Desserts for Dudes : Let's Taco 'Bout Cookies

It started with hot dog cookies. Then, there were fried chicken cookies. Next...cookie fries and cheeseburger cookies. Now, I bring you taco cookies. Something about combining junk food and cookies makes me really happy. My boys seem to love them, too.


In honor of Father's Day month, it's time for more Desserts for Dudes. Yes, it's true that this is a generalization. Yes, dudettes can enjoy these desserts as well. I had to laugh last week when some tweeters on twitter were getting their knickers in a knot over the term "Desserts for Dudes."
Let not take our desserts so seriously (or literally).


Whether you make them plain tacos...


....or girl them up to make Taco Belles...


...these really are simple to make, and so much fun.

When my boys suggest going to Taco Bell, I normally roll my eyes, but the truth is that a Taco Bell bean burrito with two packets of Hot (not Mild, not Fire) sauce is one of my favorite things. I know, I know. Add it to my list of offenses with liking Cool Whip and canned frosting. ;)


I love the mix of colors and textures for the filling.


To make Taco (Belle) Cookies, you'll need:

• circle cut-out cookies
• bench scraper or knife
• royal icing, tinted with AmeriColor (or Hobby Lobby) coloring: ivory mixed with gold (shell), warm brown with a bit of super black (meat), super red (tomatoes/lips), bright white (sour cream), electric orange (cheese), electric green mixed with leaf green (lettuce), and super black (eyes)...or similar shades
• disposable icing bags
• squeeze bottles
• couplers and tips: #1, small leaf
• toothpicks

First, make the cookies. Use a circle cookie cutter, then slice in half using a bench scraper or knife. 

Once cooled, thin the taco shell colored icing with water (reserving a bit of unthinned icing for later). Add water a bit at a time, stirring gently. Thin until a knife drown through the middle of the icing disappears in a count of 12-15 seconds.

Cover with a damp dish towel and let sit for a few minutes. Stir gently with a silicone spatula and pour slowly into a squeeze bottle.


Outline and fill the cookies with the same consistency icing. Use a toothpick to nudge icing into spaces and pop any large air bubbles.

Let the icing set for about an hour.


Use the reserved shell icing to pipe a curved line across the cookies, making an opening for the fillings.

Thin the icings for the meat, tomatoes, and sour cream using the same method. Reserve some of the red icing for later before thinning.


Use squeeze bottles to add the fillings to the tacos. Start with the meat, then add the sour cream and tomatoes.

Place the orange icing in a bag fitted with a #1 tip. Pipe on the cheese.

Using a leaf tip, add a squiggle of lettuce, holding the tip flat. (Practice first on a paper towel or plate.)


Use the thinned taco shell colored icing to fill in the front of the taco, adding a little dimension.

Let the icing dry for about an hour.


To make the Taco Belles: using #1 tips, add eyes and eyelashes in black icing. Add the lips in red.

Let the cookies dry uncovered for 6-8 hours or overnight.


What should our Dessert for Dudes fast food cookies be next year??? I'm already planning.

Desserts for Dudes: Guinness-Vanilla Bean Frosted Mocha Brownies

It's Desserts for Dudes time again! Every June on the blog, I try to feature a few dude-friendly desserts. You can check out past installments here. :)


These brownies have been rattling around in my head for a while now, but I thought I'd wait until June to make them. Beer + brownies = dude food.


Since Guinness has those lovely coffee notes, I decided to go for mocha brownies. The result? A rich, fudgy, espresso-spiked brownie slathered with a thick layer of luscious vanilla and Guinness frosting. The beer in the frosting smells divine and tastes even better.

If only I could order a pint of Guinness frosting at our local watering hole!


Feel free to use any dark beer here...stout, porter, bock...just maybe not Bud Light Lime. 

To make the brownies, you'll mix everything right in a saucepan; I love that. Maybe that's what I love making brownies so much.

{please do not lick screen.}

Once they cool, you'll whip up the frosting. (You won't need all of it, so have a spoon ready for eating the remainder. I won't tell.)

Slather those brownies and pop them in the fridge to set up. I like these brownies served cold, right out of the fridge. (Maybe it's the beer?)



Guinness-Vanilla Bean Frosted Mocha Brownies
{makes 24 brownies}

for the brownies:
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 TBSP vanilla extract
1 TBSP espresso powder
4 eggs
1 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour


for the frosting:
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 pounds powdered sugar
1/2 cup (settled and not foamy) Guinness
2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
2 pinches fine sea salt


Grease a 9x13" pan. Preheat oven to 325.

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once melted, stir in the sugars. Stir and heat until the sugar is hot, but not boiling, just another couple of minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder. Combine the vanilla and espresso powder, then add to the batter. Whisk in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the flour.

Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 28-30 minutes, or until done. Place on a wire rack to cool.

Make the frosting:
Cream the butter until smooth. Sift in the sugar, add the beer, vanilla bean paste, and sea salt. Mix on low until combined, then increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat for a few minutes until smooth and thick.


Spread 2/3rds of the frosting onto the cooled brownies. Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting. Using a bench scraper makes for the easiest cutting.

Serve cold. With or without a Guinness. ♥

9 Dude-Approved Father's Day Dessert Ideas

Father's Day: hammock, burger, beer, new tie. Dad deserves something sweet, too.

Here are 9 of my favorite (dude-approved) Father's Day dessert ideas/recipes:

{click the recipe titles for recipes and tutorials.} 

1. Peanut Butter Swirl Chocolate Chip Blondies. My dudes are lovers of all things peanut butter and chocolate. These are rich, creamy, substantial (read: manly), blondies sure to put a smile on dad's face. Maybe he'll share.

2. Cheeseburger Cookies. Simple mini chocolate and vanilla sugar cookies snadwiched together with fondant cheese (who doesn't love fondant cheese?) and a little frosting for the ketchup, mustard, and lettuce. Easier to make and assemble than you might think, and a super fun project for the kids.

3. Cigar Cookies. The only cigars you'll ever allow in the house. Easy to personalize with dad's initial.

4. Cupcakes-on-Tap. Yep, beer cupcakes. Beer in the cake; beer in the frosting...topped with a chocolate covered pretzel. No swirly piped frosting for these; the frosting is plopped on with an ice cream scoop. Very masculine. 

5. Fried Chicken Cookies. No chicken was harmed in the making of these cookies. Simple to make...big impact. Ask for an empty bucket at KFC. Still some of my favorite cookies I've ever made. ♥

6. Cookie Fries with Buttercream Ketchup. You know the only thing that would makes these better? Eating them alongside regular fries.

7. Bacon-Banana Pancakes with Buttery Bourbon Maple Syrup. Um, these are pretty much all of my husband's favorite breakfast items rolled into one. Wait...he rarely has bourbon for breakfast. ;) Anyhoo...planning a breakfast in bed for dad this Father's Day? Make these. (Not technically a dessert, I know, I know.)

8. Hot Dog and Beer Cookies. Yes, your dad will love and appreciate these. Also, why aren't there more beer-related goodies for Mother's Day?

9. Pecan Chewies. These mini pecan pies are a hit with every man in my life...my husband, my dad, my son, my uncle...the UPS guy. Who can blame them? A cream cheese crust with a brown sugar/vanilla/pecan filling in a mini size is pretty much irresistible.

What are you making for Father's Day dessert?