Tag: SweetTreats

Caramel Apple Spice
March 7, 2026

Caramel Apple Spice

Copycat Starbuck’s caramel apple spice tastes just like the original! With a homemade sweet cinnamon syrup mixed in with hot apple juice, topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce this drink is the perfect thing to warm up with! Servings 5 Ingredients For the …

Sip Fresh
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by CookDiaries
Madeleines
March 6, 2026

Madeleines

These little brown butter bourbon madeleines are the cutest. They’re rich and satisfying despite being only a bite or two, and every single morsel is loaded with flavor- first butter and then bourbon, followed by rich chocolate and pecans. These treats are entirely decadent to …

Sweet Treat
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by CookDiaries
Chocolate Cake
March 3, 2026

Chocolate Cake

The most amazing, ONE BOWL, Best Fudgy Chocolate Cake is rich and decadent, with the perfect balance of fluffy and fudgy!

Prep Time:25minutes mins
Cook Time:50minutes mins
Servings:16 people

Ingredients

CHOCOLATE CAKE:

  • ▢1 1/2 cups all-purpose or plain flour
  • ▢1 1/2 cups white granulated sugar or a natural granulated baking sweetener measuring 1:1 with sugar
  • ▢1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ▢1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ▢1/2 teaspoon salt
  • ▢1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • ▢1 large egg
  • ▢1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract (20 ml)
  • ▢3/4 cup milk (190 ml)
  • ▢2 teaspoons instant coffee mixed with 3/4 cup (190 ml) Boiling water

CHOCOLATE GANACHE:

  • ▢1 cup heavy cream or thickened cream
  • ▢8 oz semi sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8-inch round cake pan (or 9-inch) with non stick cooking oil spraying. Line base with parchment paper. *SEE NOTES*

CHOCOLATE CAKE:

  • Combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Whisk thoroughly to combine well.
  • Add oil, egg, vanilla and milk to the flour mixture and beat well to combine, about 30 seconds. Pour in the boiling water (with the coffee), and mix until glossy. (Cake batter is thin in consistency.)
  • Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the chocolate cake comes out semi-clean with small amount of cake (not runny batter) on it due to the fudgy texture.
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes. Transfer cake from the pan to a wire rack and cool completely before frosting.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE:

  • Pour the cream into a small saucepan and heat over low heat for a few minutes. Watch that it doesn’t boil or simmer it. Once the cream is hot, turn stove off and take the saucepan off the heat.
  • Add in the chocolate chips; cover saucepan with a lid and let sit for a good 5 minutes to soften and melt the chocolate. 
  • Uncover, and stir slowly first, with a spatula or wooden spoon, gradually mixing faster until ganache is smooth, creamy and glossy. Refrigerate for one hour or hour and a half until thick enough to spread (similar consistency to Nutella).
  • Spread evenly over the cake.

Notes

BAKING POWDER: This cake is meant to be super moist and fudgy. If you like a fluffier cake, use 2 teaspoons baking powder. Any more than that and your cake will rise too much and crack through the middle.

Baking soda is not needed in this recipe.

SPRINGFORM PAN (PLEASE NOTE)

Springform pans are NOT 100% leakproof. Very thin cake batters such as this one will leak through the base. To combat this issue, line the base with parchment paper coming up where the sides meets the base to create a ‘cover’. Place a baking sheet on the shelf below the cake pan (or the bottom of the oven) to catch any stray drips (don’t put cake pans directly on the pan).

Nutrition

Calories: 308kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 128mg | Potassium: 175mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 261IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Desserts
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by CookDiaries
Blintzes
March 2, 2026

Blintzes

Blintzes are a refreshing crepe-like pancake that is the perfect breakfast for any occasion! The filling is made of a cream cheese and ricotta mixture that is irresistible and topped with a sweet berry sauce, this breakfast dish is the ultimate crowd-pleaser! Prep Time:5minutes minutesMaking Crepes:15minutes minutesServings:12 …

Breakfast
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by CookDiaries
Espresso Brownies
February 28, 2026

Espresso Brownies

Espresso Brownies are rich, fudgy, and packed with deep chocolate flavor with a bold coffee kick. The espresso intensifies the chocolate, creating a decadent dessert that’s perfect for coffee lovers, late-night treats, or anytime a little extra indulgence is needed. Prep Time:10minutes minsCook Time:30minutes minsServings:16 slices Ingredients Brownies: …

Sweet Treat
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by CookDiaries
Granita
February 25, 2026

Granita

Cool down like an Italian with this icy frozen treat! You can use any seasonal fruit you’d like, or take a grown-up approach with freshly brewed coffee. Just be sure to adjust the sweetener to your taste—some fresh, ripe fruits are very sweet on their own, and may not require as much sweetener.

Prep – 10minutes mins
Freezing time – 2hours hrs
Serves – 4

Ingredients

For a Fruit Granita

  • ▢4 cups finely chopped fruit of your choice (like watermelon, peaches, strawberries, mixed berries, or oranges)
  • ▢1 cup water (or combination of water and juice, see note)
  • ▢1/3 cup cane sugar
  • ▢Sliced fruit, for garnish (optional)

For a Coffee Granita

  • ▢2 cups brewed coffee
  • ▢1/2 cup cane sugar
  • ▢Coffee beans, for garnish (optional)

Instructions 

  • Blend and freeze. To make a fruit granita, combine the fruit, water, and sugar into a blender or food processor and blend 30 seconds until smooth. For a coffee granita, mix the brewed coffee with the sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Taste and adjust the sweetness to your liking. Pour the mixture into a rimmed sheet pan or baking dish that’s at least 8X12–inches. Place in the freezer for one hour.
  • Scrape. After an hour, use a metal fork like a rake, scraping through the mixture to break up the ice. Return to the freezer for another 30 minutes to an hour.
  • Repeat. Continue scraping with a fork through the mixture every 30 minutes to an hour until it is fully frozen and the granita has a fluffy granulated texture. This should take about 2 hours in total if you have a large sheet tray, or longer if you’re using a smaller baking dish.
  • Serve or store. Scrape into a pile and scoop into chilled serving glasses to serve immediately, or scrape into an airtight container and return to the freezer until you’re ready to serve.

Notes

  • For an extra tart fruit granita: Replace half of the water with freshly squeezed lemon juice. 
  • Make it boozy: Adding a splash of liquor (like Grand Marnier for an orange granita, or coffee liqueur for a coffee granita). 
  • To speed up the freezing process: Place your sheet pans or baking pans in the freezer for 30 minutes before you get started.
  • Nutrition facts are calculated based on one serving of a coffee granita.

Nutrition

Calories: 97.4kcalCarbohydrates: 24.9gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.003gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 2.6mgPotassium: 58.6mgSugar: 24.9gCalcium: 2.6mgIron: 0.03mg

Desserts
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by CookDiaries
Ebelskivers
February 23, 2026

Ebelskivers

Ebelskivers are a Danish pancake that is cooked into a sphere using a special pan. They are fluffy and silky smooth on the inside, and you can fill them with anything from fresh berries to cream cheese. Flipping them in the pan is almost as …

Breakfast
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by CookDiaries
Double Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake French Toast
February 14, 2026

Double Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake French Toast

Double Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake French Toast is over-the-top indulgence in the best way. Thick slices of bread are stuffed with a rich cheesecake filling, layered with chocolate and cherries, then cooked until golden and decadent. It’s a show-stopping breakfast or brunch that feels like dessert—perfect …

Desserts
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by CookDiaries
Heart Thumbprint Cookies
February 13, 2026

Heart Thumbprint Cookies

Looking for the sweetest Valentine’s Day treat? You might just break some hearts with these. Forget the laborious chocolate-covered strawberries (that aren’t even in season!), and make these adorable cookies instead.

Prep Time:10 mins
Total Time:35 mins
Yields:24

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups (180 g.) all-purpose flour
  • 6 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup (100 g.) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup raspberry or strawberry jam

Directions

Step 1

Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 350°. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.

Step 2

In a large bowl, using a handheld mixer on medium-high speed (or in the large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment), beat butter and sugar until creamy and smooth, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla, then add dry ingredients and beat on medium-low speed until just combined.

Step 3

Using a small cookie scoop (about 1 1/2 Tbsp.), portion dough onto 2 parchment-lined baking sheets. Roll each piece into a ball, then press your pinkie into ball at a slight angle. Press your pinkie in at the opposite angle to create a heart shape. Fill each heart with a scant teaspoon of jam.

Step 4

Bake cookies, rotating sheets top to bottom halfway through, until edges feel firm to the touch and have puffed slightly, 10 to 12 minutes.

Step 5

Transfer sheets to a wire rack. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

Notes:

To make the hearts, simply press one of your fingers (my pinky is the right size for me) into the unbaked cookie at an angle, then go in the other direction to create a “v” or heart. You can then fill your hearts with whatever type of jam you prefer. I like raspberry and strawberry, but cherry would also be so good in these, too.

These cookies don’t require any chill time, which means you can have something sweet to share with your loved ones in under an hour.

Cookie
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by CookDiaries
Oatmeal Raisin Breakfast Cookie Sandwiches
February 9, 2026

Oatmeal Raisin Breakfast Cookie Sandwiches

Oatmeal Raisin Breakfast Cookie Sandwiches are soft, chewy, and packed with wholesome flavor. Sweet raisins and warm spices are sandwiched with a creamy filling, making them a satisfying breakfast or snack that feels indulgent yet perfectly portable for busy mornings. Prep Time:15minutes minutesCook Time:12minutes minutesServings:24 Cookies Ingredients Instructions  …

Breakfast
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by CookDiaries