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In this sweet little cookbook, you'll find everything you need to satisfy your cravings. Whether it's a nibble on a cookie or tart, a spoonful of affogato or chilled fruit soup, or the sweet taste of a muffin, cobbler, crisp, or cake, Small Sweet Treats offers delicious desserts and baked goods in perfect proportions. Try Almond Tuiles, Lemon Blueberry Scones, Grilled Peaches with Mascarpone, or Warm Espresso Cakes. Influenced by Marguerite's Italian heritage and New York upbringing, these recipes are the perfect amount of sweetness to start your day or end a meal. Come on, everyone deserves a little treat!
marguerite marceau hendersonhas built a reputation as a cooking educator, caterer, restaurateur, food writer, cookbook author, public speaker, television personality, and food consultant over the past three decades. She has provided fine food for such notables as President George Bush (the First), Senator Robert Dole, Martha Stewart, Robert Redford, and more.
Marguerite has owned a catering business, opened two successful restaurants, and hosted a radio show on food. She travels extensively to keep abreast of food trends across the country and in Europe. She enjoys teaching cooking classes, giving cooking demonstrations, and lecturing on the impact food has upon our daily lives and in our family traditions. She is also the author of Savor the Memories, Small Parties, and Small Plates: Appetizers as Meals.
deconstructed apple tart tatin
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup granulated sugar
4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
1 sheet store-bought frozen puff pastry (17.3-ounce package), thawed and rolled out
2 tablespoons turbinado (raw sugar)
Honey Lavender Cream
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon culinary lavender
2 tablespoons honey
In an ovenproof 8- or 9-inch skillet, heat the butter and add the sugar. Cook over low heat until the sugar starts to melt, and then stir with a wooden spoon or heat-resistant spatula. Cook until the mixture starts to turn light brown and smooth in texture. Do not overcook. The sugar will reach caramel stage in about 3 to 4 minutes; cool slightly and then add the apples. Bake at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes. Toss to coat the apples with caramel after first 7 or 8 minutes of baking. Remove from oven when apples are cooked through; cool slightly.
Roll out the pastry on a work surface and use a 3-inch-round scalloped biscuit cutter or other various shaped 3-inch cookie cutters (leaves, teapots, stars, and so on) and place the cutout pastry on a Silpat or parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with the turbinado. Bake on the middle rack of a preheated 425-degree-F oven for 15 to 20 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
While the pastry is baking, prepare the cream. In a mixer bowl, beat the whipping cream on medium speed for 2 minutes until it starts to thicken. Add the sugar, lavender, and honey. Beat until stiff peaks form. Chill until ready to serve.
To serve, place a spoonful of warm apples in a serving dish. Top with one or two warm puff pastry cutouts. Serve with a dollop of Honey Lavender Cream on the side.
Serves 4 to 6.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 8
INTRODUCTION 10
FILL THAT COOKIE JAR
Pistachio-Lemon-Lavender Shortbread Cookies 13
Double Dark Chocolate Cherry Cookies 14
Almond Tuiles 15
Almond Biscotti 17
Cardamom Orange Buttons 18
Anise Biscotti 20
Hazelnut Shortbread Nutella Sandwich Cookies 21
French Vanilla Madeleines 23
Hazelnut Lemon Crescents 24
Italian Sandwich Cookies with Raspberry Jam 25
Mocha Latte Brownie Bites 27
Nanaimo Bars 28
Oatmeal Craisin Spicy Nut Cookies 29
Oregon Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Currant Cookies 30
Peanut Butter Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies 32
Raspberry Oatmeal Bars 33
Pistachio Honey Rolls 35
Umberto Cookies 36
Sesame Anise Bites 37
Salt and Pepper Chocolate Cookies 38
Thumbprint Cookies 40
Triple Ginger Pecan Cookies 41
Walnut and Raisin Hermits 42
INSTANT COOL GRATIFICATION
Apricot Fool 45
Affogato 47
Almond Flan with Fresh Fruit 48
Amano Chocolate Profiteroles with Blackberry-Pink Peppercorn Sauce 50
Bananas Foster 52
Chocolate Amaretto Mousse 53
Chilled Cantaloupe-Mango Soup 55
Creamy Limoncello Shooters 56
Cool Cucumber Mint Sorbet 58
Fig, Almond, and Honey Ice Cream 59
Egg Cream Float 61
Lavender-Thyme Infused Panna Cotta with Island Berry Compote 62
Ginger Thins Ice Cream Sandwiches with Caramel Pear Slices 64
Nutella Malt with A Kick 65
Minty Strawberry-Nectarine Gelato 66
Lemon Crème Atop Fruit-Stuffed Crêpes 68
Grilled Peaches with Mascarpone on Grilled Pound Cake 70
Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream Sundaes with Caramel Pecan Sauce 71
Prosecco Zabaglione with Fresh Strawberries 73
Sweet Corn Crème Brûlée with Blueberries 74
Strawberry Panna Cotta with Strawberry-Basil Balsamic Compote 76
Zesty Lemon Mousse with Blueberries 77
MORNING GLORIES
Apple Turnovers 81
Aebleskivers 83
Banana Granola Muffins 84
Lemon-Black Currant Oatmeal Muffins 85
Fruit and Cheese Almond Danish 87
Lemon Blueberry Scones 88
Very Marion-Bear-Y Claws 91
Mini Banana Blueberry Streusel Coffee Cakes 94
Sticky Cinnamon-Walnut Spirals 97
The Real Deal New York Crumb Cake 99
SWEETIE PIES AND TARTS
Apricot Cherry Tart 101
Ricotta Lemon Torta 103
Cherry Clafouti 104
Chocolate Turtle Pie 105
Chocolate Caramel Macadamia Tart 106
Pumpkin Pecan Tarts 109
Classic All-American Pumpkin Pie with Lemon-Ginger Cream 110
Lemon Pine Nut Tart 111
Fresh Fig Mascarpone Mini Tarts 113
Lime Meringue Tarts 114
Pear Galette with Cinnamon Whipped Cream 117
Pâte Brisée (Flaky Pie Crust) 118
Three-Cheese Lemon Pie 119
Orange-Glazed Apple Tarts 121
WARM GOODNESS FOR COLD DAYS
Caramel Apple Bread Pudding 123
Handheld Fruit Pies 126
Warm Espresso Cakes 127
Sticky Date Pudding with Warm Pecan-Toffee Sauce 128
Hot Fudge Pudding Cake 131
Warmed Figs with Cambozola and Hazelnuts 132
Cinnamon Caramel Crumble 133
Deconstructed Apple Tart Tatin 134
Summer Peach Cobbler 137
Individual Blackberry-Apricot Cobblers 139
Whidbey Island Berry Buckle 140
WHEN CRAVING CAKES
Buttercream Frosting 143
Chocolate Brownie Mascarpone Trifle with Berries 144
Chocolate Cupcake Surprise with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting 145
Chocolate Orange Cake with Chocolate Ganache 146
Chocolate Stout Cake 148
Chocolate Zucchini Cake 149
Strawberry Tiramisu 150
Fresh Peach Brûlée Cheesecake 152
Italian Cassata 153
Italian Plum Almond Cake 156
Mini New York Cheesecakes 157
Lemon Ricotta Cakes with Fruit 158
Momma's Italian Apple Cake 161
Spiced Mini Carrot Cake Cupcakes 162
INDEX 164
Overview
In this sweet little cookbook, you'll find everything you need to satisfy your cravings. Whether it's a nibble on a cookie or tart, a spoonful of affogato or chilled fruit soup, or the sweet taste of a muffin, cobbler, crisp, or cake, Small Sweet Treats offers delicious desserts and baked goods in perfect proportions. Try Almond Tuiles, Lemon Blueberry Scones, Grilled Peaches with Mascarpone, or Warm Espresso Cakes. Influenced by Marguerite's Italian heritage and New York upbringing, these recipes are the perfect...