Pop! Brownie Pops Recipe For Serious Eats

Dilemma: it's Memorial Day and you need a sweet treat by this afternoon—ideally something simple to prepare and easy to eat outdoors.

Never fear: you've still got time to make Brownie Pops!

This is a sweet idea I got from Dawn, who writes the blog Not Just A Mommy. Using brownies is a little lower-maintenance than using cake to make these cute pops. The natural density of brownies means you don't have to mix with frosting to attain a fudgy consistency; simply bake up (or buy) a batch of fudgy brownies, shape into balls, chill, dip in candy coating, and let set while you get your grill on; by the time the burgers and hot dogs have been devoured, these bite-sized delights will be ready to serve.

For the full entry and recipe, visit Serious Eats!

Stick It: LolliPies by A La Mode Pies, Seattle

So, earlier this week I headed over to the Center of the Universe (aka Fremont, Seattle) for a secret spy assignment: namely, to eat pie at newly-opened Pie.

Little did I know that even more pie would be in my future. After Twittering that I'd just visited Pie, I received a message from nearby Blue Moon Burgers saying "you should come try our LolliPies!".

Um, OK.

So I walked over and what should I find at this burger joint but a beautiful display of pocket pies on sticks! Now, these aren't Pie Pops like the baby-ones I made for Serious Eats a while back--these are respectably, bigger-than-a-fist-sized pies on not so much of a popsicle stick, more like a tongue depressor. 

They had a few flavors available--I chose the "Blue Hawaiian", which I knew was a specialty.

On a stick, this already-good pie is positively genius. The higher crust-to-filling ratio allows the eater to attain a heightened state of carb-o-loading bliss, and the blueberry-pineapple-coconut filling was rich and sweet enough to stand up to all that delicious crust. Nice detail: it was topped with more toasty coconut on top.

Of course, it got even better when I topped it with a jaunty dollop of freshly whipped cream.

LolliPies by A La Mode Pies, available at Blue Moon Burgers and various other locations; learn more at A La Mode Pies.

Stick It: Chocolate Covered Fig Newtons on a Stick for Serious Eats

Did you know that yesterday was National Fig Newton Day?

If you dropped the ball on this little-known holiday, don't despair. Here's an easy (and delicious) way to create a belated celebration: dress up your Newtons by putting them on a stick and coating them in chocolate. The chocolate works beautifully with the buttery cookie crust and mellow figgy filling flavor, taking the vaguely healthy snack cookie into full-fledged dessert territory.

Why on a stick? Well, it's a matter of both function—the sticks make it easier to dip the cookies—and form, because everyone knows that everything tastes better on a stick.

For the full entry and recipe, visit Serious Eats!