Inside BruCrew Life

menu icon
subscribe
search icon
Get my Cheesecake Cookbook! →

Peach Butter

This homemade peach butter is thick, silky smooth, and has a deep, rich caramel flavor from fresh summer peaches and brown sugar. Spread it on warm biscuits, stir it into oatmeal, or spoon it over vanilla ice cream.

Two jars of homemade peach butter and an English muffin with spread on it.
[feast_advanced_jump_to]

I love making homemade fruit butters and sauces with fresh seasonal produce, and peach season is one of my favorites. Making a peach crumble pie and a peach dump cake is usually my first task. Then I cook the rest into a thick, silky spread.

Most peach butters use white sugar so the color stays lighter, but I prefer to use brown sugar instead. It gives this peach butter a deeper, richer caramel flavor and creates such a rich, dark amber color that is so pretty in jars.

We enjoyed this homemade peach butter on biscuits, toast, and even in a fun summer latte. And it makes the most beautiful homemade gift too! A jar tied with a ribbon and a tag is one of my favorite gifts for friends and neighbors in peach season.

Why You'll Love This Peach Butter Recipe

  • Richer flavor and deeper color. Using brown sugar produces a dark amber color and a sweet caramel undertone.
  • No pectin required! Just cook it low and slow, and the peaches do all the work naturally. No special ingredients or equipment needed!
  • So many ways to enjoy it. Toast, biscuits, oatmeal, yogurt, ice cream, and so much more. You will find yourself reaching for it every time you open the fridge.
  • Makes a beautiful gift. Spoon it into a pretty mason jar and tie on a ribbon. This makes a thoughtful and delicious gift for anyone who loves homemade goodies.
[Read more...]

Chubby Hubby Ice Cream Pie

This homemade Chubby Hubby Ice Cream Pie has a buttery pretzel crust and a no churn vanilla malt ice cream filling. It is swirled with hot fudge, peanut butter, and chocolate-covered pretzels. Sweet, salty, creamy, and crunchy in every bite!

A slice of Chubby Hubby ice cream pie on a white plate.

The post for Chubby Hubby Ice Cream Pie was first published in July 2018. The post was updated and republished in July 2026.

[feast_advanced_jump_to]

Okay, fun fact. I did not like ice cream when I was a kid. Apparently, ice cream was too cold for me, but I would eat Jell-O pudding pops at my grandpa's house. Make that make sense!

Good thing I grew out of that phase! Ice cream is basically a food group here in Florida, and this Chubby Hubby ice cream pie is one of my favorites.

Have you ever had Ben and Jerry's Chubby Hubby Ice Cream? I've heard it's amazing, but I can never find it in our local grocery stores. I thought maybe it had been sent to the flavor graveyard, but apparently it's still sold in some regions.

Since I cannot try the original, I decided to make my own version at home. I turned it into a frozen pie with a pretzel crust. Malt powder gives it that classic Chubby Hubby taste.

A Chubby Hubby ice cream pie with a slice missing from the plate.

Chocolate-covered pretzels, hot fudge swirls, and peanut butter ribbons make every slice taste like the elusive pint I can never find. In fact, my version turned out so good that I have stopped looking for the Ben & Jerry's version.

Why You'll Love This Chubby Hubby Ice Cream Recipe

  • All the Chubby Hubby flavors in one pie. Homemade vanilla malt ice cream with fudge, peanut butter, and pretzels makes this frozen dessert taste just like the real thing.
  • No ice cream maker needed! With just a few simple ingredients and a mixer, this no-churn ice cream comes together in minutes.
  • A pretzel crust. Buttery and slightly salty, this is the perfect base for the sweet and creamy layers.
  • You can make it ahead of time. This pie needs to freeze overnight, so all the work is done the day before. Just slice and serve when you are ready!
[Read more...]

Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream

This homemade Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream has swirls of fresh cherry filling and chocolate chunks in every single scoop. It is cool, refreshing, and so much better than anything you can buy in stores!

A pink and white bowl filled with scoops of cherry vanilla ice cream.
[feast_advanced_jump_to]

My husband's favorite ice cream flavor is Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia. So a few years ago, I decided to make my own version at home.

Living in Florida means ice cream is a year-round must. I love keeping homemade ice cream in the freezer all the time. The ice cream maker gets used regularly around here. We love making coffee ice cream and cookies and cream ice cream when it's hot outside.

This ice cream base uses no eggs and no cooking. Just whisk everything together and let the machine do all the work. The hardest part is waiting for it to freeze.

I layered the creamy homemade vanilla base with cherry preserves and chopped Hershey bars. It immediately became a family favorite. Every scoop has beautiful cherry swirls and chocolate pieces. Trust me, you will love it too.

A close up of a waffle cone filled with scoops of cherry vanilla ice cream.

Why You'll Love Homemade Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream

  • It's a delicious Cherry Garcia copycat. Homemade cherry filling and chocolate candy bar chunks add a fun twist to plain vanilla ice cream. Once you make it at home, you'll never go back to store-bought.
  • So easy to make. Just whisk the ingredients together and let the machine do all the work. It's easy and fast.
  • The layers are gorgeous. Alternating layers of ice cream and cherries create the swirls in every scoop. It is such an easy technique, but it makes a big difference.
  • Perfect for a hot summer day. Cool, creamy, and loaded with fresh summer cherries. This is the kind of treat that makes a hot day feel so much better.
[Read more...]

4th of July Cake

This Confetti 4th of July Cake is a festive dessert for any Independence Day celebration. Red, white, and blue sprinkles give every slice a fun, colorful surprise. The vanilla buttercream topped with an M&M American flag makes it stand out on any holiday table.

A red white and blue 4th of July cake with sprinkles and an M&M flag.
[feast_advanced_jump_to]

Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays to bake for. There are so many fun ways to add stars and stripes to a dessert. A few of my favorites are firecracker cupcakes and red, white, and blue cheesecake bars.

As a bicentennial baby, I wanted to make a patriotic flag cake to celebrate America's 250th birthday. As soon as I saw the red, white, and blue M&M's in the store, I knew they were perfect for an American flag pattern.

I used my chocolate chip cake for the base, but replaced the chocolate chips with holiday sprinkles, turning it into a funfetti cake. My favorite part, though, was the M&M flag on top! It added such a fun touch.

Why You'll Love This Flag Cake Recipe

  • Holiday sprinkles in every square. Red, white, and blue jimmies are perfect for stirring into white or yellow cake batter. They hold their color, creating a confetti look in every slice.
  • The M&M flag is easier than it looks! You do not need any special skills to decorate this cake. All you have to do is place candies in a row!
  • Great for parties and crowds. A 9x13 sheet cake can be cut into 15-24 servings, so it's great for a backyard barbecue or cookout.
[Read more...]

Strawberry Cheesecake Cups

Hot days call for cool and creamy Strawberry Cheesecake Cups. Made in a blender with cottage cheese and fresh berries, this no bake dessert comes together in minutes. A spoonful of jam and a swirl of whipped cream make every cup so pretty and delicious.

Four clear jars filled with no bake strawberry cheesecake and strawberry chia jam.

This post was first published in March 2012. It was updated with new pictures and text in June 2026.

[feast_advanced_jump_to]

Cottage cheese is trending right now, and these cups show exactly why! When you blend it until it's smooth, it loses the lumpy texture and becomes a silky, creamy base for desserts.

The flavor is mild and slightly tangy, which makes it a surprising swap for cream cheese in a cheesecake filling. It is lighter, has a higher protein content, and really tastes like the real thing.

When it is hot outside, I am all about no bake desserts. I love making parfaits and cheesecake cups to avoid using the oven. This week, I blended cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, and fresh strawberries to make a creamy cheesecake filling.

After chilling for a few hours, we had the most adorable little desserts for the week. The spoonful of strawberry chia jam on top added the perfect extra berry touch!

Why Make Strawberry Cheesecake Dessert Cups

  • Easy to make. Toss it all in the blender and pulse until smooth. It's literally that easy, and you don't have to heat your kitchen with the oven.
  • Light and packed with protein. Cottage cheese and yogurt make these a lighter treat that also adds protein to your day.
  • Strawberry chia jam topping. A spoonful of fresh jam on top adds more berry flavor and makes the jars so pretty.
  • Individual servings. These treats are great for parties or for enjoying something sweet every day this week.
  • Make-ahead friendly. Pop them in the fridge a few hours ahead or the night before and add the toppings right before serving.
[Read more...]

Starbucks Chocolate Chip Cookies

Forget the drive through lines and make these copycat Starbucks chocolate chip cookies at home instead! Soft, chewy, and packed with chocolate, they look and taste just like the original for a fraction of the cost.

Copycat Starbucks chocolate chip cookies with added chocolate chunks on top.
[feast_advanced_jump_to]

Every time I grab a Starbucks drink, I like to pick up a sweet treat too. One of my favorites is the chocolate chunk cookies. Have you ever dunked one into a latte? Trust me, it's delicious.

I've been working on some Starbucks copycat recipes for a while now. I started with the lemon loaf, then recreated the marble loaf cake, and most recently, I made the double chocolate brownies. Now, I'm ready to take on their chocolate chip cookie.

Many copycat recipes for Starbucks cookies use regular flour, but Starbucks' ingredient list calls for enriched wheat flour. Initially, I tried using regular wheat flour, but the taste wasn't quite right. Then I tried Golden wheat flour. It adds a subtle nutty flavor that makes these cookies taste more authentic.

One Starbucks cookie and one copycat chocolate chip cookies with text labels and arrows.

After several rounds of testing, I finally created a recipe that looks and tastes just like the ones from the coffee shop. Trust me, you won't be able to tell the difference.

Why You'll Love These Copycat Starbucks Cookies

  • Soft and chewy with a crispy edge. Just like the coffee shop version, these cookies have soft centers and slightly golden, crispy edges.
  • The secret is in the flour! To get the same flavor profile as the Starbucks cookies, I used golden wheat flour. It sets this recipe apart from the rest!
  • Loaded with chocolate. With semi-sweet chocolate chips in the dough and chocolate chunks on top after baking, each cookie has the perfect chocolate-to-cookie ratio.
  • Perfect with a cup of coffee. These cookies taste amazing with a salted caramel mocha or a cup of coffee!

If you love recreating Starbucks treats at home, check out this chocolate pistachio loaf next.

[Read more...]

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

These Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes are everything a summer cupcake should be! Each cupcake has a surprise lemon curd center and a swirl of blueberry buttercream that makes them look stunning and taste amazing!

Lemon blueberry cupcakes on a yellow towel.

The original post for lemon blueberry cupcakes was first published in June 2013. It was updated and republished in June 2026.

[feast_advanced_jump_to]

Some flavor combos make you happy, and lemon and blueberry are one of them. That bright tart lemon mixed with sweet juicy blueberries is just so good together, no matter what you put them in.

I love using fresh fruit in frostings and fillings. The color and flavor are much better than anything from a bottle. These cupcakes are the perfect example of that!

The blueberry buttercream gets its natural purple color from a simple sauce made with fresh berries. No food coloring needed, and it's honestly one of the prettiest frostings I have ever made.

But wait, because it gets even better! I also added a surprise lemon curd center that takes these from good to great. Every bite has the perfect balance of sweet lemon cake, tart creamy filling, and fresh fruity frosting. One bite, and you will want to make them for every summer picnic.

Why You'll Love This Lemon Blueberry Cupcake Recipe

  • Lemon cake mix upgrade. Adding lemon pudding mix, fresh lemon juice, and zest to the cake mix batter gives these cupcakes a bright citrus flavor. Nobody will guess they started with a box!
  • Surprise in every bite! A spoonful of lemon curd tucked into the center of each cupcake takes this dessert over the top. It's the best kind of surprise!
  • Gorgeous blueberry frosting. The deep purple color comes entirely from fresh blueberries. It's one of the prettiest natural frostings you will ever make.
  • Perfect for any special occasion. Trust me, these cupcakes will be a showstopper on any dessert table. Make them for summer parties, baby showers, bridal showers, birthdays, or just because you love blueberries.
[Read more...]

Blueberry Snack Cake

This blueberry snack cake is the perfect combination of a blueberry muffin and a coffee cake. It has a soft, moist texture, is filled with fresh blueberries, and is topped with a sweet, crackly sugar that makes every bite so delicious. Trust me, you will want a second slice.

If you love easy blueberry recipes, try these sour cream blueberry muffins or this blueberry banana bread next.

A close up of a piece of blueberry snack cake on a blue plate.

The post for blueberry snack cake was first published in December 2013. It was updated and republished in May 2026.

[feast_advanced_jump_to]

If I ever open a bed and breakfast or a coffee shop, I will serve Bisquick blueberry pancakes and this amazing blueberry cake every day. It is a simple recipe that just makes everyone happy.

Years ago, I found this cake recipe in one of my old church cookbooks. It sounded so good, so I made it right away. My oldest son loved it so much that he devoured the whole thing in one day, then asked for another. That is honestly the best kind of review a recipe can get.

Every year, when blueberries are in season, this blueberry snack cake is the first thing I make. I love the crunchy sugar topping and soft, moist cake with juicy berries. A warm slice with a blueberry latte is a delicious way to start out any day.

Why You'll Love This Blueberry Cake

  • Fresh blueberries in every bite. There are 2 cups of juicy blueberries folded into the batter, so every slice is packed with berry goodness.
  • Sweet sugar topping. A generous sprinkle of sugar on top creates the crispiest, crackliest crust, making it hard to resist.
  • A hint of almond flavor. Just a small touch of almond extract gives this cake a subtle something that makes it stand out.
  • Great any time of day! Feel free to enjoy a slice for breakfast, brunch, an afternoon snack, or dessert.
[Read more...]

Coca Cola Cake

This Coca Cola Cake is a rich and moist chocolate sheet cake made with Coke and topped with a boiled chocolate frosting that melts into the top. It's easy to make and tastes amazing. Trust me, everyone will be asking for this copycat Cracker Barrel recipe!

A piece of coca cola cake topped with a scoop of ice cream and a cherry.
[feast_advanced_jump_to]

Coca Cola chocolate cake has been a Southern favorite since the 1950's. I've seen it in so many old cookbooks and watched it disappear at church potlucks over the years. When Cracker Barrel added it to its menu in the '90s, this classic dessert became even more popular.

Cracker Barrel has always been a family favorite. When our kids were young, they loved sitting in the rocking chairs and playing the pegboard game while waiting for food.

Recently, we visited again, and I had the hash brown casserole, bacon mac and cheese, and fried apples. Of course, the real reason for my visit was a slice of their famous double chocolate fudge Coca Cola cake!

With food costs rising everywhere, I have been creating copycat recipes of my favorite restaurant dishes. I made a delicious cola version of my Dr. Pepper cake that tastes just as good as the original but is so much cheaper.

Adding soda boosts the chocolate flavor and helps the cake rise, making it light and fluffy. In my opinion, the best part is the cooked cola frosting. It soaks into the warm cake and creates a delicious fudgy glaze. Trust me, everyone will want the recipe!

Why You'll Love Chocolate Cake with Coke

  • Rich chocolate flavor. Coke and cocoa powder give this cake a deep chocolate flavor that is incredible.
  • That boiled frosting! The hot frosting gets poured over the warm cake, then melts right into the top for the most fudgy, gooey, delicious texture.
  • Easy to make. All you need are basic ingredients, a can of Coke, and a 9x13 pan.
  • Great for celebrations of all kinds. This sheet cake is rich and decadent, so you can cut it into smaller squares. It's always a hit at parties, potlucks, and picnics.
[Read more...]

Pina Colada Bars

These Pina Colada Bars bring all the tropical paradise vibes right to your kitchen! Chewy coconut sugar cookie bars topped with creamy pineapple frosting and toasted coconut make them beautiful and delicious. And the best part? Everything is made in one pan!

If you love easy desserts, check out these funfetti cookie bars or these lemon cookie bars.

Squares of pina colada cookie bars with coconut on a black plate.

These pina colada sugar cookie bars were first published in April 2018. The post was updated and republished in May 2026.

[feast_advanced_jump_to]

One of my favorite things about sugar cookie bars is how easy they are to customize. Who needs cookie cutters when you can press the dough into a pan and be done in 10 minutes? I'm all about working smarter in the kitchen, not harder.

Over the years, I have made many different versions of these bars. From salted caramel cookie bars to sugar cookie s'mores bars and everything in between, they are always one of the first things to disappear at any gathering. Pretty much any flavor combo you love can be worked into the dough or frosting.

Pineapple and coconut are two of my favorite summer flavors. So when I needed an easy dessert for a teacher appreciation luncheon, the pina colada pina bars were the obvious answer. My pan came home completely empty, so I think everyone else loves this combo too!

  • Tropical flavors in every bite. Coconut baked into the dough and a creamy pineapple frosting make these dessert bars taste like a tropical getaway!
  • Baked and frosted in one pan. The dough gets baked and frosted right in the same pan. Easy cleanup!
  • That creamy pineapple frosting! The creamy topping is loaded with crushed pineapple and coconut. It's honestly the best part of the whole bar!
  • Fun toppings. Toasted coconut, maraschino cherries, and dried pineapple add a pretty and festive flair.
  • Great for any summer occasion. These bars are always a hit at parties, picnics, potlucks, or just a random weeknight at home.
[Read more...]