Coconut Raspberry Bundt Cake

Can a cake be life changing?  I think so.  But then again, I'm a girl whose first love was cake.  Out of all the cakes I've tested and tasted, this one is at the top of my list.  You should also keep in mind that snagging a spot at the top of that list is not easy, but this cake hits all the right marks.

Chocolate & Passion Fruit Truffle Cake

Chocolate & Passion Fruit Truffle Cake

Good morning and Happy Valentine's Day!  Today I'm posting over at my friend Hillary's blog, Marche Dimanche.  I met Hillary over the summer at TECHmunch, a food blogging conference, and we hit it off right away.  We share a love of all things sweet and I am honored she asked me to guest post.

Red Velvet Cake Frites & Southern Comfort Dipping Sauce

Red velvet cake frites & SoCo dipping sauce 

Valentine's Day is the perfect day to allow yourself to indulge your sweet tooth in something sinful. Red velvet cake frites paired with a dark chocolate Southern Comfort dipping sauce is just the dessert to help you do that.  These cake frites take classic red velvet cake to a whole new level, and the dipping sauce adds a pop of flavor that balances the dessert beautifully.  I also have some exciting news to share with you guys!  Today I'm featured in a national news story thanks to Raycom Media and reporter Joseph Neese.  It involves a dessert for every stage of your relationship, and you can check it out here.

Blood Orange Cornmeal Bundt Cakes

I made these little cakes for brunch over the weekend, and I definitely see more of them in my future. They were the perfect little cakes for the occasion, light, refreshing, and satisfying.  I started out making my cornmeal cake which has always been one of my go to recipes for brunch due to the fact that it's easy to put together and not overly sweet.  I wanted to make a blood orange version of the original cake, and once I started baking, it all just came together beautifully.

Meyer Lemon Chiffon Cake

I can't get enough of meyer lemons right now.  They have such a beautiful color, pack a ton of flavor, and add so much brightness to desserts.  To me they're like a little burst of sunshine in winter.  I picked up a few pounds of them this week, and the first thing I did was make a big batch of meyer lemon curd. I've made many different desserts using meyer lemons, but for some reason it always go back to curd.  I love the silky texture of it, and how it really showcases the flavor of the meyer lemons.

Christmas Tree Cake

Well I finally put my Christmas tree up, and there's no doubt that it's totally me!  I make a Christmas tree cake every  year for my family, and I just wanted to do it up a little different this time.  I knew I'd be making walnut kiss cookies and peppermint milanos, so I thought it would be sweet if I tied everything together. There's also the my whole world is pink thing that might have been a factor in this project as well!

Sweet & Sassy Gingerbread

Gingerbread is one of those treats I never really cared for until a few years ago.  It always had way too strong of a taste for me, and to be honest I thought it was kind of boring.  After I realized that the type of molasses you use in baked goods can drastically alter the flavor, I decided I wanted to give gingerbread another chance, and fiddle around with a new recipe.  I'm glad I did because this is a wonderful little cake that is now a staple in my fall and winter baking.

Cauldron Cake

I'm wrapping up my Halloween series today with a fun cauldron cake.  This cauldron is made out of chocolate, filled with cake and whipped cream, and topped off with loads of candy and sparkles. It's great for any skill level, and it's sure to be a hit at any party!

Carrot Cake Frites & Cream Cheese Aioli

Have you ever had an idea in your head that you just can't shake?  One that constantly nags you until you finally give in and try it out?  For me that idea was carrot cake frites, and I'm really glad that I gave in and finally made them!

Mikey's 2nd Birthday Cake

A few weeks ago my little nephew Mikey turned 2.  I can't begin to tell you how much I love this little nugget, and I couldn't wait to make his birthday cake!

Serendipity Cake

Last weekend my friend Mia and I made a birthday cake for one of our friends.  I named this cake the Serendipity cake because when we first met our friend Robin it was at our favorite nail salon and Robin was convinced it was serendipity!  Little did Robin know that serendipity happens to be my favorite word so when she used it to describe our meeting I instantly knew we would become friends!  We knew that she wanted a white tiered cake with hot pink and lime green decorations.  We also know that she is a fan of hearts and sparkles so being the girly girls that we are, we ran with the idea.

Mini Easter Egg Cakes

As a child my favorite part of Easter was coloring Easter eggs.  I would get so excited when my mom would buy me the egg coloring kit at the supermarket.  The year they came out with the sparkle kit I didn't even know what to do with myself!  I guess things haven't changed much over the years ;)  On a recent trip to Home Goods I found this adorable miniature egg cake pan.  Due to a complete lack of restraint when it comes to anything kitchen related and my love for miniature desserts, I had to buy it.

Passion Fruit Cheesecake

In my opinion there is nothing better than a slice of classic New York cheesecake.  My love for cheesecake started as a child.  I remember getting so excited on holidays when someone would walk in holding that box labeled S&S Cheesecake.  Most kids can't wait to open presents, but I couldn't wait for the cheesecake to be cut!  To me it meant cake, hot cocoa, girl talk, and a lot of laughs.  This love affair has continued, and there have been many Saturday nights ending with my friends and I eating cheesecake at my kitchen table around 2 am laughing about what occurred that night!