Fresh berries

I hadn’t planned to blog about these, but they were just too cute not to share. With a package of sugar cookie dough and a little creativity, the options are endless! I created these Toasted Almond Berry Bites with Independence Day in mind, but this dainty dessert is elegant enough for an afternoon tea or to serve as an attractive appetizer with cocktails.

My Toasted Almond Berry Bites took less than 30 minutes to prepare and you’ll only need a few ingredients. Cream cheese is like a blank canvas. You can flavor it however you wish! The kosher salt and lemon juice will just enhance whichever flavors you choose to use. Is there a flavored wine you like? Use it instead of the coffee. Don’t like vanilla extract? Use coconut or lemon extract. What’s your favorite fruit? Dice strawberries for the topping or toss on freshly picked blackberries. Be creative and have fun!

You’ll need a mini cupcake pan. This pan makes everything cute! It’s one of my favorite baking supplies. Of course, roasted almond slivers would have been perfect to top off these berry bites, but I didn’t have any, so I used Honey Roasted Peanuts. I put a few handfuls in a Zip Lock bag and beat them on the counter top with my rolling-pin until they were the right consistency for sprinkling. I was still able to achieve the crunch I was looking for with the peanuts.

Fill your mini cupcake pan with little balls of sugar cookie dough, pressing your thumb print in the center of each to make a whole for the filling. Then bake your sugar cookie tarts in a pre-heated 375 degree oven for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, whip up your filling. Whisk the cream cheese together with the Toasted Almond Coffee, vanilla extract, lemon juice and sugar. Once the cookie tarts have cooled, add your filling and then decorate with fresh berries. Sprinkle with nuts. If you’d prefer, you can put them in the fridge to allow them to set but this isn’t absolutely necessary.

Place them on a pretty platter and enjoy! These are especially good with a cold glass of Pinot Grigio.

Let me know if you make these. I’d love to hear about how you enjoyed them and how you made them your own!

Here’s the recipe:

1 package of refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened
2 tbs brewed Dunkin’ Donuts Toasted Almond Coffee, cooled
Sugar, to taste
Kosher Salt
Lemon Juice
Pure Vanilla Extract, to taste
Fresh berries – I used raspberries and blueberries
Honey Roasted Peanuts, chopped for sprinkling or Almonds, toasted

Happy baking, eat well.

Mallery Street Cafe
St. Simons Island, Georgia

A rainy morning on the last day of vacation led us to Mallery Street Cafe, a quaint place that boasts familiar, great tasting food in a causal setting. While the rain fell outside, we enjoyed a cozy table inside and awaited breakfast.

The menu is short and sweet with recognizable breakfast food like french toast, fruit, eggs, pancakes, grits and toast. You won’t break the bank here, because the items are a la carte. What is it about a coffee mug on a saucer surrounded by cream and a little spoon for stirring that elicits such a good feeling? A welcomed sight indeed in the early morning.

It was nice having the option to specify how many pancakes you wanted. So often at restaurants, a set number proves too many and are left uneaten. Two hit the spot.

Anytime there’s a packed house, that’s always a good sign. Just give me friendly service and tasty food in a coastal environment and I’m good to go. Located just across the street from the popular St. Simons Island Village, the cafe is a short walk from the Pier.

Open for breakfast and lunch, the cafe serves homemade soups, desserts and features daily specials. Make this place a stop on your next visit to the Golden Isles–you’ll leave simply satisfied.