Push-Up Pops: A dessert book for the hostess with the mostess

Dessert should obviously taste fabulous, but shouldn’t it look just as good? Courtney Dial Whitmore, a talented (and did we mention absolutely adorable?) stylist and writer in the field of party design and decor, certainly thinks so.

To make it easy for you to entertain with an edge, she wrote Push-Up Pops, a beautiful book that Tori Spelling says is a must-have for all party lovers. Push-Up Pops teaches you how to turn ordinary plastic molds into gorgeous and delish desserts.

Dessert recipes for everything from frozen fruit popsicles to cake, pudding parfaits to cupcakes and more fill the pages of this beautiful book. These tasty treats are great for weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, holiday parties, themed parties or even just a fancy girls’ get-together.

5 Sweet wedding desserts that aren’t cake >>

Decadent dessert inspiration

“I was inspired to write Push-Up Pops because I absolutely love finding new and creative ways to serve up sweet treats at parties,” Courtney told SheKnows. “Everyone loves a little something sweet, so finding unique ways to share my favorite dessert recipes was a must! This is truly the perfect book for any party lover!”

We couldn’t agree more. Push-Up Pops is just as pretty as it is practical. Filled with great dessert recipes and perfect pictures, you’ll be inspired to kick your dessert presentation up a notch.

Check out our dessert recipes for everyday ideas >>

Want an idea of what you’ll find inside the pages of Push-Up Pops? Try this decadent chocolate cookie dessert recipe.

Mocha Madness recipe

Yields 12 push-up pops

Ingredients:

• 1 package Oreo cookies
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 pint coffee ice cream, softened
• 1 can chocolate hazelnut pirouette cookies

Hot fudge sauce

• 3 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 small can evaporated milk
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Mix the chocolate, sugar and evaporated milk in a double boiler (or saucepan) and heat until melted and smooth.
2. Stir in the butter and vanilla until blended and heated through.
3. Place 28 Oreo cookies in a Ziploc bag. Seal bag and crush cookies using a rolling pin until they are in small pieces.
4. Mix the cookie pieces with the melted butter.

To assemble push-up pops:

1. Layer one to two tablespoons of cookie pieces in the bottom of a push-up pop container.
2. Add one tablespoon of coffee ice cream.
3. Top with one tablespoon of fudge sauce.
4. Repeat layers until full.
5. Freeze push-up pops until ready to serve. When ready to serve, remove the tops and let soften for a minute.
6. Cut pirouette cookies in half and stick down in top of push-up pop.
7. Refrigerate leftover fudge sauce for use with other ice cream treats.

(Note: If you need the plastic containers, Courtney has a page on her website with suggestions on where to buy push-up pop containers.)

More dessert recipes

Classic tiramisu recipe
Brownies: Fully loaded
Healthy chocolate dessert recipes

Photo credit: Kyle Dreier