coated.

Did you know if you combine dates, almond butter, salt and enrobe it in dark chocolate, you have yourself a delicious fudgy bite of goodness?! We didn’t! These incredible bites are gluten free, vegan and satisfy a sweet tooth in a healthier way.

4 Ingredient Almond Date “Fudge“

INGREDIENTS:

9 oz Medjool dates

5 oz almond butter or nut/seed butter of choice

6 oz good quality dark chocolate

Pinch of Celtic salt

………..

INSTRUCTIONS:

Add the dates, almond butter and salt to a food processor and blend until you have a smooth fudge like mixture.

Press mixture into minature muffin silicon mould trays. You can make donut hole sized balls as well and place on parchment paper. Freeze for 2 hours.

Melt chocolate in a microwave, 15 seconds at a time, stirring until completely melted, then dip frozen each piece into the chocolate. Transfer to the fridge to allow the chocolate to set (around 10 minutes.)

Enjoy!

XO, The Bloom TDL

(image via pinterest)

bliss.

Have you ever attended an event where they offered a dessert bar? It’s a fun way to sample a little bit of everything and not fill up on just one dessert. With so many beautifully made sweets, it’s difficult to choose just one, so you don’t have to!

Years ago, we attended a reception in Louisiana that just so happened to have a huge chocolate fountain that took center stage. Luckily for us, there was open seating. Take a wild guess where we made ourselves comfortable. You guess it, we sat right next to this chocolate waterfall! They had perfectly cubed pineapple, angel food cake, whole strawberries, marshmallows and miniature chocolate chip cookies. That might just have been one of the most delicious events we’ve attended.

We hope you get an opportunity to experience a dessert extravaganza like this at some point, if you haven’t already. It’s a feast not only for your eyes, but also for your taste buds.

XO, The Bloom TDL

(image via pintetest)

afters.

Looking to satisfy your sweet tooth, but in a healthier way? Who isn’t?! What we love is a sheet pan dessert like these without the fuss and the muss! Taking your favorite brownie or chocolate chip cookie recipe and substituting the butter for coconut oil or ghee and alternating the sugar with real maple syrup helps eliminate the extreme sugar spike we all know so well and reduces the fat with a healthier one! Just a few small, healthier substitutions make a big difference!

Once your sheet pan dessert has completely cooled, find your favorite cookie cutters, carefully pressing all the way down, then slowly lifing up by the edges of the cookie press to release the cookie.

We love them displayed on a tiered platter surrounded by multiple bowls of different European chocolates (ex: Baci) and low flower bowls filled with your favorite flowers!

XO, The Bloom TDL

(images via pinterest)

Cacao.

Who here likes fudge? We don’t like it, we love it! Especially the version we used to make, it was a special recipe handed down from generation to generation. But, it was loaded with sugar and heavy cream. Ahh, those were the days! Being that’s not the best choice anymore, we’ve found a healthier version. It’s vegan and gluten free! Replacing the traditional chocolate chips, we use cacao powder instead for some nutritional value. We prefer all organic ingredients, however if they’re not available, simply use what’s available at your local market. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

2 cups cocoa butter

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

1/2 cup all natural, creamy almond butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon celtic salt

1 cup cacao powder

Instructions

In a microwave safe bowl, melt your cocoa butter in the microwave, taking it out and stirring after each minute. Continue to whisk it until it is completely melted and smooth. You can also melt it on stove top, whisking it constantly.

Add the maple syrup, almond butter, and vanilla to the bowl. Whisk until smooth and completely combined. Add the celtic salt and cacao powder and whisk until completely smooth.

Pour the mixture into a 9×5 bread pan lined with parchment paper. Refridgerate for two hours. When fudge is completely hardened, pull the parchment paper up to remove it from the pan. Place on a cutting board and cut into 18 square pieces.

Note: It’s delicious with coffee!

XO, The Bloom TDL

(image via pinterest)

Bark.

Chocolate for breakfast? Why not?! This delightful, unexpectedly easy sweet treat can be made and enjoyed with just a few simple ingredients. White chocolate chips, we prefer Ghirardelli Classic White Chips, plain Greek yogurt, dried strawberries, dried blueberries, dried raspberries, toasted granola and roasted pumpkin seeds are all you’ll need for this salty, sweet combination that’ll be sure to satisfy your sweet tooth, in a healthier way!

In a glass bowl, melt down 1 1/2 cups of white chocolate chips in a microwave. Place the glass bowl in the microwave for fifteen seconds, remove and stir the chocolate, place back in the microwave for another fifteen seconds, repeating until all chocolate is all melted. No more than one minute total. Add 1/2 cup of plain greek yogurt to the melted chocolate, stirring until completely mixed. On a sheet pan, place a layer of parchment paper down onto the pan. Pour the melted chocolate and yogurt mixture onto the pan, spreading it out flat, approximately 1/4 inch thick. Place sliced strawberries, blueberries, granola and the pumpkin seeds on top of the yougart mixture. We don’t list measurement for the toppings, add what you like, in the portion you prefer.

Cover baking pan with aluminum foil and place in the freezer for one hour. Once bark is solid, break into pieces and ENJOY!

Note: Milk or dark chocolate can replace the white chocolate, if you prefer. Also, fresh fruit can replace the dried fruit, if eaten within a day or two. 🍓🫐

XO, The Bloom TDL

(images via pinterest)

peppermint.

Whether you enjoy peppermint or not, you have to admit Williams Sonoma takes it seriously! From their iconic Peppermint Bark, to their beautifully colored Peppermint Snaps, in reusable clear glass jars by the way, to the latest and greatest Peppermint Bark coffee! If you’re not on Peppermint overload, you are a TRUE lover of this red and white confection!

Our top pick is their Peppermint Bark Paws! They’re crafted from custom-blended Guittard white and dark chocolate, and infused with double-distilled peppermint with crispy cocoa rice crisps added for a crunchy texture! If that wasn’t enough deliciousness, they add in little peppermint candy bits for the “cherry on top.”

We think a little goes a long with quality, as do these unique, perfectly sized, handcrafted holiday candies! During this time of year, we enjoy a few pieces with a cup of coffee unwinding after the day is through. Afterall, it is the holidays!

It’s fun to stroll through the shop and see for yourself what Williams Sonoma is doing these days. During Thanksgiving, they were brewing up their hot apple cider with cinnamon sticks, such a delight to smell those familiar holiday scents!

Here’s the fastest way to find everything seen here and more from their online stores!

Williams Sonoma

Happy Holidays!

🌟❤️🌟

Have a beautiful Wednesday!

XO, The Bloom TDL

chocolate.

What a wonderful tribute to the worlds greatest, sweet invention, chocolate. Some say it’s the nectar of the gods and consume it every day, others use it as inspiration for interior design! We are delighted to highlight these fabulous decors and pieces of art here. What you’re seeing is the obsession of chocolate taken to the umpteenth degree! Yes, we said umpteenth.

From the ceilings to the walls, the furniture and front doors, these brillant designs and talented designers take the cake, the chocolate cake for that matter, and boldly display “chocolate” with zero apologies.

As for us, we love good quality milk and dark chocolate, but truthfully, it’s what’s on the inside that matters.

XO, The Bloom TDL

(images via pinterest)

earl grey.

Earl Grey. What a splendid tea. The history is rich and long. As it turns out, it’s quite the versatile flavor profile. Infusions of this tasty tea blend make for some very unique and unnexpected treats.

This special tea is flavored with the rind oil of bergamont citrus to give Earl Grey its unique taste. We love it with a dash of steamed almond milk and a vanilla simple syrup. At high noon tea, we start with a piping hot cup of Earl Grey and sink into the afternoon knowing we’ve treated ourselves today. Such a delightful way to start off the holidays!

XO, The Bloom TDL

(images via pinterest)

cookies.

Photo by Taryn Elliott on Pexels.com

Photo by Nicole Michalou on Pexels.com

Photo by Leeloo Thefirst on Pexels.com

Cookies, cookies and more cookies! How much fun would it be to do a cookie exchange?! It’s a great way to try new flavors, share unique treats, and bond with your fellow bakers. It could be a new tradition for you, your family and friends!

Like Julia Child, we think everything is better with butter. The real, organic, salted gold stuff. There’s not much else that compares or enhances the flavor of baked goods like real butter. There are many alternatives these days, some that bake really well. Coconut oil is one of them.

Whatever you choose, we hope they turn out absolutely delicious!

XO, The Bloom TDL