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Coconut Oil Brownies

These coconut oil brownies are easy to make at home and use melted coconut oil for an extra boost of goodness. The healthy fat gives this brownie recipe its rich and fudgy texture. Plus, there is a thick layer of coconut frosting on top, making them even more delicious.

If you love chocolate and coconut together, you should also try our coconut chocolate pie or coconut Nutella cookies.

Two coconut oil brownies with frosting stacked on a wooden board.

The post for coconut Nutella brownies was first published in June 2015. It was updated and republished in February 2026.

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We bake quite a few brownies around here. Plain brownies are our youngest son's favorite dessert. Once, I tried to sneak chocolate chips into the pan, and he called me out because they weren't plain.

It seems that I have trouble baking plain desserts. I start with good intentions, but somehow, we end up with something swirled or stuffed in them. My salted caramel brownies and Oreo brownies are two examples of such treats.

These coconut oil brownies are another result of one of my baking experiments. I took my favorite chocolate chip brownie recipe and added a coconut twist. Did you know you can use coconut oil in place of butter? The fat in the melted oil makes the baked treats super moist and fudgy!

And because extra chocolate is always a good idea, I stirred in a scoop of Nutella. Once the brownies cooled, I also added a creamy frosting with shredded coconut. There's just something about coconut and chocolate that I love. Thankfully, not everyone in our house likes them plain, so I didn't have to eat them all.

Why You'll Love Brownies with Coconut Oil

Moist fudgy texture. Using coconut oil instead of butter makes them extra moist and decadent.
Extra chocolate flavor. A big scoop of Nutella deepens the chocolate flavor and makes the texture even softer and fudgier.
Loaded with coconut goodness! A sweet coconut frosting topped with shredded flakes enhances the rich brownie base. It's the perfect dessert for coconut lovers!

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Nutella Brownie Cake

If you want a rich chocolate dessert that feels special but is easy to make, this Nutella Brownie Cake is the answer. Layers of fudgy brownies, creamy spread, and fluffy hazelnut mousse will have everyone going back for another slice.

A white plate with a slice of layered Nutella brownie mousse cake.

This post was first published in March 2016. It was updated and republished in February 2026.

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Nutella is one of those things that once you try it, you'll wonder how you lived without it. Ok, maybe that's just me. Fun fact: The spread was created during WWII, when a baker in Italy mixed hazelnuts with cocoa to make it last longer.

The chocolate hazelnut spread makes the best desserts. I used it a few years ago when I wanted to impress everyone at our small group dinner with a chocolate dessert. The best part was that it looked fancy but was actually so easy to make.

I baked chocolate chip brownies in a springform pan, then added hazelnut spread and a fluffy Nutella mousse. To make it look extra special, I topped it with a handful of fresh raspberries and a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

This layered Nutella brownie is so easy to make in one pan. It can be chilled ahead of time and slices beautifully for serving. If you are looking for a stunning dessert for birthdays, holidays, or dinner with friends, this recipe is perfect.

Why You'll Love A Brownie Mousse Cake

Fudgy brownie base. The homemade brownies are soft, chewy, and packed with chocolate flavor.
A layer of Nutella! The thick layer of spread delivers hazelnut bliss in every bite.
Light and fluffy Nutella mousse. Adding whipped topping to the cream cheese mixture creates a smooth, fluffy topping that lightens the dessert.
Fresh raspberry decorations. Those bright berries add a little pop of tart flavor, keeping the cake from feeling too sweet. Plus, they make it look extra pretty on your table.
Easy to make ahead. This is one of those desserts that gets better in the fridge. Make it the day before and check one thing off your to-do list.

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Cherry Banana Bread

Add a loaf of Cherry Banana Bread to your baking plans this week. This easy banana bread recipe is loaded with chocolate chips and sweet cherries, then topped with a pretty pink cherry glaze. It makes the perfect breakfast, afternoon snack, or let's be honest, late-night slice.

Have extra ripe fruit to use up? Try our banana waffles or this banana coffee cake.

Slices of cherry banana bread on a white plate.

This post was first published in May 2018. It was updated and republished in February 2026.

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I never get tired of baking with bananas. They're honestly the most used ingredient in our kitchen. A few of my favorites are chocolate banana muffins, banana scones, and the best banana cake. Luckily, my family loves banana treats just as much as I do, so they are always ready to give me feedback on new recipes.

This time, I found a jar of maraschino cherries and a bag of chocolate chips in the pantry. They clearly needed to be added to my sour cream banana bread.

My daughter said the banana bread with maraschino cherries was good, but she insists that it should only have chocolate chips. I totally disagree with that because cherries and chocolate are the perfect combo.

If you have overripe bananas sitting on your counter, this chocolate cherry banana bread needs to happen. One slice turns into two slices very quickly, so consider yourself warned!

Why You'll Love Cherries and Bananas In Bread

The quick bread recipe is easy to make with simple ingredients.
It has a super moist texture from the sour cream, ripe bananas, and juicy cherries.
Pops of maraschino cherries and chocolate chips in every bite will satisfy your sweet tooth.
A sweet cherry glaze on top gives it a bakery-style finish.

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Strawberry Cream Cheese Cookies

These Strawberry Cream Cheese Cookies are what happens when a cake mix meets strawberries and cream. Loaded with real strawberry pieces and creamy chips, this easy cookie recipe bakes up soft and pretty. Perfect for spring parties, showers, or holiday cookie trays!

Looking for more strawberry cookies? Try our strawberry sugar cookies or strawberry kiss cookies.

A plate of strawberry cake mix cookies with a cup of coffee behind it.

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I love baking for every season and holiday. And since strawberry season kicks off in February here in Florida, I'm officially ready to start baking all the berry desserts.

To get started, I made strawberry cream cheese cookies. This easy cookie recipe starts with a simple strawberry cake mix. To give every bite even more berry flavor, I added freeze-dried strawberries and white chips to the dough.

I'm in love with how cute and delicious they turned out. They are the perfect pink cookies for Valentine's Day, Easter, spring baking, or honestly, any time you want a pretty dessert.

Why You'll Love Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies

So easy to make! This recipe uses a strawberry cake mix, so you get flavor and color without adding anything extra.
Soft texture. Cream cheese is the secret ingredient that keeps these treats soft and tender. They have just the right texture without being cakey.
Sweet strawberries and cream flavor. Freeze-dried strawberries mixed with cream chips make every bite delicious. It's a spring combo that will brighten your day!
Pretty in pink! These cookies look as cute as they taste, which makes them perfect for parties or anytime you want something cheerful.

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Valentine's Day Cupcakes

These Valentine's Day Cupcakes are fun, festive, and full of sweet surprises. Each cupcake has a hidden Oreo cookie and two kinds of frosting swirled on top. The heart toppers and edible glitter take these treats over the top in the best possible way!

Looking for more fun desserts? Try these cherry chip cupcakes or raspberry filled chocolate cupcakes next.

Valentine's cupcakes topped with pink frosting and extra heart toppers.

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Nothing says love better than pink and red hearts, and I'm really loving these pretty little cupcakes. Making treats for the holidays is so fun, especially when they include bright colors and sweet candies!

These Valentine's Day cupcakes came to life after I spotted the cutest icing decorations at Target. When I get a baking idea, there's no stopping me from getting in the kitchen and putting it together.

The cupcakes start with a red velvet cake mix, but there is a fun surprise hiding inside each one. Every liner gets a whole Oreo tucked into the bottom before baking. On top, I used two different colored frostings, chocolate hearts, icing decorations, and a sprinkle of edible glitter. The shimmer makes them feel extra special!

They turned out exactly how I pictured them, and the best part was enjoying them with my husband after a fun day of baking.

Why You'll Love These Valentine Cupcakes

If you are baking for a party or just because you want to make something cute and delicious, these cupcakes are a great choice!

Easy to make. Using a box mix makes these cupcakes quick and stress-free.
Fun cookie surprise. The hidden Oreo at the bottom adds a sweet surprise to every bite.
Two frosting flavors. Swirls of cookies and cream frosting and pink vanilla buttercream create a pretty bakery-style look.
Perfect for Valentine's Day! These simple yet elegant treats are perfect for parties, gifts, or a fun baking day at home.

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Valentine's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Adding lots of M&M candies and sprinkles makes these Valentine's chocolate chip cookies fun and festive. Whether you are baking for a party or just because you love chocolate, these thick bakery-style cookies will be a hit.

A Valentine's chocolate chip cookie propped against a plate with more cookies on it.

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Valentine's Day is going to be a whole lot sweeter with these festive cookies. If you love thick chocolate chip cookies, you are going to fall hard for these.

I used my favorite cookie base and loaded it with Valentine M&M's, white chocolate chips, and sprinkles to make them extra cute and extra delicious. These are the cookies you should bake for your family and friends, or anyone who could use a little love (and sugar) in their life.

Holiday baking always makes everything feel brighter. I love creating fun cookie recipes that make people smile, and these definitely deliver. They're soft in the middle and crispy on the edges. But it's the colorful candy and sprinkles that make them feel extra special!

Have fun baking them for school parties, bringing them to work, or just enjoying one warm from the oven with a glass of milk. Everyone loves crispy chewy chocolate chip cookies, but add red and pink M&M's and sprinkles, and suddenly it feels like a celebration!

Why You'll Love These M&M Valentine's Cookies

Thick and soft texture. These cookies stay tall and soft in the center, just like a bakery cookie should.
Loaded with chocolate and sprinkles. Red, pink, and white candies plus holiday sprinkles make every bite fun and exciting.
No chilling required. Using cold butter and eggs helps keep the cookies from spreading in the oven, so you can skip chilling the dough and bake right away.
Perfect for Valentine's Day! The festive colors make these the cutest treats for parties, gifts, or snacking.

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Turkey Pinwheels

Turkey pinwheels are an easy appetizer that everyone loves. Creamy ranch filling mixed with cheese, bacon, and veggies, wrapped up with turkey in soft tortillas, is a guaranteed hit at any party. These little bites will fly off the platter!

Serve these easy rolls with your favorite party snacks. Try them with blackberry brie bites, dill pickle deviled eggs, or air fryer jalapeño poppers.

A stack of turkey cheese pinwheels on a white plate.

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Pinwheels have been one of my go-to recipes over the years because they are easy to make and always taste delicious.

When we threw a surprise 50th birthday party for my husband, everyone brought appetizers for a snack supper. These turkey pinwheels were my contribution, and they disappeared so fast that I wish I made a double batch.

I used my turkey club pinwheels as the starting point for this recipe. But I changed a few things to make them a little different and extra delicious. They are creamy, savory, and perfect for parties, potlucks, game days, or even school lunches.

Why You'll Love This Turkey Pinwheel Recipe

Can be made ahead of time. You can prep them for hours or even a day in advance, making hosting much easier.
Perfect for parties and holidays. One batch makes plenty of bite-sized spirals, so they're ideal for when you have lots of guests.
Easy to change. Swap in your favorite ingredients or use what you already have on hand.
Kid and adult approved. The creamy ranch filling and deli turkey make these a hit with all ages.

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Homemade Sloppy Joes

Our homemade sloppy joe recipe uses real ingredients and simmers in a thick, sweet, and spicy tomato sauce. Serve it on toasted buns for a quick and easy weeknight dinner the whole family will enjoy.

Looking for more easy sandwich ideas? Try our Buffalo chicken salad or slow cooker pulled pork.

A bun filled with a generous helping of sloppy joes.

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If you grew up eating sloppy joes, there is a good chance it came from a can or was made with ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar. That's exactly how we made them, too. No measuring, just a little of this, a little of that, and a whole lot of taste testing until it was just right.

Fast forward to now, and sloppy joes are still one of those nostalgic comfort foods that I love and remember from childhood. It's easy, budget-friendly, and perfect for busy weeknights or feeding a crowd.

This past January, our small group made dinner for about 150 people at our church, and sloppy joes were on the menu. Our family loves this sweet and spicy Dr. Pepper chili, so I used those ingredients to jazz up that old-fashioned meat base.

The end result was a sweet and tangy sloppy joe recipe with a hint of spice. It was a huge hit at the group dinner and quickly became a new family favorite here, too.

Why You'll Love Sloppy Joes with Tomato Paste

Sweet and tangy, with a hint of spice. The brown sugar and balsamic vinegar provide sweetness and tang, while the chipotle pepper adds a touch of heat.
Made from scratch with real ingredients. Using pantry staples, you can create a homemade sauce that tastes way better than anything from the store.
Perfect for busy nights or feeding a crowd. The recipe comes together in about 30 minutes and can be easily doubled or tripled.

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Birthday Cake Banana Bread

Colorful rainbow sprinkles and a sweet glaze make this soft birthday cake banana bread a fun treat. It is perfect for birthdays, brunch, or any special occasion.

If you love sprinkles, check out our Funfetti cinnamon rolls and Funfetti bundt cake.

A loaf of birthday cake banana bread with two slices laying in front of it.

The post for Funfetti banana bread was first published in January 2020. It was updated and republished in January 2026.

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Lately, I have been really into making sweet breads, especially banana bread. A few weeks ago, I bought some bananas. I couldn't wait for them to ripen so I could try different banana bread recipes.

This sour cream banana bread is my go-to recipe when I want to try something new. It's soft, moist, and incredibly easy to customize with mix-ins and extracts. This time, I used cake batter extract and rainbow sprinkles to give it a classic Funfetti cake flavor.

Now let's talk about the glaze. Is it optional? Technically, yes. Is it necessary? Absolutely! After all, this is birthday cake banana bread.

It's like the banana loaf, and Funfetti cake had a baby. Honestly, now I want to add sprinkles to every loaf of sweet bread I make!

Why You'll Love Birthday Cake Banana Bread

Fun way to use overripe bananas. This recipe turns that spotty fruit into a treat that everyone will get excited about.
Birthday cake flavor in every bite. Cake batter extract is the secret ingredient to give the baked good a classic cake taste.
Loaded with sprinkles. The rainbow colors add fun, making this sweet bread perfect for a party or special occasion.
Frosting on top because why not. A sweet glaze transforms this from banana loaf into a "cake" you can eat for breakfast.
Great for any occasion. It's perfect for birthdays, brunch, or just because your bananas are silently judging you from the counter.

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Congo Bars

Congo bars are soft, chewy cookie bars loaded with buttery brown sugar flavor and lots of chocolate chips. Make this easy vintage dessert in one bowl and customize it with mix-ins like chopped pecans and coconut.

Try more cookie bar recipes like my monster cookie bars, chocolate chip cheesecake bars, and kitchen sink bars next.

A stack of chocolate chip congo bars on a blue towel.

The post for these Congo bars was originally published in August 2010. The pictures were updated in November 2018, and the post was republished in January 2026.

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What are congo bars? If you've never had one before, congo bars are rich, chewy blonde brownies filled with chocolate chips and brown sugar.

It's a retro recipe found in church cookbooks (one theory is that the name "congo" comes from "congregation"). I recently rediscovered my congo bars recipe in a box of old recipe cards. Of course, I had to make them right away!

In high school, I would make these soft, gooey congo bars for youth group events. Every time I showed up with a pan, they disappeared in no time. I can't wait for yours to have the same effect!

Why You'll Love Congo Bars

Soft, chewy, chocolatey. Eating a congo bar is like biting into a super soft-baked chocolate chip cookie. It's a texture similar to a fudgy brownie, flavored with brown sugar instead of chocolate.
One bowl. The cookie dough comes together in minutes in one bowl with simple ingredients. Mixer optional!
Any occasion. Congo bars are perfect for bake sales, potlucks, and holiday baking. Try a warm square with a scoop of ice cream on top. Cookie dough goodness with melty ice cream is the best.

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