(credit: NYSF)

One of the true pioneers of the NYC food truck scene is Kim Ima and The Treats Truck.  They have been around since 2007, and were given a Best Dessert award at the 2008 Vendy Awards, before the Best Dessert category even existed.

Always evolving, last year Kim came out with the Treats Truck Baking Book, and last weekend, the Treats Truck Stop opened at 521 Court St in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.  We heard there was a toast (with milk and cookies) and a ribbon cutting.  The closest subway stop is the Carroll stop on the F or G.

But this column is about food trucks, and last week I stopped by the Treats Truck to sample a selection of different treats.  I got a Mexican brownie, a raspberry ring and a kitchen sink crispy.

raspberry ring (credit: NYSF)

My whole family are big fans of Kim’s Mexican brownies, which are $3 each.  Not only is there enough chocolate to satisfy chocolate lovers, but the spices are subtle and incredible!  Mixed into the batter are cinnamon, cloves, chocolate chips, probably a few spices I can’t detect, and chili powder.  The chili powder is just enough to tickle the tongue, but not enough to be spicy.

I could eat everything on the Treats Truck, and the Mexican brownies would still be my favorite! The photo may not look like anything special, but take my word for it, the various flavors in this brownie are incredible.

Mexican brownie (credit: NYSF)

The raspberry rings cost $2 each, and were similar to Linzer tortes, but these had sugar crystals on top instead of confectioners sugar.   On the first bite, I could taste vanilla extract in the cookie dough, and the sugar crystals added a nice crunch.  On the second bite, I got to the delicious raspberry preserves in the center.  Very, very yum!

The last item I tried was the aptly-named kitchen sink crispy.  Baked into the dessert were pretzels, M&M’s, chocolate chips, and peanuts.  It was a large cube, which made it a little tricky to eat, but the reward was worth the effort.  There was a little of the sweet & salty thing going on, and every bite had something besides cereal and marshmallow.

kitchen sink crispy (credit: NYSF)

It’s easy to see why the Treats Truck is so beloved by New Yorkers.  I’ve been there many times, and have never been disappointed.  You can see the truck’s menu here, although items do rotate.

As of last weekend, you can get all of these goodies and much more at the Treats Truck Stop in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.  For a closer look at the shop, click here for a write-up by Blondie & Brownie.

Or you can bake these treats yourself with the Treats Truck Baking Book.  Or you can find the Treats Truck on twitter here or on our Mobile Munchies twitter feed.

There are many ways to get these treats – and they’re all good!.

Kim Ima, founder of the Treats Truck, was on Good Day New York for Valentine’s Day – and we have the video.

Kim talks about her love of baking and her love of eating sandwich cookies, among other things.  Kim also mentions the store she is opening in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.

Below is the video, and after the jump are two of Kim’s recipes from The Treats Truck Baking Book.

CARAMEL CRÈME SANDWICH COOKIES
Makes about 28 sandwich cookies

1 ½ cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 cups (4 sticks) butter
2 egg yolks
4 cups flour
Buttercream Frosting (see recipe below)

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add the egg yolks and flour and mix well.

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes, up to overnight.

Preheat the oven to 325˚F. Grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper.

Use a rolling pin to roll the dough to ¼-inch thick. Cut out the cookies using a round cookie cutter. If the dough seems too soft, refrigerate the rolled out dough for a bit to firm it up before cutting the cookies.

Place the cookies 1 inch apart on the baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until ever-so-slightly golden. Set aside on the baking sheet to cool completely.

Using an offset spatula or a butter knife, frost the underside of 1 cookie and top with a second cookie to make a sandwich. If you prefer, use a piping bag or a plastic storage bag with the tip cut off to place a dollop of frosting on the upturned cookie and then top with the second cookie. Repeat with the rest of the cookies. The cookies will keep in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days.

SUGAR DOT SUGAR COOKIES
Makes about 1½ to 3 dozen cookies, depending on how big you make them

3 cups flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Buttercream Frosting (see recipe below)

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix and set aside.

Use a mixer to cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add the eggs and mix well.

In a measuring cup, combine the cream and vanilla.

Mix in the flour mixture into the butter-sugar mixture in three parts, alternating with the cream and vanilla mixture, starting and ending with the flour.

Remove the dough from the bowl, form it into a block, and wrap it in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350˚F.

With a rolling pin, roll out the dough to ¼-inch thick. Using a cookie cutter, cut out the cookies and place them 1 inch apart on a greased or parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until oh-so-lightly golden at the edges.

Allow the cookies to cool completely. Frost with butter cream frosting and sprinkles or the topping of your choice!

BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
Makes 4 cups

½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened
6 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
½ cup whole milk
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

In a bowl or mixer, cream the butter. Add the confectioners’ sugar 2 cups at a time, mixing well as you go. Add the milk and vanilla and mix until smooth and creamy.

Stick the frosting in the fridge for about 20 to 30 minutes to firm up before using. If you make it ahead of time to use another day, take it out of the fridge with enough time for it sit on the counter to soften, or stick it in the microwave for a short zap. The frosting keeps for up to 2 weeks.

NOTE: It’s always a good idea to sift the confectioners’ sugar first to get out any little lumps. If you don’t have a sifter or strainer, pour the sugar in a bowl and mash it with a fork.

The Treats Truck is doing a special promotion with McCormick spices and extracts, and Kim created 3 new holiday-themed treats using McCormick spices and extracts. There are several components to this promotion, including the McCormick Big Cookie Share where you can customize your own cookies, and a free cookie giveaway that was at the Treats Truck last Friday.

Since the Treats Truck will be selling these cookies during the holiday season, we decided to do a taste testing of the new cookies so you can decide for yourself which one(s) you want.  We know it’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.

The first new treat we tried was the Little Peppermint Crispy Rice Square (bottom in photo).  This was a rice krispie square with two big additions – tiny pieces of peppermint candy and white chocolate chips.

Even though the peppermint pieces were tiny, they added a fairly strong mint flavor, although there could have been McCormick’s mint extract added too.  The peppermint flavor was tempered a bit by the white chocolate chips.  Yum!

Next up was the Sugar Cookie Thumbprint with a Spiced Jam Center (top left in photo).  We often make sugar cookies in our house around the holidays, but never put jam in the center.  There were several choices of jam available, including strawberry, blackberry and raspberry.

We got strawberry, and it was delicious.  Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, but this was my personal favorite of the new treats.  The sugar cookie was buttery, and the spiced strawberry jam was phenomenal.  Double yum on this one!

The last cookie was also the biggest – a Nutty Oatmeal Ginger Cookie Sandwich.  By definition it had two (oatmeal) cookies with a sweet ginger buttercream filling.  This cookie had some cinnamon and nutmeg going on, and there were chopped pecans in the cookies too.  If you like nuts, this treat had plenty.  The sweet filling also had ginger and cinnamon.  Very tasty!

You can find the Treats Truck on twitter here, or on our Mobile Munchies twitter feed.

If you want to get into the holiday spirit, there’s no better way than with these new holiday cookies from the Treats Truck – or The Treats Truck Baking Book, which makes a great gift for anyone you know who enjoys baking.

Yesterday we told you about the Treats Truck unveiling 3 new holiday cookie recipes in conjunction with McCormick spices and extracts.

We just got word that at 11:30 this morning, Kim will be giving away FREE cookies to the first 100 people at the Treats Truck.

They will be parked on 5th Ave between 20th & 22nd St.  Check their twitter here for the exact location.

The new holiday-themed cookie flavors are Nutty Oatmeal Ginger Sandwich Cookies, Sugar Cookie Thumbprints with Spiced Jam Centers and Little Peppermint Crispy Rice Squares.  Yum!

Today and tomorrow, The Treats Truck is unveiling 3 new cookie recipes in conjunction with McCormick spices and extracts.

Kim Ima, founder of The Treats Truck and author of “The Treats Truck Baking Book” has created 3 new cookie flavors that will be for sale at The Treats Truck today and tomorrow.

Click through for more details on the new cookie flavors and where to get them.

The new holiday-themed cookie flavors are Nutty Oatmeal Ginger Sandwich Cookies, Sugar Cookie Thumbprints with Spiced Jam Centers and Little Peppermint Crispy Rice Squares.

The Treats Truck will be in various locations throughout the city today and tomorrow from 11am-6pm.  Exact locations have not been announced, so you will have to check The Treats Truck twitter account here or our Mobile Munchies twitter feed here.

Cookies, Brownies & Goodies Galore!  That’s the perfect subtitle for the book coming out tomorrow (Nov 1) from one of our favorite bakers in NYC, Kim Ima of the Treats Truck.

Click through for a message from Kim, where to order the book, and if you can’t wait, where Kim will be signing the book this week.

Hi! My name is Kim (or the Treats Truck lady), and I love treats.  I love them.  A lot.

And I’m very excited to share with you my favorite recipes for cookies, brownies, bars, cakes, pies, and specials from the truck.

Mix and Match with your own touches as you wish!  Bake for your friends and family! Neighbors! Coworkers! Classmates! Secret crush! Beloved great-aunt!  (Or just for your own delight!)

The Treats Truck baking book comes out Tuesday Nov.1. We’re so excited!! It will be on sale in bookstores.

There will be two book signings this week in the NYC area:

Tuesday, November 1 at 6:00PM at Posman Books-in Chelsea Market 75 Ninth Avenue at West 15th Street / New York, New York 10011

Thursday, November 3 at 7:00PM at Word Bookstore 126 Franklin Street / Brooklyn, New York 11222

You can also order the book here.

Kim from Treats Truck (in bandana) speaking to a NYSF Tour

Big news from Kim Ima of the Treats Truck.  As reported by Zagat , Treats Truck will be opening a shop in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.  Not only will they have Kim’s amazing baked goodies, but they will reportedly serve breakfast and lunch as well.

And if you want to try making some of these treats at home, Kim has a cookbook coming out November 1st called The Treats Truck Baking Book: Cookies, Brownies & Goodies Galore!.

We would love to try making a batch of those amazing Mexican brownies at home!

Kim & Treats Truck on the NYSF Tour

The incessant police crackdown on food trucks in midtown has claimed it’s first permanent victim – The Treats Truck.

Yesterday afternoon, Kim Ima posted the following truly depressing message on Facebook:

“To my dear customers, we will not be midtown for the time being. The police have let us know that they no longer can allow food trucks in the midtown area. You have all made the past four years very special. You can always order for delivery or come by our new spots. I’ll miss you very much, and thank you for making my Treats Truck dream come true. All my best and thanks, Kim Ima (the Treats Truck lady)”

Kim and the Treats Truck have been a wonderful presence in midtown the past 4 years, and Treats Truck was the first stop on the New York Street Food Tour.  They will be impossible to replace, but maybe we can get the law changed so food trucks can legally sell their wares within New York City limits.

We saw a pretty cool event in Brooklyn next weekend that Frites ‘N’ Meats tweeted about – and it’s a fundraiser for a very good cause – public school arts education.

Touch-A-Truck Brooklyn will let kids climb inside, touch and explore the trucks you see everyday, plus a bunch of other cool vehicles.  All proceeds will benefit the arts programs at P.S. 295 – music, dance, drama, and visual arts.

When: Saturday, April 9, 11am – 2pm, rain or shine

Where: PS 295, 18th Street between 6th and 7th Aves in Park Slope, Brooklyn
Subway: R to Prospect Ave; F to 15th St/Prospect Park

Tickets: $5 per person, children under 2 are free

What it is: A chance for Brooklyn kids to encounter working trucks and vehicles they see in everyday life up close and personal.

Website: Shiny Brite (twitter @shinybriteworld)

Hop in the driver’s seat of:

• FDNY fire truck
• Ambulance
• Police car
• Dump truck
• Garbage truck
• Tow Truck
• The Truck Farm
• The Treats Truck
• Airstream trailer
• Sign-hanging bucket trucks
• Vintage ice cream truck
• Vintage cars
• Fire Safety Education Unit
• Concrete truck
• Moving truck
• The BioBus (sponsored by Target)

And much more!

**NYC food trucks The Treats Truck, Frites & Meats and 2009 Vendy Award Winners Country Boys Tacos will have food available for purchase!**

Country Boys Tacos from the 2009 Vendy Awards