Dessert Darling

Harry and David's, A Re-giftable Staple of the Holidays

The holidays are officially here and if you're anything like me, you've already been bombarded with hordes of catalogues in the mail! While I don't enjoy giving out poor reviews, it's my job to guide you through the mound of options.

Harry and David's feels rather corporate and 1970s-ish to me.  Their star dessert, Mousse Munch, is only so-so and you could break a tooth on their "fresh" sugar cookies that fly in from Oregon.  Oddly enough though, I've always loved their pears.

At the end of the day, a gift from Harry's and David's is a totally fine package to send someone, or some office, that you must dutifully commemorate during the holidays. Just don't be shocked if it somehow makes its way back you in the cycle of re-gifting. You'll know then what karma is... a box of mediocre goodies that you may or may not eat over the next 6 months. 

For more information on Harry and David's, click here. 

Ginger-spice Cookies from Williams-Sonoma Catalogue

These ginger-spice Halloween cookies from the Williams-Sonoma catalogue remind me of the German "peppernut" cookie, Pfeffernusse.  They bubble out and have a soft consistency, with a thin, mild, and hardened glaze that somewhat tempers the strong spices and cloves in the cookie.  With only 2.5 grams of fat for five little cookies, these are a very low-fat and forgiving treat.  While these Gingerbread cookies aren't quite the way grandma made them, they're cute to put out in a bowl or tray for Halloween festivities. Kids would surely love the fun and colorful options and they're just the right size for little hands. Just don't buy these cookies in hopes of total decadence, otherwise, you'll be tricked expecting your treat.

 

 

For more info on ordering these cookies from Williams-Sonoma, click here. 

 

Blissful Brownies from Williams-Sonoma

With the holiday season around the corner, I thought it my duty to investigate some of the catalogue goodies that I see in my daily mail.  Luckily, I had a William-Sonoma gift card, which made me feel less pathetic ordering treats for myself. It's what my aunt would have wanted me to buy with her generous gift... right?! 

So far, only the "Blissful Brownies" have arrived, and while they're good,  "Blissful" might be a stretch. The ingredients are your basic, traditional brownie items with an added dash of "Guitard Chocolate Liquor." This Liquor must be a "secret" ingredient of sorts. Unfortunately for this big hunk of uncut brownies, I just don't think they travel well.  Perhaps they were "blissful" fresh out of the oven, but my biggest, and really only complaint, is the chalky texture... especially from the top crumbly layer.  As you get deeper in, you do hit some sweet spots that are rich and smooth... but eeg, those chalky moments really besmirch the overall experience. 

These brownies won't totally disappoint you,  but they won't make you die and go to heaven either. With their natural ingredients and fantastic flavor, these brownies still garner a 3.5 cherry rating. 

 

They come in one big hunk, but this image advertises the brownies when cut into squares

 

For more info on William-Sonoma, click here. 

If you're local and want absolutely divine brownies, I recommend the "Chocolate-Caramel Brownie Puddle" by Bountiful Desserts. Now these goodies will send you directly to Bliss!

 

Chocolate and Fudge at Figi's

Every now and then I receive a catalog from a Wisconsin brand called Figi's.  I figured, what the heck, I'm the Dessert Darling, I can order myself a few chocolates and finally see what this brand is all about.

Um, all about amazing deliciousness is what they're all about! I demolished the fudge that I only intended on having one bite of and the the turtle caramel nut cluster didn't last much longer.  The blueberry chocolates were a bit sweet and citrusy for me, but if you're a cherry cordial person, you might enjoy the variation.  Finally the divinity was somewhat saccharine for my tastes, but still resembled a pillow cloud of loveliness.  

For more info on Figi's, click here! Btw, my order came with freebies- Woo!