Cream Puffs

Cream Puffs

 Cream Puffs- Easy baked pastry shells that can be filled or topped off with your favorite ingredients. 

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I always thought cream puffs were difficult to make.  They aren't! While they can look intimidating, they are quite simple to create. 

Now, the cream puffs that are pictured are loaded with chocolate creme and topped with a chocolate ganache.  However, you can fill them with whatever you wish. 

Ingredients Needed

• Butter
• Flour
• Eggs
• Water
• Salt

What About The Filling and Topping?

You can find the full ingredients list and instructions for the chocolate version in the recipe card. For a few more filling ideas, see below.

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How to Make Your Cream Puffs (full instructions in card)

• First, melt the butter, water and salt and bring it all to a boil. Remove it from the heat and stir in the flour.  
• Transfer it to a mixing bowl.  You will need an electric mixer for this step.  Add in the eggs, one at a time and beat until they are fully combined and your batter is smooth.
• Drop the dough, by the spoonful, on an ungreased flat rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake them up and once they are done, remove from the oven.  
• Lightly, poke a tiny hole in each puff. This will release the steam.  Let them cool completely before adding filling.

Ideas for Your Filling

• Whipped topping (ex: Cool Whip)
• Homemade Whipped Cream
• Any flavor of instant pudding
• Pastry Cream
• A whole bunch of frostings will work too! 

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Brown Sugar Toffee Dip

Brown Sugar Toffee Dip

Brown Sugar Toffee Dip- A dreamy dip made with cream cheese, brown sugar and loaded with bits of toffee. 

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I just realized that most of my dip recipes come from my younger sister.  Baking isn't really her thing, but, golly, she loves to whip up a good dip.  This one included!

Ingredients Needed

• Cream cheese
• Sugar- both brown and white
• Vanilla
• Toffee baking bits

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Recipes Notes

• Make sure that cream cheese is softened! This is so important for the creamy consistency of your dip.
• Toffee baking bits can be found in the same section as the chocolate chips in your grocery store. If you can't locate them, see the recipe card to purchase.  You can use the plain toffee version or toffee with the chocolate bits ( that is what I used). Both taste yummy.

Dipping Ideas

• Graham crackers
• Sliced apples
• Pretzels
• Vanilla wafers

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Dirt Pudding

Dirt Pudding

Dirt Pudding- A completely addicting pudding made with cream cheese, vanilla pudding and whipped topping. The addition of the Oreo cookie crumbs is the perfect finishing touch.

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You have been warned...you will not be able to eat just one serving of this. It's crazy addicting and delicious.

Ingredients Needed

• Instant vanilla pudding 
• Powdered sugar
• Chocolate sandwich cookies
• Milk
• Cream cheese
• Whipped topping

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Recipes Notes

Cream Cheese

Be sure it's softened! This makes beating it so much easier. It will also help give your pudding a creamy consistency. 

Whipped Topping

AKA "Cool Whip".  You can use any brand or variety.  Ex: low, fat free, vegan, etc 

Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

• AKA "Oreos".Again, you can use any brand or variety.  Ex: gluten free, double stuff,etc 
• You will need a 16 oz package or about 3 1/2 cups, if you are using premade crumbs.

What Kind Of Serving Dish Should I Use?

Any kind you wish.  It you want to use one dish, it will fit into a 9 x 13 baking dish.

Storage

Keep any leftovers in the refrigerator in a covered container. It is best eaten within 2-4 days.  That's if it lasts that long ;) 

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French Toast with Cream Cheese Filling

French Toast with Cream Cheese Filling

French toast with cream cheese filling is a delicious breakfast twist. Spread a mixture of cream cheese and sugar between slices of bread, dip in French toast batter, and cook until golden brown. Serve hot with syrup or fruit for a delightful treat.

This recipe wasn't something my mom made when I was young, although, she did make traditional French toast.   Nope, this was a recipe that I discovered from her when I got older.  She made it one weekend while I was visiting with my kids and I instantly fell in love with it.

It's pretty filling, so, I wouldn't  recommend it for your everyday weekday breakfast, but, it is perfect for a special occasion,  brunch or simply when you want a sweet treat.

Ingredients Needed

• Sliced bread
• Eggs
• Milk
• Ground cinnamon
• Cream cheese
• Powdered Sugar
• Vanilla
• Butter

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Recipe Notes

Bread

I recommend using a thicker sliced bread.  For example, Texas toast or a brioche. Don't get me wrong...any type of sliced bread will work for this.  However, a thicker bread will hold up better once it's dipped in the egg mixture. 

Cream Cheese

I like to use a whipped cream cheese for this recipe.  It's easier to work with and spread on the bread slices.  But, go with your favorite brand and flavor.  Let it soften before use to make your life easier. 

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Potato Chip Cookies

Potato Chip Cookies

Potato Chip Cookies- The best of both worlds...sweet and salty! Delicious cookies loaded with chocolate chips and crunchy potato chips.  They are crunchy on the edges and chewy in the middle. YUM!

My mom's potato chip cookie recipe never included chocolate chips. She would top them off with a maraschino cherry.  They were yummy, but,  honestly, I never ate the cherry.  I would pull it off and simply eat the cookie. 

When I started making these for my own family, I added the chocolate chips instead.  They are a perfect combination of sweet and salty. 👌

Ingredients Needed

• Flour
• Sugar (both white and brown)
• Egg
• Vanilla
• Butter
• Milk
• Potato chips
• Chocolate chips

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Recipe Notes

Butter

Make sure it's softened! This is so important for the texture of your cookies. You will need 2 whole sticks for these!

Potato Chips

I use a standard, regular potato chip for these. Go with your favorite brand or salt level.  Be sure they are finely crushed. 

Storage

Keep any leftover cookies in a covered container. Don't worry about refrigerating them, unless it's really hot in your area. 

Can I Freeze These?

Yep.  Bake according to the recipes, then, let them cool completely.  Store them in a covered, freezer safe container /storage bag. They will be good for several months. 

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Chocolate Syrup Brownies

Chocolate Syrup Brownies

Chocolate Syrup Brownies- For the chocolate lover! Fudgy brownies that are made easily with chocolate syrup and topped with a thick layer of dreamy chocolate frosting.  

Where do you stand on frosting on brownies?  My entire childhood my Mom frosted our brownies or dusted them with powdered sugar.  When I met my husband, he ate his brownies plain. Yeah, no frosting. 🤷 I was totally confused. 

Of course, they're brownies, I still eat them,  plain or frosted.  But, I do prefer them with frosting. My kids are split.  Some like them plain, some like them with frosting. 

What do you think?

These brownies are made with chocolate syrup and honestly, you could eat them with the frosting or plain. Either way, they are dee-licous. 

Ingredients Needed

• Butter
• Sugar
• Vanilla
• Chocolate syrup
• Flour + Baking soda
• Eggs
• Powdered sugar

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Recipe Notes

Butter

Make sure your butter is softened for both the brownies and frosting. This will make beating it all much easier and give your items a better consistency. 

Chocolate Syrup

Want to make it homemade?  It's easy. Find out how here. 

Storage

Keep any leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator. They are best eaten within a week. 

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Cake Mix Fruit Cobbler

Cake Mix Fruit Cobbler

Cake Mix Fruit Cobbler- You need just three ingredients for this cobbler.  It takes just 5 minutes to put together and can be made to your liking.  Don't forget a scoop of ice cream to finish it off!

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My sister gave me this one about 10 or so years ago. It's so darn easy and so darn delicious, you won't be able to eat just one dish of it!

Just Three Ingredients

• Cake mix
• Frozen fruit
• Lemon lime soda

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Recipe Notes

Can I Use Any Flavor Cake Mix? 

Yes!  I usually opt for a white/vanilla or yellow cake mix.  However, if you stick with a standard size box ( 15-18 oz), you can use any flavor or brand.   Also, you will only be using the dry mix, not making the cake. 

What About Fruit?

Again, yes, use your favorite frozen fruit. Keep it frozen and make sure your fruit will lay in a single layer on the bottom of your baking dish.  Other than that, it's up to you!

Lemon Lime Soda

I have used Sprite, 7-Up, Sierra Mist and generic lemon lime soda for this cobbler. They all work great.

Dry Spots

If your cobbler has a few dry spots after baking, that's OK.   Feel free to use a bit more soda to cover the entire top of the dry cake mix before baking or lightly tip the pan back and forth, so, the soda will spread more evenly.

Important!

After layering your ingredients in the pan,  DO NOT MIX!  I learned this the hard way the very first time I made it.  It will take forever to bake and won't turn out properly. 

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Peanut Butter Swirl Bars

Peanut Butter Swirl Bars

Peanut Butter Swirl Bars- Creamy peanut butter with the added bonus of a chocolate swirl in convenient bar form.  A great option for a weekday dessert! 

When I was little, my mom was a stay at home mom.  She did work, but, it was once my younger sister was in middle school/high school.

While she was a stay at home mom,  my mom baked nearly every weekday.  Yes, no exaggeration.  It was pretty awesome. We would always have something for dessert after dinner or after school.

These bars were part of the regular dessert rotation.  No wonder! They are easy, delicious and can be made with just a few simple pantry ingredients. 

Ingredients Needed

• Flour + Baking powder + Salt
• Butter
• Peanut butter
• Sugars: both white & brown
• Eggs 
• Vanilla
• Chocolate chips

Recipe Notes:

Peanut Butter

I recommend using a "regular" peanut butter as opposed to a natural version. The natural version will work, but, does have a higher oil content.  If you do use it, you may want to add a tablespoon or two extra of flour, to absorb the extra oil.

Baking

Don't over bake your bars.  They will appear soft at first, but, will firm up as they cool. As long as the edges are lightly brown, they are OK. 

Storage

Keep any leftover bars in a covered container. No need to refrigerate, unless it's really hot/humid in your area.

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Biscuit Donuts

Biscuit Donuts

Biscuit Donuts- No need to run to the bakery! Make these easy biscuit donuts right at home.  Soft donuts coated in cinnamon sugar.  Perfect for breakfast, brunch, a snack or dessert. 

I swear that my Mom had a homemade donut recipe. With dough, yeast and you know, the whole homemade donut list of ingredients. Well, I asked my sister and she had no clue what I was talking about.  🤷

However, she reminded me of these donuts that our mom made for us. So, while I search for that other homemade donut recipe, I am sharing this one!

These are quick, easy to make and are beyond yummy.

Ingredients Needed

• Biscuit dough * see recipe notes
• Butter
• Ground cinnamon
• Sugar

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Recipe Notes

Can This Be Doubled?

Yep! You can choose the amount of donuts that you wish.  Simply change the serving amount next to the serving size in the recipe card for making it easier. 

What Kind of Biscuit Dough is Used?

I used a basic buttermilk biscuit dough (example) and used only 4 of the biscuit pieces. They were frozen, so,  I let them defrost completely before using the dough.  You can also use biscuit dough from the refrigerator section of your grocery store,  such as, Pillsbury. 

Storage

Keep any leftovers in a covered container. They are best eaten within 2-3 days.  If they last that long. ;) 

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Banana Buttermilk Cake

Banana Buttermilk Cake

 Banana Buttermilk Cake- For the banana lover in your life! A soft cake packed full of banana flavor and only requires a few simple ingredients.  

This recipe actually came from my mother in law.  Who, like my mother,  loved desserts.  This cake is really simple to make and tastes amazing!  You can dress it up with frosting or eat it plain.  Either way, it's quite delicious. 

Ingredients Needed

• Flour + Baking powder + Salt
• Vanilla
• Sugar
• Butter
• Banana
• Eggs
• Buttermilk

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Recipe Notes

Bananas

You will need a cup of mashed bananas.  This should be about 2-3 medium size bananas. Go with ripe bananas for your cake.  They are easier to mash, a little sweeter and will blend better.

Buttermilk

None on hand?  Simply whisk together 1/2 cup milk with a teaspoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then, proceed with the recipe.

Frosting

I frosted ours with peanut butter frosting.  However, this cake will go great with a chocolate frosting, cream cheese or vanilla.  It's even delicious without any frosting at all!  Explore some ideas right here.

Storage

Keep any leftovers in a covered container. No need to refrigerate, unless the weather is really hot/humid in your area. The cake is best eaten within a week.

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French Breakfast Muffins

French Breakfast Muffins

French Breakfast Muffins- Soft muffins that are simply dreamy! They are a simple muffin with the light taste of nutmeg. Then, we dunk the tops with melted butter and cinnamon sugar for added deliciousness.  Eat these warm for the ultimate indulgence.

My lovely mother made these muffins quite often during my childhood. We didn't call them French Breakfast Muffins though.  They were just "really delicious cinnamon muffins".  It wasn't until I was an adult and started blogging, that I discovered what they were called.

I bake these all the time for my family and no, we don't call them French Breakfast Muffins either...just "really delicious cinnamon muffins" ;) 

Ingredients Needed:

• Flour + Baking powder
• Sugar
• Nutmeg
• Milk
• Eggs
• Ground cinnamon
• Butter

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Recipe Notes

Batter

Don't over mix your batter.  It's OK if there are a few lumps. Over mixing your batter may give you dense muffins.  Dense muffins = not tasty.

Butter

You will need melted butter for both the batter and topping.  After melting it, let it cool to room temperature. This will make it easier to handle and will mix better with your egg in the batter.

Nutmeg

While I totally recommend using the nutmeg on these, if you don't have any on hand, ground cinnamon can be used as a replacement.  

Amount of Muffins

This batter makes anywhere from 6 to 8 muffins. You won't get an entire dozen from it. 

Storage

Keep any leftover muffins in a covered container. No need to refrigerate, unless your weather is really hot or humid. They are best eaten within a week.

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Homemade Chocolate Pudding

Homemade Chocolate Pudding

Homemade Chocolate Pudding- Creamy, dreamy chocolate pudding made right on your stove top! Serve it warm or cold..your choice!  Don't miss it...it's too good to pass up.

Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies-  The easiest cookies you will ever make! Yep, these delicious cookies only need 3 ingredients and are super quick to whip together. 

Creamy Apple Squares

Creamy Apple Squares

Creamy Apple Squares are creamy and sweet! These delicious bars start with a cake mix and are a snap to make!

Scotcheroos

Scotcheroos

 Scotcheroos- Gooey cereal bars packed full of peanut buttery goodness. They are then topped off with a combination of melted chocolate and butterscotch. Don’t pass these up…they are crazy good!

No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

No Bake Peanut Butter Bars- What’s a better combination than chocolate and peanut butter?! These easy bars combine those great tastes in one easy bar. They are delicious, require a short ingredients list and require zero baking. The perfect bar!

Double Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake

Double Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake

Double Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake -A double chocolate delight! Fudgy chocolate bundt cake packed with mini chocolate chips and drizzled with a sweet glaze.