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Pizza Pasta Salad

By · PUBLISHED · 39 Comments

Pizza Pasta Salad combines all your favorite pizza toppings with noodles and a zesty Italian dressing. This cold pasta salad is a great choice for summer picnics, back-to-school lunches, or potluck dinners. 

A serving of pizza pasta salad on a plate.
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Pizza Pasta Salad Recipe

My husband usually chooses what's for dinner because he makes savory food in our home, while I stick to dessert. One of his specialties is homemade pizza dough, which we use every weekend for pizza nights!

This week, I was motivated to make dinner. We had leftover toppings, so I used them to change up our usual veggie pasta salad. It was the perfect side dish to serve with the rotisserie chicken I purchased from Sam's Club. Finding that balance is key, isn't it?

This pizza pasta salad recipe is ready in minutes and can be custom-made to your taste. We use our favorite toppings with the pasta, but you can adjust it to your preferences. It's perfect for any season, so we make it all year long!

Why You'll Love Pizza and Pasta

  • No oven required: When it's too hot to turn on the oven, this pasta salad gives you pizza vibes without breaking a sweat.
  • Easy to customize: Just like pizza, you can make this salad with your favorite pizza toppings. Try meat lovers or veggie-packed version
  • Great for gatherings: It's easy to prepare in large amounts, so it's ideal for parties, picnics, and family events.
  • Can be made ahead: You can make pasta salad in advance. It tastes better after sitting for a while, allowing the flavors to mix together.
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Pumpkin Spice Muffins

By · PUBLISHED · 42 Comments

Our Pumpkin Spice Muffins are a fall favorite because they are easy to make, and everyone loves them. Whether you enjoy them with your morning coffee or share a batch with friends, these glazed muffins will make your day warm and cozy!

A glazed pumpkin muffin on an orange towel.
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Best Pumpkin Muffins

Fall is in the air, which means it's time to embrace everything pumpkin spice! There's nothing like a warm, fluffy pumpkin treat to get you in the autumn spirit. 

As soon as August arrives, I'm ready to start every day with a pumpkin cream cold brew and a pumpkin muffin. I've been making these pumpkin coffee muffins for years, but this time, I decided to go for a simple pumpkin spice flavor.

These pumpkin muffins are soft, moist, and perfectly spiced. Adding the sweet glaze and cinnamon sugar is optional, but it gives them a finished look.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Delicious Fall Vibes: The pumpkin spice blend is like a warm, comforting hug in muffin form. It's everything you love about fall in one sweet bite!
  • Simple Ingredients: Our easy pumpkin muffins can be made in under an hour with basic pantry items and canned pumpkin.
  • Great for Sharing: Whether you're hosting a fall brunch or want to treat your coworkers, these muffins will surely be a hit with everyone.
  • Adaptable: Enjoy them plain or load them up with chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit. They're delicious either way!
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Apple Butter Coffee Cake

By · PUBLISHED · 51 Comments

This Apple Butter Coffee Cake will steal the show this fall. With layers of soft cake, apple butter, oat crumble, and a sweet glaze, it's the perfect treat to enjoy with coffee or to share with friends and family.

Two squares of apple coffee cake on parchment paper.
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Apple Butter Crumble Cake

Fall is my favorite season. I love the changing leaves, crisp air, apple picking, and all the apple treats. This is also the time of year when you can find jars of rich apple butter in stores.

Apple butter takes me back to my childhood. We always had a jar of this spicy, thick spread in our refrigerator for toast or biscuits.

This apple spread is delicious on toast but has many other uses. Last year, I used it in this apple butter bread and these apple butter cinnamon rolls, which are still family favorites. 

This fall, I wanted to make a coffee cake that could be enjoyed for breakfast or dessert. I used the base recipe from my strawberry snack cake and added apple butter filling and a cinnamon crumb topping.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Fall Flavors: Apple butter and cinnamon create the perfect fall flavor combination, making this cake a seasonal delight.
  • Perfect for Sharing: This autumn snack cake is perfect for brunches, potlucks, or a cozy family breakfast.
  • Comfort Food: The warm, sweet, spiced flavor makes it perfect for chilly mornings or evenings.
  • Easy to Make: This coffee cake is simple despite its fancy layers.
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Zucchini Oatmeal Bars

By · PUBLISHED · 35 Comments

These Zucchini Oatmeal Bars are a delicious option that the whole family will enjoy for breakfast or dessert. They are made with oats and butterscotch chips, making them a sweet way to enjoy summer produce.

Two oat bars with butterscotch chips and frosting.
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Zucchini Granola Bars

Last week, I bought too many zucchini at the grocery store. So, I have been busy creating new and fun recipes to use all the green veggies. 

We started with zucchini blueberry muffins, banana zucchini bread, and a pineapple zucchini cake. With the last zucchini, I made baked oatmeal bars, modifying these caramel apple oatmeal bars.

The combo of butterscotch chips and oatmeal gives these soft granola bars a sweet and hearty flavor. The frosting is totally optional, but I love the extra sweetness it adds.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Easy to Make. Skip the store-bought oatmeal breakfast bars and make this one-bowl recipe in less than an hour.
  • Soft and Chewy. They are a sweet cross between soft baked oatmeal and a chewy oat bar.
  • Snack Size. Grab one for a quick breakfast on the go, pack them in school lunches, or enjoy it as an after-school snack.
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Pineapple Zucchini Cake

By · PUBLISHED · 7 Comments

Our Pineapple Zucchini Cake adds a tropical twist to a classic zucchini cake. The taste of pineapple, coconut, and cherries instantly transports you to an island paradise.

A square of frosted zucchini cake made with pineapple and coconut.
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Zucchini Cake With Pineapple

Every summer, I look forward to the moment when the gardens are overflowing with zucchini. Sure, I love to eat them for dinner, but honestly, I love baking with them so much more.

This green veggie adds moisture to baked goods, giving desserts a decadent and rich texture and taste. This dark chocolate zucchini cake is one of my all-time favorite zucchini recipes. However, I enjoy experimenting with new flavors and combinations.

This pina colada zucchini cake was inspired by pineapple zucchini bread. I modified my loaded carrot cake recipe with pineapple and zucchini, and this fun tropical cake was born.

If you enjoy zucchini and piña coladas, trust me and make this amazing cake! Your tropical oasis awaits!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This zucchini pineapple cake recipe is easy to make. It's the perfect tropical dessert for summer picnics, potlucks, or dinner parties.

  • Moist and flavorful. The cake is incredibly moist because of the zucchini and pineapple combination. The addition of coconut and cherries provides a burst of flavor.
  • Great way to use veggies. This cake recipe is a great way to use extra zucchini in summer. It is perfect for those who have a garden or enjoy farmer's markets.
  • Made and frosted in one pan! This sheet pan zucchini cake is baked and frosted in the same pan. No fancy decorating skills are needed!
  • Tropical vibes. The pineapple and coconut give this cake a tropical twist that makes you feel like you're on vacation with every bite.
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Mocha Banana Bread

By · PUBLISHED · 57 Comments

Dark chocolate and coffee give this Mocha Banana Bread an amazing flavor twist. Plus, extra chocolate chips and a creamy coffee frosting are guaranteed to perk everyone up.

Two slices of mocha banana bread with chocolate chips on a white plate.
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Chocolate Coffee Banana Bread

Whenever ripe bananas are on the counter, I begin thinking about making something delicious with them. Our children request chocolate banana muffins and sour cream banana bread at least once a month.  

This time, I wanted to switch things up by adding chocolate and coffee to the traditional banana bread. This recipe is packed with chocolatey goodness and topped with a dreamy coffee frosting.

Trust me, this is the combo you didn't know you needed!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Great for overripe bananas. This recipe is the best way to use spotty bananas and avoid waste.
  • Serve any time of day. Perfect for breakfast, as a snack, or even dessert. It's delicious any time.
  • Perfect for coffee fans. The combination of chocolate and coffee perfectly complements banana bread. Plus, coffee frosting adds a sweet caffeinated kick.
  • Looks and tastes fancy. It's easy to make but looks and tastes like something from a bakery. Get ready to show off your baking skills!
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Cherry Zucchini Coffee Cake

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This Zucchini Coffee Cake has a buttery crumble and is loaded with fresh cherries. It's a unique and delightful twist on breakfast cake that's perfect for any time of day. With fresh flavors and a sweet glaze, everyone will fall in love after one bite!

A slice of zucchini coffee cake with cherries in it.
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Zucchini Coffee Cake Recipe

At this time of year, zucchini plants grow abundantly in the garden. A few years ago, I tried to grow a garden even though I'm not very good at it. Surprisingly, our zucchini and cherry tomato plants survived despite my inconsistent watering.

I am always thrilled to have extra zucchini for baking. During the summer months, I love baking zucchini bread with chocolate chips and chocolate zucchini cake each week.

This week, I made a zucchini crumb cake to change things up. At the last second, I added some fresh cherries to the batter. Combining green veggies and fresh cherries might seem unusual, but it works so well. 

Zucchini adds moisture without an extra taste, allowing the bright, fruity cherries to stand out. It's a fun twist on traditional coffee cake that keeps people coming back for more.

Why You'll Love This Cake

  • Perfect for any occasion. Whether you are hosting a brunch or potluck or just enjoying a quiet afternoon treat at home, this snack cake is great. Casual enough for a regular breakfast but also fancy enough for special gatherings.
  • Great way to use summer produce. Zucchini and cherries can be found in gardens and farmers' markets in summer and early fall. If you have extra fruits and veggies, this recipe is an excellent way to use them.
  • Flexible and adaptable. You can switch up the fruits and nuts or use other spices. If you're not into cherries, try blueberries or raspberries.
  • A sweet finish. The glaze is the cherry on top (pun intended!). It adds a lovely finish that makes the cake look gorgeous and taste even better. It's a simple addition that makes a big impact.
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Layered Peanut Butter Brownie Dessert

By · PUBLISHED · 20 Comments

If you're a fan of chocolate and peanut butter, this Peanut Butter Brownie Dessert will be your new favorite treat. With layers of fudgy brownies, pudding mousse, and Reese's candies, it will disappear quickly.

A layered brownie dessert with peanut butter on a white plate.
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Layered Brownie Dessert

I love making gooey, rich brownies and decadent bars. They are so delicious and easy to put together in just minutes. I make these salted caramel brownies and tiramisu brownies quite often for parties.

This peanut butter brownie dessert is another recipe I have made for years. Every time I bring it to church potlucks or events, there are so many requests for the recipe.

The decadent layers of fudgy brownie, creamy peanut butter, fluffy mousse, and Reese's candies create a fantastic combination. If you're a peanut butter lover, prepare to fall head over heels for these brownies.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • The dessert is easy to make. A box brownie mix keeps the crust on this layered dessert super simple.
  • It's a dream come true for peanut butter lovers. These yummy brownies have peanut butter on top, making them tempting, especially with Reese's candies added.
  • This amazing dessert is perfect for parties or picnics. It looks impressive, tastes delicious, and will be a hit with everyone.
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Blueberry Sauce

By · PUBLISHED · 43 Comments

This simple Blueberry Sauce is made with fresh berries, honey, and cinnamon. It's the perfect topping for pancakes, waffles, cheesecakes, or ice cream.

Homemade blueberry sauce in a yellow bowl.
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Homemade Blueberry Sauce

During blueberry season, I buy way more fruit than we can eat. I love turning the extra berries into a delicious, sweet fruit topping. This sauce is a great addition to blueberry pancakes, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or vanilla bean cheesecake.

Since store-bought sauces are packed with extra sugar and preservatives, I enjoy making my own blueberry sauce. It's healthier for us and easy to make with just three simple ingredients.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This homemade blueberry sauce is a simple and delicious way to jazz up your favorite dishes. With its fresh flavor and natural sweetness, you'll want to make it again and again.

  • Simple Ingredients: With just a few ingredients, you can create a rich, flavorful sauce without artificial additives or cornstarch.
  • Versatile: This sauce adds a sweet flavor to breakfast foods and desserts.
  • Quick and Easy: It takes only about 15 minutes to make, making it a convenient option for busy mornings or last-minute desserts.
  • Healthy: This sauce is made with fresh blueberries and sweetened with raw honey, making it a healthier option compared to store-bought versions.
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Cherry Berry Crisp

By · PUBLISHED · 31 Comments

Nothing says summer like homemade Cherry Berry Crisp! This fruity dessert features sweet cherries, blueberries, and a crunchy oat topping. Ready in under an hour, this easy recipe is great for any occasion.

A serving of berry cherry crisp topped with vanilla ice cream.
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Berry Crisp With Oats

Summer is here, so it's a great time to enjoy all the fresh, juicy fruits. I love buying extra fruit during peak season to make different kinds of desserts, such as fruit butter and berry coffee cake. 

A few of my favorite summer desserts are blueberry cobbler and cherry crisp because they are easier than pie. There is no need to create or roll out a pie crust here. Just make a sweet fruit mixture and sprinkle it with an oat topping.

I decided to switch up the easy, crisp dessert by adding both berries to the filling and coconut to the topping. It's now my favorite way to use fresh summer fruit.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Easy to make. There is no need for rolling out dough or complicated steps—just mix, assemble, and bake.
  • Versatile and adaptable. You can use almost any combination of berries, so it's a great way to use fresh or frozen fruit.
  • Amazing texture and taste. The combination of fresh fruit, crispy oat topping, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream is a match made in heaven.
  • Great for any occasion. Crisps are great for picnics, BBQs, or any summer get-together.
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