recipes

Black sesame brownies - an Asian twist on brownies

An edible container for a wonderful maple mousse? Simple. Make pate a choux and you will have the most amazing maple mousse puffs ever.

From the pages of Baked Explorations comes this rustic cake made rich with chocolate chips and butter, yet rendered homey with the addition of oatmeal and a thick cream cheese frosting. Even better is that this delicious cake mixes up in one bowl - all the faster from oven to table!

Because I am a Type A personality and have a strong desire to make things precise, this cake spoke right to my heart. Swee assures us that "it's not too difficult to make an Opera; however, it's difficult to get all the layers the same consistent height." She further explains that this cake "needs to be only 4cm tall." 6 layers, perfectly measured. Be still my heart.

BUT, even if you're not a Type A, you can still enjoy this flavor-packed dessert: almond sponge cake, coffee syrup, dark chocolate ganache. Absolutely amazing.

We're huge fans of citrus-flavored cakes, and this recipe was too good to pass up. It "uses orange zest and fresh orange juice and is topped with a smooth chocolate glaze." The orange flavor is somehow "subtle and pronounced all at the same time," and the chocolate glaze is a perfect complement.

Another plus: something about this cake is bright and joyful, which is just what we needed this week. (Anyone else sitting in the middle of a blizzard?!)

Dear "oatmeal haters," this recipe is for you (and me)! The secret to Bobbi's baked oatmeal lies in a "custard-like mixture" that the oats sit in overnight to "soak up the delicious flavors" of cinnamon, nutmeg and toasted coconut. "This also gives the oats a chewy, nutty texture, which is quite nice - especially when topped with toasted walnuts and dried cranberries and submerged in a puddle of warm milk."

"Who's hatin' on oatmeal now?" Not me!

Soft and fluffy egg-less ricotta cheese brioche - delicious!

Got the winter blues? A warm bread pudding infused with pineapple and coconut might be just the tropical jolt you need to shake off those doldrums. And a healthy dose of caramel sauce topping it all of couldn't hurt either!