Category Archives: Dessert

Bark, Dessert

Crock Pot Chocolate Covered Peanut Clusters

Leave a comment

My favorite kind of chocolate candy is chocolate covered nuts. Any kind of nuts covered in chocolate will do. I recently discovered that making homemade chocolate covered peanut clusters are super easy. In fact, they are dangerously easy to make! And you cook these magical treats in the crock pot. Less than an hour later, you have the perfect chocolate covered nuts to either eat yourself (no judgment here!) or to gift at the holidays.

Crock Pot Candy

I never would have thought to make my own candy. And I certainly wouldn’t think to make homemade chocolate candy in the crock pot. However, if you are going to make chocolate covered nuts, making them in the crock pot sounds like an awesome idea to me! These delicious treats cook quickly, for a slow cooker. On the low setting, they only take about 45 minutes from start to finish. And then 5-10 minutes in the freezer to firm up. Then, they are done and ready to eat!

Trisha Yearwood’s Slow Cooker Chocolate Candy

This recipe is actually Trisha Yearwood’s slow cooker chocolate candy. It was all over Pinterest and it was screaming at me to try it. I’m so glad I did. It’s extremely easy to make and tastes amazing! These slow cooker chocolate candies are sweet and hard to resist. The almond bark really brings this sweet taste to the ultimate level!

Chocolate Peanut Cluster Ingredients

  • 1/2 can Lightly Salted Peanuts
  • 6 oz Milk Chocolate Chips
  • 4 oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • 1/2 lb Almond Bark

Chocolate Peanut Cluster Instructions

  • Line crock pot with peanuts.
  • Layer chocolate chips and almond bark on top of peanuts.
  • Cook on low temp for approx 45 minutes. Keep an eye on the chocolate peanut clusters and stir the peanut/chocolate mixture every 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Once the chocolate has all melted together, it’s done.
  • Spoon 1 tbsp of the peanut cluster mixture into large or mini cupcake liners.
  • Let cool in the freezer for 10 minutes or in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to fully harden.

Crock Pot Candy Variations

I love this recipe because it makes a lot of chocolate covered peanut clusters, but also because you can change up the recipe by making simple swaps. For example, instead of peanuts, you can use cashews, pecans, walnuts, or pistachios. Another change could be the amount of the chocolate. If you prefer white chocolate to milk chocolate, skip the semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips altogether and just go with white chocolate. Similarly, if you prefer the rich taste of dark chocolate, you can skip the milk chocolate and taper down the almond bark. Additionally, if you wanted to go for a more peanut buttery taste, add in peanut butter chips or even better, mini Reese’s peanut butter cups.

The possibilities go on and on. You could mix and match so many different variations of chocolates and nuts. And then you could add sea salt or caramel. My head is spinning. For now, stick to this recipe and see what you think. After that, maybe you will be daring enough to change things up. Don’t forget to comment on your chocolate peanut clusters turn out though.

More Easy Desserts

With life being so hectic, especially around the holidays, who wants to spend endless amounts of time cooking and baking in the kitchen? I certainly don’t have time to waste so I love making easy desserts! Here are some tried and true EASY desserts that are the perfect holiday desserts:

Christmas Crack

Cannoli Dip

Rolo Cookies

Cherry Pie Dump Cake

Dessert Martinis

A dessert martini is a martini that everyone should indulge in once in a while. And, the perfect time to try out a yummy dessert martini is around the holidays or any night, when you really need something extraordinary.

Tiramisu Martini

Snicker Licker Martini

Bananas Foster Martini

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Martini

Pistachio Martini

Follow Me On Social Media

Don’t forget to leave a reply below or share the recipe with on social media – sharing is caring!

crock pot chocolate covered peanut clusters are an easy homemade candy recipe that make the perfect treat or holiday gift
Print

Crock Pot Chocolate Covered Peanut Clusters

Course Dessert, Snack
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Author jenahoward

Ingredients

  • 1/2 can Lightly Salted Peanuts
  • 6 oz Milk Chocolate Chips
  • 4 oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • 1/2 lb Almond Bark

Instructions

  • Line crock pot with peanuts.
  • Layer chocolate chips and almond bark on top of peanuts.
  • Cook on low temp for approx 45 minutes. Keep an eye on the chocolate peanut clusters and stir the peanut/chocolate mixture every 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Once the chocolate has all melted together, it's done.
  • Spoon 1 tbsp of the peanut cluster mixture into large or mini cupcake liners.
  • Let cool in the freezer for 10 minutes or in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to fully harden.
  • ENJOY!

Cheesecake, Dessert

Pecan Caramel Cheesecake – The BEST Cheesecake Upgrade

Leave a comment

Pecan Caramel Cheesecake is a great holiday dessert idea. This is so much better than a plain cheesecake – and those are magnificent! The pecan caramel topping brings this delicious dessert to a whole new level. And you know what? This pecan caramel cheesecake recipe is easy. If you can follow a recipe, you can bake this cheesecake without a problem. You don’t have to have years of experience as a baker to make this delicious dessert. And pairing this yummy dessert with a creamy martini to bring yourself to super host or hostess status!

Cheesecakes

Cheesecakes come in a variety of flavors. Personally, I used to think that less was more and preferred an original cheesecake to a fancy topped cheesecake. However, after making this pecan caramel cheesecake, I have changed my mind. I am not limiting my favorite type of cheesecake to any one particular kind. Rather, I am a fluid cheesecake lover and base my preference on my mood that day (or whatever type of cheesecake is available!).

Ingredients

Cheesecake Crust

  • 1-3/4 cups Graham cracker crumbs (approx 15 Graham crackers)
  • 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
  • 4 tbsp Salted Butter melted

Cheesecake Filling

  • 32 oz Cream Cheese room temperature
  • 1-1/3 cup Sugar
  • 1 pinch Salt
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 3 Eggs
  • 1/4 cup Sour Cream
  • 1/4 cup Whipping Cream
  • 2 tsp Cinnamon

Pecan Caramel Cheesecake Instructions

Making a cheesecake can seem like a daunting task. If you are not an experienced baker, you might think you won’t be able to handle a cheesecake recipe. Here’s a little secret. Come in close. Although, cheesecake is a show-stopper at any family gathering, they actually aren’t that difficult to make. Did you know that? There are a bunch of steps in a cheesecake recipe, but they are easy to follow and definitely worth the extra effort. Well, because it’s cheesecake. And cheesecake is worth it!

So follow along and get your baking cap on because you are going to rock this pecan caramel cheesecake recipe. And I want to know how it turns out so don’t forget to add a comment and picture, when it’s done!

Preparing The Crust

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), with rack in lower third of oven.
  • Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor or blender until finely ground.
  • Put in a large bowl, and stir in the brown sugar, then stir in the melted butter.
  • Gently press down the graham cracker crumbs into the bottom of the springform pan using your fingers, until the crumbs are an even layer at the bottom of the pan, with maybe just a slight rise along the inside edges of the pan.
  • Place the pan on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and let cool. While the crust is cooling, start on the filling. Wait until the crust has cooled to wrap the pan in foil in the next step.

Preparing The Springform Pan

  • Triple wrap the pan in foil so that no water leaks into it while cooking.
  • Place a large 18-inch by 18-inch square of aluminum foil on a flat surface.
  • Place the springform pan in the middle of the foil. Gently fold up the sides of the foil around the pan. Make sure to do this gently so that you don’t create any holes in the foil.If there are any holes, water will get into the pan and ruin the crust.Press the foil around the edges of the pan. Place a second large square of foil underneath the pan, and repeat, gently folding up the sides of the foil around the pan and pressing the foil against the pan.To be triply safe, repeat with a third layer of heavy duty foil. Gently crimp the top of the foil sheets around the top edge of the pan.

Making The Cheesecake

  • Cut the cream cheese into chunks and place in the bowl of an electric mixer.
  • With the paddle attachment, mix on medium speed for 4 minutes until smooth, soft and creamy.
  • Next, add the sugar, beat for 4 minutes more.
  • Add the salt, cinnamon, and vanilla, beating after each addition.
  • Next, add the eggs, one at a time, beating on medium low speed for one minute after each addition.
  • Then, add the sour cream, beat until incorporated.
  • Finally, add the heavy cream, beat until incorporated. Remember to scrape down the sides of the mixer bowl, and scrape up any thicker bits of cream cheese that have stuck to the bottom of the mixer that paddle attachment has failed to incorporate.

Cooking The Cheesecake

  • Place the foil-wrapped springform pan in a large, high-sided roasting pan. Prepare 2 quarts of boiling water.
  • Reduce oven heat to 325°F (160°C).
  • Pour the cream cheese filling into the springform pan, over the graham cracker bottom layer. Smooth the top with a rubber spatula.
  • Place the roasting pan with the springform pan in it, in the oven, on the lower rack.
  • Carefully, pour the hot water into the roasting pan (without touching the hot oven), to create a water bath for the cheesecake, pouring until the water reaches halfway up the side of the springform pan, about 1-1/4 inches. (Alternatively you can add the water before putting the pan in the oven, whichever is easier for you.)
  • Bake for 1.5 hours.
  • After 1.5 hours, turn off the oven. Crack open the oven door approx 1″ and let the cheesecake cook in the oven for 1 hour. This cooling process will help prevent the cheesecake from cracking.
  • Cover the top of the cheesecake with foil, so that it doesn’t actually touch the cheesecake. Chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours, or overnight.

Making The Caramel Pecan Topping

  • Just before you’re ready to serve, prepare the pecan pie topping.
  • Put a 14″ pan over medium heat, toast the pecans for 1 to 2 min. or until fragrant. (Be careful – nuts burn quickly.) Remove the nuts from the pan and set aside
  • Add the maple syrup to the pan and allow it to bubble, then cook over medium heat for 1 minute.
  • Next, add the butter, salt and pecans to the mixture and cook for an additional minute before removing the topping from the heat.
  • Allow the topping to cool for 2 to 5 min. Remove the rim of the springform pan. Pour the syrup mixture over the cheesecake. Slice the cheesecake with a hot, clean knife and serve!

Follow Me On Social Media

Holiday Dessert Ideas

These amazing dessert recipes make great holiday dessert ideas. However, you don’t need to wait for a special occasion to serve up these easy dessert recipes.

Pumpkin Turtle Pie

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Cannoli Dip

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pie

Try Some Dessert Martinis

What better way to wash down a yummy slice of cheesecake than with an equally yummy martini? I guess you could try having a cup of coffee, but that just isn’t as fun. So get your cocktail shaker ready and gear up for some delectable martinis!

Bananas Foster Martini

Gingerbread Martini

Chocolate Amaretto Martini

Tiramisu Martini

Don’t forget to leave a reply below or share the recipe with on social media – sharing is caring!

Print

Pecan Caramel Cheesecake

Delectable Pecan Caramel Cheesecake – Bakery Quality You Can Make At Home!
Course Dessert
Keyword caramel desserts, cheesecake, holiday
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings 8 people
Author jenahoward

Ingredients

Cheesecake Crust

  • 1-3/4 cups Graham cracker crumbs (approx 15 Graham crackers)
  • 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
  • 4 tbsp Salted Butter melted

Cheesecake Filling

  • 32 oz Cream Cheese room temperature
  • 1-1/3 cup Sugar
  • 1 pinch Salt
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 3 Eggs
  • 1/4 cup Sour Cream
  • 1/4 cup Whipping Cream
  • 2 tsp Cinnamon

Instructions

Preparing The Crust

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), with rack in lower third of oven.
  • Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor or blender until finely ground.
  • Put in a large bowl, and stir in the brown sugar, then stir in the melted butter.
  • Gently press down the graham cracker crumbs into the bottom of the springform pan using your fingers, until the crumbs are an even layer at the bottom of the pan, with maybe just a slight rise along the inside edges of the pan.
  • Place the pan on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and let cool. While the crust is cooling, start on the filling. Wait until the crust has cooled to wrap the pan in foil in the next step.

Preparing The Springform Pan

  • Triple wrap the pan in foil so that no water leaks into it while cooking.
  • Place a large 18-inch by 18-inch square of aluminum foil on a flat surface.
  • Place the springform pan in the middle of the foil. Gently fold up the sides of the foil around the pan. Make sure to do this gently so that you don't create any holes in the foil.
    If there are any holes, water will get into the pan and ruin the crust.
    Press the foil around the edges of the pan. Place a second large square of foil underneath the pan, and repeat, gently folding up the sides of the foil around the pan and pressing the foil against the pan.
    To be triply safe, repeat with a third layer of heavy duty foil. Gently crimp the top of the foil sheets around the top edge of the pan.

Making The Cheesecake

  • Cut the cream cheese into chunks and place in the bowl of an electric mixer.
  • With the paddle attachment, mix on medium speed for 4 minutes until smooth, soft and creamy.
  • Next, add the sugar, beat for 4 minutes more.
  • Add the salt, cinnamon, and vanilla, beating after each addition.
  • Add the eggs, one at a time, beating on medium low speed for one minute after each addition.
  • Add the sour cream, beat until incorporated.
  • Add the heavy cream, beat until incorporated. Remember to scrape down the sides of the mixer bowl, and scrape up any thicker bits of cream cheese that have stuck to the bottom of the mixer that paddle attachment has failed to incorporate.
  • Place the foil-wrapped springform pan in a large, high-sided roasting pan. Prepare 2 quarts of boiling water.
  • Reduce oven heat to 325°F (160°C).
  • Pour the cream cheese filling into the springform pan, over the graham cracker bottom layer. Smooth the top with a rubber spatula.
  • Place the roasting pan with the springform pan in it, in the oven, on the lower rack.
  • Carefully, pour the hot water into the roasting pan (without touching the hot oven), to create a water bath for the cheesecake, pouring until the water reaches halfway up the side of the springform pan, about 1-1/4 inches. (Alternatively you can add the water before putting the pan in the oven, whichever is easier for you.)
  • Bake for 1.5 hours.
  • After 1.5 hours, turn off the oven. Crack open the oven door approx 1" and let the cheesecake cook in the oven for 1 hour. This cooling process will help prevent the cheesecake from cracking.
  • Cover the top of the cheesecake with foil, so that it doesn't actually touch the cheesecake. Chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours, or overnight.

Making The Caramel Pecan Topping

  • Just before you’re ready to serve, prepare the pecan pie topping.
  • Put a 14" pan over medium heat, toast the pecans for 1 to 2 min. or until fragrant. (Be careful – nuts burn quickly.) Remove the nuts from the pan and set aside
  • Add the maple syrup to the pan and allow it to bubble, then cook over medium heat for 1 minute.
  • Next, add the butter, salt and pecans to the mixture and cook for an additional minute before removing the topping from the heat.
  • Allow the topping to cool for 2 to 5 min. Remove the rim of the springform pan. Pour the syrup mixture over the cheesecake. Slice the cheesecake with a hot, clean knife and serve!
  • ENJOY!
Dessert

Christmas Crack – Delicious And Highly Addictive

Leave a comment

Holiday desserts, specially Christmas desserts are synonymous with Christmas Crack. If you haven’t heard of Christmas Crack before, you are in for a real treat – pun intended! It is a highly addictive treat that is a mix of salty sweet. And it’s such a simple recipe, it’s unbelievable. Just saltines, butter, brown sugar, and chocolate make up this toffee inspired snack. You can make a huge batch at a time and store it in the refrigerator for a week. And you can even give this away as holiday gifts! Just package up the Christmas Crack in a plastic bag with a festive ribbon and there you go! Or go a little further and box up the salty treats to give as a wrapped present.

Chocolate Bark

Although Christmas Crack isn’t technically the same as chocolate bark, it has similar characteristics. Basically, they both are composed of melted chocolate that hardens before serving and is cut into squares before serving. And you can add all different toppings to chocolate bark just like Christmas Crack. The salty toppings are a great contrast to the sweet chocolate after all.

However, the biggest difference between chocolate bark and Christmas Crack are the saltines. Saltines! Who would have guessed that those plain, yet magnificent, crackers you love to add to soup would make an addictively delicious dessert? The first time I tried Christmas Crack, it wasn’t Christmas time at all. My mom made a batch and I had never seen them before. After the first bite, I was hooked. I probably ate 5…well, maybe 6…okay, I probably at 10 pieces of the Christmas Crack! And you know what? I’ve done it since ? I love it! I was shocked to find out saltines were one of the few ingredients.

Christmas Crack Ingredients

The basic Christmas Crack recipe consists of just 4 ingredients. It’s very easy to make and highly addictive! It’s the absolute cream of the crop in terms of salted chocolate treats!

  • 40 Saltine Crackers
  • 2 Sticks of Butter (1 lb)
  • 1 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 pkg Chocolate Chips

How To Make Christmas Crack

Making Christmas Crack is easy, like almost too easy. It’s highly addictive after all. Nonetheless, easy desserts are always a great thing to make. And kids love to help. Might as well give them the grunt work of laying out the saltines. Just make sure they wash those hands first!

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
  • Line a baking sheet with foil (or parchment paper) and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Lay out saltines on the baking sheet so that they cover the pan, making sure they are all going in the same direction.
  • In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, let butter and brown sugar melt and bring the mixture to a boil.
  • Once boiling, reduce heat to medium low and let it simmer for approx 5 minutes. Don’t over cook the toffee mixture, it will burn and then it will be ruined : (
  • Remove pan from the heat and slowly pour the mixture over the crackers evenly.
  • Place the baking sheet in the oven for 5 minutes.
  • Once done, remove pan from oven and top with chocolate chips (evenly) on the saltine/toffee sheet.
  • As the chocolate melts, using a butter knife or non stick spatula, spread the chocolate across the top of the toffee.
  • Add your favorite toppings to the chocolate.
  • Let the Christmas Crack cool completely (in the refrigerator works best to cool it quickly).
  • Break the bark into smaller pieces.

Toppings To Try

The best part about Christmas Crack recipe is that it is basic. However, you can make this saltine bark into whatever you want. The sky is the limit, when it comes to your food creativity. Here is a list of toppings that you might want to try:

  • Sea Salt
  • M&Ms
  • Crushed Candy Canes
  • Nuts – walnuts, pecans, peanuts, cashews
  • Pretzels
  • Bacon
  • Mini Marshmallows
  • Rolos
  • Peanut Butter Chips
  • White Chocolate Chips

Remember, when it comes to making this Christmas Crack your own, you are in control of how it will come out. Don’t be afraid to try other toppings that you like. And mixing and matching the toppings is encouraged!

Follow Me On Social Media

Holiday Desserts

Looking for more holiday dessert recipes or just easy dessert recipes? Look no further! The following desserts are crowd pleasers. Additionally, they are easy to make. And finally, your kids can actually help you make these – and their help will actually be helpful!

Pecan Caramel Cheesecake

Cannoli Dip

Rolo Cookies

Cheesecake Cookie Cup

Dessert Cocktails

What’s a good dessert without a dessert cocktail? It’s probably still a good dessert, but wouldn’t it be better with a delicious tasting drink? I think so. These martinis go great with whatever toppings you add to your Christmas Crack:

Tiramisu Martini

Sugar Cookie Martini

Caramel Martini

Candy Cane Martini

Don’t forget to leave a reply below or share the recipe with on social media – sharing is caring!

Print

Christmas Crack

Course Dessert
Keyword easy desserts, holiday
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 12 people
Author jenahoward

Ingredients

  • 40 Saltine Crackers
  • 1 lb Butter
  • 1 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 pkg Chocolate Chips

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
  • Line a baking sheet with foil (or parchment paper) and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Lay out saltines on the baking sheet so that they cover the pan, making sure they are all going in the same direction.
  • In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, let butter and brown sugar melt and bring the mixture to a boil.
  • Once boiling, reduce heat to medium low and let it simmer for approx 5 minutes. Don't over cook the toffee mixture, it will burn and then it will be ruined : (
  • Remove pan from the heat and slowly pour the mixture over the crackers evenly.
  • Place the baking sheet in the oven for 5 minutes.
  • Once done, remove pan from oven and top with chocolate chips (evenly) on the saltine/toffee sheet.
  • As the chocolate melts, using a butter knife or non stick spatula, spread the chocolate across the top of the toffee.
  • Add your favorite toppings to the chocolate.
  • Let the Christmas Crack cool completely (in the refrigerator works best to cool it quickly).
  • Break the bark into smaller pieces.
  • ENJOY!

Breakfast, Dessert, Pie

Apple Pie Pop Tarts Are the Best Mini Apple Pies

Leave a comment

Apple pie pop tarts are the best individual apple pies you can make. They are absolutely adorable and easy to eat. No cutting slices of pie and having the filling ooze out onto the pie plate. Just pick up each apple pie pop tart and bite into a delicious dessert or a scrumptious breakfast!

Individual Apple Pies

There is almost nothing better than the smell of a homemade apple pie, when it’s baking in the oven. The apple aroma instantly makes your mouth water! You can just imagine yourself cutting a heaping slice of warm apple pie and adding some real vanilla ice cream on top before gobbling it up.

Warm apple pie is really a spectacular, American classic. And as spectacular as it is, mini apple pies are just that much better. I think it’s because they are the perfect size for each person. You don’t have to slice into the whole pie. Rather, you just pick up your mini apple pie and bite into it. With these apple pie pop tarts, there is little mess when compared to a slice of apple pie. The ooey-gooey apples that we love so much are still in these pop tarts, but they are enveloped in the pie crust, making them very easy to eat. Oh, and another great thing about mini apple pies? You can eat more than one and not feel so guilty. Two are still fairly small so it’s totally fine to have a second helping : )

Apple Pie American Dessert

Apple Pie is a long standing American dessert. You know the phrase, as American as apple pie? It seems somewhat silly because apple pies didn’t originate in America. And apples aren’t native to America either! So how did apple pie become an American staple??

Apple pies originated in England and consisted of much more than apples. In fact, the apple pies consisted of figs, pears, raisins, and even saffron as well as apples. Over many years of tweaking the apple pie recipe, Americans developed a sweeter version that consists of a juicy apple filling with cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Additionally, throughout the years, the presentation of the pies have gone to a new level with fancy lattice and cut outs on top of the pie crust. As the tasty pies evolved, Americans were proud of their dessert. Their pride for their dessert is a symbolism of American pride. Who knew it was such a deep thing?!

Dessert, Snack, or Breakfast?

These apple pie pop tarts can be served as a tasty treat for dessert. However, if you are feeling daring, you could heat up the individual pies and eat them for a special breakfast option! That’s right, pop tarts can be breakfast breads – if you don’t believe me, just think of the aisle where you find them in the supermarket. Yep, the breakfast aisle!

If you make the apple pie pop tarts the night before for dessert, store them in an airtight container and put them in the refrigerator. Just pop the pop tart into the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds and voila! Or you could toast up the apple pop tarts in a preheated (350 degrees) toaster oven for 5 minutes to warm up these yummy snacks.

Another option for these pies is to give them to your kids for their morning (or afternoon) snack. You can feel good about giving these snacks since they aren’t loaded with preservatives. Homemade cooking and baking is the way to go for delicious and healthier food after all.

Ingredients

  • 2 Pie Crust Dough make your own or Pillsbury ready made
  • butter melted
  • 4 Apples peeled and chopped
  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 1 tbsp Cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp Apple Pie Spice

Apple Selection

For the apples, choose whatever apples taste the best to you. Many recipes call for granny smith apples because they are crisp and have a sour flavor which makes them a great option, when pairing it with sweet ingredients like white and brown sugars and cinnamon.

However, I prefer to use gala or honey crisp apples for my recipes. There are two reasons for this. The first reason is because we always seem to have honey crisp or gala apples readily available in my house! Easy is always great, in my opinion. The second reason I choose honey crisp or gala apples is because of their sweetness. If I’m going to bake with apples, I prefer all sweet over sour – that’s just me. You can choose whichever you like. You could even mix up a little of sweet with sour – whatever you prefer works!

Instructions

Apple Pie Filling

  • Melt butter in a med saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add chopped apples and cook for 5 minutes so that the apples soften – mix periodically.
  • Add cinnamon and apple pie spice and mix well.
  • Cook for another 5 minutes.

Apple Pie Pop Tarts

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Grease (2) baking sheets with non stick cooking spray.
  • Roll out each pie crust dough on a lightly floured surface.
  • Cut out (16) 3″ shapes (any shape somewhat round shape will do). Cutting as many as you can with the dough.
  • Reroll the remnant dough to get the remainder of the cut outs.
  • Spoon the apple pie filling onto the middle of 8 cut outs. Make sure to leave approx 1/2″ border around.
  • Top each apple cut out with a plain cut out and press the edges together.
  • Using a small fork, crimp the edges all the way around each mini-apple pie.
  • Bake for approximately 22 – 25 minutes or until they are lightly brown.
  • Let cool for a few minutes and then remove and place on a wire rack until cooled.
  • Eat plain or top with a little vanilla ice cream and/or whipped cream.

Follow Me On Social Media

Special Breakfast Ideas

Bananas Foster French Toast

Cannoli Pancakes

Nutella Pop Tarts

Brown Sugar Banana Bread

Desserts You Will Love

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Cannoli Dip

Rolo Cookies

Cheesecake Cookie Cup

Don’t forget to leave a reply below or share the recipe with on social media – sharing is caring!

Print

Apple Pie Pop Tarts

Apple Pie Pop Tarts are the best way to eat individual apple pies!
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Keyword autumn desserts, fall breakfast, pie
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 8 people
Author jenahoward

Ingredients

  • 2 Pie Crust Dough make your own or Pillsbury ready made
  • butter melted
  • 4 Apples peeled and chopped
  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 1 tbsp Cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp Apple Pie Spice

Instructions

Apple Pie Filling

  • Melt butter in a med saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add chopped apples and cook for 5 minutes so that the apples soften – mix periodically.
  • Add cinnamon and apple pie spice and mix well.
  • Cook for another 5 minutes.

Apple Pie Pop Tarts

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Grease (2) baking sheets with non stick cooking spray.
  • Roll out each pie crust dough on a lightly floured surface.
  • Cut out (16) 3" shapes (any shape somewhat round shape will do). Cutting as many as you can with the dough.
  • Reroll the remnant dough to get the remainder of the cut outs.
  • Spoon the apple pie filling onto the middle of 8 cut outs. Make sure to leave approx 1/2" border around.
  • Top each apple cut out with a plain cut out and press the edges together.
  • Using a small fork, crimp the edges all the way around each mini-apple pie.
  • Bake for approximately 22 – 25 minutes or until they are lightly brown.
  • Let cool for a few minutes and then remove and place on a wire rack until cooled.
  • Eat plain or top with a little vanilla ice cream and/or whipped cream.
  • ENJOY!

Cheesecake, Dessert

How To Make The BEST Pumpkin Cheesecake For Thanksgiving

Leave a comment

Pumpkin Cheesecake. Did you even know there was such a thing as pumpkin cheesecake? Well, of course there is such a thing! Everything these days incorporates pumpkin between mid-August and the end of November after all. Why should cheesecakes be left behind?

Learn how to make the BEST pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving. Or better yet, learn how to make this tempting dessert for any day of the year. Why should we deprive ourselves of this pumpkin delicacy?

Thanksgiving Desserts

If you only eat pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving and are afraid that the pumpkin cheesecake will take it’s place, you can have both! Okay, maybe that would be overdoing things a tad, but it is Thanksgiving after all. Why not have TWO pumpkin desserts? However, if you really feel it is excessive, and need to choose between the two awesome pumpkin options, you need to serve a pumpkin cheesecake every so often. I mean, come on, it’s PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE!

The creamy, cheesecake texture blends perfectly with the taste of pumpkin. It’s a must-have fall dessert. My mouth is watering just thinking about the yummy taste. What better day to indulge than Thanksgiving?

Pumpkin Everything

Everyone knows that apples and pumpkins are staples in the fall season. Some people think there is a Team Apples and Team Pumpkins. It’s as if they think others can’t like both! As crazy that seems, usually people do tend to side with one or the other. Personally, I’m on Team Pumpkin. I used to think everything would taste better with the pumpkin flavor. However, these days, products literally flavor EVERYTHING with pumpkin! I’ve seen pumpkin flavored baloney. Um…I love pumpkin, but that’s going much too far even for me.

I prefer to stick with pumpkin lattes, pumpkin breakfasts such as pancakes, and pumpkin desserts for food options. And to go even further, I love anything creamy with pumpkin flavoring like pumpkin whipped cream and, of course, pumpkin cheesecake!

How To Make

Ingredients

The Crust

  • 1 1/2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs approx 12 whole graham crackers
  • 6 tbsp Butter Melted
  • 1 tbsp Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp Cinnamon

The Filling

  • 3 8oz Cream Cheese Packages Softened
  • 1 1/2 Cups Light Brown Sugar
  • 15 oz Canned Pumpkin Pie Mix
  • 4 Eggs
  • 1/4 Cup Sour Cream
  • 2 tbsp Flour
  • 2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract

Instructions

Crust

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Pulse graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground.
  • In a medium bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter.
  • Transfer to a 9″ springform pan with 3″ tall walls using a large spoon to press crumbs into the bottom of the pan.
  • Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and cool to room temp.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling

  • In a large bowl, beat 3 packages of softened cream cheese and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy (and no lumps), scraping down the sides of the bowl.
  • In a separate bowl, stir together pumpkin pie mix, eggs, sour cream, flour, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
  • Add pumpkin mixture to the cream cheese mixture and continue mixing on low speed until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
  • Transfer filling into pre-baked crust and bake on the middle rack at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
  • After 1 hour, turn off oven, prop oven door slightly and let cheesecake stay in oven for additional 45 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and let cool to room temp before covering with plastic wrap and refrigerating.
  • Serve when fully chilled (at least 4 hours in the refrigerator or overnight).
  • Before serving, carefully remove cheesecake from springform pan by running a blunt knife along the sides of cheesecake to release from the springform mold.
  • Add whatever toppings you desire (whipped cream, caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, etc).

More Thanksgiving Ideas

Yes, we know that a roasted turkey with all the fixings like stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, butternut squash, cranberry sauce and gravy are the Thanksgiving staples. I’m sure your guests would be disappointed if you didn’t serve what they are expecting.

You can still surprise your guests with some unexpected items without taking away the staples. Try sprucing up your drink selection to include a delicious pumpkin pie martini or a caramel apple sangria. Who would refuse one of those drinks to start with on Thanksgiving? Certainly not anyone I know!

After your guests have a drink in their hand, give them some yummy appetizer options like a Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board and Bacon Wrapped Asparagus. The turkey probably isn’t ready to serve just yet anyway, might as well make the most of the time and the fact that it’s a holiday of eating and drinking. Live it up! Your guests will thank you.

Pumpkin Pie Martini

Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Chocolate Pumpkin Martini

Follow Me On Social Media

Don’t forget to leave a reply below or share the recipe with on social media – sharing is caring!

Print

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin Pie meets Cheesecake and it's delicious!
Course Dessert
Keyword autumn desserts, cheesecake, fall cheesecakes, fall desserts, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin pie, pumpkin pie cheesecake, thanskgiving desserts
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Resting Time 45 minutes
Servings 8 people

Ingredients

The Crust

  • 1 1/2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs approx 12 whole graham crackers
  • 6 tbsp Butter Melted
  • 1 tbsp Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp Cinnamon

The Filling

  • 3 8oz Cream Cheese Packages Softened
  • 1 1/2 Cups Light Brown Sugar
  • 15 oz Canned Pumpkin Pie Mix
  • 4 Eggs
  • 1/4 Cup Sour Cream
  • 2 tbsp Flour
  • 2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract

Instructions

Crust

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Pulse graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground.
  • In a medium bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter.
  • Transfer to a 9" springform pan with 3" tall walls using a large spoon to press crumbs into the bottom of the pan.
  • Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and cool to room temp.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling

  • In a large bowl, beat 3 packages of softened cream cheese and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy (and no lumps), scraping down the sides of the bowl.
  • In a separate bowl, stir together pumpkin pie mix, eggs, sour cream, flour, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
  • Add pumpkin mixture to the cream cheese mixture and continue mixing on low speed until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
  • Transfer filling into pre-baked crust and bake on the middle rack at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
  • After 1 hour, turn off oven, prop oven door slightly and let cheesecake stay in oven for additional 45 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and let cool to room temp before covering with plastic wrap and refrigerating.
  • Serve when fully chilled (at least 4 hours in the refrigerator or overnight).
  • Before serving, carefully remove cheesecake from springform pan by running a blunt knife along the sides of cheesecake to release from the springform mold.
  • Add whatever toppings you desire (whipped cream, caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, etc).
  • Enjoy!
Dessert

Cannoli Dip

Leave a comment

Cannoli Dip is the perfect, no bake dessert that allows you to enjoy cannoli filling without a lot of work. Let’s face it, everyone loves a creamy dessert. However, not many people enjoy making creamy desserts! It’s all about the instant gratification. With this yummy dessert dip, you can whip up this treat in a few minutes and dig in immediately!

No cooking, just mixing. How does that sound? To me, it sounds like an easy to make treat that you can make for a holiday party, gathering, or just as an every day dessert.

What’s A Cannoli

A cannoli is an Italian pastry that consists of a tube-like crispy shell (fried pastry dough) that is filled with a sweetened, creamy ricotta filling. They originally were a treat offered during Carnevale season were thought to be a symbol of fertility! I know they are a great dessert, but didn’t realize they had powers like that!

These days they are more of a yummy dessert than an aphrodisiac. Italians and other nationalities alike enjoy these sweet goodies year round. Since they are relatively small and no utensils are required, they are are easy to grab and go. Of course, you don’t want to just inhale these desserts, you really should savor each bite because each bite is delectable!

Ingredients Needed

Cannoli dip is basically like an inside out cannoli. Rather than stuffing the cannoli filling inside a cannoli shell, you take the crispy shell and immerse it in the yummy filling! To me, the best part of a cannoli is the filling so this dessert is even better than a tasty Italian pastry!

  • 2 cups Ricotta Cheese
  • 8 oz Cream Cheese softened
  • 1.5 cups Powdered Sugar
  • 1 tsp Vanilla
  • 1 cup Mini Chocolate Chips

No Bake – How To Make

This super easy dessert requires NO cooking. NO COOKING! It’s a sweet and creamy goody that can be made quickly. Nobody needs to know how easy this dessert is. You could even tell them it’s a secret family recipe that you don’t want to share. However, if your name is Shannon O’Toole, you might not be able to get away with a family recipe since cannolis are typically an Italian dessert. But hey, it’s worth a shot!

All that is needed to make this No Bake Cannoli Dip is mixing a handful of ingredients together. That’s it!

The formal instructions are:

  • Put all ingredients in a medium bowl and with hand mixer beat well on medium setting.
  • Fold in mini chocolate chips.
  • Serve with canoli chips, cinnamon sugar pita chips, graham crackers, nilla wafters, etc

Easy Desserts

One of the reasons I don’t typically like making desserts is because after making dinner and then cleaning up the aftermath of dinner, I’m not usually in the mood to start the process all over again! I’d much rather get the kids ready for bed and mixing up a delicious cocktail like a Peach Cobbler Martini. However, my arm can usually be twisted into making an easy to make dessert, if there is time.

If you want some other easy to make desserts, you should try these:

Italian Pistachio Cookies
These cookies are also called Pistachio Macaroons (another Italian pastry). Expensive
Cheesecake Cookie Cups
If you have a roll of chocolate chip cookies, you are almost done with this easy to make cheesecake cookie recipe!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pie
This is a no bake, easy to make pie. Just give yourself some time for this to set in the refrigerator before serving!
Print

Cannoli Dip

Cannoli Dip is a delicious way to eat your favorite Italian dessert any time you want. Easy to make and tastes exactly like the cannoli filling you crave!
Course Dessert
Keyword dips
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Author jenahoward

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Ricotta Cheese
  • 8 oz Cream Cheese softened
  • 1.5 cups Powdered Sugar
  • 1 tsp Vanilla
  • 1 cup Mini Chocolate Chips

Instructions

  • Put all ingredients in a medium bowl and with hand mixer beat well on medium setting.
  • Fold in mini chocolate chips.
  • Serve with cannoli chips, cinnamon sugar pita chips, graham crackers, nilla wafters, etc
  • ENJOY!