Classic carrot cake and cream cheese icing all in one handy little bite is a fantastic spring and Easter recipe, and that’s what you get with these moist and flavorful bars. I’ve jazzed it up here with a little extra spice and brown butter. If I were the Easter Bunny (and who’s to say I am not?) I’d love a little basket of these special treats. Brown butter makes everything … [Read more...] about Spiced Carrot Cream Cheese Bars
desserts
Simple Moist Almond Cake
We are on the cusp of berry season, strawberries are just around the corner, then blueberries and blackberries are hitting the stands. We’ll get some raspberries around here, but not too many. And of course, there are the other fruits like peaches and plums just soon to make an appearance. All the hues from the fruit add so much color to the farmers market, coming out of the … [Read more...] about Simple Moist Almond Cake
Joyful Almond Tart
I have a friend who loves Almond Joy candy bars. She is not much a sweet eater, but these are her secret indulgence. So I look for fun ways to recreate those flavors in a more celebratory, and maybe a little more sophisticated, treat. I hope you get the title of the recipe now, because I am pretty sure there is a trademark on the original and I don’t want to get in trouble! … [Read more...] about Joyful Almond Tart
Peppermint Bark Ice Box Cake
I am really into icebox cake now, after coming up with two summer versions (lemon speculoos and ginger peach). It is such an easy way to create an impressive dessert. So it seemed natural to come up with an idea for the busy holiday season. Because the best thing about an ice box cake is that it can be made – indeed must be – made ahead. And it is a blank canvas for … [Read more...] about Peppermint Bark Ice Box Cake
Blueberry Almond Tosca Cake
Tosca Cake is something I used to find a French bakery here and have seen it in other places around the world. In its simplest form is an almond cake with a crispy, syrupy sliced almond topping. I always rather thought it was a secret type of super complicated recipe that only trained pastry chefs could execute so never really had it on my home cooking radar. It always looked … [Read more...] about Blueberry Almond Tosca Cake
