Top Trendy Desserts to make & buy in 2012

Whoopie Pies? Macarons? So three months ago. The latest star of the bakery case? Our money's on truck-stop staple Moon Pies.Have you noticed a relatively recent resurgence of nostalgic American desserts? BANANA SPLIT BITES
First up are BANANA SPLIT BITES from Bakers Royale! Finally the large, messy banana split has made its way into a mini shape for party trays around the globe! Whip these babies up for your next party or celebration. Little tip – you might want to make a few extra, they’re going to go FAST They seem to be popping up in bakeries and on food blogs everywhere we turn these days. And really, what’s better than a gooey, homemade strawberry pop-tart or a rich, chocolatey whoopie pie? How about a moon pie?moon pies and I am not even from the south. I use to sneak them into Christmas stockings but have not done so in years, since I have not been able to find them in the Bay Area. I actually have them on my "must make" list for 2010 and have been tossing around ideas of adding bittersweet chocolate or salted caramel.Fun fact about moon pies- in Louisiana we (most I know at least) associate them with Mardi Gras because for some odd reason every parade you go to,MINIATURE DOUGHNUTS
Doughnuts are a trendy party dessert. Serve up MINIATURE BAKED DOUGHNUTS for a sweet little treat. Decorate with a variety of colored icings + sprinkles to match your festivity. Top with a birthday candle to celebrate a birthday or wrap in small boxes for little favors.this nostalgic ultimate comfort food brings back fond childhood memories.
Bon Appétit magazine identifies pudding as one of the top 10 trends — the dessert
"Pudding, to me, means chocolate pudding," Kimball continues, adding that the English use puddings to describe desserts in general.
"The thing about a pudding is that the texture of pudding coats the tongue so you get a much more intense flavor experience than [with] other desserts like a chocolate cake."
MINIATURE APPLE PIES
MINIATURE PIES have taken over the once cupcake-ruled dessert world. From pecan to apple and everything in between, mini pies are about as all-American as they get. Perfect for a summer party or fall gathering, whip up some mini apple pies for your guests!
Yields 12 mini pies
INGREDIENTS
Crust2 cups flour
2/3 cup butter (chilled)
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons water
Filling5 medium apples (peeled and chopped up into small pieces)
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
6 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons butter (chilled)
DIRECTIONSPreheat oven to 425 degrees. In food processor blend flour, salt and butter until it resembles small diced pieces. Add in water and blend until it looks like it’s sticking. Take out and combine it by hand until well blended. Roll out on lightly floured surface until about 1/4 inch thick. Cut 12, 4 inch circles with cup or bowl. Press each circle in the cavities of a muffin tin until all the way up each side. Mix by hand all filling ingredients and spoon into muffin bowls.Cut up butter into 12 little pieces and place one piece on each pie. Decorate them anyway you like with extra crust, or just leave plain. Bake at 425 degrees for 16-18 minutes. (Until crust is light brown and apples are bubbling). Let cool and pop out.This past year has certainly been riddled with deliciously trendy desserts! From cupcakes to donuts to bacon-flavored sweet treats, the trends moved swiftly. Cupcakes were hot in the beginning of 2011, but we saw a suddenly shift to donuts, then whoopie pies, and then we found ourselves loving all things pie-related! Cake pops stole the show for a while and mini desserts and macarons were a sure sign of a sophisticated sweets lover