Desserts
Ferrero Rocher Cake
There’s no simpler way to describe this cake: a Ferrero Rocher in the form of a cake, with a bit of coffee. There’s a hazelnut, almond, & espresso sponge with mocha buttercream and hazelnut chocolate filling. It’s topped with more toasted hazelnuts and finished off with Ferrero Rochers themselves!
Orange Polenta Layer Cake
There’s a lot going on with this cake: the orange and polenta are the headliner flavors, but there’s also a lot of depth coming from the white wine and olive oil. The complex flavors combined with the slight cornbread-like texture might make this cake a little too much for some. On the other hand, if you’re an adventurous foodie and you give this a try, you’ll be rewarded with a cake that pairs wonderfully with a glass of champagne or sparkling wine, making it the perfect celebration cake.
Anise & Almond Biscotti
Most Italian anise biscotti use anise seeds, but mine uses star anise with cardamom, nutmeg, and a host of other spices to give this biscotti layers of flavor that pairs beautifully with a spiced tea (or on it’s own as a little treat)!
Peanut Butter Gelato
This peanut butter ice cream recipe is very simple, but make no mistake, it is packed with peanut flavor! If you don’t like peanuts and / or peanut butter, do not make this recipe. If you do happen to love peanut butter, or as in my case, live with someone who does, then this is a fantastic dessert to enjoy. The added fat from the peanut butter makes very rich and smooth, and the overnight infusion means this is as close to eating a spoon full of peanut butter you can get, without actually having a spoon full of peanut butter.
Almond & Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies
These cookies are my new preferred chocolate chip cookie, even though there isn’t anything traditional about them. The all brown sugar dough creates a very chewy cookie with deep caramelization notes. It also has a whole tablespoon of cinnamon, which paired with the almonds, creates a dynamic and unique flavor profile. The cinnamon hits you first, but then the depth of the brown sugar and the toasted almonds comes through, with the chocolate and almond chunks to finish everything off. The splash of vanilla brings everything together to make the cookies familiar and comforting, despite the atypical combination.
Snacks
Parmesan & Herb Crackers
These crackers are simply addictive. They are crisp, they are cheesy, and they have depth. They taste like real cheese instead of some fake processed cheese flavor that many store bought crackers taste like. And best of all, they are a crowd pleaser that are sure to impress and come together in a few minutes in just one bowl.