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24 Must Make Pie Recipes

Here is a list of 24 Must Make Pie Recipes that are worthy of bringing to any dinner party. Here is a list of fruit, cheesecake, chocolate, cream, and mini pies that need to happen in your kitchen right away. Grab a fork and get ready to dig in!

It's that time of year again. The time when everyone is making their Thanksgiving day menu. Or do you already have your list finished up? Maybe I'm the only one who has waited until the last minute to put together my menu. Actually, we haven't been at our own home for Thanksgiving in forever, so I never make a full list. Usually, I just bring dessert and a side dish to wherever we are eating.

This year, we will be spending the day with some of my husband's family. He has some aunts and uncles who usually spend a few months out of the year here in sunny Florida, so we will be joining them for a turkey feast. I am still trying to decide which dessert to bring and share. My brain tends to overthink these kinds of things. I know I want to make pie, but which one?

As I was looking through all my pie recipes, I decided to put together a list of pies that I thought were worthy of sharing at dinner. Here are a few of my favorites that I have made over the years, along with a few delicious pies I found online. I hope you find one or more that you just have to make for your family dinners this year. It's not too late to add another pie to your must-make list!

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Cinnamon Toffee Pecan Banana Bread

A loaf of this Cinnamon Toffee Pecan Banana Bread is a delicious addition to your morning routine. Enjoy a slice with your coffee or milk for breakfast or for your afternoon snack.

I went from buying bananas all the time to hardly buying them at all now. I'm not really sure what happened. Usually every time we did some grocery shopping, I would grab a bunch of bananas for our fruit bin.

Oh, wait! I do know what happened. Our oldest son went to college a few months ago, and without him around the bananas just sit there all lonely like. He was usually the only one who would eat the fresh bananas I would buy.

We had a good system going on. I would eat the green bananas, then he would eat the ripe bananas. Anything that turned brown was then fair game for making banana pancakes or the best banana cake. I do really love baking with bananas. It's probably one of my favorite ingredients to use. Of course, nothing will ever top chocolate and peanut butter. [Read more...]

Pass the Pork Tour in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

About six weeks ago I had the awesome opportunity from the National Pork Board to go on the Pass the Pork tour in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Over the years I have visited a few dairy farms, a chicken farm, and strawberry fields. So, I was excited to add pig farm to that list. I love that my job as a food blogger gives me opportunities to see more about the food we eat.

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*The National Pork Board sponsored this trip. I am working with them to provide you this post.

Our first night there we walked along the famous Sioux falls to visit the Stockyards Ag Experience. Here we enjoyed some pork appetizers and had an opportunity to see pictures and displays showing the heritage of agriculture in the area. Then we headed to dinner where we met some of the people who have developed the Pipestone System for pig farmers.

As I listened to the different farmers, veterinarians, managers, and pork specialists on this trip, I heard the same love, care, and concern that I have heard before for the animals they take care of. Farmers across the board really do love the animals or plants that they provide for us to consume as food. They know that healthy animals provide healthy sustainable food for the world. [Read more...]

Apple Turkeys

Cookies and sprinkles make these chocolate covered Apple Turkeys a fun Thanksgiving craft. Perfect no bake treat to keep the kids busy before dinner.

Chocolate Covered Apple Ring Turkeys - cookies and sprinkles turn these apples into the cutest turkey treat. Easy no bake recipe for kids to create on Thanksgiving day.

Thanksgiving Turkey Craft

Do you ever have those moments where you wake up from a dream and remember it vividly? Usually, it's because of something scary happening, right? Well, about a month ago, I was halfway awake in the morning, but I decided to lie down for a few more minutes before working out.

The next thing I know, I sat up with a start. In my dream, I was photographing the cutest little turkeys made out of apples. It was such a random and funny thing to be dreaming about.

My guess is that even after spending an entire week making these puff pastry apple tarts, this caramel apple upside down cake, and these Halloween apple slices, I needed more apple fun in my life.

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How to Make Easy Cauliflower Rice

This Easy Cauliflower Rice is the perfect healthy substitute. It's so easy to make and tastes just like regular rice, but without all the carbs. You can use cauliflower rice as a side dish or even as an ingredient in your favorite recipes.

A red bowl on a wooden cutting board filled with homemade cauliflower rice.

This easy cauliflower rice recipe is the perfect low carb alternative to your favorite carb-heavy foods. It's easy to make and tastes delicious too.

You can use it as a base for fried rice, in place of potatoes, or even as a side dish with dinner. You won't believe how much this simple recipe will change the way you look at cauliflower.

Why Make Low Carb Rice

Whether you want to replace carbs with cauliflower rice or simply want to eat more vegetables, this cauliflower rice recipe will help you do it easily.

Once I learned just how easy it was to make homemade cauliflower rice, we started incorporating it in our lean and green meals. And in quite a few dishes, you can't even tell the difference.

I made this healthy stuffed peppers recipe a few weeks ago, and our kids didn't even know that I substituted a batch of this easy cauliflower rice in place of the instant rice. I call that a dinner win.

Plus, cauliflower has lots of health benefits that will help you feel great while eating healthy delicious food.

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Chocolate Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Bars

Four layers of creamy goodness make these Chocolate Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Bars a pretty and delicious dessert that everyone will love.

Well, I finally got to experience fall weather here in Florida. Yesterday it dropped to a chilly 65 degrees. It was definitely time to bust out the jeans and sweatshirts from the storage boxes! The cooler weather was a very welcome change from the hot humidity.

I grew up in Pennsylvania, so I love fall weather the most. There's something about a slight chill in the air, changing leaves, the smell of a bonfire, and getting to wear layers that makes me smile. I'm happy that we got to have two out of four on that list yesterday.

Today is bright and sunny, but the chilly weather persists. Yay for flannel pants, sweatshirts, and a Salted Caramel Mocha Latte for another day.

When it gets cooler, I find myself heading to the kitchen more often to bake cookies or brownies. Lately, though, I have been finding myself wanting to bake all things cheesecake. I think it's because my cookbook Cheesecake Love finally came out after 2 years of work, and now I can share about it. [Read more...]

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake

You are going to love all the layers in this decadent Chips Ahoy Cheesecake. Chunks of cookies and chocolate chips in every bite make this a must-make dessert.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Mousse Cheesecake - layers of creamy cheesecake, chocolate chip cookie mousse, and chocolate chips makes this a must make cheesecake recipe. Perfect dessert to end any meal!

You guys! I haven't even begun to put a dent in all the cheesecake ideas that I have swirling in my head. And that's after writing Cheesecake Love. There are 75 cheesecake ideas in the cookbook, and I probably have another 75 ideas still waiting to be made.

A friend of mine suggested that book number 2 might be necessary, given that I had so many more ideas. Or I could start making a new cheesecake every week and share it right here on the blog. That sounds like a much easier idea.

Since it took about three years from start to finish in the cookbook process, I'm not interested in doing another one, at least not for now. Of course, that could all change if the right offer were to come along.

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Peanut Butter Monsters

These cute Peanut Butter Monsters are dipped in green chocolate and decorated with purple sprinkle hair and a big candy eyeball. They're an easy, no bake Halloween treat everyone loves.

For Halloween, I prefer spooky cute things rather than anything too scary or gory! Although I will admit my zombie Halloween eyeballs are pretty creepy! These peanut butter monsters though are 100% cute and kid-friendly.

These are honestly one of my favorite treats to make all year! For the monsters, I started with my classic peanut butter balls and dipped them in bright green chocolate.

I pressed one large candy eye on the front, added a sprinkle of purple jimmies for hair, and ended up with the most adorable little monsters staring back at me. Those googly eyes crack me up every single time!

Why You'll Love These Monster Peanut Butter Balls

No baking required. Just one bowl, a mixer, and some patience to roll, chill, and dip each ball.
Soft, fluffy peanut butter centers. Marshmallow cream is my secret ingredient for an extra-soft filling. It's delicious on its own, but even better dipped in chocolate.
The cutest faces. One big eyeball and purple hair give these little treats so much personality.
Fun to make with kids. Let your kids add the eyes and hair. It's a fun and easy Halloween activity.

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Cauliflower Stuffed Peppers

Make a pan of these Cauliflower Stuffed Peppers to feed your hungry family. Each pepper is loaded with lots of meat and veggies and is a delicious option when you are choosing better food options.

Healthy Stuffed Peppers - this healthy dinner is loaded with meat and veggies. Easy nutritious recipe to make for dinner!

The first thing out of our kids' mouths when they walk in the door is, "What's for dinner?" You would think they hadn't eaten in weeks with their hunger. But I know better because every morning, my hubby or I get up and make sure they have lunch to grab as they walk out the door.

Yes, our kids are teenagers and can make lunches, and some days they do. But I love sending them to school with a lunch hand-packed with love. Hmmmm, I wonder what they would think if I started adding little notes and messages like I used to when they were little.

They might start making their lunches, and I would get a few extra minutes of snoozing. Just kidding. I would do it again if they told me how embarrassed they were because that's our job as a parent, right? Embarrass them with lots of love!

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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Donuts

These baked Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Donuts are soft, full of pumpkin spice flavor, and packed with mini chocolate chips. Dipped in a creamy chocolate glaze and topped with colorful sprinkles, these are a fun treat for a fall breakfast.

The recipe and post for chocolate chip pumpkin donuts were first published in October 2017. The post was updated in September 2026.

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My oldest son and I are the biggest pumpkin fans in our house, so you can bet we get excited when fall gets here! Every time I walk through the grocery store, I pick up a few extra cans of pumpkin. I love finding new ways to bake with it, especially when chocolate is involved.

Up first, homemade pumpkin donuts! I like them soft and tender, so I always add pumpkin and sour cream to the batter. Cinnamon and nutmeg give them that warm fall flavor, and then for this batch I added mini chocolate chips because pumpkin and chocolate belong together.

Then comes my favorite part! I dip the donuts in a creamy chocolate glaze and finish them with colorful sprinkles. They are so good with a cup of coffee or a salted caramel pumpkin latte on a cozy fall morning.

Why You'll Love This Baked Pumpkin Donut Recipe

Soft and tender. Pumpkin puree and sour cream keep these baked donuts soft and moist, never dry or crumbly.
Pumpkin and chocolate combo. Warm spices give that classic pumpkin spice flavor, while mini chocolate chips and a creamy chocolate glaze take them over the top.
Easy to bake. No frying or special equipment needed! Just mix the batter, fill the donut pan, and bake.
Fun for fall. Add a few sprinkles and these treats are ready for breakfast, brunch, or your next fall get-together.

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