Browsing Tag

sweets

Mini-Chocolate Chip Coconut Macaroons (2024 New and Improved Recipe!)

One of the things when you are making macaroons, is that you have to find a careful balance of egg whites to coconut: wet to dry, as it were. Most recipes under estimate the coconut requirement. I, on the other hand, have a tendency to try to stuff as much coconut as humanly possible while still hoping that the whole thing manages to stay held together. This is a “new and improved” recipe of one of my standbys and I think that they came out just perfect this time.

28. January 2024

Desserts, Sweet Snacks

German-style Cheesecake with Currant Compote and Sugared Currants

There are many different types of cheese cake — New York style, British style, Basque Style, non bake, water bath, flavored, straight up. My favorite style, not surprisingly, is German-style, which is light and fluffy, made with a dairy product called quark (see note) and can be plain or flavored. I wanted to make one for annual cake day that was winter-inspired and originally had planned for this cake to have a cranberry compote, but even so soon after the holidays, there were no more fresh cranberries to be had. Surprisingly, there were currants, so I went with them as they are a similar sweet-and-tart flavor profile that balances the creaminess of the cheese cake. Definitely a winner.

9. January 2024

Desserts, Sweet Snacks

Black + White Celebration Torte

I’m not great at making cakes. It is definitely one area that I need work. Traditional frosting methods seem to allude me and in this case, my electric hand mixer also quit on me in the midst of making the vanilla frosting so I had to whip it by hand, so I went with more of a “naked” cake style, it order to actually get it done in time for annual cake day. I think it’s a little crooked too. Taste = good, a beautiful vision = maybe not.

9. January 2024

Desserts

Twelve Grapes Cake

In Spain, there is a good luck tradition, that at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, you eat twelve grapes, one each as the church bells chime. This is actually no small feat, and I’ve managed to nearly choke on a grape or two. This year, I decided to riff slightly on the Doce Uvas de la Suerte tradition, by making this Twelve Grapes Cake so instead of wolfing down the grapes, you can enjoy a piece of cake instead. Happy New Year!

1. January 2024

Cookies, Sweet Snacks

Prosperity Pig New Year’s Cookies

Every wonder why we put coins in “Piggy Banks” for savings? Historically, there was the notion of “Prosperity Pigs”, that the pig symbolized wealth, prosperity and luck, and putting a little something away for savings can never hurt. In Germany, the pig still has a place for luck (“Glücksschwein” — Lucky Pig) and often around New Year’s you see little marzipan pigs adorning sweets. Along that theme, I made some very vanilla-y Piggy “Lucky” Cookies, to help ring in the new year 2024.

30. December 2023

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