Celebrating the one-year anniversary of Brilliant Bites, the visually exciting and deliciously enticing, cookbook that just goes to show everything’s better when it’s bite-sized! The tasty bites and savvy cocktails within this cookbook can be enjoyed at parties, family meals, breakfast, snack-time, dessert and holidays.
A Joyful Milestone
I can hardly believe it’s been one year since Brilliant Bites made its debut! This milestone brings a wave of reflection, gratitude and excitement. When I first began working on this third cookbook, my goal was simple: to create bite-sized recipes that inspire connection, joy and creativity in the kitchen. Seeing how Brilliant Bites has become part of your lives, from everyday meals to special celebrations, has been beyond my wildest dreams.
Over the past year, I’ve loved watching you take these recipes and make them your own. Whether you’ve put your own twist on a bite, hosted a gathering with several of the bites, or simply made time for a fun activity with your kids, every message, photo, and story you’ve shared has filled me with so much pride and joy. Knowing that these recipes have brought people together in memorable ways is truly the greatest gift.
Thank You!
To everyone who has picked up a copy, gifted a copy, shared a bite, or even just enjoyed flipping through the pages of Brilliant Bites, Thank You, Thank YOU!!
This cookbook was a labor of love and knowing it has brought happiness to your homes makes it all worthwhile. Here’s to many more years of delicious bites and unforgettable moments!
Where to Buy Brilliant Bites
- Amazon offers such great deals with quick delivery if you need a copy (or several copies!) fast.
- If you’d like a special copy, I offer signed copies through my Boards by The BakerMama business and would love to send you a signed copy!
- If you love shopping local or have a favorite independent book store or gift shop nearby, be sure to stop in and see or ask them if they carry my cookbooks. My cookbooks are in thousands of specialty stores worldwide and it makes me so happy to hear and see how well they sell in these amazing stores.
- I’m also so honored that most major retailers (like Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target, and more!) sell my cookbooks so be sure to check my Brilliant Bites page for links to order from several of them.
A Brilliant Bites Cookbook Q&A with Author, Maegan Brown
Q: What inspired you to write Brilliant Bites?
All of my cookbooks, including Brilliant Bites, came out of my love for hosting and my obsession with making food fun and approachable for everyone. I’ve always believed that food should be as much about the experience as it is about the taste and bite-sized dishes are just perfect for that. Whether it’s a casual get-together or a fancy celebration, there’s something so appealing about small, shareable bites. I wanted to create a cookbook that gave people the tools to wow their guests without the stress of complicated recipes. It’s all about making entertaining easy, delicious and fun!
Q: How is Brilliant Bites different from your previous cookbooks?
My first two cookbooks, Beautiful Boards and Spectacular Spreads, focused on a theme or specific occasion and each concept could feed a crowd. Brilliant Bites is all about the magic of small, snackable dishes that can be enjoyed in a bite or two. I wanted to hone in on appetizers and little dishes that taste incredible, but are easy to make and serve. The recipes in Brilliant Bites are designed to be versatile too. You can mix and match them for any occasion to feed a crowd or you can make just one recipe from the cookbook to completely satisfy. This cookbook, like Beautiful Boards and Spectacular Spreads, is also focused on presentation because, let’s face it, when food looks cute and bite-sized, it’s even more fun to eat!
Q: What are your favorite recipes from Brilliant Bites?
Oh, that’s such a hard question! It’s like picking a favorite child! But if I had to choose, I’d say the Bow-Tie Antipasto Bites (page 85) are a personal favorite. There’s something so satisfying about fresh cheese, meat, olives and pasta all in one bite. I also love the Cacio’ e Pepe Bites (page 22) as they’re always a hit at parties. And for something a little sweet, the Coconut Key Lime Pie Bites (page 161) have become a go-to dessert that everyone loves!
Q. What’s been the feedback from readers after one year of Brilliant Bites?
It’s been such a joy hearing from readers! People love how approachable the recipes are, and I’ve gotten so many messages from people saying how much their families and guests raved about the bites they served. It’s exactly what I hoped for when I created this cookbook, making entertaining easier and more enjoyable. One follower told me she hosted her first party ever using just recipes from Brilliant Bites, and it was a huge success! That made me so so happy. If you own a copy and have a moment to leave a review on Amazon, that would be amazing! It’s so helpful for people to read how others are enjoying my cookbooks.
Q: What was the most challenging part of creating Brilliant Bites?
The biggest challenge was probably narrowing down the recipes! There are just so many fun ideas in my brain, especially when it comes to bite-sized foods, and I had to make tough decisions about which ones to focus on and include. I wanted to make sure every recipe was something that people could easily replicate but would still have that “wow” factor. Testing each recipe over and over again to make sure they were perfect took a lot of my energy and time, but it was so worth it in the end.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Brilliant Bites
What to keep in mind when preparing bite-sized foods
It’s all about size, taste and presentation. You want it to be love at first sight and bite! As I was developing each recipe for Brilliant Bites, my goal was to create each bite to feel like a mini experience, where you get a little bit of everything, from crunch to creaminess or salt to sweetness and maybe even a little spice, I took the textures and flavors into account for each bite so they would exceed your expectations.
And, of course, visually I wanted them to be exciting! When you’re serving bite-sized dishes, the way you display them can make a big impact. I always say, “We eat with our eyes first, so make it pretty!”
Tips for hosting parties using recipes from Brilliant Bites
The biggest tip I can give is to plan ahead. A lot of the recipes in Brilliant Bites can be made in advance, so you’re not scrambling in the kitchen right before your guests arrive. I also recommend creating a variety of bites with different flavors – savory, sweet, spicy – so there’s something for everyone.
And don’t forget the presentation! Use different serving platters, trays, and even tiered stands to create height and interest on your table. It makes everything look so much more exciting and inviting.
Adapting the recipes in Brilliant Bites for dietary restrictions
I’m a big believer in making recipes that can hopefully work for everyone. Many of my recipes can easily be adapted to be gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, or even vegan. For example, you can swap out regular flour for a gluten-free option or use an alternative nut butter in place of peanut butter, or even an egg substitute in place of eggs in certain dishes.
I always try to offer suggestions for substitutions, but feel free to get creative and make the recipes your own! Or reach out to me and I’ll give you suggestions to adapt the recipe or recommend a similar recipe that will hopefully meet your needs.
Go-to ingredients when making bite-sized dishes
I think at this point I can turn about any ingredients I have on hand into a fun bite-sized appetizer or treat. It’s so fun to miniaturize our favorite dishes and everyday snacks.
I always have cheese and cream cheese in the refrigerator and usually incorporate it into a lot of bites and I try to keep convenient ingredients like refrigerated crescent dough, prepared pie crusts, crackers, and tortillas on hand to easily create several of the bites in Brilliant Bites.
More from Maegan
How do you come up with new recipes?
I’m inspired by everything – special occasions, holidays, restaurants, travel, seasonal ingredients, family traditions, and even just strolling through the grocery store. Sometimes I’ll see a particular ingredient, and I’ll immediately start thinking about how to turn it into a fun recipe.
I also get a lot of inspiration from my followers! They’ll tell me what they love or which recipe they’re enjoying most or they have a question about adapting a recipe, and that sparks new ideas. I’m always experimenting in the kitchen and sometimes the best recipes come from happy accidents!
How do you stay inspired and avoid recipe burnout?
I think it’s important to always keep dreaming and trying new things. Whether it’s cooking with a new ingredient, trying something different at a restaurant, buying new products at the store, experimenting with a new kitchen gadget, or just staying curious with my cravings, it keeps creative energy alive.
As much as the kitchen is my happy place, I try to recognize when I need a break. Sometimes, stepping away from the kitchen for a bit and coming back with fresh eyes is all I need to get inspired again. I love testing new recipes on my family and friends and having honest taste testers in the house keeps me motivated to try different ideas and perfect them until they get rave reviews. And, of course, connecting with my followers and fellow food bloggers keeps me motivated – knowing that what I create inspires others and helps bring people together is the best feeling.
Do you have plans for more cookbooks or other projects?
Oh, if you know me, I always have something up my sleeve! As much as I try to take a break, I just can’t shut down this creative brain of mine. While I can’t give away too many details just yet, I can say that I’m definitely working on more ways to bring people together through food. Whether it’s another cookbook, more online resources, or even new ways to help you entertain, I’m always dreaming up the next project or product. So stay tuned! Lots more fun and yum to come!
Thank y’all so much for joining me on this fun and delicious bite-sized adventure. If you make any of my recipes from Brilliant Bites, be sure to snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see. If you’re on Facebook, be sure to join my Friends of The BakerMama group to connect and share all the fun and yummy recipes of mine that you make! 
I just love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the ideas I share. Enjoy!
xoxo,
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