Inspiration for your Holiday Baking

There's no better time than the holidays to show off your baking skills, and impress your guest with your delicacies.

Have a fantastic and delicious Thanksgiving!

It's pie time! What is your favorite dessert to bring to your holiday's table?

With so many alternatives to choose from, and all so delicious, it can be hard to pick just one.

Here are some ideas to inspire you. All easy, made-from-scratch, step-by-step recipes. And don't forget to look at my short instructive videos too, especially if it's your first time experimenting with the recipe.

Easy Apple Cake - Torta di Mele

Soft, moist, and easy to make

You are going to love this simply delicious apple cake!

Let's start the weekend with something sweet! And what's better than a deliciously soft and moist, made-from-scratch apple cake?!?
Now that apples are in season, you will not be able to resist and bake this right away. Especially when you see the list of ingredients. Nothing weird there. Just plain flour, eggs, sugar, and apples of course. Well ... a couple of other things too! But I'm sure you have everything in the list in your kitchen right now. So you can whip this up in no time.

Salted Caramel-Chocolate Tart

Get your daily dose of sweetness with this sinfully delicious double-chocolate and salted caramel tart

I wish I felt sorry for posting this recipe today. But oh no, not this time.
Look at this beauty. With its dark chocolate top sprinkled with sea salt. A buttery and chocolatey cookie crust. And a sticky golden layer of homemade caramel in the middle. Slowly oozing out. 
It would be just plain wrong not to share this recipe with you.

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Spider Cookies

These cute and spooky, thick and soft,
 chocolate and peanut butter spider cookies are the perfect Halloween treat

Halloween is definitely one of my favorite food holidays. And not just because of the abundance of candies in all shape and sizes that you can easily find this time of the year at any store. What I love the most is to get creative and come up with fun and spooky edible Halloween projects.
And this is what I crafted for you!

Chocolate-Hazelnut Stuffed Chocolate Cookies

Chocolate cookies stuffed with soft chocolate-hazelnut spread

Calling all the chocolate-lovers out there! These cookies are just what you've been waiting for:)
A crumbly and buttery chocolate shell stuffed with warm and soft chocolate-hazelnut spread.... Double the chocolate for an unforgettable cookie experience.

Banana Cream Tartlettes

Let's start the weekend with on of these sinfully delicious small tarts, filled with creamy Nutella, banana slices, rich custard cream and a whipped cream top

It's no secret that Nutella and banana are a match made in heaven. And when you add a smooth custard cream AND sinfully delicious whipped cream on top of this goodness, you know you are in for a treat. I guess, everything (...or most things) taste amazing covered in whipped cream.

Lemon-Poppy Seed Bundt Cake

Brighten up your morning with this soft and moist lemon and poppy seed bundt cake drizzled with sweet lemon glaze 

Good morning sunshine! I hope your day is as sunny and as sweet as my cake. 
This soft and perfectly dense bundt cake, bursting with lemon flavor and exploding with crunchy poppy seeds, is a sure way to brighten up your morning. Add a little (or a lot!) of citrus glaze and you're in for a sticky and lick-you-fingers delicious treat. Let's take a look! 

Banana Upside-Down Skillet Tart

Caramelized bananas on top of buttery and crispy puff pastry tart

This post is written in collaboration with Tuxton Home. All opinions are mine alone

Happy Friday everyone! Anything fun planned for the weekend?!? 
So far my plans only foresee extra sleep, sand and sunshine, and... some baking of course! So, how about this crispy tart topped with lightly crunchy, caramelized banana slices, a hint of orange aroma, over a flaky puff pastry crust to sweeten up your weekend?!?

Half Dome Carrot Cakes

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ChooseMazola #CollectiveBias

Soft and moist, wholesome and easy-to-make half-dome mini carrot cakes

I can't believe September is already here!

The bad news: My beloved summer is almost over.

The good news: September brings cooler weather, which means more time (and more willingness) to spend in the kitchen whipping up delicious dishes!

So, let's start this month by baking something fun (as always), something easy and quick to make (yup, it's still pretty hot out) and something that is healthy and wholesome, because if you didn't know yet, September is National Cholesterol Awareness month. A clinical study showed Mazola® Corn Oil reduces cholesterol 2x more than extra virgin olive oil. To learn more about this claim, see Mazola.com. Mazola Corn Oil is an all-purpose, cholesterol free cooking oil that is a smart heart-healthy* choice for your family. * See Mazola.com for more information on the relationship between corn oil and heart health. It has a variety of uses including baking, grilling, sautéing, stir frying, or mixing up a marinade or dressing.​ 
It's now a great time to have our blood checked out to learn more about heart health and to take little (or big!) steps to prevent and reduce high cholesterol levels, if necessary.

Ricotta and Berry Tart

Brighten up your day with this amazing tart 
made with sun-kissed ripe berries, delicate and rich ricotta cheese, over a buttery and crumbly crust

I was walking past a bakery the other day, and there it was. A big fat slice of the most luscious-looking berry tart.  And it got my attention, with its sweet berries on top, the rich and velvety filling and the perfectly looking crust. It was clearly calling my name!
Most people would have probably rushed over and bought the slice. But not I. What if it wasn't as delicious as I imagined?!? A big dry and tasteless, disappointing piece of sugar-filled concoction.
Rather than taking that chance (I guess I'm not a big risk-taker, haha) I thought I should make my own ricotta berry tart. As scrumptious as I imagined. 
And BAM! Here it is.

Peach Crumble Bars

For a quick, easy and  mouthwatering summer treat

try this fruity and buttery peach crumble bars

There is nothing like a bite of a delicious fruit-filled dessert when peaches are in season. Especially when they are as juicy and tasty as this summer. 
I simply love the natural sweetness of the ripe peaches squooshed between two layers of shortbread-buttery flavored crumble. With just the perfect amount of crunchiness coming from the rolled oats mixed in the dough, and gooey-ness from the bubbling juice released by the peaches while baking.  

Sweet Almond Ravioli

Something good is about to happen...

Hello beautiful! 
I had a hard time giving you a name. Can I call you a powdery sugar-covered, almond-stuffed cookie? Or a pillow-looking, sweet and nutty hand pie?!? Or how about ... picture-perfect crazy-delicious sweet almond raviolo?!?
Cause that's just what you are: Two layers of crumbly and buttery sugar dough, filled with a nutty and sweet almond filling, baked until super soft and lightly crispy and golden at the edges. Sprinkled with powdered sugar and ready to be devoured by the closest lucky person. Ha! That's what you are.
What name would you give this dessert?!?

Strawberry and Cream Bars

These lick-your-plate delicious strawberry and cream bars are the perfect summer treat

Sunshine-sweet strawberries are essential for the summer. Especially when they taste as good as right now. 
And when mixed with a luscious whipped custard cream, and surrounded by two layers of crunchy oat crumble, you know you are in for an irresistible treat!

Coconut and Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

Experience love at first bite with these elegant and luscious chocolate-coconut cheesecake bars

Who is ready to try one of these tropic-inspired crazy-delicious dessert?!? 

A super creamy thick layer of coconut cheesecake with a hint of almond flavor. On top of an easy-to-make chocolate graham cracker crust. All drizzled with melted chocolate and a touch of extra coconut. 

Extraordinary things happen when chocolate and coconut come together. Especially in a refreshing and creamy cheesecake form. 

Berry and Cream Fourth of July Dessert

Red, white and blue dessert that will bring a festive, creamy and fresh touch to your table this holiday weekend

Ready to celebrate?!?
I sure am. 
Flip flops and bikini on. Grill fired up. And cocktail in hand. 
Ohhh, I do love summer :)

Remember my posts for grilled chicken/zucchini rolls on a skewer and my berry sparkler cocktail?!? Those are perfect choices for your weekend menu. The only thing that's missing now is an easy-to-bake, Fourth of July-inspired dessert. So here it is, and all for you. 
Say hello to this beautiful and crazy delicious berry cup!

This dessert is ready in a breeze, and you don't have to be a professional pastry chef to pull it off. These cups are a simple and delicious combination of delicate custard cream (made from scratch), sweet pieces of meringues (store bought), and lots of super sweet, fresh berries (thank you nature!).

Berry and Cream Meringue Cups

Bring a taste of summer to your table with these crispy meringue cups

filled with sweet berries and velvety rich whipped cream

Heavenly!

If you ask me, this is what heaven must taste like. 
Just like a perfect mingle of sunshine sweet berries and silky whipped cream. Served up in a cloud-resembling dessert, perfectly crispy on the outside and dangerously soft on the inside. 

And if you ask my kids, they'd tell you this is the best dessert they've ever eaten. 
Their words, not mine 😊
Technically though, it's not the first time they've said that. But still, I'm pretty sure this dessert makes it to their top five. And for very good reasons!
This luscious piece of heaven (that's what it really should be called) has naturally sweet berries, rich and fluffy whipped cream, and a light and airy homemade meringue on the bottom which truly melts in your mouth when hitting your tastebuds.

Daisy Cookie Cups with Custard Cream

Beautiful and delicious flower-shaped cookie cups filled with lemony custard cream

Maybe it's the #superbloom and the amazing explosion of wild flowers everywhere around to inspire me. Or maybe it's my constant craving for custard cream AND sugar cookies. Either way, these daisy-shaped cookie cups filled with lemony and rich custard cream are just want I need. 
Two of my favorites sweets, all in the same picture-perfect, spring-inspired dessert. 

Strawberry Rose Tartlets

Edible roses, made with fresh strawberries on top of a buttery, pastry crust filled with rich custard cream. 

Handcrafted, fresh and beautifully delicious!

Easter and Mother's Day are right around the corner. What's better than celebrating with these amazing strawberry-cream tartlets?!? And I'm not talking about those regular, same-old fruit little tarts. You know, the one with a sad-looking piece of half strawberry on top. Oh no! I'm talking about a handcrafted, perfectly crumbly tartlet, filled with velvety pastry cream, topped with a few slices of kiwis and an individually carved, rose-shaped strawberry.

These picture-perfect, edible flowers are a sure way to impress your guests.

Chocolate-Hazelnut No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes with Philadelphia Cream Cheese

This post is sponsored by PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese.  As always, all opinions are mine.

Make it a holiday to remember with these no-bake mini cheesecakes

As Easter is just around the corner, learning how to craft an easy, quick, lick-your-plate delicious dessert to add to your Sunday menu is simply essential. 

And I'm not just talking about the usual apple pie or carrot cake. Oh no! Let's step away from the ordinary and time-consuming recipes and dive headfirst into something fun, irresistible and so creamy you will feel the urge to grab a blender and whip it up right away.

How about something that looks like this?!?

Orange Cake Roll

Ultra spongy and extra moist orange flavored cake, spread with apricot preserve

and rolled up in the perfect tea time dessert

It's tea time! And I've got an amazing cake for you, infused with the sweet and slightly tangy aroma of oranges, and stuffed with delicate apricot preserve.
Perfect for breakfast, mid-morning break, afternoon snack, or after-dinner guilty pleasure. There's really no wrong time to indulge in a steamy-hot cup of tea or coffee next to a thick slice of this incredibly soft and moist dessert. It will warm your heart and brighten your day.  
And yes! It is as delicious as it looks.