Upside-down Caramel Banana Coffee Cake
Posted on March 16, 2015
Dense and moist coffee-flavored cake topped with gooey caramelized bananas! Every year it’s the same challenge for my dad’s birthday: What special dessert can I make that isn’t too sweet and doesn’t include frosting (well, I did sneak in frosting one year)? Since last year’s dessert was such a hit, I decided to find another…
Easy Meyer Lemon Shortbread Cookies
Posted on January 26, 2015
An easy cookie to make with the wonderful flavor of meyer lemons. Today we are celebrating sweet Caroline’s second virtual baby shower! I adore Caroline and am happy to help her celebrate the birth of baby number two! Today’s shower theme is citrus (one of Caroline’s current cravings!) and I just had to go with…
Soft Batch Apple Butter Cookies with Caramel Icing {Guest Post}
Posted on November 13, 2014
Today I have a special guest post from my friend Rachel. She is generously sharing this recipe for Soft Batch Apple Butter Cookies as a favor while I take some time to be with my family. Be sure to head over to her blog and check out some of her other amazing recipes like Apple…
Roasted Butternut Squash Pie with Brown Sugar Marshmallow Topping
Posted on November 10, 2014
Flaky pie crust, flavorful roasted butternut squash filling and a sweet toasted brown sugar marshmallow topping make an amazing fall dessert. This is the perfect Thanksgiving pie! Today we are celebrating with a virtual bridal shower for a very dear friend of mine! Joanne is getting married in just a few weeks and I’m so…
(Fresh) Blueberry White Chocolate Brown Butter Cookies
Posted on July 21, 2014
Chewy brown butter cookies with the perfect crispy edge are filled with fresh blueberries and white chocolate chips. When Matt told me we were going to a barbecue with his co-workers, I knew I had to bring my baking A-game. They've actually all been eating my desserts for years, but I didn't want to let…
Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookie Cake
Posted on June 30, 2014
This is the best cookie cake that I’ve ever had. It has a a chewy center, crispy edges and a wonderful brown butter flavor. I’m turning 30 this year. And actually, August 21st isn’t that far away. How I feel about the age is a story for another post, but what I want for dessert…
No Churn Oreo Fudge Swirl Ice Cream
Posted on June 26, 2014
This easy no-churn Vanilla bean ice cream is full of Oreo chunks and a delicious ribbon of fudge. Other than the part where my tripod fell over and knocked my camera directly into the ice cream, I loved this. After a slight moment of panic, I gently wiped the mess off of my lens and…
Brown Butter Peach Crumb Muffins
Posted on June 23, 2014
The perfect summer brunch food. These brown butter muffins are full of juicy peaches and topped with a cinnamon crumble. Summers for us are always full of travelling to see family. I try to bring a different sweet treat every time, though my family has had its fair share of bakery "scraps"! These muffins were…
{Gluten-Free} Summer Berry Skillet Crisp
Posted on June 16, 2014
A summer berry crisp topped with buttery oat crumble. It just so happens to be gluten-free! I know I’ve talked about this before, but I have a serious issue when I see summer fruit at Costco. I can NOT buy enough. A few weeks ago, I needed food for five days, just five. Now, given…
Espresso Cookies with Salted Caramel Ganache
Posted on June 9, 2014
These decadent cookie sandwiches are for a sophisticated palate. The dark chocolate espresso cookie is sandwiched with a rich salted caramel ganache for the ultimate dessert. After this weekend, I could use a cookie or ten. We spent all day yesterday and Saturday cleaning out our second bedroom. How is it possible to have so…
{Gluten-Free} Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Posted on May 27, 2014
Brown butter chocolate chip cookies are made with quinoa flour and almond meal to satisfy your gluten-free and gluten-loving cookie cravings. It’s pretty much common knowledge that cookies can cure almost anything. So when a friend of mine was going through a hard time, I immediately wanted to send her some. She happens to be…
Oreo Overload Cookie Sandwiches
Posted on May 18, 2014
Chewy cookies infused with Oreo Crumbs and slathered with a Cookies n Cream filling! I made these cookies on Friday with the full intention of bringing them over to a friend’s yesterday. Apparently I made the mistake of sharing a sample cookie with Matt because he almost lost it when I told him I was…
The Best Loaded Peanut Butter Cookies
Posted on April 21, 2014
Thick and chewy peanut butter cookies for peanut butter lovers only. Wow, thank you so much for the kind notes, tweets, Facebook messages, etc. regarding our big news! We really didn’t tell anyone (other than our parents and siblings) until a week or so ago. Let me tell you, that is one hard secret to…
Pretty in Pink Buttercream Cups
Posted on April 9, 2014
These dark chocolate candy cups are filled with a delicious creamy buttercream. They are a gluten-free, no-bake treat for any occasion. Today's post is exciting because I'm part of a huge group of blogging ladies celebrating Steph's virtual baby shower! This sweet and talented blogger is due to have a baby girl in just a…
Mint Cookies and Cream Buttercream Cups
Posted on March 3, 2014
Rich dark chocolate candy cups filled with crème de menthe buttercream and crushed oreos. I’m not feeling all that great today so I’m going to keep this short. These candy cups will kind of win over anyone who loves a little 2-bite treat. My mom, while a buttercream lover, isn’t usually a fan of mint…
Mini Chip Brownie Bites with Pink Marshmallow Buttercream
Posted on February 10, 2014
Fudgy brownie bites full of mini chocolate chips and topped with a pretty in pink marshmallow buttercream, perfect for Valentine’s Day! This weekend completely flew by! I've had a lot going on lately (work-wise and personally) so I feel like my weekend relaxing and me-time is extra precious. I know myself, and I really need…
Meyer Lemon Sprinkle Cookies
Posted on February 3, 2014
These Meyer Lemon Sprinkle Cookies are the ray of sunshine you need in the middle of winter. They are chewy in the middle, crispy around the edges, and rounded out with the flavors of fresh meyer lemon zest. I’m going to fast forward past the winter-hating rant that you could probably spew out yourself and…
Salted Caramel Sheet Cake
Posted on January 20, 2014
This salted caramel cake is light and fluffy with a rich salted caramel buttercream and salted caramel sauce infused into the cake. I made this cake on Christmas Eve. Matt and I had no plans so it was definitely a dangerous move, one large cake, two people. We probably did more damage than I care…
Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats with Mocha Ganache
Posted on January 13, 2014
Rice Krispie treats are all grown up with the addition of salted caramel and a rich mocha ganache. Make this special treat for Super Bowl or your next gathering and watch the Rice Krispie treats disappear! Last Monday we talked the how-tos on making salted caramel. Just a few ingredients and no thermometer; the basics…
Espresso Salted Caramel Buttercream Brownie Bites for Audra’s Virtual Shower
Posted on December 4, 2013
Fudgy chocolaty brownie bites topped with an extra special buttercream are a fun mini dessert for any occasion. Today we are celebrating one of my favorite people! My friend Audra (The Baker Chick) is having a baby so a few of us got together to throw a virtual party. I’ve actually been thinking about this…
Whipped Caramelized White Chocolate Ganache
Posted on October 21, 2013
Whipped Caramelized White Chocolate Ganache can take an ordinary cake, cupcake or cookie and turn it into something very special. If you haven’t tried caramelized white chocolate yet, you are going to want to now! It’s official, I am obsessed. Caramelized white chocolate is my new favorite ingredient. It all started with a dessert we…
Graham Cracker Cookies with Toasted Pumpkin Marshmallow Filling
Posted on October 14, 2013
Chewy Graham Cracker flavored cookies filled with a toasted pumpkin marshmallow buttercream are the best cookie for fall! Dip them in chocolate and decorate with colored sprinkles for a festive treat. These cookies. Where do I even begin? First of all, the graham cracker cookie is chewy, slightly crispy on the outside, and flavored like…
Caramelized White Chocolate Truffle Pumpkin Cupcakes
Posted on September 30, 2013
As if moist pumpkin cupcakes weren’t enough, I filled them with a luscious caramelized white chocolate ganache and topped them with caramelized white chocolate buttercream. These cupcakes are easily one of my favorite recipe creations in the entire life of the blog. I’m not the biggest cupcake lover (I’d rather have layer cake), so when…
Homemade Peanut Butter & Fig Granola {Gluten-free}
Posted on September 3, 2013
Easy homemade granola with chunks of dried figs and a crunchy peanut butter base. I made a batch of this granola early in the summer. The first day I made myself a bowl with yogurt and blueberries then proceeded to eat most of the chunks out of the leftovers. Luckily the base was still good…
Peanut Butter Cup Heath Bar Brown Butter Cookies
Posted on August 27, 2013
I took a perfect brown butter cookie dough and added chopped pieces of some of my favorite candies: Peanut Butter Cups and Heath Bars. Topped with flaky sea salt, these chewy cookies might just become your new favorite recipe! Before I get to these crazy good cookies, I just wanted to mention that Keep it…
Perfect Chocolate Chip Muffins and a Giveaway
Posted on July 22, 2013
These Chocolate Chip Muffins are easy to whip up and make the perfect sweet treat for weekend breakfasts or holiday brunch. I made these muffins a few weeks ago and actually froze a few to bring with us to the shore this past weekend. My grandfather kept raving about the “best cupcake” he has ever…
Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies: A How-To Video!
Posted on May 15, 2013
Remember when I promised you eHow videos? Well, I’m going to try to get past my embarrassment and share them, yikes! You already have the recipe, but I figured you might like the video for how to make these Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies. I’d love to hear what you think! http://youtu.be/mJ60OtDLB4w
Big, Chewy, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies
Posted on April 20, 2013
These peanut butter cookies are thick and chewy (like most cookies should be), sweet and salty, and absolutely delicious. Last week was…. well, it sure was a week. Emotionally my head was somewhere else. As soon as I heard about the marathon bombing my heart just ached for everyone there. Then there was the explosion in West, Texas. It was…
Lemon Cookies with White Chocolate Chips & Strawberry Buttercream
Posted on April 13, 2013
This recipe came about while I was testing out ideas for an upcoming Cookie of the Month, and wondering how I could brighten up the resulting flat and not so exciting lemon cookies. Don't let me fool you, the lemon cookies actually taste quite good on their own- they are chewy and delightfully lemon flavored (not…
Mini Cookies ‘n Cream Cupcakes
Posted on February 19, 2013
Well, I’m pretty much at that point before vacation where I’m in a little bit of denial about how much I need to do beforehand. Lots and lots and lots of cookies need to be made and my head is already in a world where the sun is shining and I have a tequila infused…
How to Make Macarons and Some Super Bowl Ideas
Posted on January 28, 2013
This past Saturday, Matt and I actually had a few hours with nothing on the agenda and I actually had energy, shocking! So I finally experimented with something I’ve been wanting to try forever, macarons! I’ve loved macarons since I first tried them at the famous La Duree in Paris almost six years ago. (Oh…
Salted Brown Butter M&M Cookies
Posted on December 12, 2012
I have so much I want to say and tell you about what is going on here at Keep It Sweet Desserts, but my thoughts are coming through in a pretty chaotic stream of consciousness so I’ll hold off until things calm down a bit! For now, though, I can say, I am SO happy…
No-Bake Rice Krispie Toffee Fudge Candy Bars
Posted on November 15, 2012
1 week. 7 days. Some amount of hours that does not feel like enough. That’s how much time there is until Thanksgiving. Don’t get me wrong, I’m so excited for the holiday, but boy did things get crazy really fast! It seems like just yesterday I was in the summer lull and just like that…
Fudgy Double Crème de Menthe Brownies
Posted on April 22, 2012
Saturday was a case of “I have a few hours in the kitchen to make non-KISD desserts, how much can I bake for the blog and how fast?” Of course I had another reason to bake, other than for Matt to have three cupcakes as an afternoon snack. And the reason wasn’t to give me…
Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies
Posted on April 13, 2012
Even though I LOVE my job now and am so proud of how successful Keep It Sweet Desserts seems to be so far, I still look forward to the weekend. This week I crammed as much work as possible into Monday-Thursday so that I can spend three full days out of the kitchen and (for…
Vanilla Cookie Krispie Treats {Gluten-Free}
Posted on March 19, 2012
I decided to start this working from home thing with a bang. 5:15am wake-up 6 am INSANITY workout 6:45 try not to die while writing my blog post I feel the 3pm exhaustion coming on already. Luckily, in a time like that, there are super easy desserts to make that have everyone falling in love. …
St. Patrick’s Day Mint Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches
Posted on March 16, 2012
I’m usually so bad about coming up with holiday-themed desserts. But today, in honor of my LAST DAY OF WORK and tomorrow being St. Patrick’s Day, I’m sharing something so easy that you won’t mind making it last minute. The secret to these sandwiches is a pre-made wafer cookie. Shhh, I won’t tell. Stuff them…
Meyer Lemon Shortbread Bars
Posted on February 26, 2012
By now you have probably seen a fair share of meyer lemon recipes. It’s like meyer lemons are the new salted caramel lemon*. Since I’m so picky when it comes to lemon desserts, I have to get really excited about an idea or recipe before trying it. Well, it just so happens that a few…
Whole Wheat Honey & Goat Cheese Drop Biscuits
Posted on February 22, 2012
Growing up, we didn't eat a lot of fast food, but I do remember a few occasions when my dad would pick up KFC on his way home from work. The thing is, I don't remember anything about those meals except for the biscuits. Buttery, flakey and light... they were so good. It has been…
Flaxseed and Cracked Pepper Crackers
Posted on February 16, 2012
Two weeks*. *someone please tell me I'm not jinxing myself I can do anything for two more weeks, right? Keep secrets, work around the clock, do the equivalent of fifteen** jobs... And in two weeks, I will finally be able to tell you what is going on. Share with you what I've been wanting to…
Reese’s Pieces Cake Bars
Posted on January 31, 2012
Sometimes you get busy. There is week-old laundry to put away, streaked kitchen counters that need to be scrubbed and recipes to test. There are websites to be designed, photos to be edited, and post-dessert workouts to get done. But there is also a blog to attend to and readers getting impatient. Those readers who…
Vegan Mango Shake
Posted on December 19, 2011
It is amazing what a week can do. One week out of the office and I’m smiling more often than not. Now, that smiling could be related to to the number of chocolate chip cookies that have come out of my oven in the last few days, the fact that I’ve gotten to sleep past…
Mini Red Velvet Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting
Posted on December 15, 2011
A few months ago, I was offered the chance to review a cupcake magazine. Yes, a cupcake magazine! How could I say no to that? Well, I finally got around to making some cupcakes weeks and weeks later. Not sure why I waited so long. Maybe because I’m just so obsessed with cookies I can’t…
Kitchen Sink Cookies and Bars
Posted on October 24, 2011
What a weekend. Matt and I went to Philadelphia to celebrate the wedding of one of my best friends since 4th grade. She was a gorgeous bride and I was so happy to be a bridesmaid and such a big part of the celebration. Not going to lie, though, one of the highlights of the…
Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies {Guest Post}
Posted on October 11, 2011
In the midst of my crazy life, I am so thankful for other food bloggers! It never ceases to amaze me how many of you there are that are willing to lend a hand when things get crazy. A couple of weeks ago, a few wonderful bloggers volunteered to guest post on Keep It Sweet…
Grown Up S’mores Cookies
Posted on October 6, 2011
I blame these cookies on Matt. And really, you should too. So if when you make them, and if when you eat a couple12, it’s his fault, not mine. Sorry, Matt, I still love you. You see, I got this wonderful assortment of chocolate in the mail from GHIRARDELLI and didn’t know what to do…
Peanut Butter Cookie Bars with Chocolate Ganache
Posted on September 26, 2011
For this month’s Secret Recipe Club, I had a hard time deciding what to make. I got picked to make a recipe from Authentic Suburban Gourmet and Lisa had a lot of tempting recipes. My list of options included an Apple & Fig Tart, her Toffee & Caramel Cheesecake and these Fig Muffins with Brown…
Whole Wheat Maple Walnut Spice Cookies
Posted on September 7, 2011
Along with pumpkin muffins the other night, I had these cookies going in and out of the oven. I have to admit, I don’t usually like walnuts in my desserts (keep them away from my fudgey brownies, please), but these Whole Wheat Maple Walnut Spice Cookies just sounded so appealing. Maybe it is the fact…
Pumpkin S’more Muffins
Posted on September 6, 2011
So the Northeast kind of got slapped in the face by the end of summer. We were welcomed back to work on the day after Labor Day with grey skies and non-stop rain. Well hello, real life! Despite the unofficial end of a quick but wonderful summer, today actually wasn’t too bad. Starting work on…
Black and White and Loving Vanilla Bean
Posted on February 9, 2011
My sister’s 23rd birthday is coming up, and she is having a cocktail party* to celebrate. The color scheme for the evening is black and white so I am helping out by baking desserts with those colors. The first thing that came to my mind was black and white cheesecake bars. That is slightly ironic…
For the Chocoholics
Posted on January 23, 2011
Every time I visit my parents, my mom and I email constantly the week before about what we will bake. There are always too many things for us to try, so it’s usually a pretty fattening special looking recipe that makes the cut. Last weekend we made Picky Palate’s Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookie Sandwiches and…
Brownies with Cookie Dough Topping
Posted on December 7, 2010
I learned to bake by watching my mom, the Original Baker. Most of my memories are of standing next to her at the kitchen counter as she measured ingredients and put them together effortlessly. I’d help pour the sugar into the bowl or turn on the mixer, and sometimes even crack the eggs. The best…
A Bite-Sized Dessert You Will Love
Posted on December 4, 2010
Do you remember the sandwich cookies I served at my Thanksgiving with Friends? Well I am finally sharing my recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies with Mocha Ganache! It was all I could do to keep the Taster from popping a dozen of them into his mouth before our party, but luckily this recipe makes A…
Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
Posted on November 20, 2010
Crispy gingersnap crust, rich chocolate cheesecake layer and a light pumpkin cheesecake filling, i.e. a delicious dessert just in time for Thanksgiving. I may have served eight (yes, 8) varieties of pick-up desserts at my Thanksgiving with Friends, but these Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake Bars won me over as the number one pick for the evening. …
Chewy Chocolaty Cookies with Mint
Posted on October 7, 2010
I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with these for a while now. This is sort of my vice (well, I may have a lot of food vices), but this is one that the husband tries not to support (he tries to save room for my desserts instead). One of my big memories…
Layers of Fall
Posted on September 26, 2010
This fun fall dessert is full of layers like apple pie filling and pumpkin cake. The trifle combines your favorite fall desserts into one! One of my favorite desserts for entertaining (and eating) is a trifle. It allows you to incorporate lots of different textures and flavors into one dish. It also is visually impressive…
