Glamour Peeps 2.0

Easter is right around the corner which means it's time to make the Peeps!  That's right, Glamour Peeps are back, in all their sparkle glory.  These little peeps are my favorite makeover to date, and I couldn't wait to make them again.  So grab your candy thermometer and disco dust cause it's time to make some candy!

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.

Holiday Cupcake Tree

I'm so excited to share this cupcake tree with all of you!  I love cupcakes and I really love Christmas, so creating a Christmas tree out of cupcakes is almost too much for me to handle!  Mini cupcakes decorated with buttercream, gumdrops, and of course a bit of sparkle, give the tree a really fun look.  It is a great project for all skill levels,  and also makes a fabulous centerpiece for holiday parties.

Walnut Kiss Cookies

Walnut kiss cookies are definitely one of my all time favorite holiday cookies.  These little tea cakes have many names, but I always call them kiss cookies because they're light, nutty, and full of flavor.  They can definitely be made year round, but there's something about dredging them in powdered sugar that makes me think of snow and holidays.  As soon as Thanksgiving is over, and I start to pull out all the Christmas decorations, I head straight into the kitchen and whip up my first batch of the season.

Pecan Pie Napoleon

Pecan Pie has always been one of my favorite Thanksgiving desserts.  It's one of those classics that everyone loves, so I didn't want to change the whole thing, I just wanted to make it better.  I took everything I love about pecan pie, and turned it into a pecan pie napoleon.  Can you say upgrade?!  I also really love this dessert because you get three recipes in one.  My melt in your mouth butter cookies and salted almond & coconut dark chocolate bark are staples in my kitchen.  They are each fabulous on their own, but combined in this dessert, equal pure bliss.  I would also like to share some big news with you guys! I have been featured in a national news story! I want to give a big thank you to Raycom Media and talented reporter Joseph Neese for featuring me.  It's all very exciting and I am beyond grateful.  You can see the story here.

Pumpkin & Goat Cheese Muffins with Candied Bacon

For some reason muffins remind me of lazy Sundays, slowing down, and taking a break.  I also love them because they give me an excuse to eat dessert for breakfast!  I think right now it's really important to remember to slow down.  With the holidays upon us it's easy to get caught up in the craziness and miss what's happening right now.  I've been a bit caught up in the madness lately myself.  When someone asked me what projects and desserts I had planned for Spring, I almost collapsed.  My list of projects I want to make for the holidays is daunting enough, please let me get through that first! Anyway, these muffins are a good way to decompress.  A few bites and all the stress melts away, for a little while anyway!

Pumpkin Ice Cream with Beer Caramel Sauce & Gingerbread Croutons

Croutons and beer in a dessert?  Yup!  I like to think of this as an ice cream sundae all grown up.  It contains everything I want in a fall dessert in a shot glass.  The pumpkin ice cream is silky, and all the spices add a warmth to it.  The addition of bourbon adds a nice little kick giving the ice cream another layer of flavor that leaves you wanting more.  It is divine all on its own, but why would I stop there?

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!

Apple Crisp Cupcakes

I have this tendency that as soon as I'm done making a dessert, I immediately start thinking of how I can take it to the next level and make it better.  Sometimes I can really drive myself crazy, but this time it totally worked in my favor and yours!  

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!

"In the Pink" Cheesecake Pops

Cheesecake, pink chocolate, and sprinkles that shimmer... Yup, I'm all set!  Cheesecake pops are so much fun, and they have party written all over them.  I don't know what it is about miniature desserts, but I just love them.  These pops are great for a party and people go crazy over them.  The flavor combinations are endless, and this season I've been doing my "in the pink" pops.

Glamour Peeps Go Live!

First of all I want to say thank you for all the peep love!  These glamour peeps have gotten an outrageous amount of buzz and last week I got a call from the fabulous crew at www.how2heroes.com to shoot a video on them.  I have been doing how to baking videos with them for about a year now and it's always a lot of fun!  So grab your disco dust and enjoy!

Glamour Peeps

Last week I got the idea to make peeps, but not just regular peeps... I wanted to give them a makeover and create GLAMOUR PEEPS!  I've always been a fan of these adorable little chicks, and even as a kid they were the only candy I wanted for Easter.