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Reese's Christmas Trees

By · PUBLISHED · 2 Comments

Make the holidays sweeter with homemade Reese's Christmas Trees. Filled with peanut butter, covered in chocolate, and decorated with sprinkles, these candy trees are perfect for sharing.

A decorated peanut butter Christmas tree standing on a white board.
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Since Christmas is in a few weeks, I decided to give our peanut butter balls a fun holiday make over! A few years ago we turned them into cute little peanut butter reindeer. Buckeye balls that look like Rudolph are simply adorable.

This year we decided to turn them into peanut butter trees! Once you try it, you may want to turn your favorite peanut butter ball recipe into these adorable decorated trees too.

Why You Will Love This Christmas Treat

  • Easy to make with no baking required.
  • Fun to decorate and tastes amazing!
  • Great gift for the peanut butter and chocolate lover.
  • Prettier than a bag of store bought Reese's trees.

These Reese's peanut butter trees will be a great addition to your holiday dessert trays along side of these peppermint Oreo cookies and this chocolate mint Oreo fudge.

You can also wrap them up in small cellophane bags tied with ribbon and give them as gifts or stocking stuffers like these rice Krispie pin wheels.

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Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

By · PUBLISHED · 14 Comments

Treat your family to a delicious treat with Homemade Cinnamon Rolls. Their soft, fluffy texture combined with a gooey cinnamon sugar swirl makes these cinnamon rolls a must-have for special occasions or even just a cozy weekend breakfast.

A gooey cinnamon roll on a white plate.
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One of our favorite family traditions is having cinnamon rolls for breakfast on Christmas morning. For years we baked Pillsbury rolls from a can because I was afraid to bake with yeast.

I know that a lot of people are like me and scared to make recipes with yeast. Trust me, you can do this. This is an easy cinnamon roll recipe that anyone can make at home.

Why You Will Love These Rolls

  • The homemade yeast dough is easy to make and only needs one rise time, so this is a great recipe for beginners.
  • The sweet rolls bake up soft and fluffy with a sweet cinnamon sugar swirl inside.
  • A sweet vanilla frosting melts down into the cracks and makes the rolls extra gooey.
  • You can prep them ahead of time, so you can enjoy overnight rolls for breakfast the next day.

Our kids have declared these the best cinnamon rolls ever. So, our new holiday tradition is to make homemade cinnamon rolls for special holidays, birthdays, and Christmas morning.

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Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

By · PUBLISHED · 31 Comments

Add a twist to your holiday baking with these Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies. The delicious combination of chocolate chip cookies and chocolate covered cherries is sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit.

A stack of cherry chip cookies on a tray.
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Each year we make a list of cookies that we want to bake during the holidays. These peppermint Oreo cookies and these Christmas kiss cookies are always on the list.

One of my favorite things to get each Christmas is a box of chocolate covered cherries. Chocolate and cherry is a classic flavor combo, so I decided to add it to an oatmeal cookie that topped our cookie list this year.

Why You Will Love Cherry Chip Cookies

Turn a classic oatmeal chocolate chip cookie into a cherry chip cookie by adding a jar of maraschino cherries. The fruit adds a pop of color and a sweet flavor to the cookies.

  • The dough is easy to make in one bowl.
  • You can bake the cookies right away. No chilling required.
  • Great cookie recipe for the holidays.
  • Soft and chewy and loaded with cherry chocolate goodness.

If you love Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream, you will love this cherry cookie recipe.

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Red Hot Jello

By · PUBLISHED · 28 Comments

A bowl of Red Hot Jello is a delicious addition to potlucks, parties, or holiday dinners. This sweet red Jello gets a spicy cinnamon kick from Red Hot candies.

Two clear dishes filled with red hot Jello.
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I love making sweet salads for church potlucks or holiday dinners. The simplicity of using a few ingredients to create a tasty side dish is so satisfying.

A few of my go-to salads and parfaits are this banana split fluff salad, strawberry fluff salad, or this orange protein Jello!

But my all time favorite dessert salad is this cinnamon Jello. I grew up eating it at my grandparent's house, and now I make it for our kids.

Why You Will Love Applesauce Jello

Red Hot Jello is vintage recipe that is still popular today for many reasons. For me, it brings up some great childhood memories of eating my grandma's easy jello dessert.

  • Easy to make in minutes with just 3 ingredients.
  • The combination of red jello, applesauce, and cinnamon candies is amazing.
  • Delicious side dish to serve with ham or turkey.
  • Adds a pretty pop of red color to holiday dinner tables.
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Chocolate Mint Kiss Cookies

By · PUBLISHED · 39 Comments

Our Chocolate Mint Kiss Cookies are a great holiday treat. The soft chocolate sugar cookies rolled in sprinkles and topped with a Hershey kiss are sure to be a favorite at all your Christmas parties.

Chocolate sprinkle cookies topped with chocolate kisses.
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Mint Kiss Cookies

I love baking cookies during the Christmas season. Every year, I make a list of ten holiday recipes to make for cookie trays or to put in tins for gifts. A few things that make the list every year are mint Grinch popcorn, peppermint brownie truffles, Reese's Christmas trees, chocolate chip Christmas cookies, and Christmas blondies.

These chocolate blossom cookies with a Hershey's Kiss on top are always on my list. The fudgy chocolate cookie rolled in sugar satisfies my sweet tooth.

Top them with mint Hershey kisses, and you have a kiss cookie recipe that will be everyone's favorite.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • They are fun and easy to make with kids.
  • Colorful sprinkles and chocolate kisses make them stand out on cookie trays.
  • A chocolate cookie topped with a Hershey's kiss is a chocolate lover's dream.
  • Easy to change up for other holidays and occasions.
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Christmas Blondies

By · PUBLISHED · 12 Comments

Celebrate the holidays with a sweet holiday M&M blondie recipe. These chewy Christmas Blondies are a delicious and festive way to get into the holiday spirit.

Holiday blonde brownies on a white tray.
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If you are like me, you love baking during the holidays. I love it when the house is filled with the scent of peppermint or molasses from these peppermint Oreo cookies or these molasses crackle cookies. Plus, there is always something delicious to snack on.

Filling trays with sweets like reindeer chow, peppermint Oreo truffles, or cranberry Christmas cookies for neighbors and friends is so much fun and a great way to show people you are thinking of them.

M&M blonde brownies are one of my favorite treats to make when I need a quick and easy dessert. This time I turned them into a Christmas treat that was fun and colorful.

Why Make These Holiday Blondies

  • Soft, chewy, and filled with Christmas colors and cheer.
  • Great for a crowd, holiday parties, or a cookie exchange.
  • One bowl recipe making clean up a snap.
  • Fun, festive, and easy to make.
  • No fancy equipment needed.
  • Easy to change up the colors for any occasion.
  • Bonus - Try this chocolate chip cookie version.
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Cherry Danish

By · PUBLISHED · 30 Comments

A braided Cherry Danish is an easy treat to make for breakfast or dessert this holiday season. Puff pastry is filled with cream cheese and fruit filling and baked until golden brown. If you love cherries and cheesecake, this pastry braid is for you.

*This post is sponsored by Lucky Leaf. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Slices of cherry danish stacked on a white plate.
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I love having a pastry or cinnamon rolls for breakfast from time to time. Pairing coffee with a classic sour cream coffee cake, a banana coffee cake, or a blueberry danish is always a delicious idea.

What if I told you that you could enjoy cheesecake for breakfast? Of course, you don't need my permission to do that, but this cherry and cream cheese pastry is the perfect reason to.

Why Make a Cherry Cheese Danish

This gorgeous pastry braid looks just like the ones you can purchase in bakeries or at Costco, but it tastes so much better. The best part is that you can make this danish recipe at home with ingredients you know and trust.

It is so simple to make with just a few ingredients. Puff pastry and fruit filling are the secret ingredients that make this cherry danish quick and easy.

What I love most about this fruit danish is how you can customize it. Swap out the cherry fruit filling for blueberry or strawberry if you like one of those better.

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Dr Pepper Cake

By · PUBLISHED · 2 Comments

Dr Pepper Cake is a dream come true for chocolate lovers. This classic chocolate cake recipe is made with soda and topped with a sweet boiled chocolate frosting that melts into the top. It might just be your new favorite dessert.

A piece of chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream on a white plate.
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Soda Cake

There is just something amazing about a rich chocolate cake that satisfies every sweet tooth. I love that there are so many ways to make one.

Your cake can be fancy, like this dark chocolate layered cake. Or you can keep it simple with a Texas sheet cake. Or have some fun with this funny cake!

One of my favorite ways to make cake is with soda. Did you know that you can add a can of soda for the liquid in some cake recipes? It's a fun way to add a unique flavor.

Why You'll Love This Dr Pepper Cake Recipe

This Dr Pepper cake recipe is a classic chocolate cake but has been jazzed up with the 23 delicious flavors of Dr Pepper. Here is why you will love this easy recipe!

So, if you are looking for a homemade chocolate cake with fantastic texture and flavor, this is the recipe for you.

  • A soda cake is easy to make with just a few ingredients.
  • Great dessert for crowds, potlucks, or family gatherings.
  • It is similar to a Texas sheet cake.
  • The unique flavor of Dr Pepper enhances the chocolate.
  • This cake is rich, moist, and topped with a cooked chocolate frosting.

Looking for more homemade cake recipes to make? Try our chocolate chip cake or easy coconut cake.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

By · PUBLISHED · 121 Comments

Pumpkin, spice, and everything nice is combined into this Pumpkin Cheesecake. A smooth and creamy spice filling baked onto a gingersnap crust will have you coming back for more.  This pumpkin cheesecake recipe will be a hit every time.

If you are looking for other fall desserts, check out our apple crisp pie and this pumpkin cobbler recipe.

A white plate with a slice of pumpkin spice cheesecake on it.
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Every year for Thanksgiving we used to make pumpkin pie because that's the tradition dessert you are supposed to have in the fall.

A few years ago my husband and I started making more cheesecake, and we decided that a pumpkin cheesecake recipe needed to be on our fall holiday dessert list.

I realize that most people think that cheesecake recipes are difficult to make, but I'm here to convince you that they are actually easier to make than you probably think.

Why Make This Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

If you are looking for the perfect Thanksgiving day dessert, this pumpkin cheesecake or a Biscoff cheesecake is what you are looking for.

A creamy pumpkin spice filling is baked on a thick gingersnap cookie crust which gives the cheesecake a delicious texture and flavor. Feel free to use any type of crust you like though.

This dessert literally tastes like pumpkin pie and cheesecake all in one glorious bite. Don't forget to add the swirl of Cool Whip for the best look.

When your friends and family taste how creamy and delicious this pumpkin cheesecake is, they will think you bought it from a bakery.

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Broccoli Mac and Cheese

By · PUBLISHED · 47 Comments

A pan of this homemade macaroni and cheese can be on your dinner table in no time at all. A creamy cheese sauce and crumbled bacon makes this Broccoli Mac and Cheese a great comfort food meal on a chilly day.

A scoop of baked macaroni and cheese being lifted out of a pan.
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Our family loves to make all kinds of homemade mac and cheese. A few of our favorites are creamy stovetop mac and cheese, ham and broccoli pasta, and buffalo chicken pasta!

This week I made another mac and cheese recipe with ingredients I had in the fridge. This easy pasta dinner got rave reviews in my home, and I am sure it will in yours too!

Why You Will Love This Pasta

Baked mac and cheese is the perfect comfort food. There is something about those cheesy pasta noodles that just makes everything right.

  • This bacon pasta is easy to make.
  • So creamy and delicious!
  • A Ritz cracker topping gives it a yummy crunch.
  • Easy to customize with other veggies.
  • Great way to get everyone to eat their greens.

The best thing about this baked broccoli mac and cheese is that you can prep everything ahead of time, then bake it until it is hot and bubbly on the evening you want to serve it.

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