Hey, Reader, it's Erin.

It's Monday... and I forgot to send this email to you yesterday. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Life is full in the best possible way, and this week in particular looks a little different for me. I'm traveling with my husband to a work event... and we're flying back in time for our daughter's choir concert, then hosting our annual Derby party directly afterward.

It sounds like a lot (and it is), but I've learned that planning ahead of time and doing prepwork in advance makes a difference.

I'm batching what I can — making homemade pimento cheese, prepping and freezing Derby cookie dough (to then bake fresh on Derby Day) and getting as much done — so that when Derby Day arrives, I can actually soak it in instead of feeling stressed to the gills. After all, gathering all your people is meant to be fun!

Today's email is all about desserts: springy treats featuring seasonal fruits, show-stopping sweets worth sharing and a few bourbon-spiked options perfect for Derby weekend.

Whether you're hosting or just want something delicious to end a meal, I've got you covered.

Desserts with Seasonal Fruits:

Strawberry Lemonade Cookies

Soft, sweet and packed with strawberry flavor, these are cookies are utterly delightful. A word to the wise: they're a little fussy, but they are worth the effort.

Small-Batch Strawberry Cupcakes

Perfect when you want something special but don't need a whole dozen. They're light, fluffy and topped with the most decadent strawberry cream cheese frosting.

Lemon Bars

Bright and tart, these crowd-pleasing lemon bars are spectacular for spring gatherings.

Show-stopping desserts to share:

Paloma Cake

This cocktail-inspired cake highlights grapefruit, other citrus and a little tequila. It's impressive, and the flavors are unexpected.

Ooey Gooey Bars

Rich, decadent and dangerously delicious, these bars disappear fast whenever I make them.

Looking ahead to the Derby:

The Kentucky Derby is this Saturday, and if you're hosting or bringing a dessert, here are some bourbon-forward treats that can be prepped in advance:

Bourbon Chocolate Chip Cookies

Make the dough now, freeze it and bake fresh on Derby Day. This is an easy cookie that everybody loves!

Mini Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pies

Since these are in bite-sized servings, they are perfect for parties. Bake ahead, store in the fridge, then serve at room temperature.

Bourbon Pecan Brownies

if you love chocolate, pecans and bourbon, these brownies are for you. This recipe is highly requested when I gather with my extended family. They rarely last long.

Whatever your week looks like — traveling, hosting or just making dessert because you want something sweet — I hope these recipes make it a little easier... and a lot more delicious.

Happy baking,
Erin

Howdy! I'm Erin. At The Speckled Palate, you'll find easy recipes and drinks that call for simple, fresh ingredients that hopefully inspire you to invite your people into your home for super low-key gatherings. Buy me a cup of coffee. take me to the blog

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