The Candid Appetite

Where Cooking Meets Photography

Dessert

Strawberry Pistachio Biscuit Cobbler

Strawberry Pistachio Biscuit CobblerIf you’ve never eaten strawberry and pistachio together in same way, shape or form, then I’m afraid to inform you, that you my friend, have been missing out on something extraordinary. The sweetness from the strawberry along with the saltiness from the pistachio is a match made in heaven. A couple years ago I made these cupcakes which really brought the two ingredients together into a tasty dessert. This time, I’m bringing you this amazing Strawberry Pistachio Biscuit Cobbler. I don’t make as many cobblers as I would like in my regular day to day life and I think with this recipe, I’m going to change that. The real star of the show, in my humble opinion, is the pistachio biscuits on top. I could eat them by themselves all day long. 

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Banana Nutella Crêpes

Banana Nutella CrêpesWhen I was in high school, I was involved in a culinary arts program called C-CAP, which helps kids learn about the restaurant industry and teaches them valuable information and techniques in order to work in the industry successfully. I learned so much about cooking (and knife skills especially) and I’d easily say that it really laid out the groundwork of everything I know today. At the end of the program, all the senior students participate in a cooking competition and then you’re awarded scholarships from different culinary schools across the country. And although I didn’t finish culinary school, because I realized working in a kitchen just wasn’t for me, I’m still thankful for being a part of this program because I learned so much and still use that knowledge today. I say all of this because crêpes was one of the recipes we had to learn to make in the preliminary competition and so to this day all of my experience with the dish comes from when I was in high school, making hundreds of them as I practiced at home. Now I’m teaching Jules how to make them, albeit without the pastry cream as in the competition, in this week’s episode of Married and Hungry, and trying to get him to stop hating crêpes for no apparent reason. 

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Black Forest Tres Leches Cake

Black Forest Tres Leches CakeIf you’ve never tried a classic tres leches cake before, then I think you’re missing out big time. It’s one of my favorite desserts because it’s somewhat fancy but at the same time not fancy at all. It’s impressive enough to be the centerpiece of any occasion, yet uncomplicated enough to be made and served any day of the week. My favorite part about it is, aside from the fact that it’s a cake, is that it’s not a layered cake, so you don’t have to worry too much about decorating. The cake itself is also quite decadent because it’s a light sponge soaked in three different types of milk and then topped with lots of fresh whipped cream. This Black Forest Tres Leches Cake is a new take on two classics. If you want some more inspiration on both fronts, take a gander at this Tres Leches Ice Cream or this Black Forest Fudge. Anyway you slice it, you can’t lose.

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Pumpkin Sticky Bun Monkey Bread

Pumpkin Sticky Bun Monkey BreadI’ve decided to fully give into Autumn this week because there’s no use in fighting it any more. I’d say today was the first chilly day here in Los Angeles (in a long time), which means it was really the first day where I actually felt like Fall has arrived. So it’s time to officially break out the pumpkin and pumpkin spice and start baking those comforting sweets that make us happy for this time of year. This Pumpkin Sticky Bun Monkey Bread combines two great treats; sticky buns (loaded with caramel and pecans) and monkey bread! The autumnal twist with pumpkin and pumpkin spice just takes an already irresistible dessert and really tips it over the edge, in a very good way. When the weather starts to turn, during this time of year, and the air really gets chilly, there’s nothing better than to open all the windows, turn on some music and get in the kitchen and bake something. Anything. It doesn’t have to be something specific, just as long as you bake. I’ll just leave this recipe here because it happens to be the perfect Fall weekend baking project. 

Pumpkin Sticky Bun Monkey Bread

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

I’m creeping out from my spot under the air conditioning, where I’ve been camping out for the good part of the past couple of weeks. It’s been extremely hot in Los Angeles, and I’m sure it’s hot everywhere else, but for us Angelenos we are melting away into nothing. The only way I think we can all survive this incessant heat is by making and eating a few ice cream sandwiches. Not just any ice cream sandwich though. Every year I make an ice cream sandwich of the summer (like last year’s Oatmeal Rum Raisin Ice Cream Sandwiches). This year’s flavor is peanut butter meets chocolate chip meets cookies n’ cream and if you’ve never had this amazing combo before, then you have been missing out on something truly spectacular. If we’re all being honest with ourselves though, homemade cookies always take everything over the top. I’ve teamed up with my friends at GO BOLD WITH BUTTER to bring you these Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches. It’s a mouthful to say, let alone type, but it’s worth it.

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Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie S’mores

Homemade chewy oatmeal cookies—sans raisins and with chocolate chips instead because I’m no monster—are one hundred times better when they’re sandwiched together with a heaping amount of Nutella and toasted marshmallows. I couldn’t let another 4th of July go by without making sure I got you covered in the dessert department. These Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie S’mores are the way to go this year. They’re the perfect chance to shine at your BBQ or gathering, and to jazz up that tired old dessert we all know and love. Don’t get me wrong though, a classic s’mores with store-bought graham crackers are still my jam. All I’m saying is that chewy oatmeal cookies make for a much better vessel. I love these because you can make the cookies the day before and then keep them in an airtight container until you’re ready to assemble. You can swap out the Nutella for either chocolate pieces or even peanut butter cups. You really can’t go wrong any way you go. The only thing that matters is that you make these for your summer celebrations. Nothing would make me happier!

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