Blog - Inside BruCrew Life

Sweet and Spicy Dr. Pepper Chili

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED February 22, 2021 · UPDATED March 21, 2021 · 51 Comments

A pot of this Sweet and Spicy Dr. Pepper Chili is the perfect choice for winter days, chili cook-offs, or game day parties. The hearty and comforting chili recipe gets the sweet and spicy flavor from chipotle peppers and a can of Dr. Pepper.

Two white bowls on black plates filled with Dr. Pepper Chili and topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, and green onions

Chili is one of the meals we eat the most during the winter months. Even the winter months in Florida get a little chilly. Occasionally, we even make a pot of this sweet and spicy chili or this Low Carb Keto Chili during the summer months.

Usually, I like to take what I call the cheater chili approach. You know the one right? Open 6 cans of beans, diced tomatoes, and tomato juice and throw it all in a crock pot along with some cooked ground beef. Haha! That's my way of doing dinner.

Thank goodness my husband loves creating and cooking dinners for us because my chili game could use some work.

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Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED February 16, 2021 · UPDATED February 26, 2021 · 31 Comments

These easy Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars are made and frosted in one pan. A soft chewy cookie recipe with sprinkles and vanilla buttercream frosting will get smiles from everyone!

Change up the frosting color and sprinkles for any party or holiday.

Three funfetti sugar cookie bars with vanilla buttercream frosting stacked on top of each other and a bite out of the top bar

A few years ago I realized just how easy it was to make sugar cookies in a pan. Since then I have not spent any time at all with my big box of cookie cutters.

I'm all for saving time by baking and frosting cookies in one pan! Who is with me?

One of these days I'm sure those cookie cutters will have to come out for a batch of these Sugar Cookies, but until then it's bars all the way!!!

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Pineapple Sunshine Cake

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED February 15, 2021 · UPDATED December 31, 2021 · Leave a Comment

A slice of this Pineapple Sunshine Cake will brighten up any day. The light and fluffy homemade cake recipe is packed with pineapple and topped with a creamy pineapple whipped cream frosting.

This quick and easy sheet cake will add a tropical twist to your dinner parties, Easter brunch, potlucks, or just any time you want a slice of sunshine.

*This content is sponsored by Dixie Crystals Sugar. All opinions and ideas expressed are entirely my own.

Two white plates with squares of pineapple sunshine cake topped with pineapple frosting and cherries on them

Why This Works

Baking this bright and sunny cake is sure to bring a smile to your face. The fruity flavor will transport you to your favorite tropical island with every bite. This pina colada trifle is another one of my favorite tropical desserts.

Pineapple cake is cool and refreshing which makes it the perfect summer dessert. This cake is also the perfect dessert to enjoy on a cold winter day because it will bring some sunshine into your day.

Add a big glass of pineapple punch for a complete tropical vibe.

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Dark Chocolate Raspberry Filled Cupcakes

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED February 12, 2021 · UPDATED February 1, 2024 · 2 Comments

A batch of these Raspberry Filled Chocolate Cupcakes will get smiles from everyone when they find the hidden pocket of pie filling. Spread love this Valentine's Day by making this easy cupcake recipe for your favorite people.

Two chocolate cupcakes topped with vanilla frosting and sprinkles with a bite out of one showing a raspberry filling center

Why This Recipe Works

The combination of chocolate and raspberry is such a classic and delicious combination. The hidden pie filling inside soft chocolate cupcake reminded me of a decadent and dreamy truffle.

Of course, baking and frosting cupcakes is much easier and less time consuming than melting chocolate and dipping truffles one at a time. Give me cupcakes every time!

We had a small life group meeting this past weekend, and I realized that it has been nine months since I last baked cupcakes. So, guess what I made for dessert? You got it. Chocolate cupcakes!

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Strawberry White Hot Chocolate Bombs

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED February 10, 2021 · UPDATED November 14, 2021 · 1 Comment

Strawberry White Hot Chocolate Bombs - Make your hot chocolate extra fun and delicious with these pretty homemade hot cocoa bombs.

They are easy to make, and kids of all ages will love watching the strawberry bombs explode in a cup of hot milk.

A white hot chocolate bomb filled with strawberry powder and drizzled with pink chocolate on a white doily

Hot cocoa bombs are one of the trendiest treats to make right now. Have you jumped on this craze yet?

I have been wanting to make these fun and trendy hot chocolate bombs for a few months now. The ingredients for a couple different versions and the mold have been sitting in my pantry since the end of December. Procrastinate much?

I finally decided to set aside a day last weekend just for making white hot chocolate bombs and White Chocolate Reese's Krispie Hearts for Valentine's Day. If you are wanting a fun treat to enjoy with your special someone, this is the recipe you need.

The white chocolate shell and strawberry powder adds a smooth and delicious flavor to each cup of pink hot chocolate. Of course, heart marshmallows were the perfect touch to this Valentine's treat.

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No Bake Cherry Swiss Rolls Cake

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED February 8, 2021 · UPDATED July 3, 2021 · 15 Comments

Create an easy to make no bake dessert with a box of swiss rolls. Your favorite snack can be made into a a delicious swiss roll cake with only a few extra ingredients! See for yourself why this No Bake Cherry Swiss Roll Cake is a crowd favorite!

A slice of cherry swiss rolls cake on a white plate with the rest of the cake behind it

Swiss Cake Rolls

Apparently, my family is boycotting sweets right now, but it turns out they are only against homemade sweets like Rainbow Brownies. Anything in a cellophane wrapper gets two thumbs up!

I grew up eating Little Debbie snack cakes, so I totally get their fascination with these treats. One of my favorite treats to pack in my school lunches many years ago were Swiss Rolls.

The best way to eat those little chocolate rolls is to peel off the outer layer of chocolate and eat that first, and then unroll the cake before eating it. It turns out my husband used to eat his like that too when he was younger. No wonder we are a perfect match.

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Football Cookie Bars

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED February 4, 2021 · 2 Comments

Football Cookie Bars are a fun treat for game day parties or for sports themed birthday parties. Score a touchdown with all your fans with this chewy chocolate covered cookie bar recipe.

Cookie bars decorated like footballs scattered on a white and green towel

So, there is this big game coming up in a few days. I could pretend that I'm one of those people that actually cares about this game and who is going to win. But I'm not...and I don't. Let's face it, I'm only into it for the food. I've got my fat pants ready, so game on!

Give lead me to a big, long table covered in dips, chips, appetizers, and desserts, and I will watch whatever is on tv. Of course, don't be too fooled by what looks like me watching the game. It's all an act. I'm really just concentrating on the food on my plate.

I've just never been able to get into watching any game on tv. Playing the game or watching your kid play the game in real life is just more fun. That's just me though.

I know plenty of you will be glued to your television cheering on your favorite team, and that's totally cool. Just be cool with me cheering for another plate of chips and Homemade Salsa.

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Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED January 30, 2021 · UPDATED March 3, 2022 · 86 Comments

These Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes have a creamy no bake cheesecake center and are topped with homemade strawberry frosting. These easy cupcakes are flavorful and perfect for every spring or summer celebration.

A strawberry cheesecake cupcake with a bite taken out of it showing the hidden filling.

I have decided to give up sugar for a week or two. This is very hard for my sweet tooth to handle. So far, it has been good, but it has only been one day. Thank goodness for this Healthy Chocolate Lava Cake! I may eat one every day.

I want to see if it makes a difference in my weight. Sadly, that means I can't bake for that time either because I always find myself taste-testing when I am baking. That kind of breaks the no-sugar rule. It's all lean and green recipes this week!!!

Now, I know some of you are cheering because you think that means no sugary pictures to tempt you and make you drool. Well, that's not true because I have plenty of ones I haven't even shared yet.

So, even though I won't be eating things like these Take 5 Bars this week, I'm still going to share them with you.

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Red Velvet Peppermint Pattie Cookies

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED January 28, 2021 · UPDATED February 9, 2021 · 27 Comments

These Red Velvet Peppermint Pattie Cookies are easy to make, taste delicious, and are the perfect Valentine's Day treat. A candy bar hidden inside a cake mix cookie recipe will get smiles from everyone.

Three red velvet peppermint pattie cookies stacked on top of each other and a bite take out of the top showing the candy bar inside

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I am crazy for cake mix cookies. One of my favorite things to do is hide some sort of candy inside them. Ever since I made these cinnamon caramel cookies with Rolos inside them, I have been plotting another fun candy cookie.

Have you seen these bags of mini Peppermint Patties? The mini candy bars are the perfect size to hide inside a red velvet cookie.

And of course, extra chocolate and sprinkles were the perfect addition to these easy cookies. They made them so pretty and perfect for Valentine's day!

Cake Mix Cookies

One of the easiest ways to make cookies is with a box cake mix. To make cake mix cookies beat the dry mix with 1 stick of butter, 1 egg, and a little bit of cream cheese. The end result is a puffy, chewy cookie that is amazing!

To really take the cookies up another notch, try add your favorite candy or cookies to the dough. There are so many different combos that you can come up with. Some of our favorites are these Chocolate Chip Cookies and Cream Cookies and these Chocolate Cherry Cookies.

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Salted Caramel Oreo Icebox Cake

By Jocelyn · PUBLISHED January 21, 2021 · UPDATED February 11, 2021 · 88 Comments

Salted Caramel Oreo Icebox Cake has no bake caramel cheesecake and Oreo cookies in every bite. This easy icebox cake recipe is the perfect dessert to make any time of year.

A close up picture of a piece of salted caramel Oreo icebox cake on a yellow plate showing the layers in the dessert

One of my favorite types of dessert is an icebox cake. They are seriously so easy to make and can be customized with so many different flavors.

The other day I was drinking a homemade Salted Caramel Mocha Latte, and I started thinking about what else I could make with the extra salted caramel in the fridge.

Over the years, I have made quite a few different sweet and salty desserts. This Salted Caramel Frosting is amazing on any cake or cupcake. And these Salted Caramel Brownies always get smiles when I bring them to events!

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