Sweet And Crumby

Baking, a Love Story

Category Archives: Chocolate


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Death by the No Nut Chocolate Cookies

My favorite cookbook hands down is Death By Chocolate by Marcel Desaulniers. I can’t say that I’ve actually made more than 10 of the 30 or so recipes, but every recipe I have tried is my new favorite.  These triple chocolate cookies are one of those favorites.

They are dark, extra chocolatey, soft with just a slightly crisp outer layer, and they are just a tiny bit salty.  Can you think of a more perfect cookie?  You can?  It’s missing something perhaps?  I know, some of you out there are literally jumping up and down shouting…”Where the heck are the nuts?”  What was SHE THINKING? Continue reading →


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Prim and Proper Black and Whites and the No Apron Kitchen

Black and White cookies are the perfect finale to any deli experience.  If done right, they are soft and tender, rich and smooth.  They are the soul mate to an icy, cold glass of milk.  This particular recipe from the All-American Cookie Book is that kind of nostalgic deli-style black and white.

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An Almost Grasshopper Pie Parfait

Life has its share of epic fails, and so does my kitchen unfortunately.  Cakes can just flat out refuse to come out of their pans, omelets will stage a sit-in and end up as scrambled cheesy eggs, and sometimes, Grasshopper Pies turn into parfaits.

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Two Rocky Road Cupcakes and the Bad List

These Rocky Road cupcakes are a perfect example of my tug-of-war with my family over good taste.  My daughter and I had to make two versions of these lovely cupcakes to please both sides of the food spectrum at my house. You know that old song, “You say tomato (to-may-to) and I say tomato (to-maw-to), You say, Po “tay” to and I say Po “taw” to…Let’s Call the whole thing off?”  Well that is sort of the story of my food life at our house.  Here is version two of the Rocky Road cupcake with Coconut and Peanuts. Continue reading →


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Counterfeit Peanut Butter Fudge Cupcakes

Anything counterfeit is by definition a phony, an imposter, not as good as the original.  So this post is not here to tell you that these decadent little cakes can even hold a candle to that Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake perfection on the Smitten Kitchen blog site.  But I can tell you this…it does pack a GOOD one-two punch on the peanut butter and chocolate front and it is easy, peasy for those days when you must have chocolate and peanut butter cake wonderfulness NOW as in AS FAST AS POSSIBLE!

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A Whopper of a Cake

This creamy, malted, chocolatey cake is as it implies…it is a whopper of a cake.

It’s everything a cake should be. First and foremost,
for it to be ALL THAT, it MUST BE chocolate

So for all of you out there trying to tell me that there are some outrageous vanilla, fruit or other flavored cakes that are on par with chocolate, you may as well check out now. We weren’t really meant to be friends. It was a rather short relationship anyways so there’s no hard feelings on my part.  Feel free to move along to the next blog on your to do list…one that does not have a chocolate crazed maniac as its author. Continue reading →


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Have Fun Making Whoopies!

Whoopie pies actually have a short but sweet history at my house.  I am not from the East Coast where they are a well loved traditional treat, nor did my grandmother make them from an old family recipe.  I had never even heard of them until a few years ago when I saw my first whoopie pie on Unwrapped, via the Food Network, and was mesmerized.  How could you not be glued to the tube when your chocolate cookie fantasy was right before your eyes?! Continue reading →


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SweetAndCrumby Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Did the book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, ever suggest making and bringing them warm banana bread?  No?  Big mistake.   There has been many an occasion over here in which my tried and true chocolate chip banana bread has helped smooth ruffled feathers, sweeten the crabbiest of teachers or carry through the sincerity of an apology.  I just don’t think you can beat the sentiments of a warm, chocolatey, tender and sweet loaf of banana bread.   If you are currently at odds with a spouse, a child or a crazy ill-mannered teenager who has taken up residence at your house, you must make this banana bread and deliver it immediately.  You will be amazed at its effects.

A loaf of banana bread is like a great big, warm and cuddly hug from a toddler or a sloppy kiss from your dog.  It doesn’t have anything to do with  show-offy-ness that fancy cupcakes or other uptight gorgeous goodies can exude.  It has the “I’m trustworthy,” edge and the “You can count on me in a pinch,” mentality.

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Bad Boy Chocolate Pizza

Eating at Max Brenner, NY, with my hubby made all of his chocolate fantasies come true (let’s hope!).  Chocolate, marshmallows and pizza, an unlikely combo, all oozing and melting as it makes its way into your mouth was his idea of Nirvana.  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it as well.  I am the true chocoholic of our family, but for me decadence is the deepest, darkest chocolate only to be outdone by a scoop of crunchy nuts (preferably almonds or hazelnuts)… and maybe a hint of cointreau.   He even photographed the pizza and texted it to numerous friends bragging about his bounty.

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