Date Walnut Rum Truffles

I needed something quick, easy and delicious for Christmas.  I had a difficult time picking a product until someone made a request for these -

Date Walnut Rum Truffles...

Yes, in a heart-shaped candy box!

I remember making these 2 decades ago!  Although those were simple balls (and no rum, at that time!), like these -

But I thought it would be more elegant rolled in cocoa powder. 

Or maybe dipped in melted bittersweet chocolate (next time, I think!)?

Tropical Christmas Fruitcake Bites

It's nearing Christmas!!!  Where we are from, the season has started and is beginning to go full swing!

Christmas means fruitcake!  And no, not the kind that's almost like a brick.  Fruitcake that has real fruits, dried fruits.  But this time, we decided to make some using tropical fruits!  Coconut, papaya, mango, pineapple.  And yes, cacao is a tropical fruit so chocolate chips count!

In another twist, these fruitcakes are bite-sized, not in loaves...

Immediately after taking the fruitcake "bites" out of the oven, I poked holes all over and brushed rum on top several times.  The smell in the kitchen was just heavenly! 

Here's a peek inside...

Yummy!

Noir Amer Moelleux au Chocolat (Bitter, Dark Chocolate Cake, French-style)

We'd been quite busy, almost to the point when there is little time to indulge in baking.  But a birthday cannot be celebrated without cake.  So, because of time constraints the cake had to be fast and easy, and of course, utterly delicious!

Answer?  French-style Chocolate Cake - dense, rich, flourless (or almost flourless) chocolate cake, meant to be served warm and without icing, except maybe to be garnished (or accompanied) with/by whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.  

A slice of cake, with a scoop of ice cream on the side.  Due to the richness of the cake, it is better enjoyed in thin slices.

It is fast and easy to make, especially with a stand mixer.  And with no icing or frosting, it was a breeze to serve.  It was simply fantastic with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, or both!

Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcakes

I have about 2 liters of buttermilk to use up.  I've done buttermilk pancakes and buttermilk scrambled eggs.  Now it's vanilla buttermilk cupcakes... with chocolate chips and frosted with peanut butter frosting.

I've always considered my vanilla cupcake recipe to be the best, and never thought that I could find one that I could like more.  But this vanilla buttermilk cupcake is really better!  The texture is better, and the taste superb! 

The downside?  This cupcake is more expensive to make because of the buttermilk.

Chocolate Fluffernutter Cupcakes

Chocolate cupcakes, stuffed with peanut butter filling and frosted with marshmallow buttercream!!!

A peek at the cupcake and the filling...

Now topped with minions...

Happy Birthday friend M!

Mmmmmm....