one, she's the proprietress of Chicago foodie landmark Hot Chocolate. Even if you've never been there, if you go to their website, the establishment is explained thusly: "Restaurant. Dessert Bar. Pastries." You should already be halfway in love. If you ever go, I promise you'll be the rest of the way in love.

Second, the recipes look AWESOME. You could seriously just buy this book and look at the pictures for the rest of your life, it would be worth the investment just for that.

But your life would be even better still if you made these cookies: Fleur de Sel Shortbread with Vanilla Halvah. 

Discover them here with this awesome excerpt recipe. 

A note from Mindy: 

I AM ALWAYS ON a quest to find more ways to use halvah in desserts. Coffee, chocolate, and cocoa nibs are my usual pairings with the Middle Eastern sesame confection, but one day I shifted gears in favor of vanilla and fleur de sel. It worked—halvah anchored the vanilla-flecked frosting, for a sweet, salty, nutty result. To finish the cookies, I dip them partially in dark milk chocolate and then place a shaving of halvah on top. The frosting is seasoned well to balance its sweetness, but because the cookies themselves carry a noticeable salt level, you may prefer to add less. 

Fleur de Sel Shortbread with Vanilla Halvah

makes approximately 28 sandwich cookies

SHORTBREAD
11⁄2 cups plus 2 tablespoons (13 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature 11⁄4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2 extra-large egg yolks, at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sea salt flakes

FROSTING
8 ounces plain or vanilla halvah, cubed
2 ounces white chocolate, melted
11⁄4 cups (10 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1⁄2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt
1⁄2 teaspoon sea salt flakes, or to taste

TO FINISH
Piece of plain or vanilla halvah, for garnish 8 ounces milk chocolate, melted

Step #1: Make the Shortbread
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the butter on medium speed for 5 to 10 seconds. Add the sugar and mix on low speed to incorporate. Increase the speed to medium and cream the butter mixture until it is aerated and looks like frosting, 3 to 4 minutes. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula to bring the batter together.

Put the yolks in a small cup or bowl and add the vanilla. In a bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.

On medium speed, add the yolks, one at a time, and mix until the batter resembles cottage cheese, approximately 5 seconds for each yolk. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula to bring the batter together. Mix on medium speed for 20 to 30 seconds to make nearly homogeneous.

To cut out the cookies, you will need a rectangular cutter approximately 13⁄4 by 21⁄2 inches. To pipe the frosting, you will need the Ateco tip #32. 

Add the flour mixture all at once and mix on low speed until the dough just comes together but still looks shaggy, approxi- mately 30 seconds. Do not overmix. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer. With a plastic bench scraper, bring the dough completely together by hand.

Stretch two sheets of plastic wrap on a work surface. Divide the dough in half and place each half on a piece of the plastic wrap. Pat each half into a rectangle, wrap tightly, and refrigerate until chilled throughout, at least 2 hours or preferably overnight.

Let the dough halves sit at room tempera- ture until the dough has warmed up some but is still cool to the touch, 15 to 20 minutes.

Put a sheet of parchment paper the same dimensions as a half sheet (13 by 18-inch) pan on the work surface and dust lightly with flour. Put one dough half on top.

Using a rolling pin, roll the dough half into a rectangle approximately 11 by 13 inches and 1⁄4 inch thick or slightly under. If the edges become uneven, push a bench scraper against the dough to straighten out the sides. To keep the dough from sticking to the parchment paper, dust the top with flour, cover with another piece of parchment paper, and, sandwiching the dough between both sheets of parch- ment paper, flip the dough and paper over. Peel off the top layer of parchment paper and continue to roll. Any time the dough starts to stick, repeat the sand- wiching and flipping step with the parchment paper.

Ease the dough and parchment paper onto a half sheet pan. Repeat with the remaining dough half and stack it on top. Cover with a piece of parchment paper and refrigerate the layers until firm, at least 30 minutes.

Heat the oven to 350°F. Line a couple of half sheet pans with parchment paper.
Let the dough sit at room temperature for up to 10 minutes. Invert the dough onto a work surface and peel off the top sheet of parchment paper. Roll a dough docker over the dough or pierce it numerous times with a fork. Using a 1 3⁄4 by 2 1⁄2-inch rectangular cutter, punch out the cookies. Reroll the dough trimmings, chill, and cut out more cookies.

Put the shortbread on the prepared sheet pans, evenly spacing up to 16 cookies per pan.

Bake one pan at a time for 10 minutes. Rotate the pan and bake until the cookies feel firm and hold their shape when touched, 3 to 5 minutes more. Let the cookies cool completely on the sheet pans. Repeat with the remaining pan.

Step #2: Frost the Cookies
Blend the halvah in a food processor until fairly smooth. Drizzle in the white chocolate and blend until incorporated. The halvah will turn into a thick paste.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the butter briefly on medium speed for
5 to 10 seconds. Add the sugar and beat until the butter mixture is aerated and pale in color, 3 to 4 minutes. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula to bring the frosting together. Briefly mix in the vanilla and salts until incorporated, approximately 1 minute. Add the halvah paste and mix until smooth, with a little texture left from the halvah.

Fit a pastry bag with the Ateco tip #32 and fill with the frosting.
Make pairs of similar-size cookies. Turn half of the cookies over. Leaving an 1⁄8-inch border, pipe rows of dots onto the cookies. The frosting should be approximately as thick as the cookie. Top each frosted cookie with a second cookie and press lightly to adhere.

Step #3: Finish the Cookies
Freeze the piece of halvah until chilled, 30 minutes.

Line two half sheet pans with parchment paper. Dip a quarter of the long side of each sandwich cookie into the milk chocolate, shake off the excess, and place on the prepared pans. Using a vegetable peeler, shave
a piece or two of halvah and place onto the chocolate- dipped part of each cookie. Refrigerate until the chocolate is firm, approximately 1 hour.

The cookies can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week. 

Enjoy! 

Buy the book here: Cookie Love. 

Sweetapolita Dreams

A cupcake, robot, bunny, and unicorn all agree: you should buy The Sweetapolita Bakebook: 75 Fanciful Cakes, Cookies & More to Make & Decorate.

Let me explain.

A few weeks ago, a package arrived in the mail. It was addressed as follows: "to Cuppie the cupcake and his friends robot, bunny, and unicorn, and CakeSpy is under no circumstances allowed to peek".

Ouch, that hurt. Usually the review copies come to me! But I let the cupcake and his friends have the package, and I could see from across the room the book looked like this.

Why would they keep it from me? It looked like my dream book. 

A couple of weeks later, I was contacted by the publishing PR company, asking if I wanted to be part of the author, Rosie Alyea's, blog hop, which includes tons of awesome prizes. 

Hey! What about the strange address on the package?

Turns out, Cuppie had done that so he could have the book all to himself (and, you know, to share with his illustrated buddies).

Happily, at this point, Cuppie and friends shared, indicating that the book had reached the highest possible level of approval in the illustrated world:

So I decided that for my entry in the blog hop, instead of making a recipe, I would ask all of the characters what they liked best from the book. 

What CakeSpy characters like best from the Sweetapolita Bakebook:

Cuppie

Cuppie, who decided to channel Rosie with his apron (let's just not go into the cross dressing aspect of this, OK?), simply loves the rainbow and sprinkle cake, which is composed of multicolored cake layers frosted with blue buttercream and completely smothered in sprinkles.

Cuppie's pick:

Robot

Robot, who you would think would like the robot pop rocks truffles best, did indeed enjoy those--but his first recipe to bake from the book will definitely be the pink cherry party cupcakes.

Robot's picks:

Bunny

Bunny loves the Coney Island Cheesecake. It's sort of like Funfetti plus a rainbow meet cheesecake. How could you not love it?

Bunny's pick:

Unicorn

You really shouldn't be surprised that Sprinkle the unicorn likes the sky cake on page . Especially the topper, which features a rainbow that reminds Sprinkle of the place he was born. 

Sprinkle the unicorn's pick:

This gives you a glimpse of the book, but by no means the full scale. You simply must buy it! 

Buy the book here.

Which recipe are you most excited about?

Italian in Your Mouth: Torta Caprese

Have you ever heard of Torta Caprese? 

My sweetheart was enchanted by this recipe in Brooks Headley's book Brooks Headley's Fancy Desserts: The Recipes of Del Posto’s James Beard Award–Winning Pastry Chef. So...well, he made it. And we ate it. And I want to tell you that it is worth your time. 

According to the book, Torta Caprese is an Italian sweet, named for the island of Capri. This is a traditional version that gets its structure from "walnuts and the superpowers of egg whites". 

It's a very thin brownie, so we decided it was better to serve them in little short stacks, like the one pictured (five brownies at once? How American!). Since they're so thin, it's really like making a DIY layer cake. 

Every flavor shines in this recipe, so it's a good time to bring out quality ingredients: basically, your brownies will taste as good as the chocolate you use. 

It's also naturally gluten free, "making it perfect for passover, or for that friend who is not eating gluten, for whatever very real or totally imagined reason."

Torta Caprese

Only slightly adapted from Brooks Headley's Fancy Desserts: The Recipes of Del Posto’s James Beard Award–Winning Pastry Chef.

Yield: 1 baking sheet of brownies

• Bittersweet chocolate, very best quality, chopped, 1 1/2 cups (200 grams)
• Walnuts, chopped, 1 3/4 cups (200 grams)
• Sugar, 3/4 cup plus 1/4 cup (150 grams plus 50 grams) 
• Salt, 1 teaspoon * (4 grams) - note, original recipe calls for 2 teaspoons
• Unsalted butter, 2/3 cup (or, 1 1/3 sticks) (155 grams), melted
• Eggs, 4, separated

Procedure

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
2. In a food processor, pulse together the chocolate, walnuts, 3/4 cup of the sugar, and the salt, until you have chunks of chocolate and walnut that are not huge but not totally obliterated either. You don't want a paste. Avoid that.

3. Transfer the chocolate mixture to a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and mix well with a rubber spatula. Add the egg yolks, and stir to combine. Set the chocolate mixture to the side. 

4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, using the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on medium speed, slowly adding the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beating continuously until the whites have a meringue-like texture. Do not overbeat.

5. Fold the egg whites gently into the chocolate mixture, and pour the batter on to the prepared baking sheet. 

6. Bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

7. Let the cake cool in the pan, and cut into chunks. This also freezes beautifully, and will last up to 2 months. Just thaw and serve.

How many slices would you stack for dessert?

Tastes Like Joy: Creme de Noisettes Recipe

See that thing? Up there in the jar? That creamy, chocolatey looking stuff? Well, guess what--you now officially have the recipe. 

Not to break you out of the reverie, but I suppose I should tell you what it is, exactly. That little mason jar is filled with a chocolate-hazelnut slurry known as (doesn't it always sound better in French?) crème de noisettes. I never tried this when I was in France, but stateside, I've tried a little something called Nutella which brings it to mind. Ever heard of it?

This lovely recipe is excerpted from French Bistro: Restaurant-Quality Recipes for Appetizers, Entrées, Desserts, and Drinks.

PS: want to read more about my overseas adventures? Here's a roundup of my last trip to Paris.

*crème de noisettes*

Hazelnut and chocolate crème

Hazelnut and chocolate is an unbeatable combination that I downright love. My kids do too! Here, I’ve blended the two flavors into a rich and dangerously delicious crème, which my kids love to eat on baguette dipped in hot chocolate. I prefer it on a croissant, dipped in café au lait.

Makes 1 Jar 

• ½ cup (100 ml) Nutella
• 7 oz (200 g) dark chocolate, 70% cacao
• 3½ tbsp (50 g) butter
• ¼ cup (50 ml) cream
• 2 tbsp molasses
• 1 tbsp water
• 3½ oz (100 g) hazelnuts

Procedure 

• Place the Nutella in a saucepan. Coarsely chop up the chocolate and place it in the pan. Cut the butter into small pieces and add it too, along with the cream, molasses, and water. Warm over low heat to make a smooth sauce. Move the saucepan off to one side.

• Roast the nuts in a dry pan for 3–4 minutes. Mix them well and blend them into the sauce. Pour the crème into a jar with a tight lid. If stored in the fridge, it should keep for at least one week.

Enjoy!

Coconut Pistachio Gateau with Marzipan Filling

Photo via The Everyday Art of Gluten-FreeI'm not anti-gluten; I'm pro-delicious. This cake happens to be gluten-free, but that doesn't stop me, because just look at the thing. It is a guest post featuring a recipe from The Everyday Art of Gluten-Free: 125 Savory and Sweet Recipes Using 6 Fail-Proof Flour Blends. It is inspired by a recipe from Austin pastry chef Sandy Reinlie, a "genius" when it comes to combining flavors. 

Coconut Pistachio Gateau with Marzipan Filling

For the cake

• 2 1/2 cups "cake and muffin" blend (link here)
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• scant 1 cup finely ground roasted salted pistachios
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup pure olive oil
• 6 large eggs, separated
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 teaspoons almond extract
• 1 1/4 teaspoons coconut extract
• 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut, plus more for garnish
• 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

For the icing

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 4 egg whites 
• 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the marzipan filling

•  1 pound gluten-free almond paste
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
• green food coloring (optional)
• confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Garnish

• 2 cups salted pistachios, chopped
• toasted coconut

Procedure

1. Start by making the cake. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 10-inch springform pan with butter and line the bottom with parchment.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour blend, sugar, pistachios, cornstarch, and baking powder. Beat briefly to combine. 
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, egg yolks, sour cream, and extracts until very smooth. With the mixer running on medium-low, add the egg yolk mixture to the dry ingredients in a slow, steady stream. Beat the batter on high for one minute, or until thick and smooth. Add the shredded coconut and mix until just combined.
4. In the clean bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until they attain stiff peaks. Using a wooden spoon, fold this mixture into the batter until there are no more white clumps remaining.
5. Pour the batter into the pan. Bake for 45-55 minutes, until the top cracks slightly and the edges have pulled away from the sides.
6. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least an hour.
7. Make the icing now. In a small, heavy saucepan, combine the sugar and 1/2 cup water.  Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan and set the pan over medium high heat. Bring the syrup to a boil, whisking to make sure the sugar dissolves, and cook until the temperature registers 239 F (115 C, soft ball stage) on the thermometer. This will take several minutes. 
8. Meanwhile, in the clean bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites until opaque and frothy. Add the cream of tartar and beat on high until the whites are thick and foamy.
9. With the mixer on high speed, pour the hot sugar syrup into the whipping egg whites in a slow, steady stream being careful to keep the hot syrup between the bowl and whisk to prevent sprays of sugar on your skin or beautiful face. Beat the meringue for 7 minutes, or until the egg whites are very shiny and hold deep folds. The mixer should be cool to the touch on the bottom. Beat in the vanilla just til combined. 
10. Make the filling. In a food processor fitted with the "s" blade, combine the almond paste with the corn syrup and one to two drops of the food coloring, if using. Mix them until the paste is very smooth. If the almond paste is crumbly, add a bit more corn syrup, a teaspoon at a time, until it folds in on itself. 
11. Lightly dust your work surface with confectioners' sugar. Turn out the marzipan mixture and roll it into a circle 1/4 inch thick and 11 inches in diameter.
12. Assemble the thing. Invert the cooled cake onto a wire rack and peel off the parchment paper. Wrap a thread or piece of unflavored dental floss around the circumference of the cake, halfway from top to bottom, and draw the floss tight, using it to cut the cake in two layers (or do it the normal way with a serrated knife).
13. Set one layer on a serving plate or cake stand. Place the marzipan disk on top. Dollop 2/3 cup of the icing on to the marzipan and spread it twoard the edges. Top with the second cake layer. Ice the cake with the remaining icing. Press the pistachios on the sides of the cake, and sprinkle the top with toasted coconut. Keep the cake under a cake dome for a few days, or in the fridge for up to a week.

Giveaway: Decorating Cookies Party by Bridget Edwards

UPDATE: WE HAVE A WINNER!!

It's Joanna, whose comment was chosen at random: "My favorite cookie EVER is a bar cookie that's a family recipe called "Revel Bars" ... they're an oatmeal cookie with a thick layer of fudge, and topped with dots of salty oatmeal cookie on top and they're to DIE for. Starbucks used to make a version of it that was not nearly as good."

Sounds like a tasty cookie to me!

Listen up. I want to give you a book!

I don't know if you're familiar with Bridget Edwards of Bake at 350, but if not, you're in for a treat. She is a cookie decorator ROYALE. And she is willing to teach you her secrets in two books: her previous release (which I loved) entitled Decorating Cookies: 60+ Designs for Holidays, Celebrations & Everyday, and now, her brand new book, Decorating Cookies Party: 10 Celebratory Themes. The new book includes 50 designs to be made from a few master cookie recipes (one of them is even gluten-free, people). 

So, you want to win the book?

All you have to do is tell me the following:

What is your favorite cookie in the world and why? 

Yes, that's an open ended question. It could be a store bought cookie, your grandma's recipe, or one you make. Just tell me why it's so special!

I'll choose a winner one week from today (that's Friday, October 3rd). Meantime, you can buy the book here if you need it ASAP! Since the publisher is sending this out directly, I'm honoring their request that the entrants for this giveaway have US or Canadian shipping addresses, please.

Buy it Now: Trophy Cupcakes Book

It's not every day that a business I've illustrated in cupcake form releases a book.

But when it does happen (and it has!), I am going to tell you "buy this book now." Please.

The book in question is by beloved Seattle bakery and one of my first supporters, Trophy Cupcakes. The book is entitled Trophy Cupcakes and Parties!: Deliciously Fun Party Ideas and Recipes from Seattle's Prize-Winning Cupcake Bakery.

A mouthful, I know. But nowhere near the mouthful of tastiness you'll experience once you bake one of the cupcake recipes in the book. Seriously--this is good stuff. 

But the book isn't just cupcakes, I learned upon opening my review copy package. This book is designed to party.

As I unwrapped the tissue, I found not only a book but a built in party...

including... a tiny dancer!

The party theme corresponds to the book, which is full of party ideas, including recipes, crafty decor and activities, and all of the style you need to pull off a cool event. I love it--it really celebrates not only the cupcake, but the happy culture which should always surround the cute foodstuff.

A respectable cache of recipes, of course, is present, with beautiful photos.

It's really a lovely book, and I think you should buy it right now. In case you've already forgotten the title,  it's Trophy Cupcakes and Parties!: Deliciously Fun Party Ideas and Recipes from Seattle's Prize-Winning Cupcake Bakery. Do it now!

Triple Chip Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Dip from Peanut Butter Comfort

When I think of peanut butter, visions of happiness, butterflies, unicorns prancing, and cotton candy clouds dance in my head. I love the stuff that much.

So when I received the book Peanut Butter Comfort: Recipes for Breakfasts, Brownies, Cakes, Cookies, Candies, and Frozen Treats Featuring America's Favorite Spread, I was pretty psyched. Especially since I happened to have plenty of peanut butter around at the moment.

Naturally, I was drawn in pretty instantly by this recipe because it had pink thingies in the photos. But then, upon futher review, I found that the recipe was for something amazing: Triple Chip Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Dip. Like, OMG. That's a dip I can get into!

Even better, the dough is egg free, so that dough can get right in your mouth.

What would one use cookie dough dip for, you ask? Well, that's kind of a dopey question because I really hope you already have some ideas. It would be a great, indulgent frosting, or a nice dip for graham crackers, or...you know, great by the spoonful. Yum.

Here's the magical recipe.

Peanut Butter Triple Chip Cookie Dough Dip

Adapted from Peanut Butter Comfort: Recipes for Breakfasts, Brownies, Cakes, Cookies, Candies, and Frozen Treats Featuring America's Favorite Spread

Makes 4 1/2 cups dip, or 2-3 servings (kidding)

Ingredients

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened to cool room temperature
• 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened to cool room temperature
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned whole rolled oats (not quick cook or instant)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 to 4 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup m&m candies--plain, peanut, or peanut butter
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup butterscotch chips

Procedure

1. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese, peanut butter, and butter, mixing on high speed for 3 to 4 minutes until nice and smooth and creamy. Pause to scrape down the sides of the bowl. 
2. Add all the sugars and the vanilla, and beat for 2 to 3 minutes on medium high speed. Start slowly, then increase the speed to keep from having a sugar snowstorm. Pause to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
3. Add the oats and salt and beat until incorporated, 1 minute on medium high speed. Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the flour, one tablespoon at a time, mixing after each addition. Only add enough to give it your desired dip consistency.
4. Fold in the m&m candies and all those chocolate and other chips by hand or with a couple swipes of the mixer on low speed. Serve right away, or keep chilled. Keep this tastiness in the fridge for up to a week.

Sweet Book: Cake Decorating with Modeling Chocolate

A while ago, I received the book Cake Decorating with Modeling Chocolate in the mail as a review copy. I blame myself for taking so long to post about it, but I've been doing a ton of travel for book tour and, you know, for fun--Seattle, San Francisco, Portland, Chicago, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York, Los Angeles, and probably several places I've neglected to mention. It's all been a lot of fun but sheesh--time for me to get back to spyin' sweet stuff. So, back to the book, which is coming at you from Kristen Coniaris of the website Wicked Goodies.

Have you ever worked with modeling chocolate? If not, it might be about time to expand your cake decorating repertoire. To me, modeling chocolate is sort of like working with modeling wax--if not in taste, at least in texture. It's a malleable substance that is easy to use in a myriad of cake decorating projects. And this book is here to teach you how to make them. I'll go ahead (spoiler!) and tell you about what I consider the most vital skill to be learned in the book:

Yes! How to make a camo booty out of modeling chocolate! Everyone needs to know that, because you never know when you'll need such a cake. 

Joking aside, though, this cake is action-packed with all sorts of modeling chocolate information, lore, and projects. If you choose not to go for the camo booty (mistake!), there are also wonderful tutorials such as this:

aren't those flowers gorgeous?

There are also plenty of tips for the beginner, including troubleshooting for if things go wrong:

and tips on how to successfully tint your modeling chocolate like all the colors of the rainbow.

And, of course, many tips that you'll learn when you buy the book.

I found myself very drawn to the more unusual tutorials in the book, such as this pig lounging in mud.

Of course, the rainbow and unicorn-loving side of me loved tutorials such as this, for a rainbow zebra print cake:

C'est fantastique!

As you can see, this book wonderfully melds education (teaching you what modeling chocolate is, and how to use it) with creativity (refer to camo booty). It's a great volume on modeling chocolate, and if you've been interested in adding this skill to your decorating repertoire, I suggest this book!

Buy it here:  Cake Decorating with Modeling Chocolate.

Secret Lives Tour, Part Two

Part two of my book tour supporting The Secret Lives of Baked Goods: Sweet Stories & Recipes for America's Favorite Desserts is now complete! Philadelphia and Chicago...you were great!

Now, if you're curious about what happened on the first leg, check out this post; for still-upcoming dates, look at the left side bar of this site! 

Now, let me tell you about what I saw, what I did, and very importantly, what I ate on leg 2 of the tour, in New Jersey, Philadelphia and Chicago.

First, I headed down to New Jersey. I didn't have an event here but I was staying with my parents, and using their kitchen to bake treats for the Anthropologie book signing in Philadelphia. I made three batches of Katharine Hepburn Brownies from the book. I had a little assembly line going!

Oh, yum. Then, we packed up the car and went to Philadelphia. I was greeted by this sign...I felt pretty cool...

Here I am getting out of the car and getting ready to share brownies and fun!

Wow, what an amazing event! Not only was it excellently attended, but there were brownies and prosecco. Lots of prosecco.

The crowd was enthusiastic and we had a lot of fun!

Here I am with my big sister Kelly.

I also got some unexpected treats at the signing. Bredenbeck's sent over some cookies just for me...

and (big hero moment!) Zoe (there's an umlaut in her name, but I can't find the symbol on my computer) from Whipped Bakeshop came, too! For an example of how awesome she is, just look at one of her cakes:

and Ginny of LivyLu's Gourmet brought some treats, too!

This was a signing that just made me feel great to be alive. Thank you, Anthropologie!

Let's just say I slept well that night, and it was a good thing, because I had to get up pretty bright and early to head to Chicago!

On my way to the airport, I had a surprisingly tasty (considering its healthy status!) cookie called the "Shazaam", purchased in Spring Lake Heights.

Next stop...Chicago! My reading was actually in Vernon Hills, but I had some time to spend in the Windy City beforehand. I made good use of it.

I popped in an Anthropologie store in Chicago...and guess what they had? My book! yay!

My first stop for sweets in Chicago was Glazed and Infused. You can read more about my visit there if you read this post, but suffice it to say I left fat and happy and SO excited to have finally met my (until now, online-only) friend James. 

Next, I headed over to Swirlz Cupcakes. Wow, Pam of Swirlz is so supportive! She had a little altar to me out to make me smile and share my work with her customers! AND she was kind enough to donate cupcakes for my event later that day.

Here's a picture of me with owner Pam!

Before I headed to Vernon Hills, I simply had to drop by to say hi to my friend Stephanie, owner of Angel Food Bakery. She has the same birthday as me, and she bakes cupcakes. What's not to love? We chatted and I picked up a few treats, including a brownie and a flourless chocolate cake. For later.

Then I headed to the Aspen Drive Library! I was greeted by this beautiful sign:

And then got to unpacking the sweets from Swirlz!

HERE'S WHAT WAS IN THE BAG. OMG ALL CAPS NEEDED.

Putting together this stand was easier said than done, but we figured it out (yes, it took more people than just me).

I had a great talk with a large audience at the library, and Lake Forest Book Store was on hand to sell copies of my book. Here I am doing my reading--don't I look like a kindergarten teacher?

An especially meaningful guest was my friend Sandy, who drove all the way from Milkwaukee. I miss this girl! We were able to have dinner and catch up. <3

Now, I know you're concerned that I'm getting enough calories, so I am happy to tell you that I was able to make one more sweet stop before I left the next morning, to pick up a cinnamon glazed old-fashioned doughnut at Do-Rite Donuts. Whew!

By the way, it wasn't til that night that I got to one of my other goodies from Angel Food Bakery, the brownie. Hold on to your hats, sweeties. It might look like just a brownie, but it is nothing ordinary once it's in your mouth. It's fudge-filled chocolate overload decadence awesometown, the experience of eating this brownie. I think they're some of the best in the nation!

Whew! So glad to have had these awesome tour times, but I'm happy to be home, too! See you next time, sweeties!

Places Mentioned:

Anthropologie, multiple locations; online here.

Bredenbeck's, 8126 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia; online here.

LivyLu's Gourmet; online here.

Whipped Bakeshop, 636 Belgrade Street, Philadelphia; online here.

Nature's Corner Natural Market, 2407 Hwy 71, Spring Lake Heights NJ; online here.

Glazed and Infused, multiple locations in Chicago; online here.

Swirlz Cupcakes, 705 W. Belden, Chicago; online here.

Angel Food Bakery, 1636 Montrose, Chicago; online here.

Aspen Drive Library, Vernon Hills, IL; online here.

Lake Forest Bookstore; online here.

Do-Rite Donuts, 50 W. Randolph Street, Chicago; online here.

Twice as Nice: Two Books about Pie

Now, this is a truly great moment in life. Right now, recipes by me are featured in not one but two books about pie.

I'm very happy about this, because I consider both of these books worthy of purchase--and not just because of my presence. Although that doesn't hurt, of course.

First is A Year of Pies: A Seasonal Tour of Home Baked Pies by Ashley English. This beautiful book features pie for all seasons of the year. It includes recipes which reverently reflect seasonal produce...and then my recipe, for Saltwater Taffy Pie.

Hey, I'm here to make it FUN! Joking aside, it's a fantastic book and ideal for creating pies that really will make your year far awesomer. 

Next is Pieography: Where Pie Meets Biography-42 Fabulous Recipes Inspired by 39 Extraordinary Women by Jo Packham of Where Women Cook. This book poses an interesting question: "what does your life look like in a pie?".

Well, me and several other female food writers and bloggery types contributed with an essay and a recipe. Mine is a particularly lovely essay about the fleeting and beautiful nature of life and a delightful "Frisbee" pie that you toss and let the pieces shatter, deliciously, as they may.

Other recipes include Blueberry Ginger Pie, White Chocolate Buttermilk Pie with Warm Raspberry Sauce (OMG), and more. It's a sweet read.

Buy the books here:

A Year of Pies: A Seasonal Tour of Home Baked Pies

Pieography: Where Pie Meets Biography-42 Fabulous Recipes Inspired by 39 Extraordinary Women

Sweet Cookbook: Petite Treats by Christy Beaver and Morgan Greenseth

I love small things, and I love cute things.

Curiously, though, this doesn't always extend to the world of dessert, where I like quantity, preferably mass. But in the case of the new book Petite Treats: Adorably Delicious Versions of All Your Favorites from Scones, Donuts, and Cupcakes to Brownies, Cakes, and Pies, I'll make an exception, figuring that I'll just eat a baker's dozen of everything.

This volume is the follow up to Mini Pies: Adorable and Delicious Recipes for Your Favorite Treats, and like that title, this book is  just too cute! 

Here's what you have to look forward to in the new book:

Let's dig in, shall we? First off, I was so glad to see these mini scones.

Why? Because I've actually tried them, in person. They're tiny and delicious.

I also want to eat cranberry orange rolls. Yum.

Pies! Of course there are pies. These girls are pie-making maniacs!

 

But my favorite thing? Definitely this...

Yeah, that's right. 

It makes me think of my friend Megan, and also of the Pumpple I ate. Both good things to think of, at any time.

I think you should buy this book! Here's the link again: Petite Treats: Adorably Delicious Versions of All Your Favorites from Scones, Donuts, and Cupcakes to Brownies, Cakes, and Pies.

Sweet Book: Decorating Cookies by Bridget Edwards

I've got to tell you, this book is cute. And I *know* cute.

It's called Decorating Cookies: 60+ Designs for Holidays, Celebrations & Everyday and it's by Bridget Edwards of Bake at 350. It's a great blog, and she's a great girl. I've met her, so I'm allowed to say that.

After looking through this book I have decided that you need it. Too bad Halloween's over, cos you could have made these:

But don't panic. Just promise me you'll get it before Thanksgiving, because it also has Pumpkin Pie cookies!

But if you can't get it together by then, promise me you'll get it by Christmas, because these holly-jolly cookies are contained, too:

...but if not, you'll enjoy this book for the kind of "everyday" cookie needs such as:

and: 

Buy it here: Decorating Cookies: 60+ Designs for Holidays, Celebrations & Everyday.

Daily Sweet: Zumbo, the Book

May I introduce my new favorite-favorite-thing in the world...

Zumbo: Adriano Zumbo's Fantastical Kitchen of Other-Worldly Delights I freaking love this book. It's like Willy Wonka plus Pierre Herme, times rainbow awesome. The unicorn is not actually on the cover, but I added it to see how it would look. It looks pretty at home, doesn't it?

I learned more about Mr. Zumbo from the publisher:

Adriano Zumbo's playful approach to food, far-ranging imagination, and cheeky attitude have made him one of Australia's best known chefs. He opened his first patisserie in in 2007 and his appearances onMasterChef Australia have since won him a national following.

While leafing through the pages, you'll find things like this:

and this:

and this:

And incredibly inspiring, clever and cute artwork:

AAAAH! MACARON HEAD PEOPLE!!!

Laminated pastry people too!

 Buy it here: Zumbo: Adriano Zumbo's Fantastical Kitchen of Other-Worldly Delights.

Daily Sweet: Good Housekeeping Little Book of Baking

Today, I asked my cupcake (which lives on a pony): "What do you think of this book?" It has a big name for a tiny book: Good Housekeeping The Little Book of Baking: 55 Homemade Cookies, Cakes, Cupcakes & Pies to Make & Share.

And after reviewing it for a few minutes, the cupcake said "you should buy it."

Why is that? Helpfully, the cupcake gave me several reasons.

It has interesting recipes. I'd never seen a recipe for a Grape and Ginger Tart before!

It has helpful tips. You never can be too educated.

It has tasty versions of classic recipes. For example: hazelnut brownies; cherry-pistachio biscotti. Not crazy-different, but they might just challenge you a little bit.  

Why not listen to the cupcake? Find the book online here: Good Housekeeping The Little Book of Baking: 55 Homemade Cookies, Cakes, Cupcakes & Pies to Make & Share.

Delicious Volume: Midwest Sweet Baking History by Jenny Lewis

Brownies: a midwest baking classic!

I'm fond of saying that "everything tastes better with a backstory". After all, isn't it more fun to eat a chocolate chip cookie while imagining Ruth Wakefield in a Massachusetts toll house, trying to take a shortcut making chocolate cookies by adding chocolate chunks, and inadvertently creating an American icon? Or picturing a hapless baker in St. Louis mixing up the sugar and flour in a recipe and ending up with Gooey Butter cake? 

If you find this sweet lore fascinating, then you should probably go ahead and invest in the new release Midwest Sweet Baking History: Delectable Classics around Lake Michigan by Jenny Lewis. It's published by The History Press. Did you know they existed? I didn't, but I am glad I do now--they have a ton of interesting books.

This volume is a comprehensive source for learning about the popular treats of the Lake Michigan region--but really, it goes beyond that. 

While you'll get plenty of sweet stories about specific foods, you'll also get a very interesting primer and backstory on the general history of baking in America.

There are chapters devoted to the development of popular baking ingredients (ever wonder when baking soda became a common pantry item?) and the developments in kitchen technology which played into what and how we ate. Author Jenny Lewis, who is a pastry chef, Certified Culinary Educator (did you know that was a thing? I didn't! I also didn't know all of these degrees existed!), and clearly One Smart Cookie, also gives some of the backstory on companies such as Kraft, Nabisco, and even smaller manufacturers in the Midwest such as Lessafre Yeast Company.

And then there are recipes. Yes! From historical--including one of the first printed brownie recipes, from the Chicago area, old fashioned doughnuts, and homespun pies--to contemporary, such as peach crumble with cornmeal cinnamon streusel, apple tart with salted caramel, and cherry whiskey cake.

Morever, what we learn is that recipes--and baking methods--aren't so much invented as they evolve--and so, the popular baked goods will reflect the immigration patterns of the United states, often the result of "old country" favorites getting a "new world" makeover based on the kitchen technology and ingredients available in the new surroundings. And it's a fascinating and delectable journey.

Buy the book here: Midwest Sweet Baking History: Delectable Classics around Lake Michigan; listen to an interesting interview with the author here.

Sweet Discovery: Cake Magic by Kate Shirazi

Recently, I was sent a review copy of a book called Cake Magic by Kate Shirazi. And after careful review, I have decided that even if it hadn't been sent to me for free, I'd probably buy this book. And I would recommend it to friends, too.

Now, I don't want to be bossy about it. But I know that you're not going to really read the reasons (the creative projects, the fun lore and stories in the headnotes, the user-friendly format), so I'm just going to go right to showing you five things that intrigued me right away in the book.

First off: English Madeleines? What? I've never heard of such of a thing. But gosh, now I want to get to know them better.

Second: Little tarts featured with a photo of little dollhouse people. I don't even care what flavor they are, I want one! Cute.

Third: Teacakes that look like some sort of tricked-out Mallomar. I vote yes on this. 

Fourth: The snuggle loaf. I have had the urge to snuggle with carbohydrates before, and I consider this permission to act on this urge.

Fifth: The Fancy Pants cheesecake. Eat it with your pinkies out, yo!

Ready to buy? Thought so. Find it here: Cake Magic.

Save the Date: Joy The Baker at CakeSpy Shop on March 17!

Want the recipe? Come buy the book!Save the date, sweeties.

Joy the Baker is coming to CakeSpy Shop in Seattle!

We are THRILLED to be hosting this extra-special event for our dear friend, Joy the Baker! Join us to celebrate Joy and her first cookbook at CakeSpy Shop on Saturday, March 17th! Come hang out with Joy, CakeSpy founder Jessie, and the winner of the "So You Wanna Be a CakeSpy?" contest, Molly Allen!

Want to learn more about the book? OK.

Joy the Baker Cookbook: 100 Simple and Comforting Recipes is a celebration of butter, sugar, and cream--all of our favorites! Everyone is just looking for an excuse to eat chocolate for breakfast, and this book is reason enough to indulge. With 100 recipes and photographs, like Avocado Pound Cake to The Best Chocolate Bundt Cake, the Joy the Baker Cookbook is designed to be fun, approachable, and meant to make you feel like a wizard in the kitchen.

Joy will be here to tell us all about her awesome new book, answer questions for her fans, and of course have a stack of books to sign!

Date: March 17

Time: 3-6pm

Location: CakeSpy Shop, 415 East Pine Street, Seattle; 206.325.1592

Check out the Facebook invite here. Oh, and you might like to hear the interview with Joy and CakeSpy together, too!