Birthday Cake Cookies Recipe

 By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2025

Buttery, chewy cookies with white chocolate chips and colorful sprinkles are my new favorite! Made with salted butter, pure vanilla and almond extracts, these cookies are sweet and sassy. Make anyone’s birthday a great reason to bake these or just bake them to celebrate any happy occasion!

 INGREDIENTS:

 ·       8 ounces salted butter, softened https://amzn.to/46VDhg9
·       1/2 cup white granulated sugar https://amzn.to/4nCytDl
·       1/4 cup light brown sugar https://amzn.to/3VUsLk8
·       1 large egg https://amzn.to/475pyUa
·       1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract https://amzn.to/4mPzKWt
·       1/4 teaspoon almond extract or cake batter flavor 
https://amzn.to/46VDJuR
·       2 Tablespoons milk powder https://amzn.to/46HgrKj
·       1 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour https://amzn.to/42tWdRE
·       1/2 teaspoon baking powder https://amzn.to/3IZy3Ic
·       1/4 teaspoon baking soda https://amzn.to/4gZktB7
·       1/4 teaspoon salt https://amzn.to/3KD3V60
·       1/4 cup rainbow sprinkles https://amzn.to/4nNW7Ny
·       1 cup white chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate
https://amzn.to/4nM8mKu

 Oven temperature: 350° Fahrenheit / 175° Celsius

 INSTRUCTIONS:

 ·       Preheat oven.

·       Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

·       In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugar until smooth.

·     Beat in the egg, vanilla and almond extracts and mix until well combined.

·    Mix dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, add to butter mixture and beat until it forms a cookie dough.

·       Stir in sprinkles and white chocolate chips with a spatula.

·       Weigh dough into 1.5 ounce balls.

·       Place on cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.

·       Bake for 12 to 14 minutes. The edges should be slightly crispy.

·  Allow cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

 Makes approximately 18 cookies.

Book link: https://www.lisamaliga.com/book-quick-and-easy-chocolate-dessert-recipes 

Video

Indulge Your Sweet Tooth with Quick & Easy Chocolate Dessert Recipes!

 By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2025

Have you ever made French hot chocolate in July when the temperature was 100 degrees? Or mixed up a batch of chocolate cake batter well past midnight so the oven didn’t overheat the kitchen? Did you refrigerate your soda glass so it was nice and cold for your chocolate mint milkshake?

Yes, I did all of that and more when creating the recipes that made it into my latest cookbook. And I also learned that having an extra hot kitchen was an advantage when photographing the chocolate treats. Here’s an example of the melting chocolate in the fresh-from-the-oven Baked Chocolate Fudge Bars.

So, if you love chocolate, or know of someone who does, give my latest book a look-see! Here’s the official description.

Indulge Your Sweet Tooth with Quick & Easy Chocolate Dessert Recipes!

Desiring something chocolatey and delicious? Look no further! This tempting collection of 37 irresistible, quick-to-make recipes is the ultimate treat for chocolate lovers of all ages. From dreamy hot and cold chocolate beverages to decadent cookies, brownies, fudge, and puddings, this cookbook is filled with mouthwatering recipes that come together in a jiffy.

Each recipe is paired with stunning full-page color photos, so you can easily recreate these chocolatey delights at home. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, you’ll find simple yet indulgent recipes that satisfy every chocolate craving.

Discover showstoppers like Red Velvet Cookies, Cotton Candy Hot Chocolate, Egg-Free Chocolate Cupcakes, Mini Chocolate Bundt Cakes, and a rich Double Chocolate Parfait—perfect for cozy nights, special occasions, or whenever you need a chocolate fix!

Your sweet tooth called – it wants this cookbook!

Book link: https://amzn.to/4nY2gWW

More info: https://www.lisamaliga.com/book-quick-and-easy-chocolate-dessert-recipes

The paperback version will be available in late October.

Book Trailer

Yolanda’s Yummery Cozy Mystery Series Box Set, Books 1 - 3 ~ Book Trailer

 Arriving February 14, 2025

Yolanda’s Yummery Cozy Mystery Series Box Set, Books 1 - 3

Includes 3 full-length cozy mysteries and four free dessert recipes!

The Great Brownie Taste-off, Book 1

Cat shelter employee Yolanda Carter loves her job, but her dream is to own a bakery. Living in Sherman Oaks, California with her tuxedo cat, her only outlet is baking treats for her friends, coworkers and family.
Her situation changes when her high school friend, Teagan Mishkin, drops by to tell her about an incredible job opportunity that will give Yolanda enough money to launch her bakery.
The job interview takes an unexpected turn and Yolanda stumbles across a scheme to close the cat shelter. She concocts a sweet plan to save the shelter and share her decadent brownies in the Great Brownie Taste-off. Assisted by her artisan parents, friends, shelter employees and a rising young blogger who gives her much-needed publicity, will she win the taste-off and save the shelter?
Includes the winning brownie recipe.

The Missing Sea Captain, Book 2

The successful launch of Yolanda’s Yummery in the trendy Brentwood area of Los Angeles has Yolanda Carter working seven days a week. Her delicious desserts are garnering many repeat customers and in just a few weeks the adjoining Beverage Bar will be opening. She’s involved in a budding romance with sophisticated British tea baron, Nigel Garvey.
The mystery involves Captain Angus, a regular homeless customer who disappears. Clues point toward Yolanda being involved in foul play. Lead investigator Detective Churchill thinks she’s a murderer, along with her best friend, Teagan Mishkin.
Will Yolanda’s name be cleared, and can those bestselling Magical Cakes of Love save her and the yummery?
Includes two new recipes!

A Pie to Die For, Book 3

In this cozy mystery, Yolanda Carter is told of her grandmother’s best friend’s unsolved murder. Mildred Overmeyer was an outstanding home baker who was stabbed to death while baking a cherry pie. The story of the 1960s crime touches Yolanda, along with her new friend, Detective Churchill. Her budding sleuthing skills lead her to search for the killer.
In between investigating and baking batches of pies in time for her latest product launch, Yolanda discovers more about the sweetness of love. And who is heating up the kitchen with Yolanda?
Includes the recipe for Yolanda’s Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies!

Get your copy today! This cozy mystery box set is available at all major online bookstores. Link: https://www.lisamaliga.com/book-yolandas-yummery-cozy-mystery-series-boxset

Book Trailer

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Macarons and Murder [A Yolanda’s Yummery Cozy Mystery, Book 4] – Book Trailer

 By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2024

Macarons, paperback, and teacup are photographed by Lisa Maliga, copyright 2024.

In the heart of Yolanda’s Yummery, love is in the air as macarons are baking for Valentine’s Day. But when someone she knows is found dead in a nearby dumpster, Yolanda Carter’s world crumbles. Teaming up with Detective Winston Churchill, Yolanda sets out to uncover the truth behind the sinister murder.

I’ve included three new reviews from readers who were kind enough to read my ARC.

Yolanda’s Yummery is filled with excitement as she prepares for Valentine’s Day by baking exquisite French macarons. That night’s TV appearance on America’s Best Bakeries will further benefit the yummery. But the festive spirit is shattered when a shocking discovery is made—a friend’s body is found in a nearby dumpster. Struggling to cope with the tragedy, Yolanda Carter partners with  Detective Winston Churchill to find the killer. Surrounded by a cast of potential suspects, including her boyfriend, Nigel Garvey, Yolanda balances running her yummery, gearing up for the first anniversary celebration, and uncovering the truth.

With love, betrayal, and hidden agendas swirling around her, Yolanda embarks on a dangerous journey to untangle a web of deceit. This story weaves together elements of romance and suspense. Will she solve the mystery before it leads to her own downfall?

“Macarons and Murder” includes recipes for French macarons and cupcakes!

Book link: Macarons and Murder [A Yolanda’s Yummery Cozy Mystery, Book 4]. Available in eBook, paperback and Amazon Audible formats. The Yolanda’s Yummery Cozy Mystery series can be purchased at most online bookstores, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo and many more.

VIDEO

READER REVIEWS

“A new line of baked goods at the store, new employees struggling to fit in, and another murder mystery to solve; it`s all in a day`s work for Yolanda Carter. What a shame the busiest sales day of the year, Valentine`s Day, is marred by the discovery of a body in a dumpster behind the building, even more so when comes to light that Yolanda knows the deceased, and negative, libelous reviews are threatening to ruin her livlihood. Pace, plot, and action are stepped up in Lisa Maliga`s newest installment, and, although still qualifying as a cosy, it is yet much appreciated.
I love following along as the seasons change in the yummery – after reading the fourth book in the series, it`s beginning to feel a lot like home: I care about these characters and their trials and triumphs.”
Reviewed by Cindy Topp, GoodReads reviewer

“This was a real ‘feel good’ story. I love the protagonist Yolanda who with her entourage of friends and family, manages to have the most hair-raising adventures.
Her ongoing love interests are intriguing too, as is the gruesome murder of someone she knew that she decides to investigate.
I really look forward to the next book in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.”
Reviewed by Geraldine Lopez, BookBub reviewer

“Yolanda Carter owns a bakery called Yolanda’s Yummery. A dead body is found in her dumpster and competition is trying to use that by ruining her business. She feels she has to find out who killed her friend Mike to stop all the rumors trying to put her out of business. This was a very well written book. Suspenseful up to the very end. Hard to put down. Highly recommend it.”
Reviewed by Renee, November 5, 2024

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A Pie to Die For (A Yolanda’s Yummery Cozy Mystery, Book 3) — Book Trailer

By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2024

I hope that you’ll enjoy reading more about Yolanda Carter in A Pie to Die For, as she stumbles across a cold case that involves pies. In this latest version, the title has been changed from a sweet romance title to one more in keeping with a cozy mystery.

I’ve included two new reviews from readers who were kind enough to read my ARC.

“A Pie to Die For is book 3 in A Yolanda’s Yummery Cozy Mystery by Lisa Maliga. I found it interesting that Yolanda did not make pies and Mildred was killed in 1960 while making a pie. I like the main characters and the progression of the characters with each book. I thought the mystery about the recipes and murder was a good mystery and I thought the ending answered all my questions and had a touch of romance. I am enjoying this series and I love the cats, Miss Chef and Mr Whisker! I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.”
My2doxie September 10, 2024

“An innocent request from one of Yolanda`s appreciated guests for adding pies to the yummery`s offerings starts the ball rolling, setting in motion the beginnings of mysterious occurrences and the need to solve a very cold case. “A Pie to Die For” has Lisa Maliga departing slightly from her normal style, and I find the shifted focus most refreshing, the feeling conveyed more polished, mature and authentic. As always, you`ll find an incredible, yummery-worthy recipe at the back of the book. After finishing this installment in the Yolanda`s Yummery series, I am truly looking forward to reading more!”
Reviewed by Cindy, September 3, 2024

This book takes place in December, so it's a nice cozy mystery to read or give as a Christmas/holiday present!

Book Trailer

Book link: A PIE TO DIE FOR

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Chocolate Energy Bars Recipe

 Copyright 2024 by Lisa Maliga

Chocolate Energy Bars

This one ticks a lot of boxes if you’re looking for nut-free, vegan, low-sugar and an easy no-bake snack or dessert. It took me four tries to get it right. I’d also recommend storing them in the refrigerator, especially in warm weather.

This is an original recipe from the second book of the Yolanda’s Yummery Cozy Mystery series.

Ingredients:

• 6 Tablespoons virgin coconut oil
• 5 Tablespoons organic coconut sugar
• 2/3 cup agave nectar
• 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder, sifted
• 1 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 2 Tablespoons chia seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Instructions:

In a large glass measuring cup or bowl, combine the first four ingredients and stir well over medium heat. Remember to sift the cocoa powder before adding it to the oils and sugar so the mixture is smooth.

In a very large bowl, combine the rice cereal, rolled oats, salt, and chia seeds with a whisk.

Pour in the warmed up wet ingredients and mix well. Wait about 10 minutes to add the chocolate chips as you don’t want them to melt completely.

In a parchment-lined 8” x 8” or 9” x 9” square pan, spoon in the mixture. Use a spatula to even out the top. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit on the counter for a few hours before slicing and eating.

If you’re in a hurry, put it in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Lastly, use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut the energy bars into squares or rectangles.

Store in the refrigerator. Wrap with waxed paper or plastic wrap.

This original recipe can be found in the cozy culinary mystery THE MISSING SEA CAPTAIN. 

Available at all major online bookstores. Click image for links!

Video Tutorial

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The Winning Brownie Recipe from “The Great Brownie Taste-off”

 By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2024

Ten years ago I wrote the first book in what would become a [so far] 4-book cozy mystery series. It was more sweet romance than cozy mystery, but I was pleased with the story and the second book in the series was a proper cozy mystery story.

The changes made to “The Great Brownie Taste-off” include removing some extraneous descriptions and backstory, getting rid of the magical secret ingredient, and having a more realistic relationship between Yolanda and Zac. And I kept refining that brownie recipe until I really liked it. It’s not my favorite dessert or snack, but now I appreciate a good, hot brownie fresh out of the oven.

Please scroll down to see the recipe and watch the video tutorial.

"The Great Brownie Taste-off" Book Description

Cat shelter employee Yolanda Carter loves her job, but her dream is to own her own bakery. Living in Sherman Oaks, California with her tuxedo cat, her only outlet is baking treats for her friends, coworkers and family.

Her situation changes when her high school friend, Teagan Mishkin, drops by to tell her about an incredible job opportunity that will give Yolanda enough money to launch her bakery.

The job interview takes an unexpected turn and Yolanda stumbles across a scheme to close the cat shelter. She concocts a sweet plan to save the shelter and share her decadent brownies in the Great Brownie Taste-off. Assisted by her artisan parents, friends, and coworkers, will she win the taste-off and save the cats?

Link to all versions of THE GREAT BROWNIE TASTE-OFF
Do you like listening to books? The Great Brownie Taste-off is available on Amazon Audible.

THE WINNING RECIPE!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup [1 stick] unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup organic coconut palm sugar
• 2 eggs [room temperature]
• 1/2 cup [4 ounces] dark chocolate
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
• 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder, Dutch processed, sifted

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Grease your pan with butter.
• Sift the cocoa powder and flour together in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Chop up chocolate if using a bar. Melt chocolate and butter together over a double boiler. Use low heat to ensure the chocolate doesn’t seize.
• In a large bowl, add the sugar.
• Add an egg, mix well, then add the second egg and mix well.
• Stir in melted butter and chocolate mixture.
• Gently fold in flour and cocoa powder, until combined. Add the vanilla extract.
• Pour mixture into pan and bake for 30-35 minutes. Let the brownies cool completely. Cut into squares.
• Enjoy.  

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