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How to Make Halloween Donuts in Minutes

a last-minute idea to make Halloween donuts for dessert or breakfast

Halloween may look a little different this year which makes these Halloween donuts all the more special.  The last week of October is packed with social events and school-related deadlines. In Colorado, Halloween usually brings snow and frigid temps! With a few Halloween parties on the calendar, I always include Halloween theme donuts in the dessert lineup. Here is how to make Halloween donuts in a minute.

how-to-make-Halloween-donuts-in-a-minute-everydayedits

HALLOWEEN DONUTS IN A MINUTE

Every year, I plan to make a Pinterest worthy Halloween dessert. And, every year I realize I lack the patience or maybe it’s talent. And, that is how I made these these fun and inexpensive Halloween donuts.

These Halloween Donuts take a minute to prepare and you only need 2-3 items from the baking aisle.

how-to-make-Halloween-donuts-in-a-minute

These Halloween donuts are fun, easy and guaranteed to get a reaction from a crowd of teenage boys. And, kids and families of all ages can join in the fun. It’s foolproof and fun-packed for all ages and stages.

GHOST APPROVED DONUTS

  •  no oven required to make these donuts
  • the ingredient list is in two aisles (bakery & baking aisles)
  • flexible ingredients
  • inexpensive
  • all ages and stages can enjoy this fun
  • makes for a fun Halloween, bite-size dessert

 

How-to-make-Halloween-donuts-in-a-minute

The best part? All you need is a bag of mini donuts. I bought a few bags of Hostess donuts, icing gel and a tub of icing.

halloween-donuts

If you buy the donut holes in the plastic containers in the bakery they are $3.49 or you can head towards the English muffins and buy the Hostess bag of cake donuts for $1.99.

Halloween-donuts-in-a-minute

I used Halloween themed cupcake liners to serve as a plate/napkin for the donuts. The cupcake liners reign in the powdered sugar and minimize sticky fingers!

So easy. No cleanup. No sticky counters.

Happy Halloween! Hope these Spooky Donuts show up in your kitchen!

Looking for a fun autumn cookie, check out this recipe! It’s an easy alternative to sugar cookie cutouts! And this Halloween theme Chex mix was a winner in my boys’ college care packages for them and their roommates.

how-to-make-Halloween-donuts-in-a-minute

HALLOWEEN CHEX MIX

Bugles, pumpkin spice and candy corn make this Halloween Chex Mix                                 a new favorite treat. 

I made five pounds of Halloween Chex mix and shipped four pounds to eleven college boys at three different universities.

It’s okay if you have to re-read that sentence. Not only is it closing in on Halloween, but it is also a care package season. I was happy to make (and sample)  this easy to ship salty-sweet combination of cereal, pretzels, chocolate and the autumn staple; candy corn.

The Gouhl M&M’s make this a Halloween theme Chex Mix as opposed to a harvest Chex mix.

 

Halloween-Chex-mix-everyday-edits

With my boys away at school and in semi-isolation in the midwest, I wanted to send them a “shelf-stable” homemade treat. Versus, something they could order on our family’s Amazon account.

HALLOWEEN CHEX MIX

This Halloween mix includes the standard base of rice cereal, pretzel twists and peanuts. But this recipe adds Bugles, M&M’s and candy corn to give it the tastiest of flavors.

It is addictive. It’s like Bugle and candy corn crack mix with pumpkin spice flavors.

I ate 1 cup of the 2nd batch in the time it took to write the first paragraph.

Halloween-Chex-mix-everyday-edits

The secret to this recipe is the pumpkin spice coating. It is a melted combination of butter, brown sugar and a generous serving of pumpkin spice. Yum!

Make sure you have pumpkin spice in your pantry and no substitutions on this spice. If you have read my blog for a minute you know I love an ingredient substitution.

HALLOWEEN CHEX MIX RECIPE

Halloween-Chex-mix-everyday-edits

 

HALLOWEEN CHEX MIX

The perfect combination of cereal, pretzels and peanuts with M&M's and candy corn.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Snack
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 4 CUPS CHEX RICE CEREAL OR GENERIC
  • 3 CUPS MINI PRETZELS MINI PRETZEL STICKS WOULD WORK
  • 3 CUPS BUGLES NEAR THE PRINGLES
  • 1 CUP DRY ROASTED PEANUTS
  • 1/2 CUP M&M CANDIES
  • 1 CUP HARVEST MIX CANDY CORN

PUMPKIN SPICE COATING

  • 1/2 CUP BUTTER
  • 1/2 CUP BROWN SUGAR
  • 2 TSP. VANILLA
  • 3 TBSP. PUMPKIN SPICE

Instructions
 

  • 1. PREHEAT OVEN TO 275. PREPARE WITH BAKING SHEET FOR EASY CLEANUP. TRUST ME
    2. IN LARGE MIXING BOWL COMBINE THE CEREAL, PRETZELS, BUGLES & PEANUTS
  • 3. IN GLASS BOWL, MICROWAVE BUTTER AND BROWN SUGAR FOR 1 MINUTE (ISH).
  • 4. REMOVE FROM MICROWAVE, STIR IN VANILLA & PUMPKIN SPICE
    5. POUR PUMPKIN SPICE MIX OVER THE CEREAL MIX AND STIR TO COAT
    6. POUR ONTO PREPARED BAKING SHEET & BAKE FOR 30 MINUTES, STIR AFTER 15 MINUTES (IT'S MORE LIKE A GENTLE FOLD BECAUSE THE PAN IS FULL).
    7. REMOVE FROM OVEN AND COOL COMPLETELY. TRUST ME.
    8. TOSS THE M&M'S AND HARVEST MIX CANDY CORN

Tip: Double the batch. Trust me. 

This Chex mix medley is easy (and lightweight) to ship for care package season.

Here are a few favorite Halloween treats.

Ombre Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

Growing up sugar cookies were a holiday tradition at our house. The only difference is when I discovered these sugar cookie bars. This recipe for sugar cookie bars reduced a three-hour commitment down to like 20 minutes. It was a baking epiphany in my kitchen.

sugar-cookie-bars-everydayedits

Frosted sugar cookie bars are a modern-day twist on the classic cookie cutter sugar cookie. I still love cookie cutouts, but these cookie bars are perfect when you want a homemade cookie without the long term kitchen commitment.

ombre sugar cookie bars

The recipe is below, along with credit to the blog who inspired me by his charm.

The only thing that takes a little practice is the length of time in the oven.

I set my timer for 12 minutes and watched over these cookies for another two minutes.

That was the only tricky detail with these sugar cookie bars.

For the frosting, I made an ombre frosting trio, like when I made these spring bars. The ombre frosted sugar cookie bars took my skills up a notch..

kinda/sorta.

I was going for a fall seasonal ombre effect, but let’s just say orange is a finicky color to tint icing.

 

FROSTED SUGAR COOKIE BARS

adapted from Inspired by Charm
Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 stick butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp. sour cream
  • 1 tsp. vanilla

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.Line baking sheet with foil (for thicker bar use a smaller baking sheet). 
    In a large bowl: sift flour, baking powder & salt.
    In separate bowl cream butter, sugar for about 3 minutes. 
    Add egg, sour cream and vanilla
    Slowly add the flour mixture
    Press the dough onto the baking sheet, bake for about 14 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
    Frosting 
    1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
    4 cups confectioners sugar
    1/4 cup half and half or whole milk
    1 tsp. vanilla
    1/2 tsp. almond extract
    Food Coloring & sprinkles
    Once cookie bars are cool spread the frosting on the cookie bar.Frost as desired the flour mixture
    Press the dough onto the baking sheet, bake for 14-17 minutes until edges are lightly golden.FrostingOnce cookie bars are cool spread the frosting on the cookie bar.Frost as desired

I love everything about these sugar cookie bars; the frosting, the simplicity and the taste! They still taste and smell like the traditional frosted sugar cookie!

I tried the ombre effect with frosted sugar cookie bars with pink icing here.

JUST ONE S’MORE CUPCAKE RECIPE

a fun cupcake twist on the classic S’ more 

I never would have found this recipe if I had a digital cooking timer on the counter. Our new oven, from our recent kitchen, remodel, intimidates me. And, the built-in digital timer is a p.i.t.a to operate. So I read anything within arms reach during the last 3 minutes of oven time. In those minutes I stumbled upon the S’ more cupcake recipe on the side of Betty Crocker’s chocolate fudge cake box.

S'mores-cupcake-recipe

Just stick with me.  I always try to bring you back with me to the point of my story.

If I did not have a persnickety oven timer I never would have had the time to read the S”more cupcake recipe.

Instead, I would have watched Frasier reruns on the new Peacock network.

I set a few cupcakes aside to make this twist on the classic S’ more.

The best part was I almost had all the ingredients from a S’more filled summer.

S’ more Cupcake Recipe Details

I substituted the white frosting with a batch of buttercream frosting.

I forgot about this step (until just now) that the white frosting was supposed to be combined with 1/3 cup marshmallow creme.

Oops! I bet that is why I opted to make my own frosting.

I don’t love the marshmallow creme out of the jar so it worked out just fine. Don’t tell Betty.

Yummy!

 

I totally missed that ingredient and just went on my merry way to frost a dozen cupcakes with my favorite buttercream frosting.

If you follow my baking segments (recipes) for a minute you know my recipes tend to go off the rails.

Just ask my sister!

These cupcakes were easy to prepare and frost.

The crushed graham crackers and chopped chocolate disguised by sloppy frosting skills.

S’more Cupcake Toppings

s'more-cupcake-recipe-everyday-edits-blog

Crushed graham crackers (or the graham cracker crumbs work!

S’More Cupcake Recipe

S'MORE CUPCAKES

Betty Croker
A fun twist on the classic S'more.
Print Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 BOX CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE (FOLLOW BOX INSTRUCTIONS)
  • 1 CONTAINER WHIPPED WHITE FROSTING + 1/3 CUP MARSHMALLOW CREME
  • 1/3 CUP MARSHMALLOW CREME + 1 CONTAINER WHIPPED WHITE FROSTING
  • 1 CUP CRUSHED GRAHAM CRACKERS
  • 1/2-1 CUP BROKEN CHOCOLATE PIECES OR CHOCOLATE CHIPS

Instructions
 

  • PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 DEGREES
    PREPARE CAKE MIX PER BOX INSTRUCTIONS + BAKE CUPCAKES
    COOL
  • COMBINE FROSTING + MARSHMALLOW CREME
  • ADD GRAHAM CRACKER + CHOCOLATE PIECES ON TOP

P.S. This recipe could easily be adapted if you are one of those bakers who need to whip out all of the ingredients to make what Betty Crocker combined into one convenient bag. If you want to know the history of the Betty Crocker brand this is a short read.

No judgment.

I love to make cakes from scratch like this new favorite chocolate cake.

What do you think?

Do you want to make S’ more cupcakes? Or, here is another S’ more bar recipe!

s'more-cupcake-recipe-everyday-edits-blog

 

s'more-cupcake-recipe-everyday-edits-blog

Butter Pecan Shortbread Hedgehog Cookies

These butter pecan shortbread cookies should come with a warning. You cannot stop with just one …or three.

Between the butter and the pecans, these shortbread cookies just melt in your mouth.  The hardest part of these cookies (for me) was to form small rounded shortbread cookie dough into a hedgehog.

This is not my first time to make animal theme desserts using pecans. These are my favorite turtle recipe.

I made a second batch to practice making hedgehog bums.

butter-pecan-shortbread-hedgehog-cookies

After two batches I decided my shortbread hedgehog cookies looked more like non-descript woodland creatures.

Either way, these pecan filled cookies taste amazing and are a fun cookie to serve or bring to a party.

butter-pecan-shortbread-hedgehog-cookies

I made a second batch to try to give them bigger bums.

I almost called these shortbread woodland creatures since these cookies could be either hedgehogs or porcupines. You could call these cookies any type of nocturnal critter and no one would care. Why?

Because the classic butter and pecans base in these cookies taste amazing!

No one is going to comment about the size of the hedgehog’s bum.

The recipe for these butter pecan shortbread hedgehog cookies is below.

Here are a few notes on what I would do on my next batch.

  1. Double the batch. Just do it.
  2. I used what I had on hand and who knew I had chocolate sprinkles in the pantry. However, I would use smaller chocolate chips for the eyes. My hedgehogs resemble our Berner rescue, Elliott. A little wide-eyed and wonky. #elliottthebernerrescue
  3. Use a spoon to flatten the hedgehog’s face. This is supposed to make their bums look bigger.

No matter how the hedgehog bums turn out, these butter pecan shortbread cookies are delicious.

BUTTER PECAN SHORTBREAD HEDGEHOG COOKIES RECIPE

 

butter-pecan-hedgehog-cookies

BUTTER PECAN SHORTBREAD HEDGEHOG COOKIES

YOU HAD ME AT BUTTER PECAN
Print Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 1/3 CUP BUTTER, SOFTENED
  • 1/4 CUP POWDERED SUGAR
  • 1/2 TSP. VANILLA
  • 2/3 CUP FLOUR
  • 2/3 CUP GROUND PECANS
  • 1 DASH SALT
  • 1/2 CUP CHOCOLATE BAKING CHIPS
  • 1/4 CUP CHOCOLATE SPRINKLES

Instructions
 

  • AND POWDERED SUGAR
  • COMBINE FLOUR, PECANS AND SALT
  • SHAPE INTO 1 TBSP SIZE DOUGH BALL
  • PINCH THE DOUGH TO FORM A FACE
  • PLACE ON GREASED BAKING SHEET.
  • BAKE AT 325 DEGREES FOR 12 ISH MINUTES
  • MELT CHOCOLATE IN MICROWAVE STIRRING EVERY 30 SECONDS
  • SPOON CHOCOLATE ON TOP OF COOKIES AND COVER WITH SPRINKLES.

Want to make sugar cookie hedgehogs? Here is an adorable MADE in the USA hedgehog cookie cutter.

 

Tailgate Breakfast Casserole

Even though our tailgates may not be outside a stadium this year, this tailgate breakfast casserole is a crowd-pleaser.

We are at the start of the football season at our house! On both sides of our families, we have generations of Denver Bronco & CU fans. We might have a few Texas fans too. So even if this season we are not in the stands, we can still tailgate in our backyard (or kitchen). For late morning or afternoon kickoffs,  this tailgate breakfast casserole recipe is my favorite to feed a crowd.

tailgate-breakfast-casserole-recipe

Tailgate Breakfast Casserole Recipe

This tailgate breakfast casserole cooks overnight (on very low) or in the morning on medium low. This crockpot casserole and can be served on the back end of a truck or in the back of my eight year old “newused” Audi. Just add chairs and mimosas or blood Mary’s! Or a nonalcoholic beverage for those, like myself, that cannot drink before noon!

The best part ofthis tailgate breakfast casserole recipe is the flexibility with the ingredients and the crockpot. Crockpots are the best time management appliance in the kitchen!

For this breakfast casserole, I  added bacon and salsa to give it a little Colorado kick. Hashbrowns, cheddar cheese, and chopped bacon round out the ingredients in the casserole. I describe this recipe as a breakfast burrito in a crockpot.

tailgate-breakfast-casserole-recipe-ingredient-list

CROCKPOT SETTINGS

The only tricky part of this recipe is the settings on your crockpot. Despite, the the multiple heat settings, my crockpot tends towards the high heat setting.

Tip: Make sure to generously spray a cooking spray to keep the scorching and cleanup to a minimum.

The first time you make this breakfast casserole just keep an eye on it until you get an idea of how quickly your crockpot heats up the egg, hash browns and cheddar mixture.

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Just layer the ingredients starting with the hash browns followed by the eggs. Add as many layers as you want to include. Finish the layers with a cup of milk. Fold the ingredients occasionally to keep them from cooking unevenly. My crockpot usually heats this casserole in about 90 minutes or so.

tailgate-breakfast-casserole-everyday-edits

I serve this casserole in the crockpot, buffet style with the crockpot with a stack of my bowls. I include sides of bacon, salsa, cheese and fresh green onions. A stack of tortillas turns this into a breakfast burrito. In Colorado, we love our burritos!

Enjoy this tailgate breakfast casserole dishes at your next tailgate or tv viewing type of tailgate. What teams are you cheering for this season?

Oh, and here is an easy apple crumble recipe to serve as a side!

TAILGATE BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Equipment

  • CROCKPOT

Ingredients
  

  • 1 DOZEN EGGS
  • 3/4 BAG FROZEN HASBROWNS
  • 2 CUPS CHEDDAR CHEESE
  • 1 CUP MILK
  • 1/2 CUP SCALLION CHIPPED
  • 1 CUP SALSA
  • 1 DASH SALT & PEPPER
  • 1 CUP BACON, CHOPPED ADJUST TO LIKING

Instructions
 

  •  CROCKPOT BREAKFAST CASSEROLE
    APPLY COOKING SPRAY
    LAYER INGREDIENTS WITH EGGS, HASHBROWNS, BACON, CHEESE, MILK, SALSA ETC.
    COOK APPROXIMATELY 75-90 MINUTES ON LOW DEPENDING ON CROCKPOT SETTINGS.

tailgate-breakfast-casserole

Rhodes Cinnamon Pecan Breakfast Rolls

The best part of a holiday or long weekend is the opportunity to linger over breakfast and a cup of coffee. These Rhodes cinnamon pecan breakfast rolls are the morning treat to kick off a long weekend. 

These overnight cinnamon pecan breakfast rolls need just six ingredients and 1/2 of those ingredients are baking staples. 

overnight-cinnamon-pecan-breakfast-rolls

A friend’s mom shared this cinnamon pecan breakfast rolls recipe with me years ago when we lived in Ohio. Some of my favorite recipes are from my friend’s mom. I think of here every time I bake one of her recipes.

I make it every Christmas morning and Thanksgiving weekend. But Father’s Day deserves an easy cinnamon roll treat either on Sunday morning or maybe the morning of Father’s Day Eve. Or both!

Warning these cinnamon pecan breakfast rolls are addictive. And, the best part is the bottom of the bundt pan where the cinnamon, pecans and butter pool after 25 minutes of baking. Yummy! Just grab a spoon and scoop up the gooey goodness. 

overnight-cinnamon-pecan-breakfast-rolls

The kids or grandkids could make these with you for a relaxing night in the kitchen. Because of this recipe, I keep a bag of Rhodes frozen dinner rolls in my garage fridge… just in case. And, a box of butterscotch pudding! 

overnight-cinnamon-pecan-breakfast-rolls

OVERNIGHT CINNAMON & PECAN BREAKFAST ROLLS

My favorite breakfast rolls for the holiday and long weekends.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound Rhodes frozen dinner rolls
  • 1 box butterscotch pudding (not low fat or instant) I use larger box
  • 1 cup pecans, chopped
  • 1/2 stick butter
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • GREASE PAN OR BUNDT PAN.
    SPRINKLE 3/4 OF DRY PUDDING PACKET AROUND PAN
    ADD 1/2 OF THE PECANS.
    LINE PAN WITH FROZEN DINNER ROLLS
    BRING BUTTER, BROWN SUGAR & CINNAMON TO BOIL
    POUR OVER ROLLS
    SPRINKLE WITH REMAINING PUDDING & PECANS
    COVER PAN WITH CLING WRAP AND PLACE IN OVEN OVERNIGHT (UNHEATED)
    REMOVE PAN IN MORNING & PREHEAT OVEN TO 350. BAKE APPROX. 25 MINUTES
    **LESS BAKING TIME MAKES ROLLS MORE GOOEY! 

If you are looking for a family-friendly bread recipe try this challah bread recipe.

Thank you for stopping by!

Butter Substitute for Baking

 I have a baking confession. I rarely follow a recipe from start to finish. Every time I call my sister about a new recipe she asks, “Did you follow the recipe?” The truth is I have a bit of a habit of making split-second, last-minute baking substitutes. And, then I discovered Libby does it too. Here is a simple tip for a butter substitute for baking.

butter-substitute-for baking

I found this baking substitute tip while grocery shopping. I grabbed a few cans of pumpkin (’tis the season).

It wasn’t until I got home to unpack my groceries when I noticed the lid on the Libby’s pumpkin can.

The best part is this is a shelf-stable item so it can sit in your pantry until you crave these cookies or you need a last-minute baking substitute for butter or eggs or oil.

It is a genius idea on behalf of Libby’s to put the suggestions on the can and include the measurements for the substitute.

This butter substitute works with sauces, muffins and cookies. In some recipes, pumpkin can be used as an oil and egg substitute too.

An added bonus is pumpkin is vegan friendly and loaded with vitamins. Curious of the benefits? You can check out all the benefits of pumpkin here.

butter-substitute-for baking

Here is that pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Spinach Tots

Do you want an easy, warm appetizer for the fall? I know, I know. Once July 4th passes I cannot help but turn to thoughts of pumpkins and candles. I found this recipe via Carson Daly’s wife, Siri. Maybe you have seen her cooking segments on the Today Show? It only took me 25 + years to open a cookbook more than once! And, with an approaching empty nest, it’s ironic that I am just now dipping my spatula into the kitchen. This spinach tots recipe is a new favorite at our house and with my girlfriends.

spinach-tots-appetizer

These spinach tots will definitely make an appearance at the social distancing happy hours this fall. The staples include frozen spinach (so easy), a couple of eggs and seasoned bread crumbs. I keep these staples in my kitchen just for this last-minute appetizer.

spinach-tots-recipe

Seriously, these spinach tots have eight ingredients! The most important part of this recipe is to drain, drain, drain the excess water from the spinach.

I used an oversized wood spatula to press the water out of the colander. If you have any additional tips to remove the water I would love for you to mention in the comments.

spinach-tots-recipe
spi

These spinach balls are so close to being a vegan option with egg substitute. These spinach tots are so yummy I have had them for an easy dinner when it’s just me at home.

They reheat easily. I serve with a side of mustard and toothpicks.

Let me know what you think! They are always a hit. Oh, and they freeze well too!

SPINACH TOTS

adapted from Siri Daly’s Cookbook
EASY SIDE DISH OR APPETIZER OR DINNER FOR ONE
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 2 10 oz packages frozen, chopped, spinach, thawed, drained & drained of moisture
  • 2 cups Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1 yellon onion diced
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp. ground pepper
  • 4 eggs

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350. 
    Stir together the spinach, breadcrumbs, onion, butter, Parmesan, salt, pepper and eggs in a large bowl. 
    Using a tablespoon roll the mixture into 48 balls and place on greased baking sheet.
    Bake until edges are golden, about 30 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through cooking 

I made these cookies featured in her cookbook. The cookies tasted great even though I forgot one of the main ingredients.

Here is one of my favorite, go-to dinner recipes from Siri Daly’s cookbook.

Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake

This recipe had me at dump. Why? Because a dump cake means easy. A Dump Cake implies no fussy instructions and no temperamental batter; just dump and bake. And, this chocolate cherry dump cake does not disappoint. It is perfect for this recipe challenged girl!

chocolate-cherry-dump-cake-everydayedits

I first saw this recipe over at Kristen’s blog. I thought I had all the ingredients; doesn’t everyone have a chocolate cake box mix in the pantry? And, I thought I had the cherry pie filling for when I crave my favorite summer dessert.

But, sadly I could not make this cake on the spot. I had to make a run to the grocery store.

chocolate-cherry-dump-cake-everydayedits

Of course, I still found a way to screw up this recipe because I only bought one can and when I pulled up the recipe online I realized it required two cans of cherry pie filling.

Does anyone else have recipelexia?

Every time I share a new recipe like this one or this one, my sister’s first question is; “Did you follow the recipe?” She knows me better than anyone.

So yes I screwed up a three-ingredient recipe, but it still tasted amazing. I can only imagine how cherry delicious a second can of cherry pie filling would taste! Yum! Oh, and pick up ice cream or whipped topping!

Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake Recipe

CHOCOLATE CHERRY DUMP CAKE

3 INGREDIENT DUMP CAKE
Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • BOX CHOCOLATE CAKE MIX, DRY DRY
  • 2 CANS CHERRY PIE FILLING
  • 3/4 CUP BUTTER, MELTED

Instructions
 

  • 1. PREHEAT OVEN TO 350°F
    2. SPRAY 9X13 BAKING DISH WITH COOKING SPRAY
    3. ADD 2 CANS OF CHERRY PIE FILLING TO BAKING DISH
    4. EMPTY DRY CHOCOLATE CAKE MIX OVER THE CHERRY PIE FILLING
    5. DRIZZLE 3/4 CUP MELTED BUTTER OVER THE CAKE MIX/FILLING LAYERS
    6. BAKE 40-45 MINUTES DEPENDING ON YOUR OVEN.
    7. IT WILL NOT BE A FIRM CAKE; IT WILL HAVE A LITTLE JIGGLE

Before you go here is another favorite cherry based dessert.

chocolate-cherry-dump-cake

Sugar Cookie Cake Bars

Do you remember when Jessica Simpson called Starfish Tuna chicken? Well , these sugar cookie cake bars taste like cake even though they are called cookies. They are the ultimate hybrid of cake and cookies.

I just broke all the baking rules by calling these frosted sugar cookies cake bars.

It reminds me when Jessica Simpson called Starkist Tuna … wait for it… chicken.

We knew when we heard her say it something was off, but we had to say it over in our minds to get past the tuna and the chicken comparison.

Well, these frosted sugar cookie bars taste like cake. And, I mean cake.

I found this recipe from Christine at I Dig Pinterest after another recipe I found on Pinterest had a huge mistake in the ingredients list.

These are the perfect dessert bar when you can’t decide between cookies or cake. It’s that simple. You don’t have to decide ever again. Unless you want a frosted sugar cookie bar… then click here for my favorite sugar cookie bar recipe! No cookie cutters needed!

You can just make these frosted sugar cookies bars because they taste like a white cake.

The only thing in the recipe that you have to watch for is the time. My oven trends hot so I should have taken 1-2 minutes off the 20 minutes suggested time. They still tasted great, but they got a little dry after a day. Of course, there weren’t many left after day one! Enjoy!

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars that Taste Like Cake

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 CUP SALTED BUTTER, SOFTENED
  • 1 3/4 CUP SUGAR
  • 1/2 TBSP. VANILLA
  • 2 LARGE EGGS
  • 1/2 CUP SOUR CREAM
  • 2 3/4 CUP FLOUR
  • 2 TSP. BAKING POWDER
  • 3/4 TSP. SALT

BUTTER CREAM FROSTING

  • 1/2 CUP BUTTER, SOFTENED
  • 3 1/2 CUPS POWDERED SUGAR
  • 1 TSP. VANILLA
  • MILK MILK TO THIN FROSTING

Instructions
 

  • PREHEAT OVEN T0 350 GREASE OR LINE 9X13 PAN WITH PARCHMENT PAPER
  • IN BOWL, CREAM BUTTER, SUGAR
  • ADD VANILLA, EGGS, SOUR CREAM
  • IN SEPARATE BOWL, WHISK FLOUR, BAKING POWDER & SALT. ADD FLOUR MIXTURE TO WET MIXTURE. DON'T OVER MIX THE TWO.
  • SPREAD BATTER INTO PARCHMENT LINED 9X13 PAN.
    THE BATTER IS STICKY SO I USED ANOTHER SHEET OF PARCHMENT PAPER TO PRESS INTO EDGES AND CORNERS OF PAN
  • BAKE APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. MY OVEN TRENDS HOT SO I TOOK 2 MINUTES OFF SUGGESTED TIME. YOU WANT VERY MOIST, NO BROWN EDGES.
    ALL TO COOL. USE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING.

Looking for a straight-up sugar cookie bar? These are my favorites.

Raspberry White Chocolate Bars

Are we burned out on chocolate yet? Are the jeans getting a smidge tighter than they were in September? We have to pace ourselves because we have a ways to go from the chocolate holiday Halloween kickoff to Easter. Between peanut butter cups, chocolate hearts and bunny butts there is a lot of milk chocolate on the calendar. These raspberry and white chocolate bars are so amazing they might show up for Valentine’s Day.

These raspberry white chocolate bars are the perfect balance of raspberries and the crumble. The raspberry filling comes from a jar of Raspberry preserves which makes this recipe low effort.

On a side note, one of my favorite places to buy preserves and coffee is HomeGoods. Seriously, HomeGoods (and TJ Maxx and Marshalls) have fun coffees, preserves, sauces and so much more. On a recent trip to HomeGoods, I had gift wrap, preserves, and the comfiest cotton, short sleeve shirts ever that were $5.99 each. 

raspberry-white-chocolate-bars

The crumble for these raspberry white chocolate bars are made from a butter, sugar and flour mixture.

Folded between layers of the crumbly mixture, the raspberry preserves and the white chocolate morsels add the perfect amount of sweet.

raspberry-white-chocolate-bars

And, these bars pack well and stayed moist for the week. They are a yummy alternative to the traditional cookie rotation in kitchens across the country!

Raspberry White Chocolate Bars Recipe  

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 4 cups flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 jar raspberry jam
  • 1 12 oz package white chocolate baking chips

Instructions
 

  • Raspberry White Chocolate Bars
    Recipe Type: Dessert
    Cuisine: Dessert
    Raspberry & White Chocolate Bars
    Ingredients
    3/4 cup sugar
    1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened
    1 tsp salt
    2 tsp vanilla
    4 cups flour
    2 eggs
    1 jar raspberry jam
    1 12 oz. package white chocolate baking morsels
    Instructions
    PREHEAT OVEN TO 350.
    USE A 9X13" BAKING PAN (DO NOT GREASE)
    MIX SUGAR, BUTTER, ADD SALT, VANILLA
    SLOWLY ADD FLOUR, UNTIL IT LOOKS CRUMBLY.
    SCOOP 1 CUP OF CRUMB MIXTURE AND SET ASIDE
    ADD THE EGGS TO REMAINING MIXTURE.
    PRESS DOUGH INTO BAKING PAN. BAKE 30 MINUTES UNTIL LIGHTLY BROWN.
    REMOVE BAKING PAN, SPREAD RASPBERRY JAME TO THE EDGES.
    SPRINKLE WHITE CHOCOLATE MORSELS
    SPRINKLE THE CRUMBLE MIXTURE RESERVE ON TOP
    BAKE AN ADDITIONAL 25-30 MINUTES AT 350 UNTIL TOPPING IS LIGHT GOLDEN BROWN.
    COOL BEFORE CUTTING INTO BARS

 

sharing to: 2 chicks & a mom

My Favorite Royal Icing Recipe

Growing up,  I remember the smell of Christmas cookies baking in our gold enamel Kenmore oven. And, the familiar smell of  a few burned cookie’s edges, was the closest thing to what I imagine a Hallmark movie set smells likes. If we  had smellavision. And, the best part of sugar cookies was the icing my mom made for the stacks and stacks of sugar cookies.  My mom had her fav recipe, but today I want to share my my favorite royal icing recipe. 

Royal Icing Recipe

favorite-royal-icing-recipe

There was always a date on the calendar dedicated to baking and frosting sugar cookies. We sorted the cookies on the counter by shape. The  complicated reindeer antlers rarely stayed intact from cookie sheet to wax paper.

But, we always got to eat the cookies that failed to nail the perfect landing. favorite-royal-icing

My mom set aside an evening to frost sugar cookies. It was a family event with sprinkles and primary color tinted icing. 

My sister took her time and outlined every cookie with black icing.

I preferred the slap and slather icing application. 

favorite-royal-icing

The sugar cookie tradition continued with my family with a few changes to the basics. I like a thicker sugar cookie dough than my mom. And, then there is the difference between my mom’s icing recipe and mine. My mom’s icing was more like a glaze. She might hav watered it down a bit too much to frost all of those cookies.

I needed to find my own favorite royal icing recipe.

For years I used a sugar cooking icing recipe from Martha Stewart. Martha’s icing recipe was made with powdered sugar, a few drops of water and an egg white. The egg white always made me nervous. The last thing I needed during the holidays was a salmonella outbreak at the annual Secret Santa party. 

Of course, I never thought twice about eating a tube of raw cookie dough with my girlfriends in middle school.

Sidenote: I read this article by a food blogger about the safety of raw eggs. 

And, then a few years ago  I graduated to a royal icing recipe and discovered the magic of meringue powder and corn syrup.

Pin this image for the recipe

favorite-royal-icing-recipe-everydayedits

Favorite Royal Icing Recipe 

ROYAL ICING

A favorite, easy royal icing recipe!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound powdered sugarg
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tsp corn syrup
  • 4 tbsp meringue powder

Instructions
 

  • Mix ingredients and adjust water for preferred consistency.

Cranberry Sauce Recipe

canberry-sauce-recipe-everydayedits

Growing up, cranberry side dishes came straight out of a Del Monte can and was served at room temp! That might explain why I was never a fan of cranberries until I was well into adulthood. But my cranberry memories changed when I found this cranberry sauce recipe in the celebrity section of a People magazine’s holiday issue. This cranberry sauce forever changed my holiday menu. 

cranberry-sauce-recipe-everyday-edits

This cranberry sauce recipe was provided by the the former New York Times food critic, Sam Sifton. I was getting a pedicure when I stumbled onto this cranberry side dish. I took a quick photo of the recipe details.

Cranberry Sauce Recipe

I could not believe the difference fresh (or frozen) cranberries made to this popular holiday side dish. The addition of pecans and ginger elevated this recipe to a new level. My son would say this recipe is legit.

I added apples to change up the flavor! I love a recipe that celebrates flexible ingredients.

cranberry-sauce-recipe-everydayedits

CRANBERRY SAUCE RECIPE | PIN OR PRINT 

CRANBERRY SAUCE

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 CUP PECANS, CHOPPED
  • 1 12 OZ FRESH OR FROZEN CRANBERRIES
  • 3/4 CUP SUGAR
  • 3/4 CUP ORANGE JUICE
  • 1 TSP. GRATED FRESH GINGER OR GINER SPICE
  • 2 TSP ORANGE ZEST

Instructions
 

  • CRANBERRY SAUCE  RECIPE
    TOAST PECANS IN LARGE SAUTE PAN OVER MEDIUM HEAT
    STIR OCCASIONALLY 4-5 MINUTES. T
    IN SMALL SAUCEPAN ADD CRANBERRIES, SUGAR AND ORANGE JUICE OVER MEDIUM-HIGH HEAT.. CRANBERRIES WILL START TO POP WHEN READY.
    ADD GINGER & ORANGE ZEST; COOK 2-3 MINUTES & REMOVE FROM HEAT.
    ADD PECANS; COVER & COOL TO ROOM TEMP.
    CHILL, COVERED FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS.
Keyword CRANBERRIES

This recipe introduced me to a new berry. And, this recipe is not just for the holidays. This side dish is perfect to serve alongside a tenderloin.

Here’s another favorite cinnamon and pecan recipe during the holidays! And, if you are looking for additional cranberry recipes check out this list from Country Living.

canberry-sauce-recipe-everydayedits

How to Make Monster Sugar Cookie Bars

I love sugar cookies. What I don’t love is a long-term commitment in the kitchen during the work week.  These monster sugar cookie bars were the perfect way to make (and sample) sugar cookies without hauling out the cookie cutters. And, still, celebrate the Halloween season in the kitchen.

how-to-make-monster-sugar-cookies-everydayedits

When I first saw these sugar cookie bars it was a baking epiphany. Before I found this version of a sugar cookie, it never occurred to me that I could make sugar cookies without cookie cutters.

Using a new sugar cookie recipe was a big deal; I had used this Cooking Light sugar cookie recipe for over a decade. But, this popular millennial blogger changed everything for me.

Proving those of us over 40 can learn new baking skills. 

The concept was simple and to the point. It required sugar cookie dough, pressed into a baking sheet. That’s it.

The cookie cutter step was using a knife to cut rectangular shapes (bars) and add frosting. The frosting is my best baking friend (BFF) in the kitchen.

It covers up the glitches.  And, for these monster sugar cookie bars, the googly eyes created little monsters. And the Halloween shades of purple and green frosting were a break from pumpkin orange frosting. 

Monster Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe

FROSTED SUGAR COOKIE BARS

adapted from Inspired by Charm
Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 stick butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp. sour cream
  • 1 tsp. vanilla

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.Line baking sheet with foil (for thicker bar use a smaller baking sheet). 
    In a large bowl: sift flour, baking powder & salt.
    In separate bowl cream butter, sugar for about 3 minutes. 
    Add egg, sour cream and vanilla
    Slowly add the flour mixture
    Press the dough onto the baking sheet, bake for about 14 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
    Frosting 
    1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
    4 cups confectioners sugar
    1/4 cup half and half or whole milk
    1 tsp. vanilla
    1/2 tsp. almond extract
    Food Coloring & sprinkles
    Once cookie bars are cool spread the frosting on the cookie bar.Frost as desired the flour mixture
    Press the dough onto the baking sheet, bake for 14-17 minutes until edges are lightly golden.FrostingOnce cookie bars are cool spread the frosting on the cookie bar.Frost as desired

monster-sugar-cookie-bars

Looking for a lower-calorie sugar cookie? Try these!

Almond Joy Cookies Recipe

I planned my annual physical around Halloween. There was no way I was going to go in for my physical and weight check after October 31st. Not happening. I was already thinking about those Halloween candy bars the first week of June. Because that is how I guaranteed an annual physical to be on the books before Halloween. 

I miss my kids’ trick or treating days because of the candy. I mean yes I miss scrambling to put a costume together when Denver temps dropped from 83 to 37 in 24 hours.

But I really miss the haul of candy that came through the door after a night around the neighborhood. The kids would designate their spots on the floor and dump and sort their candy bars from the Starbursts. The only candy bars I cared about were the Almond Joys. Well, and maybe the Reeses and maybe a Twix or two.

But, almond joys were that once a year candy bar.  So it was no surprise that these  Almond Joy Cookies were a favorite new cookie recipe in my kitchen.

almond-joy-cookies

You know that feeling when you read the ingredients in a recipe and you just KNOW the recipe will taste amazing with a glass of milk? 

You just know! That’s the reaction I had when I skimmed the ingredient list. 

almond-joy-cookies

These almond joy cookies are that recipe! You might as well plan an hour today to bake these cookies. And, you likely have the ingredients in your pantry.

Almond Joy Cookies Ingredient List

Like coconut and chocolate chips.

almond-joy-cookies-coconut

The cookie batter was so creamy it was a challenge to get the batter to the baking sheet. Only because my spoon snuck into between the paddle to get a spoonful of the creamy, butter, coconut and chocolate cookie dough.

almond-joy-cookies-ingredients-everydayedits

Recipe Details

The coconut added moisture and the combination of almonds, chocolate chips and coconut added a little heft to these cookies.

Amazing!  

I  made these cookies several times and the ingredient portions can easily be adjusted. For example, I did not add 2 cups of almonds. And, for the chocolate, I used a combination of both milk and semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Almond Joy Cookies

ALMOND JOY COOKIES

Print Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 CUP BUTTER, SOFTENED
  • 1 1/2 CUP SUGAR
  • 1 1/2 CUP BROWN SUGAR
  • 4 EGGS
  • 3 TSP VANILLA
  • 2 TSP BAKING SODA
  • 1 TSP SALT
  • 5 CUPS CHOCOLATE CHIPS
  • 2 CUPS COCONUT
  • 2 CUPS ALMONDS, CHOPPED

Instructions
 

  • Almond Joy Cookies  INSTRUCTIONS
    1. PREHEAT OVEN TO 375
    2. LIGHTLY GREASE BAKING SHEETS
    3. COMBINE DRY INGREDIENTS, SET ASIDE
    4. IN LARGE BOWL CREAM THE BUTTER AND SUGARS. BEAT IN EGGS VANILLA.
    5. ADD DRY INGREDIENTS TO LARGE BOWL. ADD CHOCOLATE CHIPS, COCONUTS & ALMONDS.
    6. DROP BY TEASPOON ON COOKIE SHEET. BAKE 8-10 MINUTES. COOL ON WIRE RACK.

almond-joy-cookies-everydayedits

These cookies were amazing.

With the perfect combination of butter and chocolate and coconut. They are a bulky cookie which might mean you eat less.

Their hefty size makes them travel-friendly; by car or for a care package delivery too!

almond-joy-cookies

Looking for a non-chocolate cookie? Try these sugar cookie bars! Here is another favorite pumpkin cookie recipe around our house

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