Adventures of Mel

Category: Recipes

Sloppy Joe Stuffed Peppers
Easy homemade sloppy joe stuffed peppers, made with ground beef and baked in the oven, are a healthy dinner recipe the whole family will love!

If you love sloppy joes and you love stuffed peppers, you are going to love this recipe. Combine the two and you’ve got a grand slam dinner recipe that’s pretty easy to make.

The best part about this stuffed pepper recipe is you don’t need any buns or bread, so it’s going to be a healthier option. Low carb is a necessity on our weekly dinnertime menu.

And who needs canned sloppy joe sauce when you can make your own? We like a good homemade sauce that’s not so thick and gooey. Sometimes I even make crock pot sloppy joes!

I sometimes use a colorful variety for our stuffed bell peppers, but you can pretty much use any color you want. Whether you want stuffed green peppers, red, yellow, or orange, it doesn’t matter.

You may also enjoy these stuffed peppers recipes: Spinach and Chicken Stuffed Peppers, Chicken and Rice Stuffed Peppers, Philly cheese stuffed peppers, and beef taco stuffed peppers.

DO I NEED TO PRE-COOK BELL PEPPERS BEFORE STUFFING THEM?

You can, but you don’t have to. This is usually done to shorten the cooking time.

The Cookful has a great explanation for how to pre-cook peppers.

HOW TO CUT THE PEPPERS WHEN MAKING STUFFED PEPPERS

While I usually cut my bell peppers in half, you can go with one of two options when prepping your bell peppers for a stuffed bell pepper recipe…
- Remove the top of the pepper, along with all the pith and seeds that are down inside.
- OR cut the peppers in half and remove all the pith and seeds inside. Just remember not to eat the stem if you leave the stem intact.
Not sure how to go about cutting up a pepper? Here’s a whole tutorial for how to cut a pepper 4 easy ways!

DO I HAVE TO USE GROUND BEEF FOR SLOPPY JOE MEAT?

No, you can use ground turkey or ground pork too, whichever is your personal preference.

We prefer ground beef, so this recipe is based around ground beef.

DO I NEED TO THAW THE MEAT BEFOREHAND? CAN I USE FROZEN GROUND BEEF?

You can use frozen hamburger meat to make the sloppy joe meat for your stuffed peppers, but you may need to sauté your onion and garlic in a different skillet so they can be added to the ground beef once it’s thawed.

We actually do this quite often because we forget to get the meat out, so don’t fret if you’ve forgotten it too.

Since sloppy joes are a loose meat sandwich and you’re not making hamburger patties but rather going with that juicy burger texture for stuffed bell peppers, it’s a little bit easier to do; though I do recommend thawing if at all possible.

Just put the meat into a skillet with maybe 1/2 cup water, turn the heat on medium, and place a lid on the skillet. This basically steams the meat.

You can add the sautéed onion and garlic once the meat has loosened up.

When it’s browned, you’ll need to drain off any excess oil.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE STUFFED PEPPERS WITH SLOPPY JOE MEAT

I recommend using bacon grease for a li’l added flavor to the meat mixture. But if you don’t have bacon grease, no worries; you can also use butter or olive oil.

Be sure to mince up the garlic and the onion really well. I like mincing them up so they blend well with the meat and sauce.

You’ll start by sautéing the garlic and onion in a large skillet. Then add the meat and mix together with the garlic and onion, cooking the mixture just until the meat is browned.

Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.

Once you add the sauce ingredients, give it a really good stir and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.

Remove the meat mixture from the stovetop, and mix the shredded cheddar into it. Then spoon the sloppy joe mixture into the washed and prepared peppers.

Bake the stuffed peppers at 350° for 30 to 45 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of at least 160°F with a meat thermometer. You may need to cover the peppers halfway through with aluminum foil to prevent them from getting too brown on top.

Garnish with fresh basil if you want and serve!

MORE SLOPPY JOE RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY:
KITCHEN TOOLS YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE SLOPPY JOE STUFFED PEPPERS

Skillet – We love using our cast iron skillets and griddle for pretty much everything both at home and while camping; they are very much a part of our camping cooking gear on every trip.

Hamburger Chopper – This handy dandy tool makes it easier to chop up the meat into a much looser mixture.

Wooden Spatula

Ninja Food Chopper Express or Cutting Board and Chef’s Knife

Meat Thermometer

Baking Sheet

Aluminum Foil

SLOPPY JOE STUFFED PEPPERS RECIPE

If you love this sloppy joe stuffed peppers recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

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Sloppy Joe Stuffed Peppers

Easy homemade sloppy joe stuffed peppers, made with ground beef and baked in the oven, are a healthy dinner recipe the whole family will love!
2 tablespoons bacon grease (*)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 medium yellow onion (minced)
2 pounds ground beef
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
4 whole bell peppers
Pre-heat the oven to 350°.
Mince the garlic and onion really well.
Sauté the garlic and onion in a large skillet.
Then add the meat and mix together with the garlic and onion, cooking the mixture just until the meat is browned.
Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.
Add the sauce ingredients, including the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and light brown sugar, to the ground beef.
Give the meat mixture a really good stir and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
Remove the meat mixture from the stovetop, and mix the shredded cheddar into it.
Wash and prepare the peppers by either removing the top of the pepper, along with all the pith and seeds that are down inside. Or cut the peppers in half and remove all the pith and seeds inside.
Spoon the sloppy joe mixture into the washed and prepared peppers.
Bake the stuffed peppers on a baking sheet at 350° for 30 to 45 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of at least 160°F with a meat thermometer.**
Garnish with fresh basil if you want and serve!
*I recommend using bacon grease for the added flavor to the meat mixture. But if you don’t have bacon grease, no worries; you can also use butter or olive oil.

**You may need to cover the peppers halfway through with aluminum foil to prevent them from getting too brown on top.

Dinner Ideas
American
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November 6, 2018
Gooey Butter Cake
Make a simple and easy St. Louis style gooey butter cake using a cake mix. Ooey gooey recipe for the best dessert you’ll ever have!

Growing up in St. Louis, gooey butter cake was a pretty popular dessert. My mom made it every once in awhile, and it was always so good.

St. Louis gooey butter cake is the perfect mix of ooey gooey, chewy, cream cheese deliciousness. With a chewy edge, crackling top, and soft gooey middle, it’s the best of the best when it comes to dessert recipes.

The original butter cake recipe comes from a school cookbook (from my elementary school), but I kinda changed it up just a little bit.

If you love this gooey butter cake, you’ll love my pumpkin gooey butter cake too.

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR GOOEY BUTTER CAKE!

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the scrumptious ooey gooey butter cake recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

ST. LOUIS GOOEY BUTTER CAKE

Gooey butter cake was a staple growing up in St. Louis. St. Louis foods are the best!

I know right where you can find the best gooey butter cake in that wonderful city too. In fact, this yummy dessert is one of my 5 reasons why you should visit Soulard Market!

WHY USE A CAKE MIX?

Back in the day, cake mix recipes were pretty popular. We’d make all kinds of easy cake mix desserts, like cake mix cookies and cake mix cakes.

My favorite lemon poke cake with lemon glaze uses a box cake mix.

The recipes were easy, simple, and always delicious. And back then box cake mix hardly cost anything, definitely less than a dollar.

This recipe comes from those bygone days. And while I plan on developing an actual gooey butter cake from scratch, as in no cake mix, I’m not sure it can beat this family favorite recipe.

CAN I FREEZE GOOEY BUTTER CAKE?

While I’ve never needed to freeze it, I see no reason why you can’t freeze this cake. Just make sure it’s covered well so it doesn’t get freezer burn.

Also, allow enough time for it to thaw once you’re ready to get it out and serve it.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE AN OOEY GOOEY BUTTER CAKE

First up, the crust…

Start by melting the butter. Then beat 2 eggs and mix together with the butter.

And here’s where the cake mix comes in… You’ll need to mix that butter and egg mixture together with the cake mix. Then spread the mixture in an un-greased 9″x13″ cake pan.

Next up, the filling…

Mix together the other 2 eggs, cream cheese, and powdered sugar.

Then spread it over the crust as a second layer to the cake.

And that’s it! You’ll bake it for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out barely gooey.

If you’re not sure, you can also check the internal temperature of the cake with a baking thermometer. According to The Kitchn, the internal temperature should reach 210°F.

After it’s cooled for about 10 to 15 minutes, you can dust it with powdered sugar.

IF YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE, HERE ARE A FEW MORE CAKE MIX RECIPES YOU WILL LOVE:

Strawberry Jello Cake Flag Cake

Grass Block Minecraft Cake

Raspberry Chocolate Cake in about a Minute

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE GOOEY BUTTER CAKE

Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer – You can definitely mix gooey butter cake by hand, but a mixer enables you to get a really smooth cake batter.

Measuring Cups

Spatula

9″ x 13″ Cake Pan

Cake Tester or Toothpicks

Baking Thermometer

Powder Shaker – Such a nifty tool for dusting powdered sugar on your cake evenly; and it comes with stencil designs you can use for other sweet recipes.

GOOEY BUTTER CAKE RECIPE

If you love this gooey butter cake recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

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Gooey Butter Cake

Make a simple and easy St. Louis style gooey butter cake using a cake mix. Ooey gooey recipe for the best dessert you’ll ever have!
1/2 cup salted butter (melted)
4 large eggs
15.25 ounces yellow cake mix ((1 box))
8 ounces cream cheese
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
Pre-heat the oven to 350° F.
Beat 2 of the eggs together with the melted butter.
Add the cake mix to the butter mixture, and mix well.
Spread the mixture in an un-greased 9"x13" cake pan.
Mix together the remaining 2 eggs, the cream cheese, and the powdered sugar.
Spread the mixture onto the crust as a second layer to the cake.
Bake at 350° F for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out barely gooey.
Once the cake is fully cooked, remove it from the oven, and allow it to cool for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Then using a shaker, lightly sprinkle powdered sugar over the entire cake.
Allow the cake to cool and serve.
*You can also use a butter recipe yellow or white cake mix for this recipe.

**If you’re not sure if the cake is done, you can check the internal temperature of the cake with a baking thermometer (see above commentary for more).

Cakes & Cupcakes, Desserts
American
butter cake recipe, cake mix recipe, cake recipes, easy dessert recipes, gooey butter cake, gooey butter cake recipe, ooey gooey butter cake, st. louis gooey butter cake
November 5, 2018
Taco Sloppy Joes
Taco Sloppy Joes – How to make homemade taco sloppy joes with ground beef and all the fixings. Easy dinner recipe your family will love, especially the kids!

I’ve already shared how much I loved sloppy joes as a kid; and I’ve shared my love for tacos, especially ground beef tacos. So I thought it only appropriate to combine the two into a delicious new recipe, taco sloppy joes.

My kids weren’t too sure about this combination at first. And then we had them for dinner, and their minds were forever changed; I got lots of compliments that night.

I think it’s safe to say this recipe, much like Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes, will be a regular on our dinnertime menu. The nice thing is you can eat these on a toasted bun, or if you’re trying to go more low carb, you can top off a bed of lettuce or spinach and make a taco salad instead.

You can even swap out buns for bell peppers and make the most delicious beef taco stuffed peppers.

While this sloppy joe makes a nice juicy burger, you can top it off with taco ingredients like lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, avocados, and green onions if desired.

It’s a quick and easy sloppy joe recipe you can even make ahead of time, then pull out the meat and warm it up to go with all the fixings.

Who’s ready for a dinner recipe your kids will love? I’m ready to make them again.

More family favorite sloppy joe recipes your kids will love… Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joes, Sloppy Joe Stuffed Peppers, Pepperoni Pizza Sloppy Joes, and Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes.

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE TACO SLOPPY JOES RECIPE!

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious recipe for taco sloppy joes – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

WHAT ARE TACO SLOPPY JOES?

Just in case you’ve never had sloppy joes, they’re a sort of loose meat sandwich made with loose ground beef mixed with a tomato based sauce. The sauce usually has things like ketchup or tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sometimes a little mustard, and other ingredients.

Well, as can be expected, taco sloppy joes are a little bit different. They’re still a loose meat sandwich, but instead of ketchup, you make them with pretty much the same ingredients you’d use to make taco meat.

Some people use salsa or picante sauce to season their taco meat. I like to use a mix of ingredients like onion, garlic, lemon juice, chili powder, and chopped tomato.

And while I use ground beef, you can also make a good sloppy joe sandwich with ground pork or ground turkey.

Then you serve the meat on a toasted bun (or on a bed of lettuce for a low carb option), along with all the fixings you’d use in tacos.

CAN I USE FROZEN GROUND BEEF? DO I NEED TO THAW IT?

You can use frozen hamburger meat to make homemade sloppy joes, but you may need to sauté your onion, garlic, and bell pepper in a different skillet so they can be added to the ground beef once it’s thawed. We actually do this quite often because we forget to get the meat out, so don’t fret if you’ve forgotten it too.

Since it’s a loose meat sandwich and you’re not making hamburger patties, it’s a little bit easier to do; though I do recommend thawing if at all possible.

Just put the meat into a skillet with maybe 1/2 cup water, turn the heat on medium, and place a lid on the skillet. This basically steams the meat.

You can add the sautéed onion, garlic, and pepper once the meat has loosened up.

When it’s fully cooked, you can drain off any excess oil.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE TACO SLOPPY JOES

This is a super easy sloppy joe recipe that’s perfect for taco lovers.

I do recommend using bacon grease for the added flavor to the meat mixture (and for toasting the buns). But if you don’t have bacon grease, no worries; you can also use butter or olive oil.

Be sure to mince up the garlic, onion, and bell pepper really well. I like mincing them up so they blend well with the meat and the sauce.

You’ll start by sautéing the garlic, onion, and bell pepper in a large skillet. Then add the meat and mix together with the vegetables, cooking the mixture well.

Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.

Once you add the sloppy joe sauce ingredients, just let the whole mixture simmer for a good 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, you can toast hamburger buns in another skillet or on a griddle in a little bit of bacon grease. Or you may choose a lower carb option and prep a plate of lettuce or spinach to go with your taco sloppy joe meat.

Add the meat to a toasted bun and top with your favorite taco ingredients, like lettuce, chopped tomatoes, shredded cheddar, mashed avocados, and maybe even green onions.

However you choose to enjoy your taco sloppy joes, they’re sure to be delicious!

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE TACO SLOPPY JOES

Skillet – We love using our cast iron skillets and griddle for pretty much everything both at home and while camping; they are very much a part of our camping cooking gear on every trip.

Hamburger Chopper – This handy dandy tool makes it easier to chop up the meat into a much looser mixture.

Wooden Spatula

Ninja Food Chopper Express or Cutting Board and Chef’s Knife

All-in-One Avocado Slicer

Cheese Grater

TACO SLOPPY JOE RECIPE

If you love this taco sloppy joe recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

CONNECT WITH ADVENTURES OF MEL!

Be sure to follow me on social, so you never miss a post!

Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Instagram | Twitter

Sign up to receive my newsletter, filled with delicious recipes and outdoor travel adventures, in your inbox:

FREE EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION
Taco Sloppy Joes

How to make homemade taco sloppy joes with ground beef and all the fixings. Easy dinner recipe your family will love, especially the kids!
1 tablespooon bacon grease (*)
1 clove garlic (minced)
1/2 medium yellow onion (minced)
1 large bell pepper (chopped)
1 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 large tomato (chopped)
3 cups lettuce (shredded)
2 large tomatoes (chopped)
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese (shredded)
2 whole avocados (mashed)
5 green onions (chopped)
Heat the bacon grease in a large skillet until hot.
Then add in the garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes.
Add the onion and bell pepper in with the garlic and sauté for another 2-3 minutes.
Add the ground beef into the skillet, stirring the garlic, onions, and bell pepper into the meat. Cook on medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the meat is well cooked.
Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.
Mix the lemon juice, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and chopped tomato into the meat, stirring until combined.
Let the taco sloppy joe mixture simmer for at least 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, prep the taco ingredients, including lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, avocados, green onions, and whatever else you like on your tacos.
Serve on toasted buns or on a bed of lettuce or spinach.
**I recommend using bacon grease for the added flavor it will give to the meat mixture (and for toasting the buns). But if you don’t have bacon grease, no worries; you can also use butter or olive oil.

Burgers & Sandwiches
American
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October 31, 2018
The Ultimate Mashed Potato Bar with the Best Toppings
Feed a crowd with the ultimate mashed potato bar at your next party, wedding, or celebration. How to create a crowd pleasing buffet with ideas for all sorts of delicious mashed potato toppings. It’ll be the talk of the party!

There are so many things you can do with a mashed potato bar; the choices for mashed potato bar toppings are endless. Pretty much anything you think up you can use.

It’s the perfect appetizer idea, or side dish, for a wedding or party. I experienced my first mashed potato bar, or rather a mashtini bar, at a blogging conference; I’d never seen such a beautiful thing in all my life.

It was filled with all sorts of delicious mashed potato toppings, along with all sorts of potatoes, including purple mashed potatoes! The mashed potatoes themselves were served in martini glasses, and you could go right down the buffet line, adding any mashed potatoes toppings you wanted.

You talk about delicious and one of my favorite things ever. That was hands down the BEST food I’ve ever had at a conference. Comfort food at its best, and man, was it delicious.

Why Create a Mashed Potato Bar?

When I created my first baked potato bar, I thought it only appropriate to also create a mashed potato bar. Because who doesn’t love a loaded down cup of hot mashed potatoes smothered in cheese and bacon?
- A mashed potato bar wedding buffet will definitely be a great idea and a favorite with guests.
- A mash potato bar is also perfect for that big holiday family gathering, like Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, or Easter dinner.
- New Year’s is also a great time to put together a mashed potato martini bar. To save on cost, make a big batch of mashed potatoes, and have each guest bring their favorite toppings to add to the ones you provide. Then you get different perspectives, different ideas, and guests get to contribute their favorite topping idea to the mix.
How to Make Mashed Potatoes

I’ve got you covered with this delicious and easy mashed potatoes recipe.

Ingredient Notes:
- Potatoes – I prefer to use yellow potatoes, but again, you can have fun with this and use all sorts of potatoes, including yellow, russet, red potatoes, even purple potatoes.
- Salted Butter – Don’t skimp on the butter; it gives the best flavor.
- Heavy Cream or Whole Milk – While you can use skim milk, you’ll get the best texture and flavor with whole milk or cream.
- Sea Salt and Black Pepper – for added flavor.
Steps for Making Stovetop Mashed Potatoes:
1. Wash, peel, and chop the potatoes.
2. Boil the potatoes in a large saucepan on the stove over low to medium heat, until they’re soft enough to easily jab with a fork, about 20-30 minutes.
3. Drain the water off the boiled potatoes, and leave them in the saucepan.
4. Add the butter and heavy whipping cream to the potatoes.
5. Use a hand mixer to whip the potatoes, adding salt and pepper to taste. You can also use a potato masher if you don’t have a hand mixer; your potatoes may just be a little bit chunky.
6. Once they’re whipped, they’re ready to serve.
If you’d rather, you can make Instant Pot mashed potatoes instead.

How to Set up or Assemble a Mashed Potato Bar

Gather your ingredients for your potato bar… You’ll need mashed potatoes and toppings. Your main work will be cooking the potatoes and prepping any toppings for your guests to choose from.

Whether you’re getting together with friends for game night, hosting a family dinner, or setting up a potluck, a mashed potatoes bar is the perfect way to feed and entertain your guests. And it really doesn’t take a whole lot of time and effort on your part.

Mash Potato Bar Ideas and Expert Tips
- If you’d rather use sweet potatoes over regular potatoes, you can make Instant Pot sweet potatoes.
- Prep the toppings, adding each topping to a separate dish or compartment for serving. Prepping may involve cooking, re-heating, or simply chopping.
- Set everything out buffet style, so your guests can create their very own delicious mashed potato creations.
- If you’re hosting a smaller gathering, try using a large charcuterie board with small bowls for a variety of toppings all around a large bowl of mashed potatoes.
- If you’re wondering how to keep the mashed potatoes warm without warmers, you can create a CrockPot mashed potato bar or Instant Pot mashed potato bar.
The Ultimate List of Mashed Potato Bar Toppings:

When it comes to what toppings are good on mashed potatoes, including what to put on mashed potatoes besides gravy, this list of toppings will answer that question in a most delicious way.
- Butter
- Salt and Pepper
- Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt
- Cheese Sauce
- Shredded Cheese – I recommend Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Smoked Cheddar, Mozzarella, etc.
- Onions – red onion, green onions, caramelized onions, etc.
- Chives
- Cooked Broccoli
- Cooked Cauliflower
- Chili
- Meat for Sloppy Joes or CrockPot Sloppy Joes
- Taco Meat – beef taco meat, taco chicken, etc.
- Bacon or Bacon Bits
- Chopped Baked Ham or Pineapple Ham
- Pulled Pork
- Sausage
- Ground Beef
- Steak
- Cubed Pepperoni
- BBQ Sauce
- Ranch Dressing
- Pizza Sauce
- Turkey Gravy
- Ham Gravy or any flavor gravy when you know how to make gravy with cornstarch
- Gravy with Chicken Broth
- Green Chiles or Hot Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Guacamole
- Salsa with basil
- Jalapeños
- Fire roasted green chiles
- Corn
- Peas
The sky’s the limit on ideas for a mashed potato buffet because there are so many toppings you can add to this list. But this is a great start.

Recipe FAQ’s

How much does a mashed potato bar cost?
Really, this depends. For a small family gathering, if you make your own mashed potatoes and put together just a few simple toppings, you can get away with less than $20. If you’re creating a larger buffet for a large crowd, your cost will depend on how many ingredients and supplies are needed to feed said crowd.

What potatoes are best for a mash potato bar?
While I do prefer yellow potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes, you can use any kind of potatoes you prefer, including Russet potatoes, red potatoes, even purple potatoes if you can find them. I’ve also gone so far as to search for the best mashed potatoes near me, and I found Bob Evans mashed potatoes in my grocery store. If you really don’t want to make mashed potatoes, ready made potatoes could be just the thing.

Can you make mashed potatoes and toppings ahead of time?
Yes, you can. You can make mashed potatoes and prep most of the toppings 1-2 days ahead of time. You’ll just need to store everything in airtight containers in the fridge.

How can you keep the mashed potatoes warm at a party?
You can either use a buffet server and food warmer. Or you can keep the mashed potatoes in a Crock Pot or Instant Pot on the “Keep Warm” setting.

How should you store leftovers?
Definitely store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

More Family Favorite Potato Recipes

If you love this mashed potato bar and think it’s as much fun as I do, you’ll love these recipes too…
If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
The Ultimate Mashed Potato Bar

Feed a crowd with a mashed potato bar at your next party, wedding, or celebration. Ideas for all sorts of delicious toppings.
Stockpot
Hand Mixer
Potato Masher
Cutting Board
Vegetable Cleaver
Buffet Server and Food Warmer
Serving Bowls
Sectioned Serving Tray
Mini Appetizer Cups
Plastic Martini Glasses
Mashed Potatoes:
16 medium potatoes
12 tablespoons salted butter
4 tablespoons whole milk (or heavy cream)
2 teaspoons sea salt (to taste)
2 teaspoons ground black pepper (to taste)
Mashed Potato Bar Toppings:
1 1/2 cups salted butter
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups sour cream
3 cups cheese sauce
12 ounces extra sharp cheddar cheese (*shredded)
2 cups red onion (minced)
2 cups green onion (chopped)
2 cups chives (chopped)
6 cups broccoli (cooked)
6 cups sloppy joe meat
1 1/2 cups bacon (cooked and crumbled)
4 1/2 cups ham (chopped)
Mashed Potatoes:
Wash, peel, and chop the potatoes.
Boil the potatoes in a large saucepan on the stove, until they're soft enough to easily jab with a fork, about 20-30 minutes.
Drain the water off the boiled potatoes, and leave them in the saucepan.
Add the butter and heavy whipping cream to the potatoes.
Use a hand mixer to whip the potatoes, adding salt and pepper to taste. You can also use a potato masher if you don't have a hand mixer; your potatoes may just be a little bit chunky.
Once they're whipped, they're ready to serve.
Potato Bar Toppings:
Choose and prep your toppings*, adding each topping to a separate dish or compartment for serving. Prepping may involve cooking, re-heating, or simply chopping.
Set everything out buffet style*, so your guests can create their very own delicious baked potato creations.
* You can use any kind of shredded cheese you prefer. I recommend Extra Sharp Cheddar, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Smoked Cheddar, Mozzarella, etc.

*More mashed potato bar topping ideas include cooked cauliflower, chili, beef taco meat, taco chicken, pulled pork, sausage, ground beef, steak, bacon bits, cubed pepperoni, BBQ sauce, Ranch dressing, pizza sauce, turkey gravy, ham gravy, ham gravy with cornstarch, chicken stock gravy, tomatoes, guacamole, salsa, jalapeños, fire roasted green chiles, corn, peas, etc.

*You may need warmers to keep the mashed potatoes warm; you can also use a slow cooker or Crock pot. Otherwise, you may use a serving platter or serving bowls for toppings.

Side Dish
American
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October 29, 2018
Moist and Fluffy Chocolate Cupcakes
Chocolate Cupcakes – Ultimate recipe for the best chocolate cupcakes that are so moist and fluffy. Frost with butterbeer buttercream frosting for the most decadent dessert!

These chocolate cupcakes really should be called death by chocolate cupcakes because that’s how I felt after taking just one bite. They’re so light, fluffy, and moist, it’s really easy to chow down on 2 or 3 before you even realize it.

Cupcakes are so easy to make, but I’m going to share a few tips with you for how to make a cake moist, fluffy, and soft. In fact, these cupcakes will likely be the softest cupcakes you’ve ever made.

Top them off with a butterbeer buttercream frosting, and you’ve got the makings of a most decadent dessert.

I’ve loved cupcakes since I was a little girl; every year my mom would make a batch of cupcakes for me to take to school and share with my friends on my birthday.

This chocolate cupcake recipe is perfect for a child’s birthday, for the holidays, or even for a fun after school treat for your kids. It makes the best Minecraft birthday cupcakes.

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES!

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the scrumptious chocolate cupcake recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

HOW TO MAKE CAKE MOIST (OR IN THIS CASE CUPCAKES)

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with homemade cake recipes in the past; sometimes I’ve gotten them right and sometimes they’ve been total flops. Thankfully, these cupcakes turned out perfect!

There are a few steps I took to ensure that our chocolate cupcakes would be very light, fluffy, and moist, just like my favorite yellow cake. And the steps I took to make moist chocolate cake actually worked.
- Use a mixture of butter and oil to make a moist cake.
- When you cream the butter and sugar (or mix the butter and sugar), do so for a good 5 to 8 minutes.
- When mixing the other wet ingredients in with your creamed mixture, only add the yolks of the eggs. Wait to fold the egg whites in after all the other ingredients have been added and mixed.
- Use buttermilk instead of regular milk. In fact, you can make your own buttermilk; I’ll show you how below. What buttermilk does is break down the gluten, which makes your cake softer.
- Use cake flour to make a lighter, softer cake. It really does make a difference.
- Sift your flour and dry ingredients together at least 3 times. My grandma would’ve said 7; she was a real stickler about sifting.
- Don’t mix the cake batter too long after adding the flour. Mix it just until it’s mixed. You can even alternate the flour mixture with the milk to be more aware of how long you’re mixing. Over mixing can make a cake more dense.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN BUTTERMILK SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO BUY IT

We almost never buy buttermilk. We just never use it because I know I can make my own when I’m baking.

My mom taught me this little trick when I was younger.

Just add about a tablespoon of distilled white vinegar to a cup or two of milk; I usually use a tablespoon for every 1 to 2 cups of milk. Stir and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.

Before you know it, you have sour milk or buttermilk. Works like a charm!

CAN I MAKE THESE CUPCAKES AHEAD OF TIME AND FREEZE THEM?

You can! In fact, Life as a Strawberry has a really helpful tutorial for How to Store and Freeze Cupcakes.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE CUPCAKES

Start by making your buttermilk and setting it aside so it can do its thing.

Then cream (or mix) the butter, oil, and sugar together for a good 5 to 8 minutes. You can also cream the egg yolks and vanilla extract in with the sugar mixture if you want.

Sift your dry ingredients together at least 3 times.

Then alternate adding the dry ingredients with the buttermilk to your creamed mixture, mixing after each addition.

Finally, when everything is mixed together, fold in the egg whites and mix together just until the batter is mixed.

Add cupcake liners to 2 large muffin tins, and pour or dispense batter into each cup, filling it 3/4 of the way full.

Bake at 350° for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean.

Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack. You can use a table knife to go around the edges of the cupcakes if they stick to the pan at all.

Allow them to fully cool before attempting to ice the cupcakes.

Then top with a cupcake frosting like this deliciously creamy butterbeer buttercream frosting or regular buttercream frosting for the best chocolate cupcake recipe ever. Yum!

MORE CUPCAKE RECIPES YOU WILL LOVE:

Lime Vanilla Poke Cake Cupcakes

Scrumptious Poke Cake Lemon Cupcakes

Strawberry Filled Vanilla Cupcakes

Chocolate Bunny Tail Cupcake Bites

Valentine Snack Cakes Copycat Recipe

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer – You can definitely mix chocolate cupcakes by hand, but a mixer enables you to get a really smooth cupcake batter.

Measuring Spoons and Measuring Cups

Egg Yolky Separator – Who doesn’t love a cute egg yolk separator?

Spatula

Muffin Pan with Cupcake Liners

Batter Dispenser – This makes it really easy to fill the cupcake liners.

Cake Tester or Toothpicks

Wire Rack

Cake Decorating Kit with Tips and Pastry Bags – If you decide to decorate your cupcakes or even just want to swirl the icing on.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE RECIPE

If you love this moist chocolate cupcake recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

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Moist and Fluffy Chocolate Cupcakes

Ultimate recipe for the best chocolate cupcakes that are so moist and fluffy. Frost with butterbeer buttercream frosting for the most decadent dessert!
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup canola oil
1 1/2 cups pure cane sugar
2 large eggs (separated*)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 cups cake flour
1/2 cup dark cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
Pre-heat the oven to 350°.
If you’re making buttermilk, make it first and set aside.**
Cream (or mix) the butter, oil, and sugar together for a good 5 to 8 minutes.
You can also cream the egg yolks and vanilla extract in with the sugar mixture if you want, or you can add them in after the butter and sugar mixture is creamed.
Meanwhile, sift the dry ingredients together at least 3 times.
Then alternate adding the dry ingredients with the buttermilk to your creamed mixture, mixing after each addition.
Finally, when everything is mixed together, fold in the egg whites and mix together just until the batter is blended.
Add cupcake liners to 2 large muffin tins, and pour or dispense the batter into each cup, filling each cup 3/4 of the way full.
Bake at 350° for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean.
Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack.***
Allow the cupcakes to fully cool before attempting to ice them. Then top with this deliciously creamy butterbeer buttercream frosting.****
*When mixing the other wet ingredients in with your creamed mixture, only add the yolks of the eggs. Wait to fold the egg whites in after all the other ingredients have been added and mixed.

**You can make your own buttermilk or sour milk. Just add about a tablespoon of distilled white vinegar to a cup or two of milk; I usually use a tablespoon for every 1 to 2 cups of milk. Stir and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.

***You can use a table knife to go around the edges of the cupcakes if they stick to the pan at all.

****Icing not included in nutritional facts. See nutritional info for the butterbeer buttercream frosting at the link above.

Cakes & Cupcakes
American
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October 26, 2018
Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes – Make your own homemade sloppy joes! Easy 30 minute sloppy joe recipe with a simple and delicious sauce. Serve on toasted buns or a bed of lettuce.

When I was a kid, sloppy joes were one of my favorite meals. Of course, Manwich was the sloppy joe sauce of choice back then.

But who needs canned sloppy joe sauce when you can make your own simple sauce? And it doesn’t have to be an overbearing sauce either, completely masking the flavor of the meat.

Nope, you can make a sauce with minimal ketchup, a little bit of Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch of brown sugar. And it’s out of this world delicious!

When I first made this recipe, it reminded me of the old days when Mom and Grandma would make the best juicy burger around. The toasted buns toasted in just a smidge of bacon grease really brought back a taste of home.

Tasty Tip: This also makes the best grilled cheese sloppy joes and sloppy joe shepherd’s pie! You can also make crock pot sloppy joes instead.

Are you ready for a dinnertime favorite your family will love? Let’s get to it!

More sloppy joe recipes you may enjoy: Taco Sloppy Joes, Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes, Sloppy Joe Stuffed Peppers, and Pepperoni Pizza Sloppy Joes.

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE SLOPPY JOES RECIPE!

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious recipe for sloppy joes – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

WHAT ARE SLOPPY JOES?

If you’ve never had sloppy joes, never fear. It’s never too late to add this yummy recipe to your weekly menu planning.

Sloppy joes are a sort of loose meat sandwich made with loose ground beef mixed with a tomato based sauce. The sauce usually has things like ketchup or tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sometimes a little mustard, and other ingredients.

You can also make a sloppy joe sandwich with ground pork or ground turkey.

It’s a very flavorful sandwich that’s otherwise known as a juicy burger (what my mama and grandma called it), loose meat sandwich, Manwich, dynamite, slush burger, tavern sandwich, a Maid-Rite, etc.

SLOPPY JOE INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:
- Garlic clove
- Yellow onion
- Bacon grease (you can also use butter or olive oil)
- Ground beef
CAN I USE FROZEN HAMBURGER MEAT? DO I NEED TO THAW IT?

You can use frozen ground beef. In fact, we do this quite often because we forget to get the meat out.

Since it’s a loose meat sandwich and you’re not making hamburger patties, it’s a little bit easier to do; though I do recommend thawing if at all possible.

Just put the meat into a skillet with maybe 1/2 cup water, turn the heat on medium, and place a lid on the skillet. This basically steams the meat.

When it’s cooked, you can drain off any excess oil.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE SLOPPY JOES

Sloppy joes are one of the easiest meals to make. I totally get why my mom liked making them.

Now I do recommend using bacon grease for the added flavor to the meat mixture (and for toasting the buns). But if you don’t have bacon grease, no worries; you can also use butter or olive oil.

Be sure to mince up the garlic and the onion really well. I like mincing them up so they blend well with the meat and sauce.

You’ll start by sautéing the garlic and onion in a large skillet. Then add the meat and mix together with the garlic and onion, cooking the mixture well.

Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.

Once you add the sauce ingredients, just let the whole mixture simmer for a good 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, you can toast hamburger buns in another skillet in a little bit of bacon grease. Or you may choose a lower carb option and prep a plate of lettuce or spinach to go with your sloppy joe meat.

However you choose to enjoy your sloppy joes, hopefully with a nice big batch of homemade steak fries, this is sure to be a family favorite recipe for many meals to come.

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE SLOPPY JOES

Skillet – We love using our cast iron skillets for pretty much everything both at home and while camping; they are very much a part of our camping cooking gear on every trip.

Hamburger Chopper – This handy dandy tool makes it easier to chop up the meat into a much looser mixture.

Wooden Spatula

SLOPPY JOE RECIPE

If you love this sloppy joe recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

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Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes

Make your own homemade sloppy joes! Easy 30 minute sloppy joe recipe with a simple and delicious sauce. Serve on toasted buns or a bed of lettuce.
1 tablespoon bacon grease (*)
1 clove garlic (minced)
1/2 medium yellow onion (minced)
1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tablespoon light brown sugar
Heat the bacon grease in a large skillet until hot.
Then add in the garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes.
Add the onion in with the garlic and sauté for another 2-3 minutes.
Add the ground beef into the skillet, stirring the onions and garlic into the meat. Cook on medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the meat is well cooked.
Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.
Mix the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar into the meat, stirring until combined.
Let the sloppy joe mixture simmer for at least 5 minutes.
Serve on toasted buns or on a bed of lettuce or spinach.
*I recommend using bacon grease for the added flavor it will give to the meat mixture (and for toasting the buns). But if you don’t have bacon grease, no worries; you can also use butter or olive oil.

Burgers & Sandwiches
American
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October 24, 2018
50+ Mouthwatering Apple Recipes
Apple Recipes – What to do with apples! 50 of the most mouthwatering apple recipes, including desserts, Crockpot recipes, preserving and canning, and more delicious ideas!

We’ve spent the last couple of months making weekly trips to the orchard and making all sorts of delicious apple recipes. I’ll tell ya, I’m really going to miss the orchard when it closes for the season.

There is nothing quite like apples fresh off the tree. And there’s nothing quite like fresh apple recipes like apple pie, applesauce, and apple butter.

From preserving apples to baking apple desserts and even making dinner, there’s really no limit on what to do with apples. There are so many ways you can use these wonderful fruits.

APPLES ARE GOOD FOR YOU TOO!

Apples taste so good, it almost seems wrong that they’re so good for us.

Did you know apples are a good source of the following…
- Vitamin C
- Potassium
- Antioxidants
- Fiber
Not that desserts are necessarily good for us, but apples themselves and some of the things you can make with them, can pack quite the punch when it comes to nutrients our bodies need.

Below you’ll find 50 ways to use apples, plus kitchen tools you may need when working with apples.

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU MAY NEED FOR MAKING APPLE RECIPES

Apple Corer/Peeler/Slicer – This actually makes the process of chopping up the apples a lot quicker.

Paring Knife – for trimming off any bad spots or slicing the apples. My paring knife is kinda like my spatula… I can’t cook without it.

Food Mill or Immersion Blender – You might want this if making applesauce or apple butter.

Jars and Lids – I prefer jelly jars or pint jars. In fact, we usually try to keep our pantry stocked with jars. But don’t forget the lids and rings. They can be easy to forget, and before you know it, you have all the jars you need but no lids.

8-Quart Instant Pot

Slow Cooker

Pastry Blender – I love my simple pastry blender. The mixture doesn’t get stuck in it like it does the bigger pastry blenders.

Rolling Pin – Definitely need this if you’re making pies.

Glass Pie Plates – This pie plate is my old faithful pie plate; I’ve had it forever, probably since we got married. Mine actually has the fluted edge sorta built in too, so you can press it in and get somewhat of a decorative edge without a lot of handiwork on your part.

Adjustable Pie Shield – Protects your pie crust from burning.

Muffin Tin or Bread Pan

Baking Sheet, Baking Pan, or Bundt Pan

50 APPLE RECIPES – WHAT TO DO WITH APPLES

Here are a few yummy apple recipe ideas, including some really great ways to preserve apples so your family can enjoy them for weeks to come.

You’ll find recipes for preserving apples, canning apples, dehydrating apples, apple desserts, apple muffins, apple cinnamon snacks, and even some savory apple recipes!

Instant Pot Apple Butter – Adventures of Mel

Easy CrockPot Apple Butter – Adventures of Mel

Stovetop Traditional Apple Butter Recipe

Gluten-Free Apple Crisp – My Gluten-Free Kitchen

Easy Baked Apples – Create Kids Club

Caramel Apple Dump Cake

Sliced Caramel Apple Pops – Busy Mommy Media

How to Make Apple Juice without a Juicer – Adventures of Mel

Baked Apple Cinnamon Donuts {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free} – Mama Knows Gluten Free

Puff Pastry Apple Tart with Goat Cheese and Honey – Umami Girl

Apple Pie Turnovers – Butter Your Biscuit

Easy No-Peel Instant Pot Applesauce – Adventures of Mel

Paleo Apple Blondies with Maple Coconut Glaze – What Great Grandma Ate

Apple Protein Muffins – One Clever Chef

How to Make Apple Chutney – Cadry’s Kitchen

No-Peel Instant Pot Cinnamon Applesauce – Adventures of Mel

Chicken and Apple Cheddar Dumplings – Sugar Dish Me

Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake with Pecan Crisp Topping – The Unlikely Baker

Apple Pie Filling – Beyond the Chicken Coop

Homemade Apple Jelly without Pectin – Adventures of Mel

Mouthwatering Gluten Free French Apple Cake – Fearless Dining

Homemade Oven Baked Apple Chips – She Loves Biscotti

Dutch Apple Crumb Pie – Adventures of Mel

Bourbon Apple Pecan Bread Pudding – Soulfully Made

Sugar Free Apple Butter Recipe – Eating Richly

Apple Walnut Bread Stuffing – Adventures of Mel

Sugar-Free Stuffed Baked Apples – Veganosity

Greek Yogurt Apple-Cinnamon Bread – Kristine’s Kitchen

HALFWAY THERE…

Easy Slow Cooker Mulled Cider – Adventures of Mel

Delicious Toffee Apples – Supergolden Bakes

Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats – Natalie’s Happy Health

Homemade Apple Galette – Marsha’s Baking Addiction

Apple Bundt Cake with a Caramel Cream Cheese Glaze – Adventures of Mel

Caramel Apple Mini Cheesecake – Sweet Spicy Kitchen

Apple Cinnamon Pumpkin Seed Trail Mix – Adventures of Mel

Caramel Apple Pops – DIY Candy

Apple Dumplings – Celebrating Sweets

Apple Cinnamon Buttermilk Pancakes – Adventures of Mel

Easy Blackberry & Apple Jam – Fab Food 4 All

Pumpkin Pie Applesauce {in the Instant Pot} – We Are Not Martha

Classic Apple Pie Recipe – Saving Room for Dessert

Maple Pork Chops with Apples and Onions – Adventures of Mel

Easy French Apple Jam Recipe – The View from Great Island

Pull Apart Apple Cinnamon Bread – Baking with Mom

Make Your Own Apple Sugar – Learning and Yearning

Caramel Apple Donut Holes – Adventures of Mel

3 Minute Sugar Free Instant Pot Pear Applesauce – Recipes to Nourish

Apple Quickie Recipe – Adventures of Mel

One-Minute Apple Cinnamon Muffins – Mighty Mrs.

Apple Stuffing Crusted Pork Chops – Caroline’s Cooking

Apple Crumble without Oats – Adventures of Mel

Spiced Pomegranate Apple Cider Mulled Wine – Good Life Eats

Looking for more fall favorites?

Deliciously Moist Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Creamy No Bake Pumpkin Dessert

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Classic Pecan Pie

Pumpkin Spice Gooey Butter Cake
October 23, 2018
Dreamy Butterbeer Buttercream Frosting
Butterbeer Buttercream Frosting – Harry Potter fans unite with this dreamy butterbeer buttercream frosting. Easy recipe for a fluffy icing, perfect for cupcakes and cake decorating!

Being the Harry Potter fan that I am, I thought it only appropriate to create a yummy butterbeer buttercream frosting. This recipe is one you will definitely enjoy, especially if you love both butterbeer and buttercream icing.

After creating my own butterbeer recipe, my friend Linda from Life on Summerhill, suggested I make a butterbeer frosting. I mean, how brilliant is she?!

This frosting is so creamy delicious on my favorite dark chocolate cupcakes. You’re going to love it.

It’s a mix of that buttery butterscotch flavor with the creamy texture of a dreamy buttercream frosting. So scrumptious!

Add butterbeer to your breakfast and brunch plans with butterbeer pancakes from scratch. They’re oh so delicious.

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR BUTTERBEER BUTTERCREAM FROSTING!

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the scrumptious butterbeer buttercream frosting recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS BUTTERBEER?

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty of what butterbeer actually is.

We first tried butterbeer while visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. It’s a drink made famous by the Harry Potter series of books, written by J.K. Rowling.

It’s a buttery, butterscotch, sweet drink, with a hint of caramel, that’s served hot or cold. It’s described as a “less-sickly butterscotch” and even has a little bit of fizz to it.

Fandom explains what butterbeer is, where it came from, and what it’s all about.

WHY DO YOU USE BUTTER INSTEAD OF SHORTENING?

In my original buttercream frosting recipe, as well as my chocolate buttercream frosting, I explain why I prefer to use salted butter and make my buttercream without shortening.

Using all butter creates a very flavorful frosting, perfect for that buttery butterbeer taste.

I also recommend using salted butter, because the salt in the butter adds a richness to your buttercream. It gives it a zing that unsalted butter just can’t do.

Also, it’s so much easier to use salted butter over trying to add salt to your frosting, especially when trying to get a good consistency and texture.

While shortening does add stability to the recipe, heavy whipping cream can do the same thing.

CAN I FREEZE BUTTERBEER BUTTERCREAM FROSTING?

Yes, you absolutely can! If you think about it, bakeries put their cakes in a cooler to store them for their customers.

Freezing won’t hurt the texture, consistency, or flavor of your frosting. I always have a little bit of icing leftover, and I usually freeze it for the next time we need it.

BUTTERBEER BUTTERCREAM ICING INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:
- Salted butter
- Vanilla extract
- Butter extract
- Heavy whipping cream
- Cream soda
TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING WITH A TASTE OF BUTTERBEER

Making homemade buttercream frosting is easy. Butterbeer buttercream frosting is no different, besides a few extra ingredients.
- First, make sure you soften the butter. Try to get it out ahead of time and let it soften naturally; don’t be like me and use the microwave to soften it, therefore melting it.
- Next, mix together the softened butter, vanilla extract, butter extract, caramel extract, butterscotch topping, heavy whipping cream, and cream soda.
- Add in the powdered sugar, and mix everything together for 2 to 3 minutes, mixing well.
Finally, if your frosting seems a little thin, you can add in a little extra powdered sugar until you reach the desired consistency.

You’ll end up with a very smooth, creamy, fluffy buttercream frosting that’s perfect for cake decorating, piping onto cupcakes, and more. And it tastes divine!

MORE HARRY POTTER FOOD YOU WILL LOVE:

Polyjuice Potion recipe

And my friend Linda will show you how to make the prettiest decorations for a Harry Potter celebration!

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE BUTTERBEER BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:

Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer – You can definitely mix homemade frosting by hand, but a mixer enables you to get a really smooth texture.

Measuring Spoons and Measuring Cups

Spatula

Cake Decorating Kit with Tips and Pastry Bags

BUTTERBEER BUTTERCREAM FROSTING RECIPE

If you love this butterbeer buttercream frosting recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

CONNECT WITH ADVENTURES OF MEL!

Be sure to follow me on social, so you never miss a post!

Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Instagram | Twitter

Sign up to receive my newsletter, filled with delicious recipes and outdoor travel adventures, in your inbox:

FREE EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION
Dreamy Butterbeer Buttercream Frosting

Harry Potter fans unite with this dreamy butterbeer buttercream frosting. Easy recipe for a fluffy icing, perfect for cupcakes and decorating!
1 cup salted butter (softened)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon butter extract
1/4 teaspoon caramel extract
1 tablespoon butterscotch topping
5 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon cream soda
Mix together the softened butter*, vanilla extract, butter extract, caramel extract, butterscotch topping, heavy whipping cream**, and cream soda.
Add in the powdered sugar, and mix everything together for 2 to 3 minutes, mixing well.
If your frosting seems a little thin, you can add in a little extra powdered sugar until you reach the desired consistency.
You’ll end up with a very smooth, creamy, butterbeer buttercream frosting that’s perfect for cake decorating, piping onto cupcakes, and more. It tastes divine!
*Make sure you soften the butter first. Try to get it out ahead of time and let it soften naturally. Don’t be like me and use the microwave to soften it, therefore melting it.

**You can use milk instead of heavy whipping cream, but you may end up with a softer icing, especially at room temperature.

Desserts
American
butterbeer, butterbeer buttercream frosting, buttercream frosting, buttercream frosting recipe, buttercream icing, Harry Potter, Harry Potter food, homemade buttercream frosting
October 22, 2018
Low Carb Meatloaf Recipe
Easy recipe for a low carb meatloaf made with cauliflower and ground beef. Simple, healthy dinner idea and comfort food recipe with absolutely no ketchup!

Meatloaf is one of my favorite meals, but my regular meatloaf has oatmeal, ketchup, and BBQ sauce, which all spell carbs, pretty much a no go for Dan. So I decided to work on a low carb meatloaf recipe he could enjoy too.

I’m not sure if this could be considered a keto meatloaf; I don’t know enough about keto ingredients at this point. BUT I do know it’s one recipe you can add to your list of low carb foods.

Now it is a work in progress, meaning I may be coming back to tweak it as I continue making it. I like to do that when I remake things over and over… I’ll tweak ingredients and sometimes it turns out even better than before.

This easy meatloaf is definitely delicious just the way it is, though. Even without all the ketchup and BBQ sauce that’s in my favorite meatloaf with oatmeal, it still has a ton of flavor.

And if you’re making meatloaf and need fewer servings, you can always cut the recipe in half– or you could use it to make mini meatloaf muffins! I like to make enough so that we can have meatloaf sandwiches (or salads) the next day for lunch.

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE LOW CARB MEATLOAF RECIPE!

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious recipe for low carb meatloaf – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

MEATLOAF INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:

You’ll need just a few simple ingredients to make this low carb meatloaf…
- Ground beef
- Eggs
- Small onion
- Steamed cauliflower rice
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
- Seasoning salt
- BBQ Seasoning
You can also add a little parmesan, maybe 1/4 to 1/2 cup if you want more flavor… Parmesan is definitely something I add to my baked Italian cauliflower meatballs, but unfortunately, I didn’t have any on hand for my homemade meatloaf.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE A LOW CARB MEATLOAF

Meatloaf is super easy to make, which is why it’s usually on our menu at least once or twice a month. It’s basically a throw everything in the bowl and mix it up type of recipe.

I’d suggest using a leaner ground beef that won’t shrink as much when baked. Meat with more fat will leave a ton of liquid in the pan when it’s done baking, and it’s liable to shrink up big time.

We usually buy beef from our local butcher shop, and it’s about a 90/10 mixture, which works really well for meatloaf. That mixture still gives off a little bit of juice but not so much that our meatloaf is sitting in a bunch of liquid.

The steamed cauliflower rice will help the meatloaf to be moist… Normally, I use oatmeal, but the carb content in oatmeal deterred me from using it for this recipe.

As for seasonings, we kept it simple. Salt, pepper, seasoning salt, and a Texas Style BBQ Seasoning (Great Value brand) we found at Walmart; I still like just a hint of BBQ flavor in my meatloaf.

HOW LONG TO COOK MEATLOAF

You’ll bake meatloaf at 350° in the oven.

Meatloaf usually takes anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to cook all the way through. You want to make sure it reaches an internal temperature of at least 160° with a meat thermometer.

When it’s done, you can just remove it from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes while you finish prepping the rest of your meal.

WHAT FOODS ARE GOOD TO PAIR WITH MEATLOAF?

Normally, I’d say to serve meatloaf with mashed potatoes. Yum! Unfortunately, mashed potatoes are definitely not low carb.

So you might want to go with a better option like maybe a colorful salad, green beans, or broccoli. And remember, there’s cauliflower in the meatloaf, so you’ve already got a few hidden veggies.

CAN I FREEZE MEATLOAF?

Yes, you can. Meatloaf would make an excellent freezer meal or make ahead meal.

MORE DINNER IDEAS WITH GROUND BEEF AND/OR CAULIFLOWER:

Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

Baked Italian Cauliflower Meatballs – which you can pair with Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti.

Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice

Sausage and Chicken Instant Pot Casserole

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE THIS EASY MEATLOAF RECIPE:

13″x9″ casserole or baking dish – I love using this size baking dish to make a big 2-pound meatloaf that will stretch to give our family of 5 more than one meal.

Large mixing bowl – This makes it easy to just dump in all the ingredients and start mixing.

Meat thermometer – We use ours all the time; it really helps to tell if the meat has come to temp and is fully cooked.

LOW CARB MEATLOAF RECIPE

If you love this low carb meatloaf recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

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Low Carb Meatloaf

Easy recipe for a low carb meatloaf made with cauliflower and ground beef. Simple, healthy dinner idea and comfort food recipe with absolutely no ketchup!
2 pounds ground beef
2 large eggs
1/2 cup onion (minced)
1 cup cauliflower rice (steamed)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 teaspoon BBQ Seasoning (*)
Pre-heat the oven to 350° and spray a 13"x9" baking dish with cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the ground beef, eggs, minced onion, and cauliflower rice.
Sprinkle in the seasonings, including the salt, black pepper, seasoning salt, and BBQ seasoning; and mix together well.
Add the meatloaf mixture to the prepared baking dish, and pat together into a loaf.
Bake at 350° for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 160° with a meat thermometer.
When the meatloaf has finished cooking, remove it from the oven and allow it to rest for just a few minutes while you finish prepping the rest of your meal.
Serve with your favorite sides** and enjoy!
*I used Great Value brand Texas Style BBQ Seasoning, but you can use any low carb BBQ seasoning.

Normally, I serve meatloaf with mashed potatoes. Unfortunately, mashed potatoes are definitely not low carb. So you may want to serve it with something like a colorful salad, green beans, or broccoli.

Dinner Ideas
American
easy meatloaf recipe, homemade meatloaf, how long to cook meatloaf, how to make meatloaf, low carb meatloaf, making meatloaf, meatloaf
October 19, 2018
Two Ways to Make Easy Bisquick Campfire Drop Biscuits
How to make quick and easy campfire drop biscuits, using a Dutch oven or pie iron, on the grill or over a campfire. Simple Bisquick recipe for deliciously fluffy biscuits.

Drop biscuits are one of my favorite camping recipes because they complement a dinner of beef stew or a breakfast of eggs and bacon really well. They’re an easy camping food you can make ahead or cook over the campfire.

And in this case, I’m going to show you how to make easy biscuits, without any rolling out and hardly any mixing, for your next camping meal.

You’ll only need 2 ingredients for these easy drop biscuits. And you’ll only need a couple of supplies you probably already have in your camping stash to make this easy biscuit recipe.

You may also enjoy easy Bisquick cinnamon biscuits and Bisquick drop scones.

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I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR DROP BISCUITS!

If you’d rather skip all of my baking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious campfire drop biscuits recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card with a longer how to video.

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED FOR EASY DROP BISCUITS:

You’ll need a couple of ingredients for making biscuits the easy way…
- Your favorite biscuit mix
- Milk
WHY USE BISCUIT MIX?

You can use any kind of biscuit mix you want… I’ve used both Bisquick and Pioneer Mix.

The reason I use biscuit mix is because it’s easy, it’s quick, and it’s simple. When you’re packing up everything your family needs for a week of campfire cooking, it’s much easier to pack a box of biscuit mix than to pack every individual ingredient you need to make homemade biscuits.

I usually buy a box or even a couple envelopes of biscuit mix just to make life easier while camping. We’ve also enjoyed making other Bisquick recipes like campfire cinnamon rolls.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE CAMPFIRE DROP BISCUITS

Start by mixing the biscuit mix together with the milk in a mixing bowl.

You can knead the biscuit dough in the bowl just a bit; then drop each biscuit into place on a well greased tin foil pie plate or into a pie iron (see instructions below).

If you’re mixing them ahead of time and waiting until later to cook them, you can cover them with plastic wrap, and then place the whole pie plate down in a plastic gallon bag, seal it, and place it in your cooler.

TIPS FOR HOW TO BAKE DROP BISCUITS OUTDOORS

You’ll need one of two things… A Dutch oven (preferably with a tripod if you’re cooking them over the campfire) and/or a pie iron.

Pie irons are fun because then everyone can cook their own, and kids love being able to make their own.

DUTCH OVEN BISCUITS:

For drop biscuits, you can make a sling with aluminum foil.

Place your uncovered foil pie plate down into the Dutch oven using your sling. We like to put a few jar rings in the bottom of our Dutch oven, so our pie plate isn’t sitting directly on the bottom of the Dutch oven.

If you’re using a grill, place the Dutch oven on the grill above the coals.

If you’re baking them over a campfire, I suggest using a tripod, so that your Dutch oven can sit up off the fire, and the bottoms of your biscuits won’t burn.

Let the biscuits cook over the campfire or on the grill for probably 15 to 20 minutes. Just check them frequently to make sure they don’t burn.

PIE IRON BISCUITS:

For a pie iron recipe, spray the inside of your pie iron with cooking spray.

Place 2 or more drop biscuits inside, close it up, and hold it over the grill or fire.

Cook the biscuits for around 15 to 20 minutes. Just check them frequently to make sure they don’t burn.

Either way you bake your quick biscuits, when they’re done, you’re ready to serve them with your meal. You might even enjoy a spoonful of apple butter, apple jelly, blackberry jam, or strawberry jam with your yummy drop biscuits.

Learn how to make coffee over a fire, and you can even dip your biscuits in your coffee. Yum!

MORE EASY CAMPING RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY:
KITCHEN AND CAMPING TOOLS YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE EASY DROP BISCUITS:

Mixing Bowl – You’ll need a bowl to mix up your biscuits.

Foil Pie Plate – This makes it easy to store your biscuits in the cooler until you’re ready to cook them.

Dutch Oven – If you want to make a whole pan of drop biscuits, you can cook them in a Dutch oven, either over the campfire on a tripod, or on the grill.

Pie Iron – If everyone would rather cook their own biscuits, this is the perfect way. It’s so fun!

CAMPFIRE DROP BISCUITS RECIPE

If you love this drop biscuits recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

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Easy Campfire Drop Biscuits

How to make quick and easy drop biscuits, using a Dutch oven or pie iron, on the grill or over a campfire. Simple Bisquick recipe for deliciously fluffy biscuits.
3 cups biscuit mix
1 cup whole milk
Mix the biscuit mix* together with the milk in a mixing bowl.
You can knead the biscuit dough in the bowl just a bit; then drop each biscuit into place on a well greased tin foil pie plate.
If you’re mixing the biscuits ahead of time and waiting until later to cook them, you can cover them with plastic wrap, and then place the whole pie plate down in a plastic gallon bag, seal it, and place it in your cooler.
Dutch Oven Recipe Instructions:
When you’re ready to bake the biscuits, you can make a sling with aluminum foil.
Place your uncovered foil pie plate down into the Dutch oven using your sling.**
If you’re using a grill, place the Dutch oven on the grill above the coals.
If you’re baking them over a campfire, I suggest using a tripod, so that your Dutch oven can sit up off the fire, and the bottoms of your biscuits won’t burn.
Let the biscuits cook over the campfire or on the grill for probably 15 to 20 minutes. Just check them frequently to make sure they don’t burn.
Pie Iron Recipe Instructions:
For a pie iron recipe, spray the inside of your pie iron with cooking spray.
Place 2 or more drop biscuits inside, close it up, and hold it over the grill or fire.
Cook the biscuits for around 15 to 20 minutes. Just check them frequently to make sure they don’t burn.
*You can use any kind of biscuit mix you want, whether it’s Bisquick, Pioneer, or another brand of biscuit mix.

**We like to put a few jar rings in the bottom of our Dutch oven, so our pie plate isn’t sitting directly on the bottom of the Dutch oven.

If you can’t use a campfire or grill, because there have been many times we were in that exact situation, you can cook them in a Dutch oven on your camp stove.

Either way you bake your quick and easy drop biscuits, when they’re done, you’re ready to serve them with your meal. You might even enjoy a spoonful of apple butter, apple jelly, blackberry jam, or strawberry jam with your yummy drop biscuits.

Camping Recipes
American
Bisquick recipes, campfire cooking, camping food, camping food ideas, camping recipes, drop biscuits, dutch oven camping recipes, pie iron
October 17, 2018
Quick and Easy Butterbeer Recipe
How to make a super simple, quick and easy, homemade butterbeer recipe. Just mix and stir your favorite sweet drink from the Harry Potter series.

It’s been a couple of years since we last visited the Wizarding World in Universal and had a big tall glass of butterbeer. So I thought it was high time that I make my own butterbeer recipe.

As I mentioned with my Polyjuice Potion recipe, I’m creating a few Harry Potter recipes for my fellow Harry Potter fans. I’ve heard tell there’s a new movie coming out in November, and it’s got me all excited.

This homemade butterbeer is a little different from other recipes I’ve seen in that it makes a smaller amount, AND it’s quick and easy… No stove time with this recipe!

That’s right, no standing in front of the stove stirring. You’ll basically mix your ingredients in your favorite mug (or in a punch bowl for a larger amount) and serve it. Easy peasy!

You may also love this butterbeer buttercream frosting that pairs so scrumptiously with chocolate cupcakes, it’s not even funny. And if you need a good breakfast recipe, butterbeer pancakes from scratch are the best!

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE BUTTERBEER RECIPE!

If you’d rather skip all of my mixing tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious recipe for Butterbeer – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS BUTTERBEER?

If you’ve never had butterbeer, you’re in for a real treat, my friend.

Butterbeer is a drink the characters in the Harry Potter series enjoyed from time to time, especially when visiting Hogsmeade.

It’s a sort of butterscotch (caramel-ish) sweet drink that’s served hot or cold (cold in this case). It’s described as a “less-sickly butterscotch.”

It also has a little bit of fizz to it, and in the series, possibly a little bit of alcohol.

Now mine doesn’t have any alcohol, simply because I don’t like the taste of it. But it’s definitely something you can think about adding, maybe a little bit of rum?

Fandom has a really good explanation of butterbeer and all the who/what/when/where/why/hows of it.

BUTTERBEER INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED

You’ll need a few butterbeer ingredients to make your own yummy Harry Potter drinks:
- Whipped Cream
- Butterscotch ice cream topping
- Salted butter
- Butter extract
- Caramel extract
- Cream soda
DO I HAVE TO USE HOMEMADE WHIPPED CREAM?

While I prefer to use homemade whipped cream, you can totally use store bought.

I prefer the texture and the ingredients that are in homemade whipped cream. It’s really simple and easy to make.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE BUTTERBEER

Butterbeer is super easy to make. In fact, you can mix it up in a bigger batch for a large group and use a punch bowl; or you can mix up a small amount for individual mugs.

First you’ll mix together the whipped cream, butterscotch topping, melted butter, butter extract, and caramel extract in a small mixing bowl.

Add a tablespoon of the whipped cream mixture into the bottom of your mug. Then pour in 1/2 cup of the cream soda and stir.

Add another tablespoon dollop of the whipped cream on top and stir. It’ll fizz up and the whipped cream mixture will expand, creating a fizzy top that’ll give you a butterbeer mustache when you drink it.

Now these instructions are for a smaller mug. If you’re mixing up a taller, larger mug like I show in the pictures, you’ll want to double the amounts I give.

Usually less is more when it comes to butterbeer because it can be a really sweet drink. The smaller mug is usually enough for me to curb my butterbeer cravings.

MORE HARRY POTTER PARTY IDEAS YOU WILL LOVE:

And my friend Linda, from Life on Summerhill, will show you how to make the prettiest decorations for a Harry Potter celebration!

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE HARRY POTTER BUTTERBEER:

Liquid Measuring Cup

Mixing Bowl

Fun Mugs – Some of my favorites are this Magical Marauder’s Map Mug, this Hedwig Mug, this Morphing Book Cover Mug, this Espresso Patronum Mug, and this Butterbeer Mug.

BUTTERBEER RECIPE

If you love this butterbeer recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

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Quick and Easy Butterbeer Recipe

How to make a super simple, quick and easy, homemade butterbeer recipe. Just mix and stir your favorite sweet drink from the Harry Potter series.
1/2 cup whipped cream
1 tablespoon butterscotch topping
1 tablespoon salted butter (melted)
1/2 teaspoon butter extract
1/4 teaspoon caramel extract
2 cups cream soda
In a small mixing bowl, mix together the whipped cream, butterscotch topping, melted butter, butter extract, and caramel extract.
Add 2 tablespoons each, of the whipped cream mixture, into the bottom of 2 mugs.
Then pour 1 cup of the cream soda into each mug and stir.
Add 2 more tablespoons of the whipped cream on top of each mug and stir.
The mixture will fizz up and the whipped cream will expand, creating a fizzy top that’ll give you a butterbeer mustache when you drink it.
Looking for a festive Harry Potter mug? Some of my favorites are this Magical Marauder’s Map Mug, this Hedwig Mug, this Morphing Book Cover Mug, this Espresso Patronum Mug, and this Butterbeer Mug.

Drinks
American
butterbeer, butterbeer recipe, Harry Potter, Harry Potter drinks, Harry Potter recipes, how to make butterbeer
October 16, 2018
Easy Slow Cooker Mulled Cider
How to make mulled cider in your slow cooker. Warm apple cider filled with cinnamon, spices, and a smidge of brown sugar, perfect for the holidays!

‘Tis the season for warm drinks, soft blankets, good books, and apple pie spice with all of its fall spicy goodness. Even though I love summer, I love this time of year when the temperatures drop and mulled cider becomes the beverage of choice.

While I’m more of a hot chocolate girl myself, I do love a warm mug of cider, especially when my house smells as good as it does after an afternoon of slow cooking a batch of spiced cider.

This hot apple cider is so easy to make, anyone can make it. It doesn’t require a lot of ingredients or time in the kitchen.

Are you ready for an apple cider drink that will get you in the mood for fall? This is most definitely it.

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR MULLED CIDER!

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious mulled cider recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

WHAT IS APPLE CIDER? WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APPLE JUICE AND APPLE CIDER?

You can use either apple juice or apple cider for this recipe.

There are a few differences, though, between apple juice vs apple cider.

Apple cider is a thicker, more opaque apple juice, and it may have pulp and chunks of apple left behind. Apple juice is a thinner, more transparent liquid without any pulp left behind.

In terms of commercial apple cider vs apple juice, apple juice is pasteurized and has a longer shelf life than apple cider.

If you have fresh apples and want to make the juice yourself, here is a fairly simple recipe for how to make apple juice in your Instant Pot. You can also use the same recipe to make a thicker apple cider drink.

WHERE TO BUY APPLE CIDER

If you decide to actually go with cider and buy it instead of making it, you can usually find it at any grocery store, orchard, or maybe even a farmer’s market.

If apple cider isn’t available where you live and you decide to buy juice instead, you could go with a thicker juice, maybe Simply Apple or something similar.

APPLE CIDER BENEFITS

Remember the old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away?” Apples have a ton of nutritional value and are a great addition to our diet.

While you’d probably get a LOT more benefit out of the whole apple, apple juice is a good source of vitamin C and potassium. It’s also a great source of antioxidants.

Now with the added sugar (I use 1/4 cup of brown sugar), this hot cider won’t be quite as good for you, but it is delicious, so I guess you could say that’s a benefit too.

APPLE CIDER INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:

You’ll need a few ingredients to make this delicious mulled cider.
- Apple cider or apple juice
- An orange
- Whole cloves
TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE APPLE CIDER

Making apple cider is really easy. Just a few steps and you can walk away and let your slow cooker do all the heavy lifting.

You’re essentially going to combine all of the ingredients in your slow cooker. But the orange and cloves require a bit of attention first.

You can wash and slice the orange, add the cloves to the orange slices, and then add the slices to the slow cooker. Or you can wash and peel the orange and stick the cloves all over in the orange, then add the orange to the slow cooker.

Note: You can leave the peeling on the orange, but it may add a little bitterness to your hot cider.

Once you’ve decided what to do with the orange, just combine all the ingredients and give it a good stir. Then cook everything on low for about 4 hours.

Homemade apple cider makes your house smell so good.

Once it’s cooked, strain out any loose cloves, the oranges, and the cinnamon sticks. You can serve it up in your favorite mugs, and maybe add a cinnamon stick for garnish.

IF YOU LOVE THIS MULLED CIDER RECIPE, TRY SOME OF OUR OTHER APPLE RECIPE FAVORITES:

Instant Pot Apple Butter

Apple Crumb Pie

Homemade Apple Jelly without Pectin

Easy No-Peel Instant Pot Applesauce

No-Peel Instant Pot Cinnamon Applesauce

50 Mouthwatering Apple Recipes

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE HOT APPLE CIDER:

Slow Cooker

Orange Peeler

Wooden Spoon

Festive Mugs – I love Peanuts mugs, this Mr. Tea mug, and I also love enamel mugs. So fun! Because why shouldn’t you have something fun to drink from? Right?! Right!

MULLED CIDER RECIPE

If you love this mulled cider recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

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Slow Cooker Mulled Cider

How to make slow cooker mulled cider. Warm apple cider filled with cinnamon, spices, and a smidge of brown sugar, perfect for the holidays!
2 quarts apple cider (or apple juice)
1 whole orange
2 teaspoons whole cloves
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
3 whole cinnamon sticks
Pour the apple cider or apple juice into the slow cooker.
You can wash and slice the orange, add the cloves to the orange slices, and then add the slices to the slow cooker. Or you can wash and peel the orange and stick the cloves all over in the orange, then add the slices to the slow cooker.
Add the brown sugar, allspice, and cinnamon sticks to the cider in the slow cooker, and give it all a good stir.
Put the lid on the slow cooker, and cook everything on low for about 4 hours.
Strain out the oranges, cloves, and cinnamon sticks.
Serve it in your favorite mugs, and maybe add a cinnamon stick for garnish.
*You can use apple cider or homemade apple juice for this recipe.

*Leaving the peeling on the orange may add some bitterness to your apple cider.

Drinks
American
apple cider, apple cider recipe, crockpot apple cider, hot apple cider, hot cider, how to make apple cider, mulled cider, slow cooker apple cider, slow cooker mulled cider
October 12, 2018
20+ Easy Halloween Movie Night Snacks Anyone Can Make
Your go to list of favorite Halloween movie night snacks and treats for the whole family. Easy, spooky snacks and desserts both kids and adults will love. So easy, anyone can make them!

Halloween is right around the corner. If you’re hosting a Halloween party or movie night, you’re probably looking for the best Halloween movie night snacks you can make in a jiffy.

I’ve got you covered with 20+ ideas for yummy Halloween movie desserts and Halloween food snacks, some sweeter than others.

When it comes to Halloween party food, you can jazz up just about any type of food to make it festive, and in this case a little spooky too.

Not a Fan of Scary?

I’m not a fan of really scary stuff either, whether it’s horror flicks and slasher films, or scary treats. I mean, the scary movies I do like are either old Alfred Hitchcock films or more thriller type movies like The Sixth Sense or A Quiet Place.

So I tend to err on the side of somewhat spooky but also cute and fun when it comes to Halloween desserts and Halloween snacks for party events (even this cute Garfield Halloween costume I made).

When Should You Host Your Halloween Movie Night?

If you want to host more than just a family movie night, you’ll want to consider the perfect time of year to host.

While Halloween night might be a little busy for most people, what with trick-or-treating and parties or events, you might think about hosting in the weeks leading up to Halloween.

Really, anytime during Halloween season in the month of October, and probably a weekend, will be the best time that works with most people’s schedules. So pick a time, tell your friends and family, and start planning a really fun night.

Tips and Tricks for Easy Halloween Treats

Here are a few tips for keeping things easy in the kitchen when you’re figuring out what to make for Halloween movie night:
- Save time by buying pre-baked. If you need a baked treat, save time by using a mix or buying it already pre-made. While I love homemade and it’s my first choice, it’s not always feasible, especially when life gets really busy.
- If you need icing or frosting, again, buy pre-made. No judgment here.
- Need to pipe icing onto your Halloween treats? Use icing tubes you can get at any grocery store in the baking aisle.
- Think of how you can use already made foods in a creative way… For example, making donuts or Oreo cookies into spiders or Twix bars into mummies (see recipes below).
- Make no bake desserts. Because no bake is awesome.
- Instead of cookies, make bars. Instead of cake pops, make a whole cake. Think easy.
- Need a pie crust? Again, use a pre-made crust. Or make a shortcut no-roll pie crust.
- Think about putting together a buffet, like maybe a caramel apples buffet with melted caramel and fun toppings.
- Put together a charcuterie board, in this case a Halloween movie night snack board, and set it on your coffee table in the living room. Finger foods on a board make great snacks!
- Veggie trays and salty snacks are always a great idea.
Kitchen Tools You May Need to Make Halloween Movie Treats
- Mixer
- Brownie Pan or Cake Pan
- Pastry Bags (or Sandwich Bags)
- Cake Tips
- Glass Pie Plates
Halloween Movie Checklist

Of course, we’d be remiss to not mention a few family favorite Halloween movies to go along with your tasty snacks… Again, I’m keeping it pretty family-friendly here, so if you want scary horror movie marathons of movies like Nightmare on Elm Street, I ain’t your girl.

Here are just a few suggestions…
- It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (because of course)
- Beetlejuice
- Hocus Pocus
- Practical Magic
- Harry Potter collection
- Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
- The Addams Family
- The Haunted Mansion
- Ghostbusters
- Edward Scissorhands
- Halloweentown
- Coraline
- Gremlins
- Goosebumps
- The Sixth Sense
20+ Halloween Movie Night Snacks

Here are a few yummy recipe ideas for your Halloween party food menu, including some really cute Halloween treats all your guests will love. All of these treats will have a slightly spooky feel and maybe even a cute factor going for them too.

You’ll find easy Halloween food, sweet treats, and movie snacks like Halloween brownies, party punch, cookies, no bake desserts, treats on a stick, Halloween cupcakes, and more!
[wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41000″ name=”Twix Bar Mummy Brownies” summary=”<p><a href=%22null%22></a>Twix Bar mummy brownies are quick and easy Halloween treats you can make with a box mix, fun size candy, icing, and candy eyes!</p>” button=”Get the Recipe”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item link=”https://www.prettymyparty.com/easy-mini-chocolate-donut-spiders/” name=”Mini Chocolate Donut Spiders” summary=”<p>Make mini chocolate donut spiders with mini donuts, pretzels, candy eyeballs, and chocolate sprinkles. Spooky treats kids will love!</p>” button=”Get the Recipe” image=”36905″] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item link=”https://www.burlapandblue.com/halloween-treat-idea-easy-dipped-pretzels/” name=”Halloween Dipped Pretzels” summary=”<p>Kids can help make these super cute no bake Halloween dipped pretzels with candy melts and candy eyeballs. Such a fun activity for a party!</p>” button=”Get the Recipe” image=”36906″] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41010″ name=”Pumpkin Patch Brownies” summary=”<p>How to make quick and easy pumpkin patch Halloween brownies for kids, a fun Halloween treat recipe with candy corn pumpkins and green icing!</p>” button=”Get the Recipe”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item link=”https://www.mommyhatescooking.com/bake-spider-pudding-pie-3″ name=”No Bake Spider Pudding Pie” summary=”<p>Make a no bake spider pudding pie with a cream cheese filling in a chocolate cookie pie shell, and topped with the cutest Oreo cookie spiders.</p>” button=”Get the Recipe” image=”36909″] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item link=”https://www.sugarandsoul.co/goosebumps-punch-recipe/” name=”Goosebumps Halloween Punch” summary=”<p>You only need 4 ingredients to make this green Goosebumps Halloween punch. It's the perfect drink for a Halloween party!</p>” button=”Get the Recipe” image=”36910″] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41016″ name=”Peanut Butter Corn Flake Bars” summary=”<p>Mix up a batch of Corn Flake bars with peanut butter, marshmallows, peanuts, and candy corn. Quick and easy treats you can make in a jiffy!</p>” button=”Get the Recipe”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item link=”https://www.mamagourmand.com/gluten-free-halloween-spider-cookies/” name=”No Bake Spider Cookies” summary=”<p>Easy no bake spider cookies will be a hit with both kids and adults this Halloween. These gluten-free cookies combine peanut butter cups and Rice Krispies for a cute treat all can enjoy!</p>” button=”Get the Recipe” image=”36912″] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item link=”https://artscrackers.com/2014/09/22/pumpkin-patch-pudding-fall-dirt-cups/” name=”Pumpkin Patch Pudding Cups” summary=”<p>Pumpkin patch pudding dirt cups are simple, so they're the perfect fall treat to involve kids in and enjoy on a Halloween movie night.</p>” button=”Get the Recipe” image=”36913″] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41004″ name=”Frankenstein Brownies” summary=”<p>Frankenstein brownies are the cutest Halloween treats. They're quick and easy frosted Halloween snacks anyone can make, and especially fun for kids. </p>” button=”Get the Recipe”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item link=”https://niftymom.com/2016/10/monster-treats-stick/” name=”Monster Treats on a Stick” summary=”<p>Dip Rice Krispie treats on a stick into melted purple, green, and orange candy melts. Then add candy eyes for fun monster treats on a stick!</p>” button=”Get the Recipe” image=”36915″] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item link=”https://recipesfromapantry.com/halloween-marshmallow-pops-monster/” name=”Monster Halloween Marshmallow Pops” summary=”<p>These Monster Halloween marshmallow pops are easy Halloween treats that require only 5 ingredients and come together in just a few minutes.</p>” button=”Get the Recipe” image=”36916″] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41008″ name=”Chewy Monster Cookies” summary=”<p>How to make soft and chewy monster cookies from scratch, loaded with peanut butter, oats, M&M's, and chocolate chips. But watch out, cuz they'll disappear fast!</p>” button=”Get the Recipe”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item link=”https://crazyadventuresinparenting.com/2018/08/frankenstein-cupcakes-recipe.html” name=”Frankenstein Cupcakes Recipe” summary=”<p>If you’re in need of a non-scary Halloween recipe for a Halloween party, look no further! These Frankenstein cupcakes for Halloween are PERFECT!</p>” button=”Get the Recipe” image=”36918″] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item link=”https://www.homeandplate.com/blog/halloween-mummy-apple-crypts/” name=”Mummy Apple Crypts” summary=”<p>Turn a simple homemade apple pastry into a fun and healthy Halloween treat. Mummy apple crypts are cute yet scary and spooky.</p>” button=”Get the Recipe” image=”36919″] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41012″ name=”Whipped Cream Ghost Brownies” summary=”<p>Whipped cream ghost brownies are the easiest Halloween treats ever! Fun and spooky Halloween idea for kids, using whipped cream and candy eyeballs.</p>” button=”Get the Recipe”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item link=”https://crayonsandcravings.com/witch-hat-cupcakes/” name=”Witch Hat Cupcakes” summary=”<p>Witch hat cupcakes are made by topping cupcakes with sugar cones and adding detail with icing. These Halloween cupcakes will be a hit at your Halloween party.</p>” button=”Get the Recipe” image=”36921″] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item link=”https://juliassimplysouthern.com/2018/08/white-chocolate-boo-nana-ghost-pops.html” name=”White Chocolate BOO-Nana Ghost Pops” summary=”<p>Make this fun and easy Halloween treat with melted white chocolate covered bananas that look like ghosts.</p>” button=”Get the Recipe” image=”36922″] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41022″ name=”Polyjuice Potion Recipe” summary=”<p>Brew a simple Polyjuice Potion recipe for a transformative experience at your Halloween or Harry Potter party. Easy, fun, non alcoholic, lime sherbet punch!</p>” button=”Get the Recipe”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item link=”https://www.eatsamazing.co.uk/family-friendly-recipes/dessert-sweet-treat-recipes/ghostly-mini-cheesecake-bites-recipe” name=”Ghostly Mini Cheesecake Bites” summary=”<p>Ghostly mini cheesecake bites are the perfect dessert for a Halloween party. Whip up this quick & easy Halloween dessert in minutes – just 6 ingredients!</p>” button=”Get the Recipe” image=”36924″] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item link=”https://www.shelovesbiscotti.com/halloween-witch-finger-butter-cookies/” name=”Halloween Witch Finger Butter Cookies” summary=”<p>Hosting a Halloween movie night? Shape Buranelli cookies into witch finger cookies, and lay them in edible dirt. Creepy but delicious buttery witch cookies. </p>” button=”Get the Recipe” image=”36925″] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item id=”41014″ name=”Spooky Graveyard Brownies” summary=”<p>Easy graveyard brownies, perfect for your Halloween party. Use Milano cookies, Oreos, and candy pumpkins to decorate these spooky treats!</p>” button=”Get the Recipe”] [wprm-recipe-roundup-item link=”https://www.reneeskitchenadventures.com/2016/10/pumpkin-patch-cake.html” name=”Pumpkin Patch Cake” summary=”<p>Pumpkin patch cake starts with a simple made-from-scratch chocolate cake, topped with chocolate frosting and then decorated for the season with mellowcreme pumpkins. </p>” button=”Get the Recipe” image=”36928″]
Hopefully, you’ve found plenty of Halloween inspiration for your Halloween party menu. Happy Halloween to you and yours!

I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to leave a comment, and follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can subscribe to my email list too.
October 10, 2018
No-Peel Instant Pot Cinnamon Applesauce
How to make easy, homemade, no-peel, Instant Pot cinnamon applesauce, a delicious recipe for canning or freezing. Make it smooth or chunky, no sugar added!

Instant Pot cinnamon applesauce is really easy to make and made pretty much the same way as regular Instant Pot applesauce. You really just need to add cinnamon to the mixture.

This applesauce recipe only calls for 4 ingredients, and none of them includ added sugar. If you use the right apples, which we’ll talk about below, you won’t need additional sugar because it’ll be sweet enough on its own.

Think about it… Natural ingredients, no need to actually peel apples, all the nutritional benefits of those peelings, and it’s all made in the Instant Pot.

The fact that it’s pressure cooked takes the work out of making applesauce because you don’t have to stand in front of a hot stove stirring the day away. Instead, just add the ingredients to your Instant Pot pressure cooker, push a couple buttons, and let it do the majority of the work for you.

Now you can peel your apples if you want to; it’s totally up to you. If you use an immersion blender and not a regular blender, you may have some tiny pieces of peeling still left in your sauce.

There’s really no reason, though, that you can’t fill your pantry with jars of homemade applesauce. And can I just say it tastes so much better and has a much better texture than store canned applesauce. So much better!

Let’s get cooking, shall we?

Looking for apple recipes? Here are 50 mouthwatering apple recipes you may enjoy!

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR CINNAMON APPLESAUCE!

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious recipe for cinnamon applesauce – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

WHERE CAN I FIND THE BEST APPLES FOR APPLESAUCE?

Fall is probably the best time to find the best apples for applesauce, although you can use pretty much any apples you can find, whether you’re shopping at the store, an orchard, or the farmer’s market.

In the fall, though, I recommend buying seconds at a local orchard if you have one, and sometimes you can find them at the farmer’s market.

Buying seconds usually ensures that you can buy a HUGE box of apples for a lot less than normal cost, which is going to save you a ton of money.

One thing you need to know, though… It does take a LOT of apples to get a little bit of applesauce, fresh homemade apple juice, apple jelly, or apple butter. But in my opinion, that homemade flavor and texture of home canned applesauce is totally worth it.

WHAT KIND OF APPLES SHOULD I USE TO MAKE APPLESAUCE?

Some apples are sweet and some have a more tart, sour taste. Also, some apples are crisp, while others are softer.

When making a batch of homemade applesauce, I like to use a sweeter apple that has a little bit of tartness to it. I prefer not to add any sugar, so I want the unsweetened applesauce to taste really good all on its own.

Most people recommend using a softer apple for applesauce; it doesn’t even matter if your apples are mushy since they’re going to be made into mush anyway.

We’ve found that Jonagold apples make the BEST applesauce. They’re sweet with just a little bit of tartness. And they mash up really well.

Other best apples for applesauce may include:
- Jonathan
- Braeburn
- Honeycrisp
- McIntosh
- Winesap
- Rome
- Golden Delicious
- Cortland
- Fuji
- Gala
- Ambrosia
You can also try mixing and matching different kinds of apples to get the flavor you want for your applesauce.

WHY ADD LEMON JUICE TO AN APPLESAUCE RECIPE?

You’ll find different opinions about this topic when you research, but there are two main reasons home canners give for adding lemon juice to home canned applesauce.
1. It helps preserve or protect the color of your apples over time.
2. It can help make the applesauce more acidic for home canning. Wind fallen apples (including seconds) can have a lower acidity and a higher mold/bacteria count than unblemished apples.
Even though their explanation is focused more around homemade jam, The Kitchn provides a great explanation for why it’s important to add lemon juice.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE CINNAMON APPLESAUCE IN THE INSTANT POT

For this Instant Pot applesauce, you’ll need about 6 pounds of apples, just a little bit of lemon juice, water, and cinnamon.

You can make this recipe on the stovetop, or you can even make it as Crock Pot applesauce; keep in mind that cooking times will vary.

You can also make applesauce from the leftover apple mush you have when you make apple juice.

Here’s how to make a stand alone cinnamon applesauce recipe:
- Wash, core, and slice the apples. Be sure to cut out any bad spots, as well.
- Put the sliced apples in your Instant Pot.
- Add the lemon juice, water, and cinnamon to the Instant Pot, as well. If you want to mix everything together, you can; but there’s really no need to until after it all cooks.
- Put the lid in place on the Instant Pot, and press Manual or Pressure Cook for 10 minutes.
- When it’s finished cooking, allow the pressure cooker to do a natural release.
- Purée the mixture with an immersion blender, or mash the apples with a potato masher.
Note: If you want to eliminate any tiny pieces of peeling in the sauce, you may want to blend with a regular blender. It’s up to you how you prefer the texture and consistency.

CAN YOU FREEZE HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE?

Yes, you can freeze applesauce. In fact, you can freeze or can applesauce, whichever you prefer.

My mom used to freeze a LOT of the applesauce she made when we were kids growing up. She’d keep freezer safe plastic containers just for storing things like homemade applesauce.

HOW DO I CAN APPLESAUCE?

Applesauce canning is actually pretty simple. We use a water bath canning method.

Should you choose to can your cinnamon applesauce, Ball has wonderful Canning Guides to guide you through the process. You can also consult the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving.

This applesauce recipe for canning makes probably around 4-6 pints total. It’s so delicious served on homemade biscuits, toast, and cornbread. Yum!

MORE APPLE RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY:
Learn how to use your Instant Pot with our Instant Pot Quick Start Guide, filled with practical tips, Instant Pot recipes, accessory ideas, and more!

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE INSTANT POT CINNAMON APPLESAUCE

Jars and Lids – I prefer jelly jars or pint jars. In fact, we usually try to keep our pantry stocked with jars. But don’t forget the lids and rings. They can be easy to forget, and before you know it, you have all the jars you need but no lids.

Canning Funnel – for pouring the applesauce into the jars without making a mess.

Jar Lifter

Apple Corer/Peeler/Slicer – I’m telling you, this tool is so worth every penny we spent at the thrift store, but I’d order one brand new too. It saves so much time.

Paring Knife – for trimming off any bad spots or slicing the apples.

Immersion Blender or Potato Masher – This will allow you to get the texture or consistency that you want.

Instant Pot – We used our 6-quart Instant Pot.

CINNAMON APPLESAUCE RECIPE

If you love this cinnamon applesauce recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

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No-Peel Instant Pot Cinnamon Applesauce

How to make easy, homemade, no-peel, Instant Pot cinnamon applesauce, a delicious recipe for canning or freezing. Make it smooth or chunky, no sugar added!
6 pounds apples (unpeeled)
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup water
2 tablespoons cinnamon
Wash, core, and slice the apples. Cut out any bad spots, as well.
Put the sliced apples in your Instant Pot.
Add the lemon juice, water, and cinnamon to the Instant Pot, as well. If you want to mix everything together, you can; but there’s no need to until after it all cooks.
Put the lid in place on the Instant Pot. Press Manual or Pressure Cook for 10 minutes.
When it’s finished cooking, allow the pressure cooker to do a natural release.
If it seems like the applesauce will be a bit watery, drain a bit of the water before mashing the apples.*
Purée the mixture with an immersion blender, or mash the apples with a potato masher.** It’s up to you how you prefer the texture or consistency.
Preserve using your preferred method, whether you choose to freeze or can the applesauce.***
*You can drink the apple juice if you choose to drain the apples before mashing.

**If you want to eliminate any tiny pieces of peeling in the sauce, you may want to blend with a regular blender. It’s up to you how you prefer the texture and consistency.

***If you choose to can it, Ball has wonderful Canning Guides to guide you through the process. You can also consult the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving.

Sauces & Dressings
American
applesauce, applesauce recipe, cinnamon applesauce, Instant Pot applesauce
October 8, 2018
Deliciously Moist Pumpkin Bread Recipe
Bake up a taste of fall with this deliciously moist pumpkin bread recipe. Simple, easy, and quick, you can even add walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips. Thank you to WonderMix for sponsoring this recipe!

There’s nothing quite like a pumpkin bread recipe to bring the taste of fall right into your very own kitchen. Filled with pumpkin and the flavors of pumpkin spice, this is one quick bread I look forward to every year.

Pumpkin bread is a lot like banana bread. It has many of the same ingredients; only it has pumpkin instead of banana.

While I haven’t tried it myself, I would think that you could also make muffins with this recipe, if you don’t want to actually make a bread loaf. The muffins will be sweet, moist, and everything you love about a fall morning.

A couple weeks ago, I shared a buttermilk cornbread recipe we’d made, using milled corn from our WonderMill grain mill.

Now with the help of my WonderMix, pumpkin bread is quite easy to make. You really just have to mix a few ingredients, pour the dough into a greased loaf pan, and bake it.

Homemade pumpkin bread is the best! It’s right up there with pumpkin spice muffins and gingerbread loaf!

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR PUMPKIN BREAD!

If you’d rather skip all of my baking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the deliciously easy pumpkin bread recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT WONDERMIX!

WonderMix is “the kitchen mixer that’s built for life.” I love using my WonderMix when I’m baking.

The WonderMix Revolution Mixer is an all-in-one kitchen mixer with optional attachments like cookie whips, a blender, and a food processor.

Features of the WonderMix include the following:
- 900-watt motor
- Direct drive high torque transmission
- 3 speeds and pulse function
- Large 5.5-qt. bowl with handle that’s dishwasher safe
- Dough hook
- BPA free
- Cord storage
- and so much more… You can read more about the features on the WonderMix site.
WHAT ATTACHMENTS CAN I GET FOR THE WONDERMIX?

There are several attachments you can get to complement your WonderMix, including the blender, cookie whips, a slicer/shredder, meat grinder, grain flaker, and grain mill.

HOW DOES THE WONDERMIX REALLY WORK?

I love how easy the WonderMix is to use and how easy it is to clean up.

The large capacity bowl is very important when mixing larger quantities of foods, and I love that it actually has a handle. I don’t have to wrestle with the bowl to remove the ingredients.

I also like that the bowl is deep and ingredients don’t splatter out near as easily, if ever, while mixing. It also has a lid that prevents splatters and flour dust.

The beaters really do mix the ingredients in the bowl; they don’t leave chunks of unmixed ingredients in the bottom. And while I do have to occasionally scrape the sides, this mixer does a really good job overall of mixing up my recipes.

The speed did throw me for a loop at first because it doesn’t get louder the faster it goes. I wasn’t quite used to that.

It’s easy to scrape contents out of the bowl when I’m done mixing, even with the center console for the drive shaft there. And did I mention it’s easy to clean up, even after making a batch of homemade pumpkin bread?

WHERE CAN I BUY PUMPKINS FOR PUMPKIN RECIPES?

You can either use fresh pumpkin for this recipe or canned pumpkin.

Fresh pumpkins are easy to find this time of year; you can buy pumpkins at any grocery store, pumpkin patch, or orchard. You can find canned pumpkin in the baking aisle of your nearest grocery store too.

HOW DO I MAKE PUMPKIN PUREE?

Homemade pumpkin purée is really easy to make. In fact, I have a recipe you can follow for homemade pumpkin purée.

The recipe involves roasting the pumpkins and blending the pumpkin flesh into a smooth purée, meaning you can use the blender on your WonderMix to make the purée.

IS CANNED PUMPKIN THE SAME AS PUMPKIN PUREE?

I got this question the other day from a reader… I can see how it might be a bit confusing because they can look quite different from each other.

Canned pumpkin is, however, pumpkin purée. The only difference I see when using either/both is that homemade pumpkin purée can have a bit more water and be a little more juicy than store bought canned pumpkin.

You can use either kind of pumpkin for this pumpkin bread recipe.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE PUMPKIN BREAD

You’ll need a bread loaf pan to bake easy pumpkin bread. You’ll need to grease the pan well, either with cooking spray or with shortening/butter.
- Pre-heat the oven to 350°.
- Mix together the softened butter and sugar; then mix in the eggs, vanilla extract, and pumpkin.
- Sift together the dry ingredients, including the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and ground cloves.
- Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
- Then add the chopped walnuts and mix again.
- You can add a cup or so of chocolate chips, as well, if you’d like to make chocolate chip pumpkin bread.
- Pour the dough into a well greased loaf pan, and bake at 350° for about an hour, or until a toothpick (or cake tester) inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove your loaf of deliciously moist pumpkin bread from the oven, and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.
- Then run a butter knife around the edge of your loaf, and slip the loaf out of the pan onto a wire rack to cool.
We love to slice our bread while it’s still slightly warm (but not too hot) and slather it with butter. It’s so good!

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE PUMPKIN PIE SPICE?

That’s ok! What is in pumpkin pie spice is a mixture of spices, including ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger; it may also include cloves and allspice.

You can use these spices, individually, if you have them. You’ll just need to use a smaller amount of each spice you choose to use, so they can work together to create the amount of pumpkin pie spice you would need, in this case, a teaspoon.

I would definitely try to use cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and even allspice if possible.

MORE PUMPKIN RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY:
KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE PUMPKIN BREAD:

WonderMix Kitchen Mixer

Spatula – for pouring the dough into the loaf pan.

Sifter

Loaf Pan

Cake Tester – While you can also use a toothpick, I kinda love my li’l cake tester.

Wire Rack

PUMPKIN BREAD RECIPE

If you love this pumpkin bread recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

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Moist Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Bake up a taste of fall with this deliciously moist pumpkin bread recipe. Simple, easy, and quick, you can even add walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips.
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup cane sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup pumpkin purée
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
Pre-heat the oven to 350°, and grease a loaf pan well.
Mix together the softened butter and sugar; then mix in the eggs, vanilla extract, and pumpkin.
Sift together the dry ingredients, including the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and ground cloves.
Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
Then add the chopped walnuts and mix again.
Pour the dough into a well greased loaf pan, and bake at 350° for about an hour, or until a toothpick (or cake tester) inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove your loaf of deliciously moist pumpkin bread from the oven, and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.
Then run a butter knife around the edge of your loaf, and slip the loaf out of the pan onto a wire rack to cool.
Serve with butter, jelly, or whatever your heart desires!
*You can make this recipe into a pumpkin bread loaf, or you can use a muffin tin and make pumpkin muffins instead. You can add a cup or so of chocolate chips, as well, if you’d like to make chocolate chip pumpkin bread.

Breads & Muffins
American
moist pumpkin bread, moist pumpkin bread recipe, pumpkin bread, pumpkin bread recipe, pumpkin recipes
October 4, 2018
Easy Peanut Butter Corn Flake Bars
Mix up a batch of Corn Flake bars with peanut butter, marshmallows, peanuts, and candy corn. Quick and easy treats you can make in a jiffy; they make the best Halloween treats for kids!

If you love candy corn and peanuts, peanut butter cereal bars are another really yummy treat with that same sweet and salty flavor. They’re also chewy, which I don’t know why, but I love chewy when it comes to sweets.

There are a few reasons why I love this recipe and why I love to make them in the fall.

Why You’ll Love These Treats As Much As I Do
- They’re no bake. I mean, who doesn’t love a good no bake snack, especially during one of the busiest seasons of the year?
- Like my favorite chocolate-y granola bars, these no bake snacks are super easy to make.
- They’ll fit the bill for both fall and Halloween festivities.
- You can easily add a little pizzazz by drizzling a little chocolate or white chocolate on top.
- They’re a fun snack to make with kids.
- They make a great snack to take on outdoor adventures together, like kayaking the Jacks Fork or hiking with your family.
Ingredient Notes

Corn Flakes – You can use any brand of corn flakes you prefer. You can even try making these treats with other types of cereal, like Cheerios, Rice Krispies, etc. The texture will be quite a bit different, but it’s really up to you to decide what texture you want for your cereal bars.

Peanuts – I’d recommend using dry roasted or cocktail peanuts for the best flavor.

Candy corn – If you want to make these candy corn bars at other times of the year, you might pick up a few extra bags so you have them on hand.

Creamy peanut butter – Yes, you can use crunchy peanut butter instead; it’ll just add a little more crunch to your treats.

Light corn syrup

White chocolate melts – You can use melts or white chocolate chips. Either one will work.
You’ll find a complete ingredient list with measurements in the recipe card below.
How to Make Corn Flake Bars

There are only a few steps to making these no bake easy desserts. Before you get started, be sure to grease an 8×8 baking dish with cooking spray.
Then mix up the treats…
1. Start by mixing together the cereal, peanuts, and candy corn in a large mixing bowl. That way you’re ready to go after you’ve cooked your sticky syrup mixture.
1. Melt together the peanut butter and corn syrup in a saucepan on the stove, constantly stirring to keep it from scorching on the bottom of the pan. Cook for about 5 to 10 minutes. The peanut butter and corn syrup will melt together and form more of a syrupy liquid.
2. Remove the peanut butter mixture from the stove, give it a good stir, and pour it over the cereal mixture.
3. Stir everything together really well, making sure all of your cereal, peanuts, and candy corn are coated with the peanut butter syrup.
1. Put the mixture into the greased dish, and pat it down really well. Allow your pan of no bake snacks to cool… You can even put it in the fridge if you’d like it to cool quicker.
1. Once the bars have cooled, go ahead and slice them into approximately 9 bars. Then drizzle with melted white chocolate, and decorate the top with candy corn!
I actually drizzled white chocolate on our no bake cereal bars because I love how it complements the flavors of both the peanuts and the candy corn. It’s so delicious!
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

Can I make these in the microwave?
Yes, you can melt together the peanut butter and corn syrup in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave. Just cook the mixture on High in 15-second increments, stirring after every cooking cycle, ’til everything is melted. The peanut butter and corn syrup will eventually melt together and form a syrupy liquid.

Why are my corn flake squares falling apart?
They shouldn’t be falling apart, but it might be that your cereal bars weren’t pressed down into the pan as firmly as they needed to be. You want to press them firmly enough to compact the treats but not so much that it causes the treats to be completely dense. It’s kind of a balance. It’ll also help to cool the treats before you try to eat them; warm cereal bars tend to fall apart easier.

How should I store them?
Store them in an airtight container at room temperature. You can also freeze them if you want to make them ahead; just be sure to place them in an airtight container or bag, so they don’t get freezer burn.

More Quick and Easy Treat Recipes:
More easy last minute ideas –>> 20+ Halloween movie night snacks – including Halloween brownies, party punch, cookies, no bake desserts, treats on a stick, Halloween cupcakes, and more!

If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
Peanut Butter Corn Flake Bars

Mix up a batch of Corn Flake bars with peanut butter, marshmallows, peanuts, and candy corn. Quick and easy treats you can make in a jiffy!
Large Mixing Bowl
Small Saucepan
8×8 Baking Pan
4 cups Corn Flakes cereal
1 cup peanuts
1 cup candy corn
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup white chocolate melts ((or white chocolate chips))
Grease an 8"x8" baking pan with cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the cereal, peanuts, and candy corn.
In a small saucepan over low to medium heat on the stovetop, melt the peanut butter and corn syrup, constantly stirring to keep it from scorching on the bottom of the pan.
Cook for about 5 to 10 minutes, constantly stirring. The peanut butter and corn syrup will melt together and form more of a syrupy liquid.
Remove the peanut butter mixture from the stove, give it a good stir, and pour it over the cereal mixture.
Stir everything together really well, making sure all of the cereal, peanuts, and candy corn are coated with the peanut butter syrup.
Spread the mixture in the greased dish, and firmly pat it evenly into the pan.
Allow the treats to cool. Then slice the bars for serving.
Drizzle the top of each bar with melted white chocolate, and add a piece of candy corn for decoration.
*You can use either white chocolate or regular/dark chocolate for a drizzle. I actually drizzled white chocolate on our no bake cereal bars because I love how it complements the flavors of both the peanuts and the candy corn. It’s so delicious!

Can I make these in the microwave?

Yes, you can melt together the peanut butter and corn syrup in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave. Just cook the mixture on High in 15-second increments, stirring after every cooking cycle, ’til everything is melted. The peanut butter and corn syrup will eventually melt together and form a syrupy liquid.

How should I store them?

Store them in an airtight container at room temperature. You can also freeze them if you want to make them ahead; just be sure to place them in an airtight container or bag, so they don’t get freezer burn.

Cookies & Bars, Desserts
American
corn flake bars, Halloween treats, no bake peanut butter bars, peanut butter cereal bars, peanut butter cereal bars recipe
October 1, 2018
Whipped Cream Ghost Halloween Brownies
Whipped cream ghost Halloween brownies are the easiest Halloween treats ever! Fun and spooky Halloween idea for kids, using whipped cream and candy eyeballs.

If you’re looking for Halloween snacks that are both fun and spooky, but not too scary, these ghost Halloween brownies are just the thing. They’re so easy to make, it’s not even funny.

Life gets busy and before you know it, it’s time to make the Halloween treats you committed to make for the Halloween party. I know what it’s like; weeks squeeze into weeks and days become hours and before you know it, Halloween’s tomorrow!

It’s ok because these cute little treats will take you no time at all. And they use a brownie mix, so no need to fret over trying to make them from scratch.

Instead you can focus on having a little fun with your kids come Halloween time. Or you can just whip these up in a jiffy.

More Halloween treats you will love: Frankenstein brownies, mummy Halloween brownies, Tombstone Brownies, and Pumpkin Patch Halloween Brownies.

WHAT KIND OF BROWNIE MIX SHOULD I USE?

First of all, you really need a brownie that’s easy to slice and pull out of the pan, nothing too messy or gooey.

My first batch of brownies were extremely soft and gooey; I didn’t realize they’d be so gooey. They could hardly be scraped off the bottom of the pan.

So, I definitely recommend making cake-like or chewy brownies (preferably chewy) that won’t be so gooey and will easily pop right out of the pan.

This brownie mix worked wonderfully well for our ghost brownies.

DO I HAVE TO MAKE HOMEMADE WHIPPED CREAM?

No, you absolutely don’t have to. You can just use store bought whipped cream, either the whipped cream in the can (negating any need of pastry bags and tips) or the kind in the tub.

Also, you can even use icing instead of whipped cream. Make homemade sugar cookie icing or use ready made icing that comes with a convenient tip for decorating, making the process even easier.

It’s totally up to you! However, whipped cream is so easy to make, it only takes a few minutes.

HOW DO I MAKE HOMEMADE WHIPPED CREAM IF I WANT TO USE THAT?

You can just follow my recipe for homemade whipped cream, where you’ll find the exact ingredients and the steps to making it yourself.

You’ll need cream cheese (that’s softened), heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar.

Be sure to refrigerate the whipped cream until you’re ready to serve it.

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE GHOST HALLOWEEN BROWNIES

You’ll need just a few things to make ghost Halloween brownies, including the following:
- Already baked and cooled brownies
- Whipped Cream
- Candy eyeballs
TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE THESE SCRUMPTIOUS HALLOWEEN TREATS

Slice your completely cooled brownies into squares or as close to square shaped brownies as you can.

To decorate brownies with ghosts, follow these steps:
- Using Wilton Round Tip 2A (or the closest off brand cake tip) and a small pastry bag, swirl a ghost on top of each brownie.
- Add candy eyeballs for the eyes.
That was easy, right?! So simple.

This is the perfect opportunity to get your kids in the kitchen. Let them swirl a few ghosts, or have them add the candy eyeballs while you swirl the whipped cream.

Most importantly, just have fun with it!

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE CAKE TIPS AND PASTRY BAGS?

That’s ok! You really don’t have to have the cake tip I mentioned above or the pastry bag. You can get creative with what you have.

If you have sandwich bags, snip the corner of a sandwich bag, fill the bag with whipped cream, and swirl away. Works like a charm!

You can also create a DIY pastry bag using parchment paper or wax paper.

MORE EASY HALLOWEEN TREATS AND RECIPES YOU CAN MAKE:
- No Bake Peanut Butter Bars with Candy Corn
- Soft and Chewy Monster Cookies
More easy last minute ideas –>> 20+ Halloween treats – including Halloween brownies, party punch, cookies, no bake desserts, treats on a stick, Halloween cupcakes, and more!

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE WHIPPED CREAM GHOST HALLOWEEN BROWNIES

Mixer

Brownie Pan or Cake Pan

Pastry Bags (or Sandwich Bags)

Wilton Tip 2A

GHOST HALLOWEEN BROWNIES RECIPE

If you love this ghost Halloween brownies recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

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Click on the video below to see how easy it is to make ghost brownies for Halloween!
Whipped Cream Ghost Brownies

Whipped cream ghost brownies are the easiest Halloween treats ever! Fun and spooky Halloween idea for kids, using whipped cream and candy eyeballs.
Wilton Round Tip 2A
Small Pastry Bag
15 brownies (baked and cooled)
4 cups whipped cream
40 candy eyeballs
Slice the brownies into squares.
Using Wilton Round Tip 2A and a small pastry bag, swirl a whipped cream ghost on top of each brownie.
Add candy eyeballs for the eyes.
That's it! They're ready to serve.
I recommend not swirling the ghosts until you’re ready to serve; OR refrigerate the ghost brownies until you’re ready to serve them. Otherwise, your ghosts may start to melt.

Desserts, Halloween
American
brownie mix, ghost brownies, Halloween brownies, halloween desserts, Halloween snacks, Halloween treats, whipped cream ghost
September 25, 2018
Pumpkin Patch Halloween Brownies
How to make quick and easy pumpkin patch Halloween brownies for kids, a fun Halloween treat recipe with candy corn pumpkins and green icing!

Fall is full of so many beautiful things, including that ever anticipated trip to the pumpkin patch. Why not bring a little bit of the pumpkin patch into your Halloween treats with the cutest pumpkin patch Halloween brownies ever?

While you will need just a little bit of green decorating icing, the only other things you’ll need for this brownie recipe are a brownie mix and candy corn pumpkins.

My dad used to keep these cute little mellowcreme pumpkins in our farm truck, along with Tootsie Rolls. But when fall hit, he always had a bag of Brach’s candy pumpkins.

Every time I eat them, they take me back to riding around in the farm truck with my dad, feeding the cows and working on the farm.

Now I’m using them to make the cutest and pretty much the quickest little Halloween desserts. Place a couple of pumpkins, swag a little bit of green icing, and you’re all set, easy peasy!

Use a brownie mix to make the brownies. And while I use a homemade sugar cookie icing, you can totally buy a tube of decorating icing already made and ready to go; just get green.

More Halloween treats you will love: Frankenstein brownies, Ghost Halloween Brownies, Graveyard Halloween Brownies, and Mummy Halloween Brownies.

WHAT KIND OF BROWNIE MIX SHOULD I USE?

I really recommend using a brownie that’s going to be easy to slice and pull out of the pan, nothing too messy or gooey.

Our first batch of brownies gave us a really ooey gooey brownie; I didn’t realize they’d be that gooey. They could hardly be scraped off the bottom of the pan.

Definitely go for more cake-like or chewy brownies (preferably chewy) that won’t be so gooey and will easily pop right out of the pan.

This brownie mix worked fantastically well for our pumpkin patch brownies.

WHAT KIND OF ICING SHOULD I USE?

You have two options here: You can either mix up a quick batch of my favorite sugar cookie icing and then color it green.

Or you can use pre-made icing or decorating icing that’s ready to go.

Personally, I love the flavor of homemade frosting. It just tastes so much better! But whatever you decide to use will work just fine.

HOW DO I COLOR THE ICING FOR MY PUMPKIN PATCH BROWNIES?

Add food coloring to your icing, and mix it according to your specific food coloring directions. I will say that it doesn’t take a lot either.

Rule of thumb when baking or mixing up anything, especially when adding food coloring to anything: Start with a small amount because you can always add more, but you can’t take away.

I used Wilton Kelly Green for the vines on my pumpkin patch treats.

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE PUMPKIN PATCH HALLOWEEN BROWNIES

You’ll need just a few things to make pumpkin patch Halloween brownies, including the following:
- Already baked and cooled brownies
- Green sugar cookie icing
- Candy pumpkins – Brach’s Mellowcreme Pumpkins are my favorite.
TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE THESE SCRUMPTIOUS HALLOWEEN TREATS

Slice your brownies into squares or as close to square shaped brownies as you can.

To decorate brownies, follow these steps:
- Using Wilton Round Tip 5 (or the closest off brand cake tip) and a small pastry bag, add pumpkin vines (and leaves if you want) to the top of the brownie with green icing. Just do a little swag with little loops around the outside edge of the brownie; think of how long and wispy a pumpkin vine looks.
- Add a dab of green icing to the bottom of your candy pumpkins and set in place with the vines. You can add 2 or 3 pumpkins to each brownie.
- If you have time and want to, you can even add a little bit more vine coming down from the stem of the pumpkin to meet the vine on the top of the brownie. This step is totally optional, though.
The most important thing to remember is don’t try to make them perfect. If you’ve ever grown pumpkins, you know how much of a tangled mess the vines can be.

Just have fun with it, and get your kids in the kitchen with you. They’ll have so much fun decorating these fun little Halloween brownies.

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE CAKE TIPS AND PASTRY BAGS?

That’s ok! You really don’t have to have the cake tip I mentioned above or the pastry bag. You can get creative with what you have.

Or you can just use ready made icing that comes with a convenient tip for decorating, making the process even easier.

If you want to use homemade icing and have sandwich bags, you can snip the corner of a sandwich bag, fill the bag with icing, and swirl away. Works like a charm!

You can also create a DIY pastry bag using parchment paper or wax paper.

MORE HALLOWEEN TREATS AND RECIPES YOU CAN MAKE:

Soft and Chewy Monster Cookies

More easy last minute ideas –>> 20+ Halloween treats – including Halloween brownies, party punch, cookies, no bake desserts, treats on a stick, Halloween cupcakes, and more!

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE PUMPKIN PATCH HALLOWEEN BROWNIES

Mixer

Brownie Pan or Cake Pan

Pastry Bags (or Sandwich Bags)

Wilton Tip 5

PUMPKIN PATCH HALLOWEEN BROWNIES RECIPE

If you love this pumpkin patch Halloween brownies recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

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Click on the video below to see how easy it is to make pumpkin patch brownies for Halloween!
Pumpkin Patch Brownies

How to make quick and easy pumpkin patch Halloween brownies for kids, a fun Halloween treat recipe with candy corn pumpkins and green icing!
15 brownies (baked and cooled)
2 cups green decorating icing
40 mellowcreme candy pumpkins
Slice the brownies into squares.
Using green decorating icing with a round tip, add pumpkin vines (and leaves if you want) to the top of each brownie. Just do a little swag with little loops around the outside edge of the brownie; think of how long and wispy a pumpkin vine looks.
Add a dab of green icing to the bottom of your candy pumpkins and set in place with the vines. You can add 2 or 3 pumpkins to each brownie.
If you have time and want to, you can even add a little bit more vine coming down from the stem of the pumpkin to meet the vine on the top of the brownie. This step is optional.
And that’s it! They’re ready to serve for a fun Halloween or fall treat!
*If you don’t want to buy icing, you can also make homemade cookie icing; then use a pastry bag and round tip to decorate. If you’re using homemade icing and you don’t have pastry bags or tips, it’s ok! You can use a sandwich bag instead. Just snip the corner of a sandwich bag, fill the bag with icing, and swirl away.

The most important thing to remember is don’t try to make them perfect. If you’ve ever seen pumpkins on the vine, you know how much of a tangled mess the vines can be. Just have fun with it!

Desserts, Halloween
American
brownie mix, Halloween brownies, halloween desserts, Halloween snacks, Halloween treats, pumpkin patch brownies
September 25, 2018
Chewy Monster Cookies
How to make soft and chewy monster cookies from scratch, loaded with peanut butter, oats, M&M’s, and chocolate chips. Easy dessert recipe you can easily customize for Halloween and other holidays. But watch out, cuz they’ll disappear fast!

Monster chocolate chip cookies made with loads of chocolate are one of my favorite cookies. Partly because they remind me of a childhood neighbor and partly because they’re just so soft and chewy.

When I was a kid, my neighbor would make the most delicious soft and chewy monster cookies filled with oatmeal, peanut butter, peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, and M&M’s. I mean, she loaded those puppies up with all kinds of sweet chocolaty goodness.

Why You’ll Love M&M Monster Cookies

There are a handful of reasons to love this scrumptious monster cookies recipe…
- They are easily customizable… You can make them festive for any occasion. Halloween? Add a spooky touch with candy eyeballs. Christmas? Use Christmas M&M’s that are red and green. Easter? Use pastel colored M&M’s.
- These cookies are especially fun to make with kids, and this is an easy recipe for that exact purpose.
- You can add other mix-ins besides chocolate chips and M&M’s. Try Snickers bars, Reese’s Pieces, Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, Milky Way, mini marshmallows, and more!
- They’re thick, soft, and chewy. What’s not to love about soft monster cookies that are also thick and chewy?
- They’re very similar to another reader favorite oatmeal cookies recipe, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.
Ingredients and Substitutions Notes

You’ll need to gather a few ingredients to mix up this monster cookie dough…
- Butter – I prefer to use unsalted butter rather than salted when baking, so I can more easily control the amount of salt that goes into the recipe. Also, be sure to soften the butter, so it will mix well.
- Light Brown Sugar – Brown sugar is just one of the things that helps give these cookies their soft and chewy texture.
- Peanut Butter – You can use creamy or crunchy, but I highly recommend creamy, mainly because we’re already adding other crispy ingredients that will give a lot of crunch. It is best to use a regular peanut butter that doesn’t require stirring every time you use it. I do use Skippy Natural creamy peanut butter, but it only requires stirring upon opening the jar the first time around. The problem with other natural peanut butters is that all of the oil can be too much for the dough, and your cookies may spread more while baking.
- Egg – You’ll need a large egg.
- Vanilla Extract
- All-Purpose Flour – I recommend using an unbleached all-purpose flour. If you want to make these cookies gluten-free, use a good gluten-free flour that bakes well; <<– the one I link to here is my go to.
- Baking Soda
- Sea Salt – I recommend Redmond Sea Salt.
- Oats – You can use quick oats or old-fashioned oats. Either kind of oatmeal will work just fine.
- Chocolate Chips – While I prefer semi-sweet chocolate chips, feel free to use milk chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips.
- Peanut Butter Chips
- M&M’s – Feel free to use Reese’s Pieces instead.
- Other Optional Candies – Crushed Mini Snickers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, or other candies. And candy eyeballs, especially if you’re making these cookies for Halloween.
How to Make Chewy Monster Cookies

These cookies are really easy to make. Here’s how to mix up the dough…
1. In a large mixing bowl, cream, or mix together, the softened butter and brown sugar.
2. Then mix the peanut butter into the butter sugar mixture.
3. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing well.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing well.
6. Mix the oats into the cookie dough.
7. Add the chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, M&M’s, and other candies (except candy eyeballs) into the dough, mixing everything together well.
8. Using a cookie scoop, drop the cookies onto a cookie sheet.
9. Bake at 375° F for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden and done.
1. If using candy eyeballs, gently press the eyeballs into the tops of the cookies while they’re hot, adding as many or as few as you want. This has a dual purpose… 1) Great for decorating Halloween cookies and 2) It allows you to gently press the cookie down into a flatter cookie while still warm.
1. Remove the cookies to a wire rack to cool. Then serve with a nice mug of cold milk and enjoy!
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

Should I chill monster cookie dough?
It’s really not necessary for this cookie recipe. These cookies are already pretty chewy, and I prefer to just go ahead and bake the cookies while the dough is nice and soft.

Why do my monster cookies go flat?
There may be a few reasons… 1) If you use natural peanut butter, the extra oil can make the cookie dough spread flat while baking. 2) If your oven is too hot, the cookies may bake flatter, due to the butter in the dough melting too quickly. 3) Did you measure out the ingredients correctly? When measuring flour, it helps to spoon the flour into measuring cups, then use a knife’s edge to scrape off extra flour.

Can I make this recipe into monster cookie bars instead of cookies?
Yes, you can. Spread the dough into a greased 9×13 baking dish, and bake for at least 20-25 minutes, probably longer, ’til the cookie bars are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

How should you store these cookies?
Store then in an airtight container on the counter. They should keep for 4 to 5 days.

Can you freeze monster cookies?
Yes, you can make them and freeze them. Just allow enough time for the cookies to thaw before serving time. You can also freeze the cookie dough; just be sure to wrap it in plastic wrap, as well as place in an airtight container or freezer bag so it doesn’t get freezer burn. It should keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Really Yummy Mix-In Ideas for Monster Cookies

We touched on this just a bit in the ingredients section, but this cookie dough is really versatile, and there are several mix-ins you can add to make them even more bulky, sweet, and monster-like…
- Mini M&M’s
- Crushed Mini Snickers
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Reese’s Pieces
- White chocolate chips
- Butterscotch chips
- Chopped walnuts or pecans
- Bits of graham crackers, mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips to make s’more monster cookies
Just use your imagination; the sky’s the limit with these cookies.

More Reader Favorite Cookie Recipes (and Cookie Bars Too)

If you love this monster cookies recipe, you’ll love these cookie recipes too!
More easy last minute Halloween ideas –>> 20+ Halloween treats – including Halloween brownies, party punch, cookies, no bake desserts, treats on a stick, Halloween cupcakes, and more! And if it’s a costume you need, why not make a DIY Garfield costume?

If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
Chewy Monster Cookies

How to make soft and chewy monster cookies from scratch, loaded with peanut butter, oats, M&M's, and chocolate chips. Easy dessert recipe!
Mixer
Cookie Sheet
Cookie Scoop
Wire Rack
1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup peanut butter chips
1/2 cup M&M'S
1/2 cup candy eyeballs (optional)
Pre-heat the oven to 375° F.
Cream, or mix together, the butter and brown sugar.
Mix the peanut butter into the creamed mixture.
Add the egg and vanilla extract into the creamed mixture and mix well.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing well.
Mix the oats into the cookie dough.
Add the chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, M&M'S, and any other candies you want into the cookie dough, mixing everything together well.
Using a cookie scoop, drop cookies onto a cookie sheet.
Bake at 375° F for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden and done.
While the cookies are still on the cookie sheet, gently press the candy eyeballs into each cookie.*
Remove the cookies to a wire rack to cool.
Serve with a mug of ice cold milk!
*Gently pressing the candy eyeballs into the cookies will also allow you to gently press the cookies a bit flatter while they’re still nice and warm.

Store the cookies in an airtight container on the counter. They should keep for 4 to 5 days.

Cookies & Bars, Desserts
American
halloween cookies, halloween desserts, monster cookies, monster cookies recipe
September 20, 2018
Creamy No Bake Pumpkin Dessert
Deliciously creamy no bake pumpkin dessert layered with a cream cheese filling and pecan nut pie crust. Simple dessert recipe, perfect for Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin spice is no stranger to popularity, and neither is a really good no bake dessert. Combine the two, and you’ve got a deliciously cold and creamy no bake pumpkin dessert that is, to put it simply, to die for.

Made with a nutty pie crust, homemade pumpkin purée, and a creamy layer of cream cheese lush, it’s just as dreamy as my favorite no bake blueberry dessert.

Like Strawberry Delight, this dessert is yet another twist on my mom’s recipe for her famous Cherry Crunch. I will definitely have to share the cherry version of this recipe someday soon.

While the pie crust does require bake time, the rest of this recipe is indeed no bake. And it’s actually really simple and easy to make, even though, like an icebox cake, it does require a bit of chill time before serving.

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR THIS DREAMY CREAMY NO BAKE PUMPKIN DESSERT!

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to this deliciously creamy no bake pumpkin dessert recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED FOR THIS NO BAKE PUMPKIN DESSERT

You’ll need just a few ingredients to make this no bake pumpkin pie absolutely delicious…
- An already baked pecan nut pie crust
- A box of Dream Whip – I’ll explain why below.
- Whole milk
- Vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar
- Cream cheese
- Pumpkin Purée
- Vanilla pudding mixes
- Pumpkin spice seasoning
- Chopped Pecans
HOW TO MAKE THE 3-INGREDIENT PIE CRUST:

Making the pie crust is so simple and easy and requires just a few minutes of bake time.

First, melt the butter; then mix it together with the flour, forming a dough. Stir in the chopped pecans.

Press the crust into a 13″x9″ baking dish, and bake at 350° for about 20 minutes, or until the crust begins to turn a golden brown.

It’s important to let the crust cool before adding any filling.

Here is the full recipe for a pecan nut pie crust. Or if you’d rather have a crust without nuts, you might want to try this more traditional pie crust recipe or this easy no roll pie crust.

WHY DO I NEED DREAM WHIP FOR THIS CREAM CHEESE DESSERT? WHY CAN’T I JUST USE PLAIN WHIPPED CREAM?

I’ve tried making the cream cheese filling with homemade whipped cream; for some reason, it just doesn’t work. In fact, you’ll end up with a liquid goop that just won’t work for pie filling.

So, I usually reserve my whipped cream for the top (or save back a little Dream Whip) and use Dream Whip for the filling, the same ingredient my mom uses in her Cherry Crunch.

Dream Whip creates an ultra creamy pie filling that’s silky smooth, a bit like angel fluff (hard to describe it any other way), and so creamy delicious. It’s hard to beat when it comes to making a really rich, creamy, no bake dessert.

WHAT IS IN PUMPKIN PIE SPICE ANYWAY?

Pumpkin pie spice is used more traditionally in classic pumpkin pie. But it’s used in a lot of other recipes, as well, including Pumpkin Roll and Pumpkin Spice Gooey Butter Cake.

So, what is in pumpkin pie spice? It’s a blend of spices, including ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger; it may also include cloves and allspice.

It smells and tastes so good and adds that pumpkin spice kick to your favorite fall dessert recipes.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE A CREAMY NO BAKE PUMPKIN DESSERT

When you use Dream Whip, you’ll need to mix it up according to the package directions. You can follow how to make Dream Whip Whipped Topping Mix here, but be sure to double the ingredient amounts if you do.

Mix together your whipped cream, powdered sugar, and softened cream cheese with a mixer.

Spread the creamy filling on top of your cooled pie crust. At this point, you need to save back about a cup of the Dream Whip to top off your pumpkin dessert later when you’ve finished making it.

For the pumpkin layer, mix together the pumpkin purée, vanilla pudding mixes, milk, and pumpkin pie spice, until you’ve got a creamy pumpkin pie filling. Add the pumpkin layer on top of the Dream Whip layer.

Top the entire pumpkin dessert with the leftover cup of Dream Whip, and sprinkle chopped pecans on top.

And that’s it! This recipe is so easy. If you’re not quite ready to serve it, just cover it and chill in the refrigerator; and it’ll be ready when you are.

Personally, I think the colder it is, the better it tastes.

ANOTHER NO BAKE DESSERT RECIPE YOU MAY ENJOY:

Creamy No Bake Blueberry Dessert

MORE PUMPKIN DESSERT RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY:
And if you’re looking for even more holiday recipes, you’ll find a whole slew of them on my list of Best Thanksgiving Recipes for Your Holiday Menu.

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE A PUMPKIN NO BAKE DESSERT

13″x9″ Baking Dish – You’ll need this size baking dish for this recipe. I find myself using this size for so many recipes, not just desserts.

Mixer – You’ll need a mixer to mix together the ingredients for the creamy filling.

Spatula – Where would I be without my spatulas? I have a whole slew of them because we’re ALWAYS using them.

CREAMY NO BAKE PUMPKIN DESSERT RECIPE

If you love this creamy no bake pumpkin dessert recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

CONNECT WITH ADVENTURES OF MEL!

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No Bake Pumpkin Dessert

Deliciously creamy no bake pumpkin dessert layered with a cream cheese filling and pecan nut pie crust. Simple dessert recipe, perfect for Thanksgiving!
1 pecan nut pie crust
Cream Cheese Filling:
1 box Dream Whip ((2 small packets))
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
16 ounces cream cheese (softened)
2 cups powdered sugar
No Bake Pumpkin Filling:
15 ounces pumpkin purée ((or canned pumpkin))
6.8 ounces vanilla pudding mix ((2 small boxes))
3/4 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
Topping:
1 cup Dream Whip
1 cup chopped pecans
Prepare and bake the crust ahead of time, so it's cooled and ready to go.
In a large mixing bowl, mix the Dream Whip according to package directions, whisking the 2 small packets with the whole milk and vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese well with a mixer.
Add the cream cheese and powdered sugar to the Dream Whip whipped cream, whisking the mixture 'til it’s smooth and creamy.
Spread about 3 cups of the creamy filling on top of the cooled crust in a 9×13 pan.
For the pumpkin layer, mix together the pumpkin purée, vanilla pudding mixes, whole milk, and pumpkin pie spice, until you’ve got a creamy pumpkin pie filling.
Spread the pumpkin layer on top of the Dream Whip layer.
Top the entire dessert with the leftover cup of Dream Whip, and sprinkle chopped pecans on top.
Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours, or overnight if possible, before serving.
*Personally, I think the colder this no bake dessert is, the better it tastes.

Thanksgiving
American
cream cheese desserts, no bake, no bake pumpkin dessert, pumpkin dessert, pumpkin recipes, pumpkin spice recipe
September 19, 2018