Sweet Envy on TODAY!

Photo: Devorah Backman

Last Tuesday, I got to have my hair done all fancy, and it lasted, like, the entire day. But that's not even the best part–I also got to pimp out my cookbook Sweet Envy on the TODAY show! (I don't get out much so the hair thing was really exciting.) And if the saying "the camera adds ten pounds" holds true, then my desserts must have looked really big because they got some major screen time. (In TODAY show time, that's like, three minutes.) The segment was all about Holiday desserts, so I was lucky enough to share the Mint Chocolate Trifle, Wayne Thiebaud Whoopie Pies and the Coconut Bliss Cake with the incredibly smart and gorgeous Tamron Hall. Here's a sneak peek of the segment, followed by some un-eventful "behind-the-scenes" pics. I wish I could tell you that I spent the whole day catching up with Al Roker and crew, but they run a pretty tight ship over there. So basically, I was in-and-out. Once I left the studio I treated myself to a gargantuan platter of bacon and eggs and waited for people to recognize me. Guess my celebrity status isn't official as no one seemed to give me any special treatment. But it's all good, my parents were proud of me. (Isn't that really why we all aim to go on the TODAY show?) 

Photo: Devorah Backman

The left is a close up of the whoopie pies, and the right image captures 
the exact moment I realized I wanted to eat every single one of them. 

Photo: Devorah Backman

Here's what the recipes look like in the book. 

Photo: @AliciaYbarbo

So that was my Tuesday. I am so eternally grateful for the opportunity! (Along with the chance to spend the day sans kid in NYC.) And as we are now in the midst of the holiday season, I urge you to try one of these recipes. They're not only really tasty, they're great for entertaining! I hate to choose favorites, but the mint chocolate trifle is ridiculous. 

Piña Colada Petits Fours

This past week my husband Tom and I returned from our "babymoon" in the gorgeous Turks & Caicos Islands. We decided to celebrate the new year on the warm beach with a piña colada or two (rum-free for me, of course:) Our perfect vacation boasted copious amounts of fresh pineapple and coconut, and I couldn't seem to get enough. Sadly, all vacations must come to an end and here we are back in frigid NYC. Still craving that Caribbean flavor combo, I decided to make my own piña colada creation. I knew I wanted to make a piña colada cake, but because coconut can make things extra sweet, I decided petits fours would be the perfect tiny bite! If you're stuck with the winter blues, create these petits fours–The toasted coconut smell alone will take your taste buds to a warmer place (at a fraction of the cost!) 

Piña Colada Petits Fours
Makes about 30 petits fours

INGREDIENTS
For the Cake

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
5 eggs
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
3 tablespoons dark rum
1/3 cup chopped or crushed pineapple
1/3 cup coconut flakes

For the Glaze
6 cups sifted confectioners sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup dark rum
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
Toasted coconut flakes for garnish

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13" baking pan with parchment paper and set aside. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture in 2 additions, alternating with the coconut milk. Add the rum, coconut flakes and pineapple and mix on high until batter is fully incorporated, about 10 seconds. Pour batter into baking pan and bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. While the cake cools completely, make the glaze.

2. Combine sugar, water, rum and corn syrup in a saucepan and cook over low heat until well-mixed, about 5-8 minutes. Set aside.

3. Remove cooled cake from the pan and use a 1.5" circle cutter to cut petits fours (or just cut squares with a sharp knife). Use a spoon to coat the sides of the petits fours with the glaze, then drizzle the glaze over the top of the cake and garnish with toasted coconut flakes. Let petits fours set for a half an hour before serving.