Chocolate Eclairs

These eclairs are a result of a lazy Sunday afternoon, not to mention the insatiable indulgence for chocolate, cream and choux pastry.  My kids adore profiteroles, so for a change I thought I would treat them with the odd eclair or two or three, but who's counting!!!!!

Orange Sweeties

All of these orange sweeties were made for an "Orange" themed Dessert Buffet. Cupcakes, French Macarons. Cake Pops and Mini Meringues were just some of the goodies on offer. The macarons were a little finicky to make and quite time consuming but they look so cute on the lollipop sticks.

Cake Pops

These cute little "calorie counting" treasures on sticks are cake pops.  The first step to create these is to make a cake (I chose a red velvet cake).  You then crumble the cake, either by hand or a food processor and mix in cream cheese frosting, then roll into balls and refrigerate for several hours. I then used a flower cutter to cut out the bottom of the balls.  The next step is to dip the base into chocolate, insert the lollipop sticks and then turn them over and dip the top into chocolate.  You are now ready to decorate.

French Macarons

This is my second attempt at making these delightful cookies (french macarons).  They have a wonderful crispy shell on the outside and soft and tender on the inside and then joined together with a chocolate ganache.  They will certainly leave your senses quivering with pleasure.  Piping the cookies all the same size was probably the most tedious task of the process.  I think I did them justice, so I guess I've pretty much conquered the elusive macaron. 

Mini Meringues

Lily Pink

If you love rum and coffee this is the cake for you.  I made this for my sister's birthday, not that she is a rum lover, but it is one of those cakes my family loves to make and EAT!!.  This gateau cake is chocolate and each layer is filled with a rum, coffee and chocolate cream.  The cake is covered with a white chocolate ganache and chocolate shards, but make sure you make it 2 days prior to serving as it is delectably rich!!!!!