Tag Archives: treats

The Best Artisan Desserts in LA

Los Angeles has some of the best sweet treats in the country, and with warm weather year round, you’ll never run out of reasons to eat ice cream. From macaron ice cream sandwiches to maple bacon donuts to homemade pop tarts, you can find it in LA and it’s guaranteed delicious.

You couldn’t taste all the delicious sweet treats in LA even if you tried, but you may as well! Here are a few to get you started.

Ice Cream – Salt and Straw

This small batch, artisanal sweet cream shop on Abbott Kinney is always packed, no matter the weather or time of day.

Drool over flavor combinations like their cult favorite, honey lavender, for which they steep two pounds of lavender flowers in honey and cream, bringing out a deep, almost smoky lavender color and then add a sweet touch of honey.

Salt & Straw
Image courtesy of Salt & Straw

For the more adventurous, try black olive brittle and goat cheese. They create a sticky olive candy using diverse olive oils and combine it with a “funky” goat cheese ice cream.

Salt & Straw
Image courtesy of Salt & Straw

 

Donuts – Sidecar Doughnuts

No matter your pleasure, sweet or savory, you can get your fix at Sidecar Doughnuts in Santa Monica. These donuts are made fresh all day every day and, without the use of preservatives, they’re recommended to be consumed within an hour of purchasing.

They feature flavors like huckleberry, with a berry pink icing and bits of berry baked inside the warm dough. Another favorite is maple bacon, a gooey donut covered in maple icing with chunks of candied bacon on top.

As an extra treat, you can see the chefs pouring the glaze and frying the donuts right in front of you.

 

Cookies – Milkjar Cookies

In addition to being an absolutely adorable venue, with cookies served on pretty china and drinks in mason jars with paper straws, this place has some of the best cookies in LA.

Milkjar Cookies
Image courtesy of Milkjar Cookies

Banana split, birthday cookie, mint chocolate, white chocolate chip macadamia, lemon blueberry; whatever you pick, you really can’t go wrong. Every cookie has a nice, crispy crunch on the outside but is warm and soft inside like a cookie should be.

Milkjar Cookies
Image courtesy of Milkjar Cookies

Wash your tasty morsel down with a big glass of milk or go all out and add ice cream.

 

Cakes & Pies – Cake Monkey Bakery

This place will bring you back to your childhood, serving up adult versions of ding dongs and whoopie pies and other confections. Their pies are delicious as well and come in single serving flavors such as cider roasted apple pie in a double cheddar crust. Yum!

Image courtesy of Cake Monkey
Image courtesy of Cake Monkey

Try some of the retro treats like their homemade Poptarts, filled with your choice of brown sugar cinnamon, blueberry crumble, apple, or chocolate almond.

Be sure not to miss the cult favorite; the summer Camp Chocolate Chip Cookie, which is made with caramelized Rice Krispies and marshmallow. Delish!

cake monkey
Image courtesy of Cake Monkey

 

Cupcakes – Sprinkles Cupcakes

This place is practically an LA landmark and often has a line out the door. The cupcakes are made fresh daily and have the perfect frosting to cake ratio, with neither being too sweet but just sweet enough.

sprinkles cupcakes
Image courtesy of Sprinkles Cupcakes

The cupcakes are rich in flavor, hitting the sweet spot after eating just one. Sprinkles offers classic flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and red velvet, but if you’re feeling a little more adventurous you can find your perfect cupcake in flavors like green tea with lavender frosting, ginger lemon, or vanilla peppermint. Get your dog a pupcake too!

 

Ice Cream Sandwiches – Milk

Milk takes ice cream sandwiches to the next level, and stuffs homemade ice cream between their giant macarons and dips them in melted chocolate and toppings.

The macarons give the ice cream sandwich a satisfying crunch, with a chewy bite inside. The ice cream is served at the perfect level of “meltiness” so that it doesn’t get all over your hands and isn’t too cold to taste.

Strawberry shortcake bar from Milk
Strawberry shortcake bar from Milk | Image via L.A. Foodie on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Explore flavors like thai tea, coffee toffee, fruity pebbles, strawberry with white chocolate, or matcha green tea macaron ice cream sandwiches. Milk has other goodies, but this is what they’re known for and best at.

6657633593_185e8a4716_o
Rocky Road ice cream sandwich from MILK | Image via Larry on Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Vegan Holiday Recipes for Everyone

Holiday cooking and baking used to be synonymous with “bring on the butter!” But in 2015, odds are you have at least one meat-free, dairy-free, ovo-pescatarian, but sometimes vegan—or some combination thereof—in your group. It’s also likely that you’ll have guests who are simply paying more attention to what they eat–for health, vanity or both–giving way to a new catchphrase, “butter’s not always better.”

If you’ve never dipped your stocking into the world of vegan cooking, don’t be intimidated. Eliminating all animal-derived products isn’t as limiting as it might seem. Vegan-friendly fare–everything from cheese to pastry dough to breakfast sausage–is more widely available than ever. Also, check out this handy list of smart ingredient swaps:

Out: Butter
In: Coconut oil or olive oil for cooking; applesauce for baking. In treats like cakes and cookies, applesauce is a measure-for-measure replacement for butter.

Out: Eggs
In: Flax or chia seeds. 1 TB of ground seeds + 3 TB warm water = 1 egg; a great alternative binding agent for baking recipes.

Out: Dairy milk
In: Hemp milk. Hemp milk’s creamy consistency makes it a great measure-for-measure replacement for dairy milk.

Out: Gelatin
In: Agar-agar, an algae-based gelatin alternative that can be swapped in equal measure for gelatin in vegan holiday treats.

Don’t let diet restrictions make you less merry. Try these delicious vegan holiday recipes that are sure to please any palate. Even carnivorous Uncle Larry will approve.

 

Curried Sweet Potato Puffs

Indian-inspired puffs that are a simple and nutritious escape from run-of-the-mill holiday party apps.

potato puffs

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine sweet potatoes, cream cheese, lime juice, curry powder, scallions, cilantro and salt.
  3. Take one sheet of puff pastry and cut it into 4 equal rectangles. Cut each rectangle in half, then cut each half into 2 triangles. Place a teaspoon of sweet potato filling on one half of each triangle, leaving a small border at the edge. Keep dough covered in plastic when not working with it. Fold triangles in half and seal the edges firmly (dampen edges of dough lightly with water if too dry to seal).
  4. Transfer filled triangles to prepared baking sheet and bake until golden, about 10 minutes. Serve warm with assorted chutneys on the side.

 

Spinach-Stuffed Baby ‘bellas

These tasty bites get a pop of flavor from vegan-friendly nutritional yeast, which lends a savory richness to all kinds of dishes.

baby bellas

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Using a slightly damp paper towel, gently scrub mushrooms and remove stems. Brush both sides of each mushroom with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  3. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, add remaining oil. Sauté leek and garlic until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
  4. Using a clean kitchen towel, wring out as much water from the spinach as possible. Add to the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Add nutmeg and coconut milk. Cook until just heated through.
  5. Fill each mushroom with spinach filling and top with a sprinkling of nutritional yeast. Transfer to a baking sheet and bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Serve warm.

 

Edamame Hummus

This simple and delicious dip is festively bright green. Served up in a tree-shaped dish, it makes a colorful centerpiece for the appetizer table.

edamame hummus

Directions

  1. In a large pot, completely cover edamame with salted water. Simmer until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain.
  2. In the bowl of a food processor, combine edamame and remaining ingredients. Puree until completely smooth.
  3. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with cilantro leaves and smoked salt.

 

Savory-Sweet Rosemary Shortbread

A uniquely flavorful vegan holiday treat that little ones will love to help cut into shapes.

rosemary shortbread

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Combine flour, salt and rosemary in a food processor until well blended.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine butter and powdered sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and flour mixture and mix until dough just starts to come together. Do not over-mix.
  4. Turn dough onto a floured surface and bring together with hands. Sandwich dough between two sheets of plastic wrap. With a rolling pin, roll dough to approximately 1/4-inch thick. Refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes.
  5. Using a cutter, cut out cookies and place them on the prepared baking sheets. Return to the refrigerator for an additional 20 minutes.
  6. Transfer pan immediately to oven and bake until the edges are golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely before serving.

 

Heavenly Lemon Meltaways

A bright, citrusy alternative to heavy holiday treats like cake and pie.

lemon meltaways

Directions

  1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment.
  2. In a food processor, combine almond butter, almond flour, honey, lemon juice, lemon extract, salt, 3/4 cup coconut and 1 teaspoon lemon zest until smooth and paste-like.
  3. In a shallow dish, combine the remaining coconut and teaspoon lemon zest, using fingers to thoroughly combine.
  4. Using damp fingers, take 1 teaspoon of the almond mixture and roll into a ball. Roll ball in coconut lemon zest mixture, pressing to ensure it’s completely coated. Transfer to prepared baking sheet.
  5. Refrigerate meltaways in an airtight container until completely firm, at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.

 

Chocolate-Dipped Nutty Bars

These tasty bars are loaded with protein and fiber. Omit the chocolate and they make a great breakfast treat or snack on the go.

nutty bars

 

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line the bottom and sides of an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper.
  2. In the bowl of a food processor, combine walnuts, cashews and pumpkin seeds. Pulse until crumbly and thoroughly combined. Stir in sunflower seeds.
  3. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and stir in almond meal, coconut, cinnamon and salt.
  4. In a small heavy-duty pot, warm coconut oil and almond butter over medium heat. Whisk together until mixture is thoroughly combined, melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in honey.
  5. Pour coconut oil mixture over nut mixture in the large bowl, using a spatula to thoroughly combine. Transfer mixture into the prepared baking dish. Using wet hands, press down evenly on mixture, ensuring it sticks together solidly.
  6. Transfer to oven and bake for 30 minutes.
  7. Using several layers of parchment paper, press down on the mixture again firmly. Allow to cool. Wrap bars tightly in plastic wrap and transfer to the freezer for two hours.
  8. Once bars are cold and completely solid, cut into squares. Line a baking sheet with wax paper.
  9. Chop chocolate into fine pieces and melt in the microwave at 50% power for 1 minute. Stir and microwave again until chocolate is melted.
  10. Dip each bar halfway into the chocolate (I like to dip at a diagonal, so the chocolate half is shaped like a triangle). Cool completely, allowing chocolate to harden, before serving.