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Mini Puff Pancakes

Enjoy an easy breakfast this holiday season with these fun Mini Puff Pancakes. Add a few spoonfuls of Lucky Leaf Toppers to the center of each one and watch your guests dig in.

*I am partnering with Lucky Leaf this year as a blog ambassador bringing you delicious recipes using pie filling.

Mini Puff Pancakes with Lucky Leaf Toppers - these easy muffin pancakes are a fun and easy recipe to make for breakfast. Add a few different Toppers to your breakfast table and let everyone customize their pancakes. Easy recipe to make for holiday breakfast or brunch parties! #pancakes #dutchbaby @luckyleaf #toppers #ad #breakfast #brunch #recipe #ILoveLuckyLeaf

One of our kids favorite things to eat for breakfast are stacks of pancakes.  In the spirit of true confession I am not a morning person, so I do not like to make pancakes very often.

The only time I make hot fresh pancakes for breakfast is on birthdays.  The rest of the year I make a big batch of pancakes and freeze them.

This allows me to sleep in and allows our teenagers to make their own breakfast on busy mornings.

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Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake

This decadent Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake is the perfect holiday dessert. It is easy to make, looks impressive, and tastes amazing. Trust me, this chocolate cake recipe will not disappoint you!

Looking for more Christmas desserts? Try this peppermint Oreo bark and these peppermint meltaways. 

A white plate with a slice of peppermint bundt cake with chocolate glaze and peppermint bits on it.

There is nothing better than sipping on a peppermint mocha hot chocolate on a chilly winter day. As I was getting ready to bake the other day I realized those flavors would be awesome in a cake as well. 

To give the chocolate peppermint bundt cake a mocha flavor, I made a rich chocolate ganache using espresso chocolate chips and dark chocolate chips. It was the perfect flavor to compliment the chocolate cake and peppermint bits.

Why This is the Perfect Holiday Cake

A peppermint bundt cake is a great holiday dessert because it only takes minutes to throw together, yet everyone will think you were in the kitchen for hours. The secret to this chocolate cake is that you start with a box cake mix.

The doctored up cake mix topped with chocolate ganache and peppermint candies makes an impressive holiday dessert that everyone will love. Trust me, it will be the hit of your Christmas dinner table this year.

One bite and your guests will be asking for this bundt cake recipe. The candy cane bits add just enough festive flair, while adding an extra bit of crunch and sweetness at the same time!

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Peppermint Oreo Swirl Cheesecake

Swirls of Oreo cookies and peppermint bits belong together during the holidays. Make this Peppermint Oreo Cheesecake for every party or event you attend this month and watch everyone smile.

A slice of oreo cheesecake with peppermint bits and chocolate on a red plate.

Cheesecake definitely has a reputation for being difficult to make, but I honestly hope that I can convince you that's not true.  Once you know the basics, making a full sized cheesecake is a piece of cake.  Literally.  LOL!

It all comes down to using the right ingredients, the right temperature, and the right pans. Once you get that down pat, it is easy to start changing out ingredients and adding different mix-ins in the batter. I shared my tips and tricks in the post for the Best Vanilla Bean Cheesecake.

This holiday cheesecake was actually inspired by a carton of peppermint ice cream from our local grocery store.

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Caramel Coffee Fudge

Chocolate drizzles add a fun and tasty flair to this Caramel Coffee Fudge. The caramel and coffee layers are easy to make and taste incredible together.

Squares of coffee fudge on a white tray.
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Everyone loves a classic fudge like this fantasy fudge or the super easy frosting fudge. Lately, every time I make fudge it ends up having 2-3 layers in it.  This fudge was started out as just caramel, but then I started thinking of all the ways I could make it more interesting.

Two of my favorite coffee treats right now is this cappuccino fudge and this salted caramel mocha!  Right away I knew I need to add a coffee layer to the caramel fudge.

Why You Will Love This Fudge

The easy caramel fudge recipe has two layers that stand out.  Adding coffee fudge to it makes it taste like a caramel latte.

The best part about this fudge works is that it is fool proof. There is no need for candy thermometers or endless stirring over a hot stove. All you do is melt it all together and let it chill.

A drizzle of chocolate makes it look like a festive latte.

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Peppermint Oreo Bark

With just a few ingredients and a few minutes you can have a batch of Peppermint Oreo Bark on your counter.  It's a great last minute holiday treat for parties or hostess gifts.

Peppermint Oreo Bark - swirls of chocolate, chocolate cookies, and peppermint bits makes an easy dessert for the holidays. Make this no bake recipe for all your holiday parties and cookie exchanges! #oreo #peppermint #chocolatebark #nobake #chocolate

Yes, I know it's only a week until Christmas, and yes, I'm pretty sure you all have your cookies and sweets picked out or already made for your holiday parties and family events.

But trust me when I say making this easy Peppermint Oreo Bark needs to be added to your plans!  It only has a few ingredients, and it can be done in about 15 minutes.  In just a few minutes you can be snacking on peppermint goodness!

Plus, I'm still in love with all things peppermint, so here we go with another easy peppermint treat for the season.

Believe me, believe me my jeans are so mad at my snacking habits this month.  It's not pretty.  But oh, it tastes so good!!!  

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Cherry Chocolate Cheesecakes

The hidden cherry center in these Cherry Chocolate Cheesecakes will make everyone smile when they bite into these sweet little chocolate treats.

Cherry Chocolate Cheesecakes cut in half on a small white plate.

Hey, there cheesecake fans.  Yeah, I'm talking to you.  These Cherry Jubilee Chocolate Cheesecakes are going to blow your cheesecake lovin' minds.

You totally need to try these cherry filled cheesecake cupcakes sometime this holiday season.

I love how plain and chocolatey they look, but then one bite and you realize there is so much more to them!!!  

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Chocolate Peppermint Fudge

This easy Chocolate Peppermint Fudge will steal the spotlight at any holiday party when you show up with it. Dark chocolate fudge topped with a peppermint patty topping will get smiles from everyone.

A white plate full of Chocolate Peppermint Fudge with blue and white sprinkles.

I am so sorry to do this to you again.  No, I'm really not that sorry.

Are you guys completely tired of my peppermint obsession yet?  Honest, I have tried jumping off this peppermint train that I am riding.  I did share gingerbread, eggnog, and peanut butter recently...but, I just keep coming up with more fun and exciting recipes that use peppermint.

I kind of get a one track mind when I get obsessed on something. Just ask my hubby about the scrapbook phase, the card making phase, and the current food prop phase.  He will just roll his eyes and tell you that I am a crazy lady.  It's a good thing he loves me.  He puts up with me and my "hobbies" that change all the time.

How about I promise that I won't take up your feed again with peppermint. At least not any more this week.  I can't make any promises for next week.

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Peppermint Brownies

Make a pan of the best Peppermint Brownies the next time you get a chocolate and peppermint craving. Homemade brownies topped with peppermint chip frosting is the way to go this holiday season.  

Two Peppermint Chip Brownies stacked together on a white plate.

Yes, that is a homemade brownie staring you down.  And yes, that is peppermint fudge frosting calling your name. You are welcome!

Lately I have been craving peppermint like crazy.  I guess that's only logical because Christmas is coming quickly!  I seriously do not have anything done this year.

Ok, so that's not totally true.  We put up the trees, lights, and decorations in the house. And my my hubby put the lights on the house yesterday. Of course, we haven't plugged them in yet, so I sure hope they still work from last year.

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Amaretto Pecan Cookie Dough Truffles

Add these easy no bake Amaretto Pecan Cookie Dough Truffles to your holiday cookie trays this year.  They are the perfect bite-sized treat to satisfy that sweet tooth.

Amaretto Pecan Cookie Dough Truffles - these easy no bake cookie dough bites are loaded with pecans and dipped in dark chocolate. Make this easy recipe to add to cookie trays for the holidays! #nobake #cookiedough #pecan #truffles

CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

 My in-laws used to live near an outlet candy store. So any time they would come visit us or we would visit them, they would have bags and bags of candy and nuts for us to munch on.

One of my absolute favorite candies from that store are the dark chocolate covered amaretto pecans.  I seriously could eat an entire bag of them and not feel guilty at all.  They are seriously so good!

It's true your tastes change as you get older because growing up I did not like to eat nuts of any kind.  The only way I would eat nuts was in a fluffernutter sandwich.  Peanut butter counts as eating nuts, right?

Slowly as I got older, I started to like peanut M&M's.  Gradually, I started to branch out and try new nuts.  Now I will actually eat a few kinds of nuts all by themselves.

Of course, I still prefer the nuts with lots of chocolate.   [Read more...]

Peppermint Mocha Scones

Coffee, chocolate, and peppermint make these Peppermint Mocha Scones a delicious breakfast or afternoon treat.  Grab a cup of coffee and take some time to enjoy one or two this afternoon.

A Peppermint Mocha Scone with white frosting on a white plate.

This time of year I go a little bit over board with the peppermint treats. Is anyone else with me?

I look for every single way I can get that peppermint goodness into my baking. Fudge, cookies, and popcorn have been given the peppermint treatment in our kitchen this month.   And so far, there is no end in sight for my peppermint cravings. Those stretchy pants are not going anywhere right now.

Up until now breakfast had been the one meal that had been safe from my peppermint addiction...

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