View from the Back
Ramblings of a retiree in France
Tag: sweet treats
The Musette: Chocolate & almond butter swirl brownies
Chocolate and nut butter, a flavour friendship oft imitated but rarely bettered! In this recipe you make two batters to swirl into the tin, but both are quick and easy and everyone can swirl. This recipe does use quite a lot of nut butter,… Continue Reading “The Musette: Chocolate & almond butter swirl brownies”
The Musette: Chocolate chip brown butter cookies
Cookies are always a crowd-pleaser but how do you take them to the next level? Read on…….Cookies come in an infinite array of flavours and textures and are sure to put a smile on any guests’ faces. Chocolate chip cookies are a classic drop… Continue Reading “The Musette: Chocolate chip brown butter cookies”
The Musette: Vegan tahini and date cookies
These thick, chewy cookies have a similar vibe to an oatmeal raisin cookie but are way more interesting, with the savouriness from the tahini and sweet, sticky dates. One of my favourite things about them is that they don’t require any chilling, meaning they… Continue Reading “The Musette: Vegan tahini and date cookies”
The Musette: Lace Snaps
Lace snaps (Florentines without the fruit) earn their name from their delicate and lacy appearance. These thin and crispy biscuits are made of almond flour, brown butter, brown sugar, salt, and vanilla extract. The butter and sugar sizzle as the cookies bake, transforming the… Continue Reading “The Musette: Lace Snaps”
The Musette: Salzburger Nockerl
In Austria a dessert is referred to as “Mehlspeis” – the dish with flour. I think very highly of Austrian desserts and pastries but the most notable and “piece de resistance” is the famed Salzburger Nockerl, a light, baked soufflé. It is typically served… Continue Reading “The Musette: Salzburger Nockerl”
The Musette: Halloween treats (vegan)
While we don’t generally celebrate Halloween, the local kids occasionally come trick or treating. Consequently, like last year, I will leave two plates of treats (recipes below) in small bags on the table outside my front door, with plenty of hand gel, for fingers… Continue Reading “The Musette: Halloween treats (vegan)”
French Fancies: Ladurée
I still recall the first time I ate a macaron. It was at Gordon Ramsey’s debut London restaurant Aubergine. He served tiny lemon and raspberry macarons as part of his petits fours’ selection. They were delicious, just melted on the tongue. The second time… Continue Reading “French Fancies: Ladurée”
The Musette: Toscakaka
This is my spin on the classic Toscakaka, typically a light sponge topped with caramelised almonds. My version uses a moister and denser ground almond based cake, which makes it feel a little more indulgent with a full on almond flavour. Nobody is quite… Continue Reading “The Musette: Toscakaka”
The Musette: Breton Palets
These are really, really good cookies! They are buttery – as they should be, not too sweet and a little salty. And their texture, so delicate, so tender, so sandy, is a little marvel. How much salt you use is up to you. If… Continue Reading “The Musette: Breton Palets”
The Musette: chocolate truffles
I love making my own petits fours to serve with either tea or coffee after dinner. These take many forms but will typically include chocolate truffles. A chocolate truffle is essentially a firm ganache, made of melted chocolate, cream, butter and flavourings, shaped into… Continue Reading “The Musette: chocolate truffles”
View from the Back 