Blog - Inside BruCrew Life

Cinnamon Apple Bars

These cinnamon apple bars are packed with sweet shredded apples, wholesome oats, and spices. Top these chewy squares with creamy homemade cinnamon frosting to take them from breakfast to dessert!

If you love the cozy fall flavors in these easy apple squares, try my apple bundt cake and cinnamon apple baked oatmeal recipes.

A slice of frosted cinnamon apple bar on a plate.

The post for these frosted cinnamon apple bars was first published in April 2015. It was updated and republished in October 2025.

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Are you looking for a delicious apple dessert for Thanksgiving? I think you're going to love these cinnamon apple bars! These bars are less gooey than my apple pie bars and caramel apple bars. Instead, they're thick and chewy with hearty oats, shredded apples, and spices.

To take these apple bars from breakfast to dessert, I've added a layer of fluffy homemade cinnamon frosting. I just love enjoying a soft square and a pumpkin cream cold brew for a cozy fall treat.

Things to Love About This Cinnamon Apple Bars Recipe

Full of fresh apples and cinnamon. The combination of fresh shredded apples, brown sugar, and cozy cinnamon fills these apple cinnamon bars with fall flavor.
Easy to make. Mix the wet and dry ingredients separately, combine, and bake! The dessert is ready in under an hour, making it a great option for last-minute fall baking.
Eat them frosted, or not. Cinnamon frosting makes these bars perfect for dessert (served like a slice of apple cider cake topped with vanilla bean ice cream). Meanwhile, the unfrosted squares make a fantastic breakfast bar with a cup of coffee.

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Fall Snack Mix

Whether you're watching a movie, hosting a fall party, or simply craving something sweet, this Fall Snack Mix is fun to make. It's also so easy to customize. Feel free to swap in your favorite nuts or candies to create a mix that's your own.

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I love having something to munch on while we watch movies, and while I enjoy buttery popcorn, sometimes I want something sugary. Over the years, I have made many sweet mixes. Some of my favorites are peanut butter puppy chow, hot cocoa trail mix, and animal cookie muddy buddies.

This year, I went through my pantry looking for anything I could use. I found caramel corn, cereal, pretzels, candy corn, Reese's, potato sticks, nuts, and the cutest tiny cookies. This sweet-and-salty snack mix is a little bit of everything, all mixed into one large bowl of fall happiness.

Grab a handful (or two) and get cozy because once you start snacking, it's hard to stop.

Why You'll Love This Sweet and Salty Mix

Sweet and salty goodness. The mix of caramel corn, pretzels, candy, and potato chips gives you the best of both worlds in every scoop.
Packed with fall flavor. Reese's Pieces, candy corn, and pumpkins make this mix perfect for the season.
Easy to make and share. Just toss everything in a bowl and you're ready to go. No baking required. Make it for parties, movie nights, or road trips.
Change it up with your favorite mix-ins. The best part is that you can easily swap in your favorite nuts, cereal, or candy to make your own special blend.

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Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

This Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings is a cozy dinner that's perfect for busy nights. The hearty chicken stew has soft Bisquick dumplings that cook in the creamy broth. If you like easy chicken dinners, this recipe will have you coming back for seconds.

Two bowls filled with chicken and dumplings.

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This comfort food reminds me of home. When I was a kid, my parents made this dish in an old electric skillet. Once the meat and veggies were done cooking, they'd drop Bisquick dough on top and let the dumplings steam until soft and fluffy.

My version keeps all that cozy comfort but makes things easier. Instead of standing over a skillet, I let my slow cooker do most of the work. I toss everything in, let it simmer all day, then throw the biscuit dough on top at the end.

This meal has the same flavors of chicken pot pie, but instead of a crust, it has soft dumplings that soak up all that creamy broth. It's perfect for those chilly nights or whenever you want a simple dish that reminds you of home.

Why You'll Love Chicken and Dumplings with Bisquick

Easy comfort food. This crockpot dinner practically cooks itself, so you can enjoy a home-cooked meal without spending the day in the kitchen.
Cozy and hearty. A thick, stew-like texture, packed with meat and veggies, will warm you up on cold nights.
Family favorite. It's one of those classic dinners that everyone goes back for seconds. Even picky eaters love the creamy, rich flavor.

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Halloween Bark

Halloween Bark is one of the easiest treats you can make. With plenty of candy and sprinkles, it's a fun treat for Halloween parties or snacking on while you watch spooky movies.

Looking for more no bake treats? Try our Halloween cheesecake cups and spooky eyeballs next.

A tray of chocolate bark filled with Halloween cookies and candies.

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One of my favorite things to do each season is to wander the holiday aisles in stores. I always find fun candies that give me ideas for new desserts.

This year, I found orange cream Oreos and marshmallow pumpkins at Walmart. Immediately, I knew they would be perfect for an easy Halloween bark. If you've never made Oreo bark before, this is your sign to make it now.

Melt white chocolate, spread it on a pan, then add your favorite toppings before it sets. For this batch, I used whole Oreos, candy corn, M&M's, and lots of sprinkles. It turned out so cute!

I made a batch before heading to Texas earlier this month and shared it with my nieces. They loved it and had so much fun picking out their favorite pieces. If you are looking for an easy treat, this Halloween bark is a must.

Why You'll Love Halloween Chocolate Bark

Whether you're baking with kids or just feeling creative, decorating this chocolate bar is so much fun.

Fun to make. You only need a few ingredients and 15 minutes to make this spooktacular treat.
Perfect for seasonal sweets. It's a great way to use your kids' leftover candy or those fun food finds.
Great for sharing. Break it into pieces, wrap it in a gift bag, and then hand it out to friends, co-workers, or trick-or-treaters.
Easy to customize. Use whatever chocolate and sweets you have on hand. It always turns out cute and delicious.

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Barbacoa Tacos

Barbacoa Tacos are juicy pulled beef tacos packed with flavor. The meat cooks quickly in the Instant Pot, and then you can enjoy it in warm tortillas with your favorite toppings. This easy barbacoa recipe is a favorite for family taco night.

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Most nights around here, taco night means a beef filling with all the toppings. Occasionally, we like to mix things up. From pulled pork tacos to Caribbean-style jerk shrimp tacos with mango salsa, or my new favorite, barbacoa tacos. It keeps dinner fun and never boring.

Traditional Mexican barbacoa is a dish made from beef, pork, or lamb, slow-cooked until it falls apart. Today, we're speeding up the process and making the best beef barbacoa tacos in the Instant Pot.

Our homemade barbacoa tacos will melt in your mouth. I make them using beef chuck, cooked with a delicious blend of chipotles in adobo sauce and pantry spices.

After that, all you do is shred the beef and stir it back into the sauce. Tuck it inside soft tortillas for a delicious family meal.

Why You'll Love These Easy Beef Barbacoa Tacos

Ultra-tender beef. The Instant Pot is my favorite way to get that cooked-all-day flavor and tender texture without slow cooking for hours.
Tacos with kick. Chipotle peppers in the Barbacoa beef recipe are a great way to add some spice to your Mexican night menu.
Easy and (almost) hands-free. You need to do a little prep to sear the beef chunks. After that, just mix the ingredients and press cook!

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Eyeball Cupcakes

If you're looking for a spooky yet cute treat, these Eyeball Cupcakes are just the thing! Bright sprinkles, dark chocolate frosting, and marshmallow eyes make an awesome Halloween dessert that's perfect for parties. Plus, using a box cake mix keeps it easy, and everyone will be totally impressed!

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Halloween has always been one of my favorite times to bake fun treats. When our kids were younger, I went all out making themed desserts for school parties and trick-or-treat events. Some of their favorites were peanut butter eyeballs and spider web brownies.

Now that our children are grown and we're empty nesters, I still reach for the spooky candy and sprinkles this time of year. It's a tradition I refuse to let go of.

This year, I decided to bake something fun with a bit of spookiness. I took a white cake mix and added Halloween sprinkles for color. A swirl of dark chocolate buttercream with black cocoa powder gave them a spooky vibe.

The final touch was marshmallow eyeballs I found in the seasonal aisle at Walmart. "Eye" can't believe how cute these cupcakes turned out! Make them for holiday parties, and they will disappear faster than you can blink.

Why You'll Love Eyeball Cupcakes

If you are baking for a holiday party, a classroom celebration, or just for fun, these eyeball cupcakes are a great treat.

Spooky and fun! These cupcakes look like they are staring right back at you, making them perfect for Halloween parties.
Easy to make. You'll start with a boxed cake mix, so there's no need for fancy steps or equipment. Just mix, bake, and decorate.
Dark and delicious. Black cocoa powder gives the frosting a rich chocolate flavor and a spooky dark color that complements the sweet funfetti cake.
Kid and adult approved. Whether you are baking for little ones or keeping traditions alive now that the kids are grown, these cupcakes bring smiles to everyone.

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Apple Pecan Muffins

Our Apple Pecan Muffins are soft, fluffy, and packed with fresh fruit and warm spices. Topped with crunchy streusel, they are a delicious fall treat. Serve them with a cup of coffee or apple cider, and you've got a breakfast that's hard to beat.

An apple pecan muffin with streusel on a white board with more muffins behind it.

The post and recipe for apple pecan streusel muffins were first published in September 2018. It was updated and republished in October 2025.

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Fall baking is in full swing around here, and apples have completely stolen my heart. I picked up a few extra bags on sale last week and decided to bake all the apple treats on my list.

So far, we've enjoyed apple scones, waffle donuts, and an apple crumble cake. Usually by this time of year, I'm all about pumpkin everything, but this year I just can't get enough of apple recipes.

I even turned these carrot cream cheese muffins into apple pecan muffins. Instead of a creamy center, I added a crunchy streusel and sweet glaze. One bite, and I knew this was my new favorite muffin for cozy, fall breakfasts.

Why You'll Love This Apple Pecan Muffin Recipe

These bakery-style muffins will steal your heart as they bake. The fresh apple scent will have you reaching for seconds before you know it.

Loaded with real apples. Each bite has fresh, shredded apple that keeps the muffins soft, moist, and so sweet.
A crunchy streusel topping. That buttery cinnamon crumble gives every muffin an amazing texture and flavor.
Sweet glaze drizzle. A light glaze adds the perfect touch and makes the muffins look like they came from a bakery.
Perfect for breakfast or snacks. They are easy to make, great for sharing, and even better with a cup of hot coffee or cider.

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Halloween Cheesecake Bars

There is no trick to making this fun treat. These colorful Halloween Cheesecake Bars are easy to make and will be the highlight of your fall parties. With an Oreo crust and spooky yet sweet whipped cream ghosts, they're sure to have everyone smiling.

A close up of a whipped cream ghost on a swirled halloween cheesecake bar.

The post for Halloween swirled cheesecake bars was first published in October 2019. It was updated and then republished in October 2025.

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I love baking cute and spooky treats for Halloween. Honestly, it's the candy eyes that I love most. In fact, I always keep a jar of them in my sprinkle bin just so I can use them throughout the year.

There is just something extra fun about using the candy eyes during the Halloween season. They instantly turn any treat into something adorable yet slightly creepy.

A few years ago, I made these rainbow cheesecake bars. This time, I gave it a spooky twist by swapping out the spring colors for bold purple, green, and orange food coloring. The googly-eyed ghosts on top created a fun monster mash-up, perfect for Halloween parties.

Why Bake Halloween Swirled Cheesecake Bars

If you are looking for a Halloween treat that is equal parts spooky, cute, and delicious, this creamy cheesecake is it. Here are a few of my favorite reasons:

Bright, festive colors. The vibrant swirls of orange, green, and purple make this dessert stand out on any Halloween table.
Fun for all ages. Kids and adults will love the colorful design and adorable ghosts with eyes.
Spooky and silly. It's the right mix of spooky and cute, so it's perfect for sharing with family and friends.
Easy to serve. 9x13 bars are a great size to cut, serve, and share at parties and events.
Fun to customize. You can change the colors and decorations for any holiday or theme year-round. (See how we turned it into red white and blue cheesecake bars for July 4th.)

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Chocolate Granola Bar Bites

These easy Chocolate Granola Bar Bites can be made in minutes. They are the perfect chocolate snack for after school or on the go in the morning.

With three growing kids in our house, we go through a lot of snacks throughout the week. They are always "starving" when they get home from school. If I have to do a grocery store run after school, they are not too happy with me, unless we pick up some snacks there to eat on the way home.

Granola bars are an easy-to-grab snack from the store. We have gone through so many boxes over the years for breakfast and snacks.

Over the years, I have gone back and forth on making versus buying bars. Homemade granola bars are seriously so easy to make and have on hand. These No Bake Nutella S'mores Granola Bars never last very long at all when we make a pan.

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Reese’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Stuffing these Reese's chocolate chip cookies with whole peanut butter cups takes them over the top! This easy recipe makes thick, chewy cookies loaded with chocolate chips and Reese's Pieces. Best of all, there is no need to chill the dough, making this a quick family favorite.

Love chocolate and peanut butter? Try my chewy chocolate Reese's cookies and these best-ever Reese's peanut butter bars next.

Reese's chocolate chip cookies stacked on a countertop, with the top cookie broken in half to show the gooey peanut butter cup inside.

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If you love Reese's, you are in for a treat! These homemade Reese's chocolate chip cookies are absolutely loaded with peanut butter and chocolate flavor.

Since I'm still on my cooking-baking kick, I just had to add my favorite candies to a stuffed chocolate chip cookie.

From the outside, these cookies look like a cross between my thick chocolate chip cookies and Reese's Pieces cookies. But the best part? They're stuffed with whole peanut butter cups, giving you a delicious surprise when you bite into one.

Why You'll Love These Reese's Chocolate Chip Cookies

They're (literally) stuffed with Reese's. Each cookie has a hidden peanut butter cup and is studded with chocolate and Reese's Pieces candy. They are perfect for peanut butter lovers.
No chilling required. Keeping ingredients like butter and eggs cold helps stop these cookies from spreading in the oven. This way, you don't need to chill the dough.
Perfect for holidays. I especially love making these cookies before and after Halloween! They're a fantastic way to use up leftover candy. And in our house, these Reese's Pieces chocolate chip cookies are welcome at cookie exchanges year-round.

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