Elegant Desserts | Just About Baked

Triple Chocolate Scones

September 4, 2016
Mir
Dessert for Breakfast, Elegant Desserts, Pastry Cart
23 Comments

This weekend, my family and I were invited to high tea with some friends from across the pond. I offered to bring a treat, so what could be more natural than scones?

Perhaps my British friends don’t do triple chocolate scones often, if ever. But there’s a first time for everything, and these deserve a lot of attention.

The base for these scones is cream, which works with butter to make these light as a feather while still full of rich chocolate flavor. Maybe people are out barbecuing this Labor Day weekend, but we’re having tea and scones instead!

Peanut Butter Lover’s Cookie Cake

August 10, 2016
Mir
C is for COOKIE!, Candyland, Elegant Desserts, Gluten-Free Goodness, Let Them Eat Cake
19 Comments

Time to whoop it up, my friends. My birthday approaches!

When it comes to my birthday, I still feel like a little kid. I want presents, parties, and many celebrations. Sometimes that means I’m setting myself up. Let’s face it: I’m a mom of three and nobody has thrown me a party since I was 25. That was a loooooong time ago. But still, I hold out hope!

One thing I’ve learned to do is bake my own birthday treat. A few years ago, I baked this cookie cake for the first time. It was my favorite cookie cake ever, but my photo skills weren’t so great back then. Plus, I wanted to see if I could make the whole thing GF and a little easier. Done and done!

Mocha Toffee Mousse

May 29, 2016
Mir
Candyland, Elegant Desserts, Gluten-Free Goodness, No Bake
20 Comments

I want to marry this mousse. Sorry, Kenny.

The other day, I was really worn out. But since I’m not a coffee drinker, I did the next best thing: I gave myself a shot of this mousse. It’s not alcoholic, but it sure is caffeinated. Be still my heart. Nope, it’s beating too fast for that.

Not only is this the epitome of coffee and chocolate goodness, but there are also chocolate Heath bits through and through. Mousse has never tasted so incredible!

Ruby Grapefruit Tart

We haven’t talked about grapefruit yet.

I. Love. Grapefruit. I know it must come as a shock that a sugar-addicted fiend like me actually eats fruit, but my diet is reasonably healthy. And I eat half a grapefruit every day.

In fact, I love grapefruit so much that I’ve specifically avoided going on a medication because it would ban grapefruit from my diet with some awful chemical reaction. I can’t do that. Every day I need my fix, and if I bake it into a tart, well, so much the better. This is a tart for the ages! You’re going to love it.

Ganache-Covered Cheesecake

January 31, 2016
Mir
Cupcakes and Cheesecakes, Elegant Desserts, Let Them Eat Cake
38 Comments

Did you know that my spell check never knows what "ganache" is? I get the little red line underneath every single dang time. Neither, apparently, does closed captioning. I'm one of those weird people who likes to read my TV,…

Mocha Mousse Brownie Bites

January 24, 2016
Mir
Bars n' Brownies, Elegant Desserts, No Bake
22 Comments

There’s something romantic about mousse, dontcha think?

There used to be something romantic about snowstorms too, but now that I’m watching Kenny dig us out from two-plus feet of snow while my children destroy the house, I’m not really that into it. I’d much rather have clean streets and be at work, thank you very much.

The good news is, I’ve got these mocha mousse brownie bites to keep me company as the snow refuses to melt and the winds die down. These are pretty much my idea of a perfect Valentine’s dessert. These rich, fudgy brownie bites are topped with a mocha mousse and drizzled with chocolate. If you think it’s rich, you’re right! That’s how I do.

Salted Caramel Streusel Baked Apples

January 10, 2016
Mir
Elegant Desserts, Healthier Indulgences, Odds n' Ends
32 Comments

These apples are life-changing. How’s that for a promise?

Baked apples are a classic American dessert, but I’ve upped the ante by coring them, filling them with a simple streusel, and drizzling (pouring, maybe?) salted caramel on top. And we can totally call this a healthy dessert because, you know, apple. Right? Hey, it’s fruit!

This is a fireside kind of dessert, the kind that you share with family members on game night or some equally idyllic situation. These are impossible not to love, unless you have no soul. I’m feeling very objective today.

Champagne Brownies (Video Tutorial, Too!)

I love champagne. I love chocolate. Let’s put them together so they can get married and have the best kid of all time, champagne brownies!

Bubbly is pretty popular this time of year, but as I explain in my newest video below, I also like to eat my champagne. Why not get really festive with one of the coolest brownie recipes ever?

These are full of champagne and chocolate, and the bubbly is what makes them stand so tall. I never cease to love how carbonated beverages aerate baked goods, making for even more fun and games!

Gingerbread Bundt Cake

I’m going to give you a bonus recipe today in honor of the upcoming holiday, since I’m taking Friday off. But stay tuned for another recipe AND a video tomorrow!

This gingerbread bundt cake is a winter spice wonder. It’s moist, soft, and oh so perfect for Christmas. And since I don’t do Christmas, I’ll just eat it all anyway.

As a perk, this cake is finished off with brown butter icing. It’s pretty much the best cake ever. No bias here, of course!

Holiday Chip Cookie Cake

December 20, 2015
Mir
C is for COOKIE!, Elegant Desserts, Let Them Eat Cake
28 Comments

Cookie cake might just be the best invention of all time. Well, after the king-sized bed, memory foam pillows, and Uggs.

Honestly, I’m drawn to cookie cakes. When I’m in the grocery store, I can’t help but walk by the giant chocolate chip cookie cakes covered in frosting and drool. But then I remember that it’s pretty easy to make one right here at home.

This cookie dough is soft and full of both holiday chips and chocolate chips. The frosting is definitely an added bonus. There’s nothing here to hate on, friends!