Blog - Inside BruCrew Life

Cake Spice Mix

Spice up your life with this easy Cake Spice Recipe! This delicious mixed spice is made from baking spices that you already have in your pantry. It's the perfect addition to any baked goods.

A glass bowl on a white board filled with spices and a spoon.

Years ago I visited a large spice store. They had every single spice and seasoning you have ever heard of, plus tons more. It was so much fun smelling the different varieties and blends that they had.

Some of the things I purchased was a cinnamon syrup for pancakes and a cake spice for donuts and muffins.

Most people only use a few basic spices in their cooking and baking, but there are so many more flavors and blends that taste so good.

Cake spice is one of those blends that I have come to love. Unfortunately, it can be hard to find this baking spice mix in local grocery stores.

Why This Recipe Works

Did you know that you can make your own homemade spice mix from ingredients that you probably have in your pantry right now?

If you are looking for an exciting flavor to add to your baked goods, you need to try this cake spice recipe.

The blend of spices used together creates a warm and spicy taste.
It can be used in place of cinnamon in any recipe.
Adds a delicious homemade flavor to your favorite baked goods.
Cheaper than any store bought variety.

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Strawberry Smoothie Bowl

This creamy Strawberry Smoothie Bowl is made with just three ingredients and a blender. It is such a fun way to change up your breakfast routine. Try adding your favorite toppings to customize each bowl.

Looking for more healthy breakfast choices? Try these strawberry yogurt parfaits or these banana oatmeal protein pancakes.

A white bowl filled with a strawberry smoothie and toppings.

The post for the strawberry smoothie bowl was first published in February 2016. It was updated and republished in January 2022.

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I have officially jumped on the smoothie bowl bandwagon! Over the past few years, I have seen so many smoothies being served in bowls, and I couldn't understand the hype! It didn't make much sense to me.

The other day, we had some extra frozen fruit, so I decided to give smoothie bowls a try. Holy cow! Why did I wait so long?!?

One bite of the creamy smoothie with the crunchy toppings, and I totally understand what makes smoothie bowls so awesome. It's all about the toppings and textures.

Smoothies are great because they are easy and healthy, but there are times when I just want to chew on something. I'm totally hooked on toppings and strawberry smoothie bowls right now.

Why Make This Strawberry Smoothie

Easy to make with just a few ingredients.
Great way to "drink" a smoothie and still chew something.
Refreshing and sweet flavor from the frozen strawberries.
Delicious way to change up a smoothie.
Toppings make it fun and delicious!

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M&M Cookies

Our chewy M&M Cookie Recipe gives you cookies that are thin and crispy around the edges and soft in the center. Each one is loaded with delicious colorful candies, so every bite is full of chocolate goodness. These are the perfect cookies for M&M lovers!

Want more recipes with M&M's? Try our M&M brownies or our M&M rice krispie treats.

A white plate with a stack of thin chewy cookies with M&M's in them.

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M&M Cookies

M&M's are one of my all-time favorite candies. As a teenager, I would always buy cookies with M&Ms when my friends and I would hang out at the mall.

Over the years, I have tried making different recipes because I wanted to enjoy those cookies again. But none of them made thin and chewy cookies that tasted like the ones I remembered.

Finally, after many, many batches of M&M cookies, we have perfected our own recipe. If you love the classic taste of M&M's, then these chewy cookies are just right for you.

Why This Recipe Works

These mini M&M cookies offer the best of both worlds. Their crispy edges and soft, chewy centers make them a favorite of everyone who tries them.

Plus, we loaded them with M&M's, so you get a delicious chocolate fix with every single bite. It's such an easy recipe to customize for different holidays.

They are an irresistible treat that is perfect as an afternoon snack or an after-dinner dessert. Grab a glass of milk and get dunking!

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No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

This No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake is great for any occasion. It is light, fluffy, and full of fresh strawberry lime flavor. A golden Oreo cookie crust adds the perfect touch to the strawberry mousse cake.

Want more easy strawberry desserts? Check out this no bake strawberry pie and this strawberry fluff salad. They are two of our favorites to make when we have fresh strawberries.

A white plate with a slice of pink strawberry cheesecake on it.

This show stopping no bake strawberry cheesecake is topped with whipped cream, strawberries, and limes. It is the perfect dessert to make for any occasion. The strawberry filling is simple to make and has such a light and refreshing flavor from the daiquiri mix.

The idea for this strawberry daiquiri cake has been swirling around inside my head for a while now. So I decided to tweak the recipe for these no bake strawberry cheesecake cups by turning it into a full size cheesecake. The result was a delicious dessert that everyone loved.

This easy cake is perfect for anyone who loves strawberries and wants an impressive dessert without a lot of hassle. With just 15 minutes of prep time, this pink cake will be the hit of any party or gathering.

Why You Will Love This

The mousse cake is so easy to make and comes together in minutes.
No baking required. Sweet dessert to make when it is too hot to turn on the oven.
Fresh strawberries give the filling a sweet taste and make the top so pretty.
The vibrant pink color makes it a great dessert to make for Valentine's day.

Go ahead and serve this strawberry mousse cake at your next celebration and watch it disappear in minutes. It really is a great dessert for any time of year.

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Mini Lava Cakes

The gooey chocolate center in these Mini Lava Cakes will have you licking your plate clean. Add a scoop of ice cream and toppings to the top of the lava cupcakes for an extra special dessert.

Love lava cakes? Give our Reese's lava cake and this healthy lava cake a try.

A white plate with an open chocolate lava cake topped with vanilla ice cream on it.

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One of our youngest son's favorite dessert is chocolate melting cake. He fell in love with this gooey chocolate dessert on his very first Carnival cruise. Now he asks for them all the time.

Since we can't go on a cruise every single week, I knew I had to find a way to make them at home for him. I began trying different recipes trying to find the right texture and taste for the gooey cake. Not every recipe turned out like I wanted, until I got to this one.

The gooey chocolate center was a perfect match for the soft cake that surrounded it. I love that these little lava cakes look plain and innocent at first. Then you dig in with a spoon and the chocolate runs out and mixes with the melting ice cream. It's pure perfection!

Plus, small single serve desserts are so nice to have. You can eat the entire thing and not feel too bad about it. Try out this vanilla mug cake and see what I mean!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Easy to make in under 30 minutes.
No complicated steps or special tools.
Cakey on the outside and gooey on the inside.
No cooling time needed! Serve hot from the oven!
Ultimate Valentine's dessert for your sweetheart.

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How to Ripen Bananas

Wondering how to quickly ripen bananas so you can make that banana bread you're craving? These four easy kitchen tips will help you get those bananas soft and sweet in no time.

A bunch of yellow bananas on a cutting board on a white board.

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Make Bananas Ripen

Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in the world for snacking on and baking with. Of course, the best bananas to bake with are those that are overripe.

It's frustrating when you want to bake a banana recipe, and the bananas at the store or on your counter are not ripe enough.

There have been many times when I wanted to make a loaf of sour cream banana bread or chocolate banana muffins. However, the bananas we had were not ready for baking.

Did you know that you can help your bananas ripen faster and taste better? You won't believe how simple it is!

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Oreo Brownies Recipe

This Oreo Brownies recipe is made from scratch and stuffed with Oreo cookies in every bite. They are soft, chewy, and frosted with a sweet chocolate topping. The mini Oreos on top add that extra touch of flair that everyone loves.

Looking for more brownies? Our M&M brownies are loaded with candy and these peanut butter truffle brownies are so good.

A stack of homemade chocolate brownies made with Oreo cookies on a black wire rack.

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Fresh homemade brownies hold a special spot in my heart. There is just something about these rich, dark chocolate chip brownies hot from the oven that gets me every single time.

Oreo lovers, get ready to take those brownies to a whole new level! I can't wait to share my new favorite brownie recipe with you. A hidden layer of Oreo cookies inside and a chocolate layer on top make them so amazing! For a combo of brownie and cookies try these brookies!

Why You Will Love These

Enjoy two desserts in one. Brownies with Oreos are the ultimate dessert! Think I am wrong? Try this Oreo mousse brownie and be convinced!
Easy to prepare and so delicious.
They will disappear every single time you make them.
Oreo stuffed brownies will satisfy every chocolate craving you have...and then some!

Grab a glass of milk because these Oreo brownies are sure to become your new favorite dessert in no time at all! They are so good that you will want to make them for every party or event.

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Nacho Chicken Ravioli

This simple Chicken Ravioli has an amazing flavor and is made with just 5 ingredients. Cheese ravioli, chicken, and a spicy nacho cheese sauce makes this easy skillet dinner delicious and filling.

Looking for more easy chicken dinners? This cheesy chicken pasta and these chicken sliders are two of our favorites.

A white plate filled with chicken ravioli in a nacho cheese sauce with a pan of ravioli beside it.

Ravioli is one of my absolute favorite types of pasta. I honestly love any pasta, but there is just something about the chewy cheese filled pasta that I adore.

I also love that there are so many different ways to transform a bag of frozen ravioli into a delicious comfort meal. Years ago I made this chicken ravioli with a spicy cheese sauce and veggies, and our family went nuts for it.

In fact, our oldest son would always request this chicken ravioli recipe when he was younger and still lived at home. Keeping ingredients in the pantry for easy kid friendly meals is always a good idea.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Quick and easy to make in under 30 minutes with very little prep work.
Only 5 ingredients needed to make this delicious comfort food.
Semi-homemade because it calls for store-bought ravioli and jarred sauce.
Easy to customize by adding other proteins or veggies based on what your family loves.

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Top 10 BruCrew Recipes from 2021

Hello, friends. Can you believe that another year will be over in just a few short hours? Here are the Top 10 BruCrew Recipes from 2021. You are going to want to make each of these popular recipes over and over again.

We love looking back at the previous year to see what new recipes get the most love from our readers. Thank you so much for reading our blog, making our recipes, and leaving comments and 5 star reviews. It brings us so much happiness and joy when a recipe is loved by you.

We also appreciate each and every comment and email that has been sent to us throughout the year. Keep them coming because we appreciate the support...and constructive criticism. It just drives us to perfect our recipes even more!

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Merry Christmas 2021

A black and white Merry Christmas card from Inside BruCrew Life.

We want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and God's best as you head into the New Year! Our family is so very thankful for your support and love as you visit our site and make our recipes.

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