Top Ten Gift Ideas for the Sweet Tooth

Nothing makes the holidays sweeter than…a sweet treat of course! While there are so many treats that we can give away for the holidays, most bought off the corner candy shop, not all of them become as special or as memorable as we'd hope them to be. Here are some suggestions of sweet gifts that will truly rock the holidays.

One of the most preeminent pastry chefs on the international stage is Oriol Balaguer. Coming from a long line of Spanish pastry chefs, Balaguer brings a touch of uniqueness to his desserts. He's one of the few chefs who've attempted to dabble into the world of "dessert cuisine"-which is essentially the fusion of the formal meal with pastry shop and dessert fare. His book Dessert Cuisine is an exquisitely beautiful tome, with oversized pictures, startlingly new philosophies, detailed explanations, and unique and exquisite recipes. A sampling of this would include sherbet accompanied by tomato ravioli and basil jelly-an odd but superb flavor pairing that won him the "Best Dessert Award" in 1997. The book also elucidates some of the science behind baking, and it costs quite a bit, so this tome is no light reading. It's perfect, though, for the serious dessert hobbyist.

Aside from his book, Balaguer's fare is also available for us earthlings to sample. He's renowned for his chocolates, which showcase his "dessert cuisine" philosophy exquisitely. He's been known to make some of the strangest chocolate concoctions there are, and his Nippon collection features three unlikely flavors: wasabi, macha tea and soya. Surely a bite into of these will last a lifetime. Balaguer is also notorious for his elaborate Easter eggs and concept cakes. One look will drive you into uncharted heights of creativity. One piece might look glorious while the next might be the oddball, but each piece promises an orgasmic explosion of flavor and texture-a dessert experience that will take only a few seconds, but will undoubtedly last a lifetime.

If you could get your hands on macaroons, the French kind that adorns patisserie windows as stacks of meek, pastel-colored rounds resembling little burgers, then your holidays are made! A lot of Americans are more familiar with the coconut macaroons we grew up indulging on, and few have ever been treated to the nutty and intense lightness of authentic French macaroons, so these make for a wonderful surprise! They say the best macaroons would be those by Pierre Herme, the Frenchman known as the Picasso of pastry. His Ispahan is divine-imagine a swathe of rose scented buttercream sandwiched in between two exquisite rose-flavored macaroons, topped with raspberries and lychees. This might just be the most cookie experience on earth!

For those who don't exactly want to trudge halfway across the world looking for the most sublime dessert experience, there's also a surfeit of homegrown treats that will more than rock your holidays! Marie Callender's makes some of the delicious pies! Their lemon meringue pies are heavenly, as well as their seasonal fruit pies (which sadly might not be available for the holiday season). But their elaborate dessert pie collection will give you such a hard time when it comes to deciding on the perfect pie!

Another great sweet stop is See's Candies. Their handmade chocolates are some of the most delectable in America, and they'll certainly make for elegant presents. They have a wide range of chocolates to fit into your budget, and so many varieties, too. They have assortments, plain chocolates, fudge, nuts, brittles, molded chocolates, candies, and even custom mixes that you can decide on your own! It'll make for an excellent personalized present.

One of the most elegant chocolate shops in the country is that of Francois Payard. His handmade pralines and truffles are reminiscent of those of Parisien chocolatiers, and they make for such elegant presents. This aside he has a mouthwatering collection of tarts and pastries that even non-dessert lovers would adore. His creations are sure to give your holidays a whole new sparkle!

Dorie Greenspan's book Paris Sweets is an excellent sampling of some of Paris' most delectable dessert fare. Drawn from Ms. Greenspan's favorite selections, her gift for explanation and elaboration allow us home bakers and amateurs to recreate some of the finest, most exquisite dessert fare lining the streets of the world's most romantic city. It doesn't have a lot of pictures, but Ms. Greenspan does an excellent job of demystifying these untouchable treats and deconstructing them for the amateur baker.

Of course, you can always say it with one of the most American desserts there is-cheesecake! The Cheesecake Factory has achieved somewhat a legendary status, with its reputation for fresh and excellent gourmet cheesecakes. They serve up so many flavors too, and they can be just the present you're looking for!

Haagen Dazs serves up some of the finest ice cream and gelato there is. While it may not be very fashionable to give a gallon of ice cream to your loved one for the holidays, nothing can be more exquisite than an elegant ice cream cake. You can choose from a wide selection, too, whether you're looking for something sweet and romantic with strawberries or something fun and whimsical with candy confetti. What can be better than ice cream and cake?

Biscotti also make up a unique and romantic present. Few cookies can scream "classy" like biscotti can. These are Italian biscuits that have actually been twice-baked, and they're excellent when paired with afternoon coffee. What makes biscotti so wonderful is that they can actually keep for a long time, usually up to two weeks, retaining their freshness when stored properly.

These are only a few gift suggestions. There are endless other possibilities, especially now that there seems to be a new specialty foods store or gourmet bakery popping round every other street corner so often. Just remember that when picking out that sweet treat to give that special someone, as long as it's fresh and made with love, it's sure to be a hit this holiday season!