With Easter just around the corner, you don’t need the holiday to use jellybeans as an ingredient or decoration for your sweet treat creations. Keep in mind that kids aren’t the only ones that get a kick out of these colorfully sweet confections. From experimenting with the exotic flavors of Jelly Bellys to focusing on one flavor (like hot cinnamon) – there are plenty of ways to add a little pizzazz to your desserts, including the ones listed below:

Jellybean Rice Krispy Treats

These iconic chewy cereal bars usually contain Rice Krispies, but any crispy rice cereal will do. In a large microwave bowl, combine three tablespoons of butter and one 1-ounce package of marshmallows. Cook on high power for 3 minutes – stirring halfway during cooking time. Stir the mixture until smooth, and then add 5 cups of crispy rice cereal and 1-½ cups of assorted jellybeans. Stir until coated. Press the mixture into a buttered 13×9 pan. Cut into squares.

Biscotti with Jellybeans

Using jellybeans in a biscotti recipe isn’t something you see all the time, but some people will add the chewy sweets to their usual ingredient list. When your biscotti dough is very soft and sticky, add in a 13-ounce bag of assorted jellybeans.

Jellybean Cake

While some people choose to top their frosting with jellybeans to make a decorative exterior for their favorite cake recipes, others will insert jellybeans into the batter of their cake, which adds a chewy, sweet surprise in each slice. Browse the Internet for recipes, which include Jellybean Confetti Cake and Easter Angel Cake.

Sugary Nests for Jellybeans

Want to spice up the presentation of Easter jellybeans? Combine the crunchiness of Chinese noodles with melted marshmallows to create an attractive nest for your sweets. All you need is 2 cups of miniature marshmallows, ¼ cup of butter, and 4 cups of chow mein noodles. Melt the butter and marshmallows together in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir the mixture until everything has melted. Add in the chow mein noodles and stir well to coat with the buttery marshmallows. Grease your fingers and press the mixture into the bottom and sides of a prepared 12-cup muffin tin. Refrigerate until firm.

Jellybeans for Decoration

Using jellybeans as a decoration is a popular Easter dessert technique for cupcakes. Use the shape of the jellybeans to create the ears and nose of a sweet rabbit face, while using licorice for the whiskers. For a Halloween treat, black jellybeans come in handy for creating the body for ghoulish spiders on top of cakes and cupcakes.

Whether you’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with traditional Irish sweet treats or want to add international pizzazz to family get-togethers, consider sampling the following desserts from Ireland. You’ll be surprised what you can accomplish with a bit of Guinness, whiskey or leftover potatoes.

Carrigaline Whiskey Pie

When preparing Carrigaline whiskey pie (also known as Sweet Whiskey and Potato Souffle), you’re well on your way to creating an appetizing dessert soufflé that incorporates beaten eggs, whipped egg whites, and the typical sweetener. However, be prepared for the mashed potatoes and other extras that add to the overall taste of the pie. From pounded almond to orange juice, variations make sure the aroma and flavor of the pie captures the addition of whiskey.

A sample ingredient list for Whiskey Pie includes: ½ pound of boiled potatoes, ¼ pound of melted butter, ¾ pound of sugar, six eggs, pounded almonds, one tablespoon of orange extract, and four ounces of Irish whiskey. When baking all the ingredients together, the soufflé will fall to give the appearance of a pie. In the end, you are left with a solid, rich dessert with an unforgettable fragrance wafting in the air.

When serving the pie, you may use unsweetened whipped cream or double cream with a hint of grinded nutmeg as a topping.

Chocolate Potato Cake

In case you’re wondering how potatoes found their way into the recipes of Irish desserts, the freshly mashed variety was discovered to create tender breads and cakes. Another rich dessert that uses potatoes as one of the ingredients is Chocolate Potato Cake. Moist to the touch, the cake fills the kitchen with the same scent as brownies baking in the oven. Some of the ingredients found in a typical Chocolate Potato Cake recipe include grated chocolate, superfine sugar, ground almonds, cinnamon, milk, and cold cooked potatoes. For this recipe, it’s best to use a tube pan (like a Bundt) or a springform cake pan.

Donegal Oatmeal Cream

This particular dessert takes advantage of oats – a popular homegrown grain in Ireland. When making Donegal Oatmeal Cream, do not use rolled oats, as recipes call for cracked whole oat grain or groat (also known as pinhead oats, cracked oats or porage oats). When local grocery stores do not carry the oats you seek, pay a visit to the nearest health food store. Donegal Oatmeal Cream is certainly the perfect challenge for someone that doesn’t mind a bit of extra legwork. You won’t be disappointed, as the combination of oatmeal cream, whipped cream, and tart fruit makes an irresistible treat.

Irish Whiskey Cake

Follow in the footsteps of traditional Irish weddings by serving an Irish Whiskey Cake, which produces a rich, moist dessert – glazed with a sumptuous Irish whiskey icing (or sauce) – a real treat for the 21 and over crowd. After making the cake, the dessert is topped with a glaze consisting of one stick of butter, ¼ cup of water, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, and one cup of Irish Whiskey.

Other Irish desserts to consider include:

• Guinness Cake – with raisins soaked in Guinness.
• “Irish Coffee” Pudding – containing Irish whiskey
• Tipsy Cake – made with warm custard and sherry

A Mardi Gras celebration isn’t much of a party without a piece of King Cake. Often containing a filling or surprise (such as a coin or small trinket), this tasty sweet yeast bread is a traditional Mardi Gras treat. The dough for King Cake is braided and shaped into a circle to represent a crown. White icing and colored sugar decorates the cake in the time-honored colors of Mardi Gras – gold (power), purple (justice), and green (faith).

Local bakeries stock up on King Cake to satisfy Mardi Gras celebrators, but nothing beats a homemade creation. The dough usually contains eggs, flour, powdered milk, butter, salt, warm water, and yeast. Sugar, egg, and softened cream cheese serve as a typical filling. A streusel topping of cinnamon, sugar, and toasted pecans may cover the cake. Glazes often contain softened butter, powdered sugar, and milk. Beyond the colorful display of King Cake, awaken your kitchen with the tantalizing scents of other Mardi Gras desserts, such as:

Pain Perdu

This deep-fried version of French toast involves softening hard bread by dipping it in a mixture of eggs, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and milk, and then deep-frying or pan-frying in butter. New Orleans Pain Perdu is typically made with leftover New Orleans-style French bread – similar to a French baguette, but with a crunchier exterior and lighter interior. Pain Perdu is either served with powdered sugar, jam, or flavored syrups.

Bananas Foster

Topping ripe bananas with a warm, syrupy topping consisting of brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, rum, and banana liqueur over scoops of vanilla ice cream, Bananas Foster originated in New Orleans. Often times, the dessert is set afire after the addition of alcohol – a cooking technique known as flambé.

Pralines

This New Orleans confection is comprised of chopped pecans, heavy cream, and sugar. Louisiana first enjoyed this sweet treat when French settlers took full advantage of the local sugar cane and pecan trees. During the 19^th century, chefs in New Orleans used pecans instead of the European preference of almonds and added cream to thicken the dessert.

The next time a dark chocolate candy bar with nuts is calling your name – you don’t have to feel guilty about indulging in its rich, smooth sweetness. Dark chocolate actually possesses a handful of health benefits that goes beyond tasting good and serving as a remarkable comfort food.

There’s no denying the power of chocolate, as it contains ingredients that stimulate the body in more ways than one. The serotonin found in dark chocolate works to decrease stress and combats depression. Other ingredients increase the production of endorphins, which fills your body with that unforgettable feeling of pleasure and satisfaction. Other substances, such as theobromine and caffeine, contribute an energetic and pleasing boost of energy that lifts the spirits.

The Health Factors of Dark Chocolate

Since chocolate comes from a plant, it offers some of the same health benefits as dark vegetables. Like other plants, it contains flavonoids, which provide beneficial antioxidants to the body. Eat dark chocolate in moderation and you can lessen the damage of free radicals, which contributes to heart disease and causes your body to age at a faster rate. When compared to strawberries, you’ll be surprised to know that dark chocolate contains nearly eight times more antioxidants.

It’s the flavonoids in dark chocolate that also aids in maintaining a healthy blood pressure and helps create a balance in hormones throughout the body. Studies have proven that daily consumption of just a small amount of dark chocolate can reduce blood pressure in patients that suffer high blood pressure. An up to 10% reduction in LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) is also linked to eating dark chocolate.

However, many people shy away from chocolate because they feel it contains a lot of calories, but you’ll be pleased to know that some of the fats in chocolate are healthy. Oleic acid is the same healthy monounsaturated fat found in olive oil, while stearic acid provides a saturated fat with a neutral effect on cholesterol. The saturated fat linked to raising cholesterol levels and increasing the risk for heart disease only accounts for one-third of the fat content in chocolate.

5 Stay-Healthy Chocolate Tips

From promoting a physically fit heart to serving the cardiovascular system, you don’t have to feel guilty about routinely eating a small bar of dark chocolate. A few suggestions to help you get the most out of dark chocolate health benefits include:

• Don’t exceed more than 100 grams (or 3.5 ounces) of dark chocolate per day in order to maximize health benefits.
• Choose dark chocolate containing a 65% or higher cocoa content.
• Resembling chocolate chips, many organic trail mixes contain raw cacao in the form of cacoa nibs – unroasted, unsweetened bits of healthy chocolate.
• Add raw organic cocoa powder to soy ice cream or refreshing smoothies.
• For a flavorful healthy treat, select dark chocolate with nuts, orange peel, and natural flavorings.

Great resources for dark chocolate: Chocolate.com, See’s Candies.

From enhancing the taste of coffee to elevating confections, crème de menthe is a mint-flavored liqueur that adds to the flavor of desserts and beverages without overpowering other ingredients. Sometimes added during the preparation of recipes, crème de menthe also serves as a syrupy topping for cakes, pastries, fresh fruit, and ice cream. Since the flavoring is concentrated liqueur syrup, you’ll find that a small amount of crème de menthe goes a long way. When you’re looking for a dessert or drink with a minty flavor, consider the following suggestions that take full advantage of crème de menthe:

* Grasshopper Pie

Using a graham cracker crust or cookie crust made out of chocolate wafers (or Oreos), Grasshopper Pie (shown above)  is a chiffon pie served cold that offers a distinct chocolate and mint flavor. The crust is typically baked for a short time and then chilled before adding ingredients. Depending on the recipe, you may use marshmallows, cream cheese, and whipping cream when making the pie filling.

* Crème de Menthe Parfaits

For a frozen sweet treat perfect for dinner parties, create a parfait using 1 pint fresh raspberries, ½ cup crème de menthe liqueur, and 2 pints of French vanilla ice cream as layers – all topped with whipped cream. Many recipes exist, which make use of other ingredients, such as white creme de cacao, chocolate wafer crumbs, crushed pineapple, and fresh mint leaves.

* Crème de Menthe Coupes

Coupes are usually ice cream or fruit-flavored ice sweet treats served in a special dessert glass. Haagen-Dazs offers a recipe for Crème de Menthe Coupes that uses a carton of their Mint Chip Ice Cream layered with green creme de menthe syrup and chopped pistachio nuts. Fresh mint leaves, hot fudge sauce and whipped cream serve as delicious toppings.

* Crème de Menthe Cheesecake

The options in cheesecake know no bounds and there are plenty of variations that take mint flavors to new heights. For example, you can use 2 tablespoons of green or white crème de menthe liqueur to enhance the flavor of filling for a creamy cheesecake that uses mint candies as a garnish. Land O Lakes has a recipe with a crust that uses finely crushed chocolate graham crackers.

* Creme De Menthe Brownies

When you crave a chocolaty sweet treat with a little kick, consider the minty blast of Creme De Menthe Brownies. Use a package of Creme de Menthe baking chips to heighten the taste of the brownies. A chocolate frosting makes a delicious cover for the dessert. Since shaved Creme de Menthe thins serve as a topping, using Andes is a convenient and inexpensive way to decorate the brownies.

Crème de Menthe for Drinks

Crème de menthe allows you to add a mint flavor to your favorite coffees and teas. From a variety of hot and cold beverages, just ½ teaspoon of the liqueur will do the trick. Another way to include crème de menthe in your drinks is to add ¼ teaspoon over ice before pouring a glass of soda. The flavoring also adds pizzazz to an assortment of after-dinner drinks and fruit-flavored alcoholic beverages, including daiquiris and margaritas.

In the past, ice cream was once an expensive and rare treat because it took quite a long time to prepare the dessert before the invention of modern refrigeration was born. Today, ice cream isn’t the only frozen indulgence that satisfies a sweet tooth. We can now choose from a variety of frozen sweet treats that offer an array of ingredients, flavors, and textures, including:

Ice Cream

Dairy products, such as milk and cream, play a significant role in making ice cream, which comes in fat-free, slow churned, sugar free, and low-fat versions. The variety of fruits, nuts, flavors, and other ingredients livening up our ice creams are endless. From rosewater-flavored selections served at Mashti Malone’s Ice Cream (Los Angeles, California) to inspired blends, like Turkey Hill’s Limited Edition Baked Apple Dumpling, creative minds cease to surprise our taste buds. Ice cream is also used in a variety of delicious desserts – ice cream pies, parfaits, cakes, and other desserts, like the infamous Baked Alaska.

Frozen Yogurt

Introduced as a healthier alternative to ice cream, frozen yogurt (also known as ‘froyo’) is made from or contains yogurt and/or other dairy products, which contributes to a lower calorie count. Frozen yogurt possesses a softer consistency and is considered tartier than ice cream. A basic frozen yogurt recipe generally includes milk solids, milk fat, yogurt culture, sweetener, gelatin, corn syrup, coloring, and flavoring. Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, peach, and other fruity flavors dominate the frozen yogurt market.

Frozen Custard

Similar to ice cream, frozen custard carries a high percentage of butterfat and egg yolk, which creates a thick, creamy texture. This frozen treat offers a much smoother, softer consistency than ice cream. The best place to enjoy frozen custard is at a modern stand or facility, where the treat is prepared fresh. It’s usually hard to track down frozen custards in a grocery store. Standard flavors include chocolate and vanilla with the occasional unique blend – often touted as a ‘flavor of the day.’

Gelato

The Italian version of ice cream is called gelato – a frozen dessert typically consisting of milk, cream, sugar, and natural flavorings – most often fruit and nut purees. This traditional sweet treat usually delivers a bolder flavor and contains about 3% less fat than ice cream. Often served in a small glass dish or paper container, popular gelato flavors include chocolate, pistachio, coffee, egg custard, strawberry, raspberry, and lemon.

Sorbet

A range of sorbets is found in restaurants and grocery stores – a frozen treat consisting of sweetened water flavored with frozen fruit juice or puree. Wine, liqueurs, and chocolate can also play a role in the creation of sorbet. While ice cream uses dairy products with an abundant amount of air whipped in, sorbet differs in its composition – allowing a dense and fuller flavor to emerge in this non-fat or low-fat dessert. Popular flavors of sorbet include key lime, mango, and coconut.

Sherbet

Sherbet offers a refreshing frozen blend of sweetened fruit juice and water. Sometimes, sherbet contains egg whites, gelatin, and milk, but usually only a small amount. The sweet treat possesses a lighter consistency than ice cream and is known for its vibrantly fruity flavors. Raspberry, orange, lime, and lemon represent standard sherbet flavors. Tropical blends, such as pineapple, mango, and coconut are also available. Pair orange sherbet with vanilla ice cream to create a dazzlingly traditional combination.

Italian Ice

Not to be confused with an Icee or flavored shaved ice, Italian ice actually undergoes the same process as ice cream – mixing ingredients and pouring them into a batch freezer. This frozen dessert is comprised of concentrated syrup flavoring or natural fruit purees. Cherry, lemon, orange, and blue raspberry are popular flavors of Italian ice, which is typically served in small cups or tube-like containers.

Image Credits: Richard Dudley (top),  Michal Zacharzewski, SXC (middle)

Ranging from palm-flavored mini cakes with shredded coconut (khanom tan) to jasmine scented coconut pudding (tako), the majority of Thai meals end with fresh fruit or a sweet snack as dessert. Chao kuai is a grass jelly typically served with shaved ice and brown sugar, while sangkhaya fak thong combines egg and coconut served with pumpkin. In the United States, Thai desserts containing mango, coconut milk, and sticky rice are most popular, like the ones listed below:

The Importance of Mango

In Thai cuisine, mango plays an important role – added to entrees, side dishes and especially desserts. If you’d like to explore Thai sweets that include the delectably sweet fruit, consider mango sorbet and pudding. Mango Sorbet usually requires the use of a blender or food processor to produce the light and airy frozen treat of sweetened water flavored with iced fruit juice or puree. For a quick Thai treat, Mango Pudding only takes about 15 minutes to create. Some recipes use coconut milk instead of whipping cream or evaporated milk, which livens up the flavor of the mango.

Thai Mango Sticky Sweet Rice

Sticky rice (also known as glutinous rice) possesses a glue-like consistency and is used in a variety of Thai desserts and dishes. You can locate sticky rice at an Asian grocery store or a supermarket aisle offering international food products. A colander is generally used to steam the sticky rice or it is made on a stovetop in a pot. This classic tropical blend starts with saturating the sticky rice in coconut milk and ends with slices of fresh or frozen mango as a topping.

Pandan Rice Cake

Another Thai dessert that uses sticky rice is the two-layered Pandan Rice Cake – a relatively healthy treat that’s low in sugar, rich in protein, and low in saturated fat. The first layer consists of sticky rice, coconut milk, and a green-colored paste known as “pandan” – made from the juice of Pandanus amaryllifolius leaves. The first layer is also sweetened with white or brown sugar (and sometimes maple syrup). The second layer is comprised of eggs, coconut milk, sugar, pandan paste, and rice flour. Often served warm or at room temperature, the cake is usually decorated with fresh fruit or drizzled with toasted coconut.

Thai-Style Crème Caramel

The Thai version of the traditional crème caramel dessert uses coconut milk in place of cream, which supplies the body with good fats that help lower your cholesterol. Most recipes create a whipped treat you pop in the oven in less than ten minutes.

Green Tea and Coconut Cake

A favorite at potluck gatherings, dinner parties and afternoon tea, Green Tea and Coconut Cake blends healthy green tea with shredded coconut, brown sugar, and coconut milk. Because of the ingredients, this Thai dessert offers a low-fat, low-carb, low-sodium treat. Typical recipes use about three teaspoons of green tea powder, such as Japanese ‘macha’ – found at health food stores or Asian import markets.

Image Credit: Sue Pizarro (suzula) – sticky rice & mango

With a sweet scent and unquestionable versatility, figs produce an array of tasty treats, including fig pudding and fig-date cookies. Found in warm climates, the fruit grow like wildfire in California, Georgia, Texas and Alabama – basically in locations with hot summers and mild winters. Pick the delectable fruit from a tree and eat out of hand or consider one of the fig dessert suggestions found at the end of this post.

Ranging in color and texture, there are more than 150 varieties of figs – all bursting with their own supply of sweetness. Popular choices include:

• Adriatic: Light green skin and pink-tan flesh commonly used in fig bars
• Black Mission: Blackish-purple skin and pink colored flesh
• Kadota: Green skin and purplish flesh
• Calimyrna: Greenish-yellow skin and amber flesh
• Brown Turkey: Purple skin and red flesh – large southern fig also grown in California.

The Versatility and Benefits of Figs

Yes, figs make delicious desserts, and also provide eaters with a range of health benefits and flexible baking possibilities. For starters, you can embrace figs to achieve your weight management goals, as they contain a good source of dietary fiber. Other benefits of figs include:

• Delivering a healthy boost of potassium, figs can help lower high blood pressure.
• Besides the occasional rough patches or thick skin, figs do not require any peeling. Leaving the skins on figs when making desserts actually produces a stronger flavor.
• A variety of herbs and spices make satisfying accompaniments to sweet and savory fig recipes, including bay, thyme, aniseed and lavender.
• With 79 milligrams of calcium in an 8-ounce serving of figs, the fruit contains minerals that promote bone density.

7 Ideas for Fig Desserts

Fig Galette: With a buttery crust, fill your galette (flat, round or freeform crusty cakes) with figs for a pastry oozing intense flavor best topped with whipped cream.

Fig Tarts: Use fig preserves to create Cinnamon-Sugar Fig Tarts with ingredients, such as toasted, chopped walnuts (or pecans), ground allspice, and brown sugar. You can also add cloves to enhance the flavor of your favorite fig tart recipe. Consider blending a mascarpone cheese filling with Black Mission figs or serving a fig tart with paper-thin prosciutto di Parma, like the infamous chef Mario Batali.

Fig Cake: Use freshly chopped figs to create a moist cake for the holidays with hints of almond and vanilla extract. Add lemon or a dash of balsamic vinegar to fig desserts to enhance the sweetness of slightly underripe figs or awaken the flavor in ripe selections.

Fig Bars: If you love the taste of Fig Newtons with a cup of tea or coffee, then you’ll appreciate a good fig bar recipe. Try adding cardamom and rose water to enjoy a different take on the typical fig bar filling.

Fig Stuffed Apples: Stuff apples with fresh figs, honey, apple juice and lemon juice to create a tantalizing dessert that bakes in the oven for one hour.

Ice Cream Treat: Serve figs poached in juice or red wine with frozen yogurt or ice cream for a cold dessert. For the ice cream maker at heart, explore a recipe that focuses on figs.

Nutty Fig Delight: For a hearty dessert, stuff fresh figs with goat cheese and chopped almonds.

Image Credit: Linda Pannekoek (vanepan) on sxc.hu