When I think of fancy and elegant baked treats, I think of Red Velvet Whoopie Pies. They are just so good with all that cream cheese jam packed in the middle! I know they are hard to compare to a traditional apple or rhubarb pie but they have all the likings of a real classic dessert. When I made my first batch of Chocolate Whoopie Pies about a month ago I couldn’t believe how simple they were to make. I used to look in recipe books or online for ideas, but whenever I came by some Whoopie pies they just looked too involved and time consuming to bake. That is the worst assumption that I have made in my baking career. Now your thinking, “that is ridiculous Dave, how could you make such an assumption?!” I have no answer to that except don’t make the same mistake as I did, so enjoy and bake away!

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So the word is out there…I am getting hitched! For all of you loyal viewers, I have to tell you about a BIG secret. I know I have been letting you in on a few secrets lately, including the one about the Egg nests, but this one is the biggest of them all. So read the next section very carefully!

This message may not be applicable for everyone reading this, and if thats the case for you, pass it on to a friend or family member that may need some great advice on how to propose to the love of their life. This top secret information that I am about to expose may change the lives of many fiancées to be. Last Saturday, I proposed to my soon-to-be wife Hannah on Mount Rainier mountain. We went snow shoeing for the day, and after I nearly died falling off a cliff, I stumbled out the very important question. I found a little nook nestled amongst some trees, where we went so I could “catch my breath”/propose to Hannah. Breathe in, breathe out. Did she just say yes?! Of course the Male Baker never comes empty handed to momentous occasions, so I promptly busted out a bottle of champagne, 2 crystal glasses, AND the best coconut cupcake she’d ever tasted! We celebrated in style. I used my trusted Baked book and got to baking the day before. The obvious adjustments I made were to add more coconut anywhere in the recipe that I could possibly fit in without ruining the entire batter. This was to prove that I knew her exceptionally well by using one of her favourite tastes everywhere that I could! So take this secret how you want to, but I gotta say that a baked good to celebrate an engagement definitely adds a special touch. So bake away and let me know how things go!

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Although Easter has come and gone, I have still decided to let you in on a little secret of mine. The secret I will let you in on involves some childhood memories that come to my mind every year around the season of Easter. Instead of waiting until next year, I want to give you a head start for the next time you need some unique Rice Krispie treats! My mom always used to make these Bird Nests when I was a kid so I thought that I would remake them. These simple and easy Rice Krispie Bird Nests have the perfect ratio of marshmallow to butter to Rice Krispie and Cocoa Dyno-Bites. Each bite is so chewy and chocolaty and will have you grabbing for more. So now that my secret is out there, go out and concoct these beauties right away.

Makes 18 Birds Nests

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