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Bubby’s Apple Pie from NY, ordered on GILT Taste

By Dessert Darling · September 28th, 2012

What’s more exciting than coming home to a gorgeous Apple Whisky Crumble Pie?? Nothing. Nothing is the answer. Nothing is more exciting than seeing a big box outside your door and promptly tearing it open with the ferocity of late afternoon hunger. Wow, I ordered this NY Bubby’s Pie from GILT Taste and it tasted freshly made, despite it’s 3,000 mile journey.

The pie came on the thin side and boasted bright ingredients like lemon, cloves, and cinnamon. I was too impatient to heat it up, so I can’t say that I had this dish in it’s most ultimate form (hot and with melting a la mode, no doubt) BUT, that didn’t matter. Why? Because it came with this swoon-inducing sauce on the side that I nearly licked right out of the container.

Let’s talk about this sauce. I want to say it’s Butterscotch, but since this is a Whiskey Apple Pie, then shall I call it Butterwhisk?? Whatever the name, it was buttery, sweet, a bit alcoholic, and totally intoxicating. This special sauce escalated a perfectly lovely Apple Pie to an undeniable 5-cherry experience. Bravo Bubby’s in NY! And look at GILT, pulling through for me again!

For more info on Bubby’s Pies, click here.

For more info on the GILT Taste offer, click here.

XOXO

Back to School Never Looked so Fun: Sweet Pick of the Week

By Dessert Darling · August 29th, 2012

I don’t remember having any Back to School parties that warranted such a fun dessert table when I was growing, but heck- why not!? This little display from Project Nursery is adorable and would make me giddy for the first day of school.

I hope you’re enjoying my new Friday, sweet pick feature!

Cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery

By Dessert Darling · May 15th, 2012

(Sigh) I’ll be honest, I’ve been avoiding this review for a while. That’s what happens when you meet the owners of an establishment and they’re nice to you! Alas, the truth had to come out eventually…. Magnolia Cupcakes… are not good. There- I said it. The frosting is both extraordinarily sweet and bland while the cake is often times dry.

Furthermore, horror of all horrors, they don’t even use cream cheese frosting on their (hyper) Red Velvet cupcakes! Instead, it’s a marshmallowy whipped vanilla icing. My friend’s birthday had both Hansen’s Cakes Cupcakes (on the left below) and Magnolia Cupcakes (on the right).

Look how artificially red the Magnolia’s cupcake is!

Everyone agreed that Hansen’s made a way better red velvet (I mean, it’s really no competition when you don’t even have cream cheese frosting!)

On a positive note, I love Magnolia’s slightly smaller size and wonderful frosting to cake ratio. They also make a phenomenal Banana Pudding!

For more information on Magnolia Bakery, click here.

Society Bakery in Dallas, Perhaps the Sweetest Ever!

By Dessert Darling · May 14th, 2012

YeeHaw! Society Bakery in Dallas nearly earns 5 cherries for the concepts alone! First off: Bread Pudding Woopie Pies. Holy Smokes- GENIUS! These creative Whoopies have a distinct cinnamon presence and a sassy secret ingredient in the cream cheese frosting that makes them super delish!

Secondly: the name “Society” doesn’t stand for “high society,” but rather, this incredible bakery gives back to society, donating to over 100 different charities, schools, and non-profit organizations a year! Wow-wee! Now what could be sweeter than that?

If you’re in the Dallas area, you Must check out Society Bakery!

Kentucky Derby Desserts

By Dessert Darling · May 7th, 2012

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to attend the Kentucky Derby with veteran Derby goers. Our hosts could not have been more hospitable or gracious, so a HUGE thank you to the Lavin Family!!!! Naturally, the weekend was filled with it’s share of desserts.. and fabulous hats! So without further ado…Derby Pie!!!

Derby Pie can only be sold in Louisville, Kentucky- crazy! This Chocolate and Walnut tart tasted much like a less nutty pecan pie with a few chocolate chips and an extra flakey crust.

A few of us are ready for brunch on Derby day!

Fondant Horses greet us at the buffet line..

Bourbon Banana Bread Pudding (sorry for the sideways pic, I can’t flip it back for some reason!)

My little plate of Derby day delights. Loved the frosting, fruit tart, and chocolate pastry!

Sweet mint brownies to cap off the end of the day!

Shoot- I can’t seem to switch my long images straight on (they’re going sideways!) and I have to go to bed, but I’ll try again tomorrow night to show you the fabulous hats I saw!

Sweet dreams!

Simplethings Pies, Trader Joe’s Chocolate, Ice Cream, Dessert Wine & Champagne

By Dessert Darling · April 26th, 2012

Oh what a night! My fabulous friend Mia is always the hostess with the most-est! The other night she & her guy had Tyler and me over for a home cooked meal. I knew that the evening would end Happily Ever After when I saw these delicious pies by Simplethings on the console next to a bottle of Veuve Cliquot (pie review here).

But first, I took down a bowl of these addictive, Trader Joe’s Salted Dark Chocolate Almonds, perhaps one of my favorite items at TJ’s. Once I start, I can’t stop eating them! Naturally, this was before dinner was served (roasted chicken, succulent salmon, and amazing sides, btw).

Then Mia whipped out some homemade ice cream that she made with the best Vanilla Bean Paste and a touch of heaven.

I had the “genius” idea to make a Dessert Wine Float by adding ice cream to my flute of sweet wine.

And by “genius,” I mean I was was very ill the next day….(eeeg)

But ultimately it was a great night and well worth it!

And Mia got the Golden Cherry for her fabulous cooking!

FUN! Ice Cream Filled Brownies- Easiest Giveaway ever :)

By Dessert Darling · April 18th, 2012

Yay! You might remember this post about these awesome, all natural, ice cream filled “brown-ees” by Q-bees.

You may have also noticed that I just published an Ebook on Wedding Planning.

Well, the amazing people at Q-bee treats are sending FIVE fans a FREE box of ice cream filled brownies if you tweet me, mention my ebook, or #Follow @DessertDarling, and #Brownees.

For example:

#Follow @DessertDarling! She just wrote an ebook on Wedding Planning! http://wedding-darling.com/ebook/ #Brownees

Or any variation of those sentiments that you please

I’ll put all the Tweeters names in a hat and the first 5 I pull get a free box in the mail. How EASY is that?! Fun fun. I’ll announce a winner next week.

Ready- set- GO!

ps: I’m SOOOOOO Craving a Q-bees Brownee right now– AhhhhhH!

Thinny Thursday: Eat Chocolate- Stay Thin with Hail Merry Macaroons

By Dessert Darling · March 29th, 2012

Well Glory Hallelujah! Yet another scientific study that touts the merits of Chocolate! This study essentially states that those who eat chocolate on a regular basis are thinner than those who don’t, even though they do not eat fewer calories or exercise more. WOW! So THAT’s how I do it! Seriously, I eat chocolate every morning after breakfast since I’m not a coffee drinker.

In honor of this outstanding Thinny Thursday news, I’m sharing with you these raw, vegan, gluten-free Hail Merry Chocolate Macaroons to feed your fix in an even healthier way. Made without refined sugar, these delicious treats still boast dark cocoa for all your chocolate needs. They’re Sooooo delicious I ate the whole bag in one sitting. Oops.

For more information on Hail Merry, click here! (I found my bag in Whole Foods).

What is Coconut Palm Sugar? Yummy, Low Glycemic, Natural

By Dessert Darling · March 1st, 2012

This Thinny Thursday I’d like to introduce you to Coconut Palm Sugar, a delightful sweetener that I discovered on my honeymoon in Thailand. Granulated Palm Sugar has a very similar look and taste to Brown Sugar, but a much lower glycemic index (35 GI versus brown sugar’s 64), thus making Palm Sugar the perfect substitute for baking, sweetening my oatmeal, and other Brown Sugar like uses (yea!). Additionally, Palm Sugar is naturally rich in potassium, magnesium, zinc, and iron, and is a natural source of vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and C (more info here). The caramel like sugar is made from evaporating the nectar of a palm flower before it blossoms into a coconut. Whoo la la, who knew?!

As always, I recommend organic Palm Sugar, like this one by Sweet Tree. I bought this bag at Whole Foods and used it promptly to make my Gluten Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookies (recipe here)!

For more information- Google it! Sorry, that’s an obvious statement, but really, there’re a lot of sites that wax poetic about this lovely sweetener. Enjoy!

The Simpsons 500th Episode Party! Desserts and All ;)

By Dessert Darling · February 21st, 2012

Woohoo! I was so thrilled and honored to have an invite to the party for the 500th episode of The Simpsons at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. Naturally, there were a ton of desserts, including… Dooonuts.

The cake donuts were ok, but what tickled me more was this tray of lovely options.

Which up close, each dessert (minus the cake pops) looked like this:

The S’mores Bar was insanely delicious, sweet, and buttery. Hands down, it was the winner. That said, the unassuming Chocolate Torte bar there had a surprising layer of peanut butter inside that made me giddy.

And see that head honcho in the tall director’s chair?

Yep- that’s just my buddy Matt Groening hanging with my friend and me. We go waaaaaay back (to 40 secs before this photo was taken).

Of course, my night wouldn’t be complete without dancing with the Simpsons themselves!

DOH! I ate too many desserts that night. Like, at least two of everything (mediocre donuts included). Awe well, it was an awesome night and well worth it. CONGRATS to everyone at FOX and The Simpsons for such tremendous success throughout the years! I remember when my family gathered around the TV for the very first episode together. It was an event for us that I’ll never forget!