Blog - Inside BruCrew Life

Cardamom Cookies

These soft, chewy orange cardamom cookies are just right for the holiday season. Made with sweet honey, warm spices, and fresh orange zest, they're a cozy and delicious treat everyone will love.

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I enjoy baking different cookies during the holiday season to share with our neighbors and friends. Most of the recipes are tried and true, but I challenge myself to create one new recipe each year.

This year, I transformed my chewy maple cookies into orange cardamom sugar cookies. I used honey to keep them soft and chewy, and then I gave them a warm citrus twist with orange zest and cardamom powder. They turned out perfect!

Honestly, these chewy cardamom cookies might be my new favorite. They have the best flavor combo and stay soft for a week. Plus, they're a great treat to enjoy with coffee or tea in the afternoon!

Why You'll Love Cardamom and Orange

Fresh, Sweet Taste: The orange zest and orange blossom honey add just enough citrus flavor. It's there, but it doesn't overpower the sugar cookies.
Warm Spice Flavor: Ground cardamom has a cozy, citrusy taste that goes really well with orange.
Soft and Chewy Texture: The extra spiced sugar coating gives them a sweet and slightly crunchy outside. Trust me, you will want to grab another one.
Perfect Holiday Cookie: This recipe is fantastic for parties or Christmas cookie swaps. Get ready to share your new favorite cookie recipe because everyone will ask for it!

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Peppermint Chocolate Covered Oreos

Make Peppermint Chocolate Covered Oreos this holiday season! They're not only simple to make but will impress everyone at parties. They're perfect for anyone short on time but who wants to bring a festive treat!

A stack of white chocolate covered Oreos with one cut in half.

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I can't get enough peppermint flavor around the holidays. Whenever I go to the mall this time of year, I visit Williams Sonoma and admire the fancy peppermint bark cookies.

They're so festive and delicious, but let's be honest-they're not exactly budget-friendly. That's how these peppermint chocolate-covered Oreos came to life!

I recreated those sweet treats at home, and I think they taste better than the store-bought ones! I love sharing them at a cookie exchange and having them for a late-night snack!

Why Make This Holiday Treat

Super Simple: There is no need to bake or mess around with complicated steps-just dip, sprinkle, and enjoy!
Budget-Friendly: You can make a whole batch of these holiday treats for less than buying the store-bought version.
Perfect for Sharing: Pack them up in a cute tin or bag, and they make a thoughtful (and tasty) homemade holiday gift.
Festive and Fun: Chocolate and peppermint make these cookies perfect for Christmas!

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Sugared Cranberries

Learn how to make Sugared Cranberries in minutes. They are easy to make and add the perfect sweetness and sparkle to cakes, pies, and drinks during the holidays.

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I always grab a few bags of fresh cranberries as soon as they arrive at grocery stores. My first mission is to make whole berry cranberry sauce, which almost makes me forget about the canned sauce. But honestly, I buy the tart berries to roll them in sugar!

Sugared cranberries are a festive treat. They have a fabulous sweet and tart flavor and look so pretty with their sparkly coating. You can toss them on everything from cakes to holiday drinks to make them stand out.

The best part about making candied cranberries is that it is incredibly easy! You only need three ingredients and 20 minutes. I enjoy adding them to our apple cranberry cake and white chocolate cranberry cheesecake for that extra touch.

Why Make This Sugared Cranberries Recipe

Sweet and Tart Flavor: The mix of tart berries and sweet sugar is just too good to pass up.
So Pretty: That sparkly white sugar coating adds a beautiful and festive touch to any dish.
Easy to Make: They look extra fancy, but they're actually so simple to make with just a few ingredients.
Versatile Party Snack: You can use them on cakes, garnish drinks, sprinkle them on salads, decorate cheese boards, or snack on them. They work for everything!

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Eggnog Muffins

Add some holiday cheer to your mornings with eggnog muffins. The glazed muffins are light, fluffy, and bursting with eggnog flavor. They're quick, easy, and perfect for a holiday breakfast or brunch.

Two glazed muffins stacked toghter with a bite out of the top one.

This post was first published in December 2011. It was updated and then republished in November 2024.

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When the holiday season arrives, I can't wait to crack open that first carton of eggnog! I have to say, I love baking with this festive drink even more than actually drinking it! A few of my favorite ways to use it are eggnog bundt cake and eggnog brownies.

These eggnog muffins have recently become one of my favorite holiday breakfast recipes. Seriously, they're everything you didn't know you wanted! Soft, fluffy, and full of cozy vibes, they make the perfect snack for winter.

Each is packed with delicious, spiced flavor and drizzled with a sweet eggnog glaze that takes them to the next level. Seriously, you're going to love these!

Why You'll Love This Holiday Treat

Holiday Flavor in Every Bite: Their rich and creamy eggnog taste, with a touch of nutmeg, makes them a great holiday treat.
Great for Any Occasion: These fluffy muffins are perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas morning. They also make a tasty late-night snack or a great treat for a holiday potluck.
Simple to Make: No need for fancy ingredients or complicated steps. If you've got leftover eggnog in the fridge, you're already halfway there!

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Mini Pumpkin Oreo Cheesecake

These Mini Pumpkin Oreo Cheesecakes are the perfect fall dessert! They feature a creamy, spiced pumpkin cheesecake on top of a chocolatey Oreo crust. It's a fun and delicious twist on classic fall flavors!

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Every fall, I experiment with new pumpkin desserts, but this one holds a special place in my heart. I remember the first time I added an Oreo cookie crust to a pumpkin cheesecake. It was actually a bit of an accident.

I was going to make pumpkin cheesecake bites, but when I saw a pack of Oreos on the counter, I couldn't resist. I added them to the bottom of the cheesecake for an unexpected twist. The result? A perfect blend of rich, creamy pumpkin flavor and the chocolatey crunch of the cookies.

From then on, these mini pumpkin cheesecakes with an Oreo crust have become a fall tradition in our house. They're easy to make, fun to eat, and always a hit with everyone who tries them.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Perfection: The pumpkin filling is rich, creamy, and full of cozy fall spices everyone loves. It's the ultimate comfort food for the holiday season!
Oreo Crust Magic: The Oreo crust gives a delicious chocolatey crunch that perfectly contrasts the smooth, velvety pumpkin filling. It adds a fun texture to every bite.
Mini Portions: The smaller size is great for keeping portions in check. Everyone gets their own little serving, which makes it easy to share and helps avoid fights over who gets the last piece!

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35 Easy Thanksgiving Desserts

Enjoy a stress-free and delightful holiday with these easy Thanksgiving desserts. Each one is simple to prepare, absolutely delicious, and guaranteed to impress your guests!

A collage of 8 thanksgiving desserts with a white text box.

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Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It is an excellent time of year to sit around the table, reflect on what we have been blessed with, and be thankful for our opportunities and choices.

Although turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mashed potatoes are the central parts of a traditional holiday meal, I prefer to fill my plate with the sweet stuff. Thanksgiving desserts are the perfect way to end a meal, and let's be honest-they're what everyone secretly looks forward to!

The best part? Desserts don't have to be complicated to be delicious. Simple recipes mean less stress in the kitchen and more time with family and friends.

Tips For Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

Plan Ahead: To save time, choose desserts that can be prepped or baked a day or two before Thanksgiving.
Keep It Simple: Stick to a mix of easy recipes and crowd-pleasers to minimize stress in the kitchen.
Go Mini: Mini pies, cupcakes, or pumpkin cheesecake bites are perfect for portion control and variety.
Double the Recipe: For popular desserts like pumpkin pie, make two-you'll thank yourself later!
Decorate Desserts: For a festive look, garnish with seasonal touches like sugared cranberries, powdered sugar, or pie crust cutouts.

To give you some variety in your dessert spread this year, we have gathered 35 of our favorite Thanksgiving desserts.

From pies to cakes to chocolate turkey treats, there is inspiration for everyone. Have fun creating dessert magic in your kitchen for your loved ones.

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Peanut Butter Pumpkins

Peanut Butter Pumpkins are a fun fall treat! They're super easy to make, delicious to eat, and everyone loves them. Whether you're making them for a party or enjoying them at home, these cute candy pumpkins will be the highlight of the night.

Orange candy pumpkins on a board with hay.

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Fall makes me want to turn every dessert into a pumpkin. These peanut butter pumpkins are my new favorite treat! I made them for a family gathering last year, and they disappeared so fast!

They're our famous peanut butter balls decorated for the season with orange candy melts and little pretzel stems. Not only are the small pumpkins adorable, but they are also very easy to make.

And let's be honest, anything that combines peanut butter and chocolate is a winner in my book.

Why You'll Love These Reese's Pumpkins

Easy No-Bake Treat: No need to turn on the oven-these come together quickly with simple ingredients.
Seasonal Vibes: Nothing says fall quite like a tray of pumpkin-shaped treats! They are a great addition to dessert charcuterie boards.
Peanut Butter + Chocolate Combo: That classic pairing is always a hit, and the colorful candy melts add a fun twist.
Perfect for Parties: These small pumpkins are always a hit. They work well for Halloween parties, Thanksgiving dinners, or casual fall gatherings.
Cute for Gifting: Pack them in a cute box or bag, and you have a homemade treat perfect for gifting to friends, neighbors, or teachers.

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Apple Cranberry Cake

A sweet glaze and sugared cranberries bring a fun and festive touch to this Apple Cranberry Cake. This easy fruit cake makes for the perfect holiday dessert.

A white plate with a slice of glazed apple bundt cake on it.

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I made this apple and toffee cake a few years ago, and it has been a family favorite ever since. This year, I added cranberries and pecans to the recipe for a fun Christmas twist. The cake turned out amazing, with a dense, moist texture that reminds me of fruitcake.

If you're like me and can't resist a dessert filled with fall flavors, this apple cranberry cake is just what you need. It's filled with sweet apple chunks, tart cranberries, and crunchy pecans, making it delicious!

Plus, it bakes in a bundt pan, so it looks fancy without much effort. Whether I'm bringing it to a holiday dinner or just sneaking a slice with my coffee, this cake always hits the spot.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Seasonal Flavors: Apples and cranberries are peak fall ingredients, making this cake a celebration of the season.
Stays Moist: Thanks to the applesauce and fresh fruit, this cake stays soft and moist for days (if it lasts that long!).
Simple Yet Stunning: Bundt cakes look elegant with minimal effort. A simple glaze and sugared cranberries will impress guests at your next party.
Works for Any Occasion: This cake is perfect for a casual family dinner, a holiday party, or a potluck.

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Sparkling Cranberry Punch

Enjoy this sparkling cranberry punch for the holidays. The sweet and tart juices and fizzy soda make this party punch easy to prepare. It's perfect for special occasions and family gatherings. Cheers!

Two clear mugs filled with cranberry punch and floating fruit.

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I have the perfect suggestion if you're looking for a drink to add some sparkle to your holiday gathering. I made this cranberry punch for the holidays a few years ago when I needed a quick drink for a party we were hosting.

It's made with cranberry and apple juice and topped with a splash of fizzy 7Up. Add some floating fruit and a sprig of mint, and it's an instant hit for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Eve.

This drink is totally my go-to for this time of year! It's got such a fun, vibrant color and a bubbly fizz that it's perfect. Whether I'm making it for a party or just spending time with family, it gets everyone in the holiday spirit!

Why Make This Holiday Drink

Ready in Minutes: You don't need special skills or fancy ingredients-just mix, pour, and you're done! Simple recipes are perfect when you have a lot to do during the holidays.
Sweet and Refreshing: Everyone loves the fruity, refreshing taste. Make sure to stash a second batch in the fridge because it'll be gone quickly!
Perfect Holiday Drink: The deep cranberry color and bubbly fizz really bring out the holiday vibe, especially when you add cranberries and mint.
Great for Guests of all Ages: This mocktail is a hit for kids and adults! If you're looking for something more sophisticated, try adding vodka or sparkling wine to create a cocktail.

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White Chocolate Cheesecake

Treat yourself to a slice of our White Chocolate Cheesecake! It's a dreamy dessert that mixes creamy cheesecake with rich white chocolate, making each bite melt in your mouth. Perfect for any get-together, it'll satisfy your sweet tooth and impress your friends!

A slice of cheesecake with white chocolate curls on a plate.

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White Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe

I love baking cheesecake for special occasions or dinners because it looks fantastic and tastes delicious! Plus, it's awesome for making ahead of time since it needs to chill a bit.

Throughout the years, I've experimented with various versions of this vanilla bean cheesecake. This month, I decided to mix things up by adding white chocolate.

This white chocolate cheesecake is definitely one of my favorites! It's creamy, has a buttery Oreo crust, and the white chocolate gives it a rich flavor. It looks fancy, but it is very easy to make. This makes it great for holidays, birthdays, or any time you want to treat yourself.

Why You'll Love This Dessert

Rich Flavor Combo: The creamy white chocolate mixed with the tangy cream cheese is delightful! They balance so well together, making every bite enjoyable.
Golden Oreo Crust: Let's be honest: Golden Oreos make everything better! They add the perfect sweet crunch to complement the creamy filling.
Creamy & Smooth Texture: Cheesecake lovers know that the texture is everything, and this one is silky-smooth every time.
It Looks Fancy, But It's Easy! This cheesecake looks like a total showstopper, but it's surprisingly easy to make with just a few ingredients. It's perfect for special occasions.

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