Desserts

Crunchy Nutella Brownies

Oh Nutella, you sweet temptress. The rich hazelnut and chocolate flavour is beyond addicting. I vowed to only buy one jar to dabble in some dessert recipes. Unfortunately, I found myself putting this delicious spread on toast quite often, which went against my baking vow.  I had to do something drastic. I needed to get rid of the remaining Nutella before I ingested it all on my own. I scoured the internet and found this unbelievable recipe from La Casa de Sweets. I shared these crunchy, rich brownies with some of my girlfriends and they agreed that this recipe was indeed blog worthy.

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Desserts

Sugar Cookie Bars

Your favourite cookie, but in bar form. That is basically what this recipe is all about. During Christmas, we featured Claudia’s fantastic Sugar Cookie recipe. Chewy, moist sugar cookies are one of my all-time favourite kind of dessert. When I came across this Sugar Cookie Bar recipe, I knew immediately that I needed to try it. I also received a request by a friend to make these, as she also though the recipe and concept sounded amazing. I’m glad I did. This recipe is adapted by the blog The Curvy Carrot. It is super simple and delicious. Make these once and I am confident you will continue to get requests to make them again and again.

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Desserts

Salted Caramel & Nutella Rice Krispie Squares

I waited for as long as I could. I tried my best to avoid walking down the aisle where I knew it would be. Alas, the temptation was too strong. I broke down and finally bought that tub of Nutella. Oh Nutella, you sultry chocolatey temptress. I didn’t grow up on Nutella. I grew up on old fashioned peanut butter and Cheez Whiz. Yes, I said Cheez Whiz. Claudia constantly reminds me that I was quite the picky eater growing up. I refused to eat any kind of sandwich that she made for lunch that wasn’t Cheez Whiz. Let’s just say I am happy my palate has evolved and I can appreciate the better things in life – like Nutella.

Like most Mom’s, Claudia made a lot of Rice Krispie treats for us kids growing up. I figured I would take this classic dessert and put more of an adult twist by topping it with chocolate and my latest obsession – salted caramel. I adapted this recipe from Mini Baker. It’s so simple and positively delicious. If these were available back in the ’80s, the 8-year old me would have put down the Cheez Whiz and picked up the Nutella.

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Desserts

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Peanut Butter Bites

I know what you’re saying – “So much for our vow of posting healthy recipes, hey?” I have a good reason. I blame this one on Pinterest. Yep, I’m a pinner. I was sucked into the abyss of food, decorating and cute outfit photos about half a year ago ago and have been addicted ever since. Please feel free to fuel the addiction and follow our boards.

With Claudia still working call and evening shifts, I have been left to fend on my own until next week. Therefore, I decided to find a recipe to feature that would favour my baking skills and, of course, make my friends drool. This recipe had me at “cookie dough”. It is adapted from the lovely Jessica at How Sweet it Is. I check her blog practically every day as she always posts such amazing creations. I was surprised to find this recipe first on Pinterest. Oh, the power of the internet.

I don’t think I need to convince you that this recipe is absolutely delicious. You really can’t go wrong with chocolate covered cookie dough with hints of peanut butter. I’m just going to walk you through the recipe so you an see how easy it is to make…and also to make you drool just a little.

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Desserts, Healthy

Cranberry Peanut Butter Granola Clusters

Since we have been featuring a lot decadent desserts lately, our goal over the next few weeks is to post more healthy recipes. After all, we only have 3 more months until official bathing suit season!

The challenge of featuring healthy food alternatives is that we still want them to be flavourful. I always look to the experts in healthy, delicious recipes – Janet and Greta Podleski of “Looneyspoons” and “Eat, Shrink and Be Merry” fame. I love their cookbooks. If you recall, we featured their Peanut BETTER Gingersnap Cookies on our blog not too long ago! This recipe was adapted from their Looneyspoons Collection cookbook recipe. These pumpkin-flavoured granola clusters are simple, packed with deliciousness and perfect as a healthy treat.

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Desserts

Butterscotch Fudge Guinness Brownies

I don’t have many Irish tendencies. Being Ukrainian, I pretty much have no real reason to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. I think I tried once. I own one of those gigantic hats that is green, white, and full of shamrocks. I honestly have no idea where I even got it from!

I’m always looking for excuses to bake. With Claudia still out of town on vacation, I figured I would play around with a new recipe. I wanted to something for St. Patrick’s Day because it was an easy theme. However, I didn’t want to bake something normal with green food colouring and call it a day – not that there is anything wrong with that! I wanted to do something I’ve never done before. I wanted to bake with beer. But not any type of beer. I wanted to bake with the king of Irish beers – Guinness.

This recipe is adapted from the little epicurean. These brownies are very moist, chewy and flavourful. The Guinness adds a richness in the brownie that could not be replicated by any other ingredient. This is the perfect (sober) way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day…or any day!

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Desserts

Cadbury Mini Egg Cookies


I loved Easter as a kid. My parents put on the best Easter egg hunts. My brother and I would go nuts every Easter morning filling our plastic baskets with treats. It was like a second Christmas to us. Who wouldn’t enjoy waking up and finding chocolate and candy treats all over the house? I’m not ashamed to admit that even now as an adult, Claudia still takes the time to buy us kids little treats for Easter. I can’t speak for my brother, but the big chocolate bunny and the Easter-themed novelty socks are my personal favs!

I do not know a single person who doesn’t get excited when they go to the grocery store and see that Cadbury Creme Eggs and Mini Eggs are back on the shelves. It was around this time last year when I decided to do a little experiment. What would the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the world taste like with Cadbury Mini Eggs? Well my friends, they taste absolutely delicious! So delicious in fact, that I have decided to post them on the blog. Don’t worry, Claudia has totally approved. And so has all my friends who have tasted them.

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Desserts

Raspberry Lemon Meringue Cake

Although my love of baking started at home with Claudia at a very young age, it was reinforced when Food Network Canada was part of our cable TV package. I was in university and still living with my parents when I discovered how wonderful the channel is. I remember watching Rachael Ray with Claudia and us both loving the food she would make and her energetic charm. When Rachael wasn’t on, we would turn the channel and eagerly watch the Queen – Martha Stewart. To this day, I love Martha. She defines everything that is classic and elegant in food and home.

I subscribe to Rachael Ray’s e-newsletter. This recipe that we are featuring in this post is adapted from one that Rachael featured a few weeks ago. I didn’t really like the idea of using jarred lemon curd, so I decided to make my own. With a little help from Martha of course. This cake is delightful. It’s full of bright lemon flavour, with a hint of sweetness from the raspberries. The cake is dense yet soft.

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Desserts

Apple Crumble

After a few weeks of dabbling in chocolate candy treats, I decided to go back and feature something more traditional on the blog this week. With Claudia’s busy work schedule, we have been unable to get together to create some of her favourites. Therefore, I have been forced to rely on inspiration elsewhere. I wanted to make something classic and simple. Something that was warm and reminded me of the comforts of home. After a few days of searching, it finally hit me. Apples and cinnamon. I had it!

The sweet, warm aroma that filled my house while this delicious Apple Crumble baked what exactly I was craving. This is probably the best Apple Crumble I have ever had. The recipe was adapted from the wonderful blog the parsley thief. Sweet, rich, warm cinnamon apples topped with a buttery, crunchy top. Not to mention the delicious vanilla ice cream and caramel you can pair with it! This dessert is exactly what you need on a cold winter afternoon or a hot summer day.

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