Carrot Cake

 My parents both LOVE carrot cake (as do I) - so when we celebrated their birthdays a week or so ago I decided to try out a new recipe and OH MY WORD it was so good!  If you love a carrot cake with nuts and raisins and pineapples and all the things then this is the recipe for you!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

 On our recent road trip to Louisiana Luke and I stopped in at Buc-ees and I grabbed a package of oatmeal raisin cookies and Luke and I couldn't stop talking about how good they were and we decided that oatmeal raisin cookies are both of our FAVORITE cookies.  That had me thinking about why I don't think I've ever made them or ever made them WELL.  With Luke heading to San Antonio this week I wanted to send him off with something he'd be really excited about so I made this recipe and OH MY WORD they're HEAVENLY!

Strawberry Cream Cheese Bread

I was on a baking kick the other day and had some strawberries I needed to use so I decided to try out a strawberry cream cheese bread recipe and OH MY WORD it was SO GOOD! It was almost giving like a strawberry danish feel and my family gobbled both loaves up super quick.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

I'm going to be really honest.  I'm not generally a big rice krispie treat fan.  They're typically super sticky and just kind of unmanageably sweet.  Griffin, on the other hand, would eat them DAILY ;) 

I saw a recipe for peanut butter chocolate rice krispie treats and decided to give them a whirl and they are a game changer... and please know that I don't use that phrase lightly because I actually hate that phrase - hahaha. They're not sticky, they cut super easily, the chocolate top is chefs kiss... they're just delish!

Apple Crisp

It has been CHILLY here in the mornings and with Thanksgiving a week away it's for sure time for apple crisp.  This is easier than making an apple pie and, dare I say, tastier.  I love a scoop of it warmed up in a mug in the morning or after dinner outside on the patio.  The crisp on top is the best and a scoop of vanilla ice cream takes it to the next level ;)

Overnight Coffee Cake

This is one of my very favorite sweet breakfast recipes.  As we gear up for the holidays it's something that everyone needs in their recipe box!

Carrot, Apple, Zucchini Bread

 

We had a quick taste of fall weather last week but we're back to summer over here but I'm TRYING to get myself in a Fall mood by doing some baking.  Monday night I whipped up this recipe and we're alreadhy down a loaf.  The original recipe called for a cream cheese icing BUT we loved it so much plain that I never made it.  I like a slice a little bit warm with some butter but it's delicious as is as well.  

What You'll Need

1 cup unsalted butter, melted

2 cups granulated sugar

3 eggs room temperature

¼ cup fresh orange juice

1 tbsp vanilla extract

3¼ cups all-purpose flour

½ tsp salt

2½ tsp baking powder

¾ tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

pinch of ground cloves

pinch of ground nutmeg

2 cups shredded carrots

1 cup shredded zucchini

1 cup diced peeled apple

½ cup pecans chopped

What You'll Do...

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2) Spray two loaf pans with Baker's Joy.

3) Place zucchini in a large kitchen towel. Bring up the four corners and twist. Squeeze the towel to extract all the liquid from the zucchini, or as much as you can. Set aside.

4) In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg together. Set aside.

5) In a separate large bowl, whisk together the butter and sugar.  Add eggs, orange juice, and vanilla and whisk until combined.

6) Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients along with the shredded carrots, shredded zucchini, apples, and pecans.

7) Pour into prepared pans.  Bake until golden brown, 55 to 60 minutes, or until loaves spring back when gently pressed with fingers.

If you don't already have this grater it's an absolute must.  I upgraded from a smaller one I had and I'm so happy I did - the barrel is huge and nothing gets jammed up in there and it makes shredding veggies (and cheese!) so quick and easy.

Also - I know the step about squeezing the water out of the zucchini is strange... essentially I just use a clean dish towel, throw the zucchini in there and squeeze it over my sink until I can't get anymore water out.  

I'm guessing these would make great muffins as well - I'd do 375 for 15-16 minutes and check them and adjust as necessary.  

If you make this I'd love to know what you think!

HAPPY Fall, y'all!

Pumpkin Bars

I made these pumpkin bars last weekend and they have been a HUGE hit with my family.  The flavors were super similar to my mini pumpkin cream pies with WAY less effort.  They were really quick to put together and they're suuuuuuper delish!

Zucchini Muffins

It's still a bit too hot for allllll the Fall baking BUT I did bake up some zucchini muffins over the weekend and they were too good not to share ;) 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

One thing about me - if the temperatures drop below 70 degrees I'm going to be baking something pumpkin or apple spice.  This weekend I made a double batch of pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and they were EVERYTHING.  So flavorful, perfect amount of pumpkin and EASY!!

Mini Apple Spice Cupcakes

Because I first shared this recipe almost exactly 10 years ago and I still make them this time of the year I thought I'd re-share my mini apple spice cupcake recipe.  I made these last night and, as always, they were a huge hit.  It's the cream cheese frosting, light apple spice flavor and the fact that they're bite-sized that makes them absolutely irresistible. 

Here's what you'll need...

- 2 cups flour

- 1 tsp baking soda

- 3/4 tsp salt

- 2 tsp cinnamon

- 1/2 tsp nutmeg

- 1/8 tsp cloves

- 1/2 cup butter 

- 1 cup sugar

- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)

- 4 eggs at room temperature

- 1 1/2 cups apple sauce

(enjoy these pics from my old kitchen!!!)

Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

I mentioned this recipe in my day in the life post and I don't have any clue why it's so good or why everyone in my family has been asking for it on repeat ;) It's weird BUT SO YUMMY!!!