Make Extraordinary Desserts With Ordinary Ingredients In 'Out Of The Box Desserts'

Haley Parker, aka The Domestic Rebel, just released her first cookbook featuring her signature over-the-top, extraordinary desserts made with simple, ordinary ingredients — like using a box of cake mix or a roll of store-bought cookie dough and turning it into something bigger and better.

Out of the Box Desserts: Simply Spectacular, Semi-Homemade Sweets is the culmination of Parker's years as a blogger developing recipes, gaining a following, and earning recognition for her culinary ingenuity.

In addition to featured recipes like her Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Tart and Hot Fudge Slow-Cooker Brownies, in her cookbook Parker provides tips for the beginners while also offering creative ideas for more seasoned bakers looking to make something different.

Parker mentions in her introduction that when she first embarked on this journey, the common phrase "baking is a science" intimidated her (science class was not her best subject); but through her own kitchen experiences, Parker has developed her own style and grasp of baking.

"It shows anyone and everyone, from the novice to the experienced, that baking can be fun and does not have to require abnormal ingredients, techniques or machinery," she writes.

Other recipes in Out of the Box Desserts include Cookie Fluff Pie, Cake Batter Gooey Butter Cookies, Piña Colada Cupcakes, and a Triple Chocolate Donut Shake. Continue reading below for an interview with Parker to find out more about her baking style and new cookbook!

What is your philosophy of baking?

My philosophy is simple: Use everyday, ordinary ingredients to create delicious, extraordinary desserts! 

How did it inspire the recipes you chose to include in this book?

I wanted the recipes to be unique, unexpected, and tasty, of course, but I also wanted the recipes to be achievable to the average home baker. None of the recipes in the book should make my readers feel inadequate, like they can't achieve the end product because of lack of experience, etc. 

What is your favorite recipe in the book and why?

My favorite recipe in the book would have to be a toss-up between the Glazed Donut Pie  — because I am a doughnut freak — and the Texas Sheetcake Bites because the frosting on those brownie bites is kind of life-changing!

How do you hope readers will use this book, what do you hope they take away?

I hope readers will use my book as a talisman to guide them through the world of baking and as inspiration to think outside of the box when it comes to creating their own recipes.

Anything else you would like the share?

Thank you so much, and I hope you enjoy the book as much as I do!