Daily Indulgence: December 2011

December 01, 2011
Satisfy your cravings with decadent recipes including chocolate desserts, impressive cakes and pies, and rich main dishes.
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Triple-Chocolate Cake

Photo: Oxmoor House

This rich chocolate drizzle is oh-so tempting. Pour it over the cake or directly into your mouth, whichever is closest.


Triple-Chocolate Cake Recipe
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Red Velvet Cupcakes

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Fall in love this season with delicious red velvet cupcakes. They're just the thing missing from your open house dessert spread.


Red Velvet Cupcakes Recipe

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Chocolate-Drenched Chipotle-Roasted Nuts

Oxmoor House

This recipe had us at "drenched". There's no better way to enjoy delicately spiced pecans and walnuts than with a heavy coating of rich chocolate. Trust us, you'll want to make enough to share.


Chocolate-Drenched Chipotle-Roasted Nuts Recipe
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Old-Fashioned Peanut Brittle

Oxmoor House

If you have a microwave and 20 minutes, you can wow your family and friends with decadent homemade peanut brittle. No baking required.


Old-Fashioned Peanut Brittle Recipe

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Coconut Layer Cake

Photo: Mark Thomas; Styling: Susan Vajaranant

Coconut cakes are ideal desserts during the winter; they're cool, crisp, and a treat for the eyes. Serve this snow-inspired layer cake to friends tonight to get the week off to a great start.


Coconut Layer Cake Recipe

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Chicken Enchiladas

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Buffy Hargett 

Warning: Do not read this email before eating lunch at your desk or the craving for enchiladas with overwhelm your afternoon. Add this recipe to your menu for the week right now, and thank us later.


Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
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Pecan Pralines

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

We can argue about "prahlene" verses "praylene" all day long, or we can just all agree that this version of the classic praline is worth making peace over. Dessert, anyone?


Pecan Pralines Recipe

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Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean Frosting

Photo: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Sarah Smart

It's impossible to beat the rich flavor of a classic vanilla cupcake with perfect vanilla bean frosting, so stop trying and, instead, indulge in this oh-so sweet treat today.


Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean Frosting Recipe

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Cream Cheese-Filled Wreath

Photo: Luca Trovato; Styling: Dani Fisher 

Tomorrow morning when you wake up there may or may not be five hungry people at your breakfast table waiting to eat. Make it tonight, bake it tomorrow, and relax. You are the perfect host.


Cream Cheese-Filled Wreath Recipe
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Eggnog Cheesecake

Photo: Leigh Beisch; Styling: Dan Becker

Save the sipper and promote eggnog from the drink selection to the dessert spread. The graham cracker crusts provides a perfectly sweet crust with just a hint of spice.


Eggnog Cheesecake Recipe

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Raised Gingerbread Doughnuts and Holes

Photo: Jim Franco; Styling: Rebecca Donnelly

Tis the season to indulge in over-the-top treats, so break out the oil and get frying to make a batch of these tasty treats. Don't forget the sprinkle of powdered sugar!


Raised Gingerbread Doughnuts and Holes Recipe

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Chocolate-Gingerbread-Toffee Cake

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

No one is allowed to have a case of the Mondays when this luscious layer cake is on the dessert menu.


Chocolate-Gingerbread-Toffee Cake Recipe
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Milk Chocolate-Peppermint Bark

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

This year, get everything you want off your wish list, starting with a dreamy dessert. Go ahead; you've been so good!


Milk Chocolate-Peppermint Bark Recipe

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Chocolate Velvet Cupcakes

Photo: Jennifer Davick

You could linger on the flavor of the chocolate cupcake, or move on to the star of this show: Browned Butter-Cinnamon-Cream Cheese Frosting. That's hard to say five times fast, especially when your mouth is full of delicious cupcake.


Chocolate Velvet Cupcakes Recipe

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Crunchy Frostbite Cookies

Oxmoor House

Crisp oatmeal cookies get a quick dunk in melted white chocolate for a winter-wonderland effect. It's cute to look at and a dream to taste. Go ahead, make a batch and get your frostbite on.


Crunchy Frostbite Cookies Recipe
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Peppermint-Coated Pretzels

Photo: Oxmoor House

First, you'll taste the bold peppermint candies, then the smooth white chocolate and, finally, the salty pretzels. This three-in-one dessert is a guaranteed party pleaser. Now you simply have to decide if it's a party of one or if you're willing to share.


Peppermint-Coated Pretzels Recipe

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Eggnog Pound Cake

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Caroline Murphey

Looking for a last minute food gift or just a simple breakfast treat to have on hand? This pound cake pulls double duty as a worthy party dessert and a next-day morning indulgence. On second thought, better make two loaves.


Eggnog Pound Cake Recipe

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Chocolate-Peppermint Bark

Oxmoor House

Sure, you could buy bark at the store, but did you know that it's super easy to make? Five ingredients and a little time are all you need. Most of the time is spent letting the bark set, leaving you with hours to finish holiday shopping or watch one more classic movie.


Chocolate-Peppermint Bark Recipe
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Spiced Christmas Cashews

Oxmoor House

Whether you're making goody bags for party-goers or stocking the bowl by the buffet, these spiced nuts are a great addition to your must-make recipe list. They're delicious all year around, but particularly delightful when it's cold outside.


Spiced Christmas Cashews Recipe

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Rustic Apple Tart

Photo: José Picayo; Styling: Jocelyne Beaudoin

This apple dessert is a showstopper on any Hanukkah menu. Enjoy it for dessert one night during the Festival of Lights.


Rustic Apple Tart Recipe

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Snow White Cupcakes

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Treat yourself to a winter wonderland moment with this snow white cupcake. The best part? That gorgeous icing is actually Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting. Who needs Santa? We already have everything we want.


Snow White Cupcakes Recipe
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White Christmas Dream Drops

Photo: Alex Farnum; Styling: Robyn Valarik

Perfect for the holiday season, this festive dessert works perfectly for Christmas, New Year's, and even Valentine's Day. We tell you that because, once you taste them, you'll be looking for excuses to whip up a second (or fifth) batch.


White Christmas Dream Drops Recipe

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Graham Cracker Fudge

Oxmoor House

The holidays are in full swing and you've still got a few ladies and gentlemen on your list who have been very good this year. Whip up this easy giftable dessert for a delicious treat that's sure to be appreciated this season.


Graham Cracker Fudge Recipe

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Chocolate-Mint Sandwich Cookies

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Susan Vajaranant

Poor Rudolph. He gets carrots and a night of hard flying while the Big Man gets all the cookies and milk he can eat. We have to say, if given the choice of these cookie sandwiches or a lone carrot stick, tonight we'd definitely pick the cookies.


Chocolate-Mint Sandwich Cookies Recipe
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Santa and Reindeer Truffles

Photo: Miki Duisterhof

The hardest part about making these truffles is deciding whom to eat first. Dasher? Dancer? Prancer? Or, perhaps, the big man himself.


Santa and Reindeer Truffles Recipe

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Coffee Lovers' Coffee Cake

Oxmoor House

Coffee cake is the Miss Congeniality of desserts. It's easy going, always perfect, and goes with anything. This cake, ideal for breakfast, snacks, or dessert, is ready in just about an hour.


Coffee Lovers' Coffee Cake Recipe

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Bourbon-Caramel Truffles

Photo: Levi Brown; Styling: Tiziana Agnello

These pop-able treats are worthy of any party's menu, but particularly so as we count down to the New Year. If trying something chocolate and delicious is on your to do list before 2012, then this is your recipe. Enjoy.


Bourbon-Caramel Truffles Recipe
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Bacon-Herb Cupcakes

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell

When we think of cupcakes, we normally think of gooey sweet treats piled with icing. Go to the savory side and enjoy these mini bacon muffins with a dollop of cream cheese and a sprinkle of fresh herbs.


Bacon-Herb Cupcakes Recipe

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Coconut-Pecan Cupcakes

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Smooth caramel icing rounds out the flavor of this winter-ready cupcake. Bake a batch, light a fire, and enjoy the tastes of the season.


Coconut-Pecan Cupcakes Recipe

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Eggnog Cheesecake With Gingersnap Crust

When you count down to the 2012, don't you want to be with something you love? Try this super simple cheesecake. You've never had a sweeter New Year's Eve kiss.


Eggnog Cheesecake With Gingersnap Crust Recipe
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Baked Honey-Raisin Brie

This easy dish is ideal for New Year's Eve because it works just as well as a dessert as it does an appetizer. Plus, it has fruit, so it must be good for you, right?


Baked Honey-Raisin Brie Recipe
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