The Year in Desserts

 It's been a long time since I have done a post dedicated mainly to the stuff that comes out of the kitchen.  I can't think of a better time to do it than during the holiday season.  My Facebook feed has a ton of what we call "food porn" pictures, but my blogging has been shoddy at best lately.  I have a TON of things to talk about- I just have not been able to find the time to get it all out.

Where does the time go?

It seems like only yesterday I had a toddler and a newborn. Suddenly I have an *almost* 8 year old and an *almost* 6 year old.  They are growing well, and learning lots, and not a single day passes that I don't marvel at just how wonderful they are.

So without further adieu, some of the best food porn of the year-

I'm not going to lie. There was an obscene amount of chocolate. It sort of edged it's way into everything. Sometimes, like in the case of these Triple Chocolate Espresso Brownies with Chocolate Sauce and Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream, it was present in copious amounts, as well as many different types.

You may notice another trend- peanut butter.  I am not usually much of a fan. I will happily blame it on this divine indulgence. Pretzel base, peanut butter buttercream, homemade caramel topped with melted chocolate.  I'll admit- there were more than a few kcals in them but an extra lap of the track evened it all out.  It sort of naturally led to the next recipe. Oy.

Chocolate Fudge Cake with Peanut Butter Buttercream and Chocolate Ganache. Not too shabby. Even if I do say so myself.

Of course there were cookies.  And I mean A LOT of cookies. I think I counted 50 batches of plain old chocolate chip.  If you're counting, that is almost one batch per week.  Then throw in the various other cookies I made over the year and well.... Um. Let's NOT count. Let's just say that while I made a whole bunch, they weren't always made just for us.  

There were chewy brownie cookies.





And Milk Chocolate Chunk with Salted Cashews. Oh boy.  Totally worth it. Totally.








There were an awful lot of chocolate stuffed things after I discovered Chocolate Butter.  Think of Nutella, minus the nuts.  And then let your imagination take you away- chocolate filled croissants, chocolate stuffed french toast.

I know I just said Chocolate Filled French Toast, but I feel the need to say it again. And again. And again!








Ditto for the homemade Caramel.  It took a number of tries to get it right.  Thankfully it is versatile and my family choked it back not matter how much I complained that it just wasn't to my liking and that I'd have to make it again. It goes with lots and lots (and lots) of things. Like brownies.
And ice cream.
And chocolate.
And apple crisp.
And puddings.
And cheesecake.

Heck. Who am I kidding. It goes with everything.
Like oatmeal.

And Apple Grenades.
An apple, hollowed out and filled with vanilla bean ice cream and caramel.

Did I mention just how much I hate Pinterest?

Sigh.










There were buttertarts.  And pies.  And lots and lots of crumbles and crisps.

And that brings us back to Christmas again doesn't it?  I haven't even touched on the fruit filled delights of the summer.  I've left out a lot actually. And suddenly I feel the need to do another post based on all of the healthy eating we've done.  Tomorrow is another day- and I have a ton of pictures left to talk about!

Did you like this post?  Don't be shy!  Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Happy Baking!