Chocolate

Chocolate Raspberry Ganache Cake

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Chocolate Raspberry Ganache Cake-1-01

We are less than a month from Valentine’s Day, which means it’s time to bring on the yummy and decadent desserts to treat yourself! I especially love Valentine’s Day because it falls right next to my birthday, and as I always point out to my husband, the two holidays are never allowed to be combined. 🙂 For me, Valentine’s day is all about the chocolate… and the richer, the better! This cake is one of the first cakes I ever endeavored to make from scratch and I make it time and time again now. It’s super moist, rich chocolate and covered in amazing raspberry chocolate ganache! I drool just thinking about this cake.

This chocolate cake is also the inspiration for many of my other recipes, including the first I posted on my blog – the Decadent S’mores Cake. If you love this recipe than you simply must try the S’mores cake!

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Dark Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

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Dark Chocolate Orange Cupcakes-1-01

Dark chocolate really goes with everything, but Dark Chocolate and Orange is one of my favorite flavor combinations! This cupcake is so delicious and the perfect reason to cheat on your New Year’s diet ;)! These are inspired by my love for the chocolate oranges I use to get as a kid (you know the ones where you smack them on the table and it comes out with these perfect little chocolate orange slices?). These are so much better and you can even top them with the chocolate slices to make them even more incredible!

If you love these try some of my other dark chocolate cupcake recipes!

Andes Mint Cupcakes

Dark Chocolate Nutella Cupcakes

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Cupcakes

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Christmas Cookies (Part 1): Dark Chocolate-Dipped Orange Sables

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Dark Chocolate Orange Sables-1-01.jpg

Everyone has their staple Christmas cookie recipes, and this is one of mine. These are delicious and pretty shortbread cookies that never fail! They are a hit at parties and for Christmas gifts, and Santa loves them (of course)! The recipe comes from a friend who writes the blog Sing for Your Supper, it’s a fabulous blog and I definitely recommend it. Her recipes are to die for and she tells great stories about her kiddos, as well.

I’ve been making these cookies and another of her recipes (that I’ll post tomorrow) for Christmas the last several years and I just keep coming back for more!

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Andes Mint Cupcakes

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Andes Mint Cupcakes-1

It is officially the most wonderful time of the year! I want to bring you some of my favorite Christmas treats over the next few weeks and chocolate and mint is just one of those flavor combinations that is a perfect fit for Christmas time! These Andes mint cupcakes are so so good. You’ll notice the repeat of my favorite dark chocolate cupcake recipe… it will be featured regularly since I love chocolate and I love this recipe (see my Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Cupcakes for another delicious option)!

So, while your whipping up Christmas dinner or prepping for a party, these cupcakes will make a great addition to your table.

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My Favorite Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Chocolate Chip Cookies-1-01 

Sometimes you just need a warm cookie and a cold glass of milk when it’s chilly outside… I know I do. Cookies were my first foray into baking, I was obsessed with trying all sorts of recipes. Needless to say, cookies are still one of my favorite things. I don’t get to bake them as much as I’d like to these days, but there are just days you need a good batch of cookies!

I really love this recipe, it’s simple and quick plus the cookies taste amazing! What’s wonderful about these cookies is they almost taste better once they are cool and they stay soft for days (if you can even make them last that long)!

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Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Cupcakes

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Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel-0

Okay, so I know I talk a lot about all the different desserts I love… but I have to say, these are by far the BEST dessert I have EVER made. The dark chocolate cupcake is super moist and filled with delicious salted caramel that just makes me want to drool. I am literally in love with this cupcake! If you don’t believe me, try it. I promise you won’t regret the decision.

I made these for a happy hour and people went nuts over them! I made them again for Halloween and I’m pretty sure I caught my husband eating 3 in one day (he refused to share the last one with me, too J). They are that good! I hope you enjoy them as much as I and my friends and family have, they are fabulous, decadent cupcakes!
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Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes with Pumpkin Buttercream

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Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes-1

Nothing says Fall like Pumpkin.  I love the smell of pumpkin sweets in the air, I even bought an air freshener for the house so I can soak in the wonderful aroma of the season! There is something about the Fall that makes me want to curl up with a delicious pumpkin dessert and binge watch Gilmore Girls from start to finish. I don’t know why… maybe it’s that Lorelai and Rory loved this time of year as much as I do, or maybe I’m just looking for an excuse to watch that show for the hundredth time.

Anyhow, I think there is something about that Pumpkin flavor evokes the wonderful memories that come with this time of year. Time together with family, the leaves changing, the chill in the air… it’s the perfect time of year. For my first pumpkin recipe, I wanted to try something new. I’ve seen a few chocolate pumpkin recipes out there and it almost sounds too good to be true; I mean, chocolate AND pumpkin all in one little cupcake… the idea gives me goose bumps! But, I’m happy to report, it is possible and it is SO delicious!

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Oreo Cheesecake Cupcakes with Dark Chocolate Buttercream

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Oreo Cheesecake Cupcakes-1

Who doesn’t love Oreos, right?! They are always my go-to indulgence as far as cookies go. A stack of Oreos and a cold glass of milk can make my whole day better! One of my favorite memories from college would be studying for exams with my best friend and eating a box of oreos while we crammed… clearly I’m a nerd since I look back fondly on studying, but it is so true. It was in those late nights that I felt like I learned so much, probably in part to the crazy sugar rush from all of those Oreos!

These cupcakes are light and delicious and, best of all, they have a whole Oreo in the bottom! Need I say more? It’s not an overly sweet cheesecake flavor, which goes really well with the Oreos both crushed and at the bottom (which also makes for a great surprise when you bite into them)! I paired the cupcake with a dark chocolate frosting, I love the combination of the rich dark chocolate and the light fluffy cheesecake.

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Dark Chocolate Nutella Cupcakes with Swiss Meringue Frosting

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Dark Chocolate Nutella Cupcakes-6

It’s Fall y’all! That time of year for sweaters, boots and scarves (oh my)! Of course, in Texas it takes much longer to actually feel like Fall… but that doesn’t stop me from pulling out the Fall decor and, of course, starting to bake with all my favorite Fall flavors! So to kick off the Fall season, I introduce these fabulous Dark Chocolate Nutella Cupcakes with a Swiss Meringue Nutella Swirl Frosting (it’s a mouthful, I know). 🙂

I know I talk a lot about my love for various types of sweets, and Nutella is definitely no exception. On our first trip to Europe, my husband and I tried Nutella crepes in Paris, Nutella Gelato in Florence and again in Rome… I just couldn’t get enough! There is something irresistible about that creamy hazelnut-chocolate flavor, it’s just perfect for any dessert. Here’s one of my favorite ways to enjoy Nutella, in a cupcake! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

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Decadent S’mores Cake

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sugarb smores cake 1sugarb smores cake 2

Welcome to my blog! This is my first blog post so I want to do a quick introduction… I’m Blaire, a self-taught baker, wife and business woman. I love to venture out and try new things, while traveling for work or Pinterest surfing I am always on the look out for mouth-watering desserts. Recently, I completed my first cake decorating class, now my desserts must taste and look amazing, Sugar B approved! Taste will always be the most important factor for me, I promise that what you see in the pictures will always be the true result of my baking. I hate making a dessert that comes out looking nothing like the picture (this is especially true for frosting recipes). I’d love to hear from you if you have ideas for ways to improve, and stick with me while I work on my photography skills.

IMG_9778And now, onto the important stuff, the sweets! I originally made this S’mores Cake for my husband and his twin brother’s surprise 30th birthday. It was such a big hit (there was literally none left) and I had so many requests for the recipe, it finally pushed me over the edge to start a baking blog. I’m not much for the extra fluff when looking at blog recipes, so I will walk you through my methods but try to keep it short and sweet (pun intended) :).

To start, we make the best chocolate cake I’ve ever eaten. I make it for EVERYTHING.   It is my go to recipe for anything chocolate and, trust me, you won’t regret it!

For the purposes of this post, I only made a small two layer cake, but don’t worry the original recipe was used for the party and it’s definitely perfect!

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