Cookies & Cream Waffles

February 6, 2017 2 Comments

These Cookies & Cream Waffles are so flavorful! Fluffy, light, crisp vanilla waffles studded with real chocolate cookie pieces! So easy to make and a total crowd-pleaser! #krusteaz #ad

Breakfast is one of my favorite meals to make and eat. For starters, there are so many options: scrambles, omelets, pancakes, waffles, French toast… and those are just a few of your main course choices! Personally, I’m a big carb fan for breakfast, and my carb of choice would have to be WAFFLES. Big, fluffy, light-as-air waffles with a slightly crisp exterior and fully loaded with butter and syrup.

But sometimes, you need a change from the regular ol’ waffle. An upgrade, if you will. And these Cookies & Cream Waffles are quite the upgrade! Light and fluffy waffles studded with real chocolate sandwich cookie pieces and a wonderful, almost creamy vanilla flavor. And because you can’t just serve cookies & cream waffles plain, I jazzed them up with some whipped cream, chocolate syrup and additional sandwich cookies for a decadent treat that’s sure to please the entire family!

These Cookies & Cream Waffles are so flavorful! Fluffy, light, crisp vanilla waffles studded with real chocolate cookie pieces! So easy to make and a total crowd-pleaser! #krusteaz #ad So for Breakfast Night tonight, whip up these easy waffles – made with Krusteaz Belgian Waffle Mix – for a simple yet sinfully delicious breakfast!

GET THE RECIPE HERE!

Have a super sweet day!

xo, Hayley

Filed Under: Breakfast, Chocolate, Cookies, Everything!, No-Bake

Peppermint Bark Swirled Fudge

December 14, 2016 3 Comments

This Peppermint Bark Fudge is such a simple dessert to whip up during the holidays! Soft, chewy, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate and vanilla swirled fudge with crunchy peppermint bits on top. A must make for a holiday party or cookie tray! Attention all peppermint bark lovers! This Peppermint Bark Swirled Fudge is the ticket to sweet peppermint perfection. Swirled chocolate and white chocolate fudge topped with crunchy candy cane pieces and peppermint chips!

I’ll admit: I’m a peppermint bark freak.

You could peppermint barkify just about anything and I’d inhale it as if my life depended on it. And in a way, my life kind of does depend on peppermint bark: it’s one of my favorite seasonal treats by far.

And so I got to thinking: I don’t have a whole lot of fudge recipes on my blog, and I don’t have a ton of peppermint bark recipes either.

That ^^ is precisely when the lightbulb moment happened. And the rest is blissfully delicious peppermint bark history.

This fudge has two layers swirled together: a chocolate layer, and a white chocolate peppermint layer. It’s super simple to make, because my fudge recipe is a no-brainer. Simply melt some chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk together, add some extract and voila. DONE. No joke!

This Peppermint Bark Fudge is such a simple dessert to whip up during the holidays! Soft, chewy, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate and vanilla swirled fudge with crunchy peppermint bits on top. A must make for a holiday party or cookie tray! Layer ’em up in a greased and foiled pan and let them set, which is by far the hardest part of the recipe. But if you practice patience with this recipe, I promise it’ll pay off big time!

Happy Fudge-Making! (Er, that sounds weird. Nevermind).

This Peppermint Bark Fudge is such a simple dessert to whip up during the holidays! Soft, chewy, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate and vanilla swirled fudge with crunchy peppermint bits on top. A must make for a holiday party or cookie tray!

5.0 from 1 reviews
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Peppermint Bark Swirled Fudge
Author: 
Recipe type: Candy
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 36
 
This Peppermint Bark Swirled Fudge is such a treat this time of year!
Ingredients
  • FOR CHOCOLATE FUDGE:
  • 1 (12 oz) pkg semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • FOR WHITE CHOCOLATE FUDGE:
  • 1 (12 oz) pkg white chocolate/vanilla chips
  • 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 tsp peppermint extract
  • 1 cup peppermint baking chips (such as Andes)
  • ½ cup crushed candy cane pieces
Instructions
  1. Line an 8x8" or 9x9" square baking pan with foil, extending the sides of the foil over the edges of the pan. Set aside.
  2. In a large saucepan, melt the chocolate chips and condensed milk together over medium-low heat, stirring and folding it constantly until melted and smooth. Mixture will be quite thick. Whisk in the vanilla extract and pour the fudge in the bottom of the prepared pan, smoothing it into an even layer. Set aside.
  3. In another large saucepan, melt the white chocolate chips and condensed milk together over medium-low heat, stirring and folding it constantly until melted and smooth. Mixture will also be thick. Whisk in the peppermint extract and pour the vanilla layer over the chocolate layer slowly. Using a butter knife, swirl the fudge layers together. Immediately top with the peppermint baking chips and crushed candy canes.
  4. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or until set before cutting into squares.
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This Peppermint Bark Fudge is such a simple dessert to whip up during the holidays! Soft, chewy, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate and vanilla swirled fudge with crunchy peppermint bits on top. A must make for a holiday party or cookie tray! Minty, soft, chewy and melt-in-your-mouth with crunchy bits of peppermint on top…. this fudge is out of this world amazing! Give it a try and let me know what ya think 🙂

This Peppermint Bark Fudge is such a simple dessert to whip up during the holidays! Soft, chewy, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate and vanilla swirled fudge with crunchy peppermint bits on top. A must make for a holiday party or cookie tray! Have a super sweet day!

xo, Hayley

 

Filed Under: Candy, Chocolate, Christmas, Everything!, Fudge, Holiday, Mint, No-Bake

Watergate Lush Dessert

December 9, 2016 2 Comments

No-Bake Watergate Lush Dessert: pecan shortbread cookie crust, smooth & fluffy pistachio pudding, crushed pineapple, whipped cream and pecans combine to make this light, fluffy, EASY dessert! Have you heard of Watergate Salad before? It’s a mixture between pistachio pudding, pineapple and pecans and it’s fabulous! This Watergate Lush Dessert is sure to please and a fun twist on the classic!

So this dessert.

If you’re an American (well, you probably know even if you aren’t from the States), you probably know about the Watergate Scandal.

I’m not going to go into politics, so I’ll spare ya the details, but basically from the scandal came… a salad?

Still not sure how the two are linked. But I digress.

From the scandal has come the salad, originated from Kraft Foods called a Pistachio Pineapple Delight. Someone down the line renamed it “Watergate Salad” and the rest was history.

Then some ladies made a Watergate Cake and their reasoning was: “the frosting is a ‘cover-up’ and it’s filled with nuts.” Good enough for me!

So back to this lush: It’s a cover-up filled with pistachio and pineapple… and it’s filled with nuts. Voila! History is explained, one dessert at a time. You’re welcome, historians.

Admittedly, this flavor combination is a little old-fashioned. In my lifetime I’d never heard of Watergate Salad until I was a food blogger in the last 6 years. BUT it’s intrigued me ever since, and now I’m glad to have made this Lush to try it out. Hey, those people are onto something, because there’s something very uniquely delicious about this wild combination. And of course, the bright green color.

No-Bake Watergate Lush Dessert: pecan shortbread cookie crust, smooth & fluffy pistachio pudding, crushed pineapple, whipped cream and pecans combine to make this light, fluffy, EASY dessert! It’s just like my other lush desserts, which starts with a cookie crust. For this, I used pecan shortbread (aka, Pecan Sandies) cookies. I topped it off with a creamy, fluffy pistachio & pineapple filling and topped that with whipped cream and pecans. (Traditionally, the salad also has miniature marshmallows… but I decided to let people decide if they wanted to top the salad with the marshmallows). It’s unexpected, it’s unique, and it’s totally something you should make once in your lifetime, even if you never grew up with Watergate Salad.

I’m thinking I’m going to Watergate everything from now on, ‘kay?

No-Bake Watergate Lush Dessert: pecan shortbread cookie crust, smooth & fluffy pistachio pudding, crushed pineapple, whipped cream and pecans combine to make this light, fluffy, EASY dessert!

5.0 from 1 reviews
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Watergate Lush Dessert
Author: 
Recipe type: No Bake
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 9
 
This Watergate Lush Dessert is a unique combination of flavors! Pistachio, pecans and pineapple combine to make a fluffy, no-bake treat!
Ingredients
  • 1 (11 oz) pkg pecan shortbread cookies (such as Pecan Sandies), coarsely crushed
  • 5 Tbsp butter, melted
  • 1 (3.4-3.9 oz) pkg instant pistachio pudding mix
  • 1 cup milk
  • ⅔ cup crushed pineapple, well drained
  • 1 (16 oz) tub Cool Whip, thawed & divided
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
  1. Lightly grease an 8x8" square pan with cooking spray; set aside. In a large bowl, combine the coarse cookie crumbs and butter until moistened. Press evenly into the prepared pan and set aside.
  2. Wipe out the bowl and add in the pistachio pudding mix and the milk. Whisk until thickened, about 2 minutes. Fold in the pineapple and 2 cups of the Cool Whip until combined and fluffy.
  3. Spread the filling into the prepared pan in an even layer. Top with the remaining Cool Whip and the pecans.
  4. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight, until set. Cut into squares to serve.
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No-Bake Watergate Lush Dessert: pecan shortbread cookie crust, smooth & fluffy pistachio pudding, crushed pineapple, whipped cream and pecans combine to make this light, fluffy, EASY dessert! Fluffy, smooth, creamy and packed with flavor, this unique lush dessert will be sure to please everyone who tries it!

No-Bake Watergate Lush Dessert: pecan shortbread cookie crust, smooth & fluffy pistachio pudding, crushed pineapple, whipped cream and pecans combine to make this light, fluffy, EASY dessert! Have a super sweet weekend!

xo, Hayley

 

Filed Under: Christmas, Easter, Everything!, Holiday, No-Bake

Brownie Brittle Peppermint Bark

December 8, 2016 Leave a Comment

Brownie Brittle Peppermint Bark is a unique spin on classic bark candy! Dark chocolate, crisp brownie brittle pieces, white chocolate and lots of crunchy peppermint candies combine to make this EASY holiday favorite! This Brownie Brittle Peppermint Bark is a fun twist on a classic! Instead of solid chocolate, this special bark has a BROWNIE BRITTLE filling and is topped with lots of crushed candy canes. A triple dose of chocolate in one addictive and easy bark!

Can we talk minor pet peeves for a moment?

(I know, sorry. If you don’t want to hear me whine and cry, keep scrolling. And don’t complain about having to scroll, because I do not care. Thanks!)

When people I don’t know find out I have a food blog, naturally they have some questions. Those questions usually are:

How are you not 3457743 pounds?

Do you sell your stuff?

So… how do you even make money?

To which I happily reply:

I honestly do not know.

No, because in the pictures I take, you only see the nice few goodies. The rest are lop-sided, ugly, crackly, messy whatever. Or edge pieces, which I generally hate photographing. Little known secret.

I make money through a variety of sources. Namely, working with brands and through ads on my blog.

I really do not mind answering these questions; admittedly, my job is kind of odd because making money off of a website is still kind of a foreign concept. But what I do mind is when people think because I work from home that my job is just a “cute little hobby” or I can dog-sit for people who live two towns over or I sit around watching Real Housewives all day long.

Um. Not quite.

Yes, I do usually watch the newest Real Housewives episode on my lunch break, which I take later in the day since I can’t step away from the kitchen on recipe days, or away from the camera on photo shoot days. Sure, I could set a doctor’s appointment in the morning when everyone else is at their job, and yes, I sometimes have the entire Target to myself on weekday early afternoons. BUT, I still work. And like, a lot of work.

Work never ends, but you know what? I love it. And you know something else? It was a hobby… but now it’s a full-time job. And I am SO blessed and flummoxed that I can do this as a full-time career. But no, I cannot watch your dog all day long, I cannot run and get your prescriptions from the pharmacy, I cannot sit all day long watching soap operas (as much as I’d love to). Even though I wear yoga pants and slippers most days for “work”, I’m still working.

Phew. That was cathartic.

Now that that’s out of the way, can we talk about my latest career move? Turning Brownie Brittle into PEPPERMINT BARK!!

Brownie Brittle Peppermint Bark is a unique spin on classic bark candy! Dark chocolate, crisp brownie brittle pieces, white chocolate and lots of crunchy peppermint candies combine to make this EASY holiday favorite! This is a genius call on my part, I have to say. You’ve (I’m sure) seen Oreo peppermint bark, or the like. That’s fine and dandy, of course. But adding Brownie Brittle to the candy is a total GAME CHANGER.

And so, so exceptionally easy.

Make it today and thank me later!

Brownie Brittle Peppermint Bark is a unique spin on classic bark candy! Dark chocolate, crisp brownie brittle pieces, white chocolate and lots of crunchy peppermint candies combine to make this EASY holiday favorite!

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Brownie Brittle Peppermint Bark
Author: 
Recipe type: Candy
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6-8
 
This Brownie Brittle Peppermint Bark is a GAME CHANGER!! Triple the chocolate with tons of peppermint, it's a holiday must-have with a fun twist.
Ingredients
  • 1 (10 oz) pkg Ghirardelli dark chocolate melting wafers (in the baking aisle. If you cannot find these, substitute with a package of candy coating, like CandiQuik or Almond Bark)
  • 1 pkg Brownie Brittle
  • 1 (10 oz) pkg Ghirardelli vanilla melting wafers (see Note above)
  • 2 cups candy cane pieces
Instructions
  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. In two medium bowls, melt the melting wafers separately according to package directions or until smooth and melted.
  3. Pour the dark chocolate in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Immediately top with pieces of the Brownie Brittle. Pour the white chocolate over the Brownie Brittle chocolate layer and spread out to the edges to coat the brittle completely. Immediately top with a liberal amount of candy cane pieces.
  4. Allow the bark to set at room temperature for about 30 minutes or in the fridge for about 15 minutes before cutting into pieces.
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Brownie Brittle Peppermint Bark is a unique spin on classic bark candy! Dark chocolate, crisp brownie brittle pieces, white chocolate and lots of crunchy peppermint candies combine to make this EASY holiday favorite! So easy, so fantastic, so pepperminty and perfect for the holiday season!

Brownie Brittle Peppermint Bark is a unique spin on classic bark candy! Dark chocolate, crisp brownie brittle pieces, white chocolate and lots of crunchy peppermint candies combine to make this EASY holiday favorite! Have a super sweet day!

xo, Hayley

 

Filed Under: Brownies, Candy, Chocolate, Christmas, Everything!, Holiday, Mint, No-Bake

No Bake Fudge Dreidels

December 7, 2016 1 Comment

These No-Bake Fudge Dreidels are wonderful for Hanukkah! Chocolate fudge and Hershey Kisses combine to create these unique treats covered in creamy white chocolate and sprinkles. So easy and fun to make with kids!These No-Bake Fudge Dreidels are such a fun way to kick off Hanukkah this year! A great way to get the kids to help in the kitchen, these dreidels make a big batch for friends, family and yourself!

I admit, I don’t know much about Hanukkah, except that it lasts eight days and kids sometimes play dreidel for gelt. That’s about it. (Sorry to my Jewish friends!)

But I do know that I have quite a few readers who celebrate Hanukkah, so amidst all of the red & green Santa stuff, I wanted to bring you guys a treat you could indulge in. Enter: these No-Bake Fudge Dreidels.

The idea came to me after I read an issue of Woman’s Day Magazine and after I remembered I made Marshmallow Dreidels in the past. This version, similar to the one in the magazine, features FUDGE instead of marshmallows, making for one super chocolaty treat. However, both are no-bake, so give them both a try!

Plus, this recipe makes a lot so you can save some for yourself and pass the rest out to family and friends. Win-win!

To make them, just make a batch of my three-ingredient fudge. Easy peasy. It’s just chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla. Melt it all together and pour it into a pan to let it set. Once set, cut it into little squares, depending on how big you’d like your dreidel to be. Using a toothpick, skewer the fudge square and the bottom of a Hershey Kiss together to create the dreidel shape. Then dip, decorate and EAT!!

These No-Bake Fudge Dreidels are wonderful for Hanukkah! Chocolate fudge and Hershey Kisses combine to create these unique treats covered in creamy white chocolate and sprinkles. So easy and fun to make with kids!These No-Bake Fudge Dreidels are wonderful for Hanukkah! Chocolate fudge and Hershey Kisses combine to create these unique treats covered in creamy white chocolate and sprinkles. So easy and fun to make with kids!You are only limited to your imagination when decorating these dreidels. I used chocolate candy melts to create the Hebrew letters that correspond with the dreidel game (Gimel, Hay, Shin and Nun are the letters). You can also use sparkling coarse sugar sprinkles to decorate, or even use a different colored candy melt (such as blue) or luster dust (like silver) to coat the dreidels.

Whatever you do, if you love chocolate, you’ll want to make these!

These No-Bake Fudge Dreidels are wonderful for Hanukkah! Chocolate fudge and Hershey Kisses combine to create these unique treats covered in creamy white chocolate and sprinkles. So easy and fun to make with kids!

5.0 from 1 reviews
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No Bake Fudge Dreidels
Author: 
Recipe type: Candy
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 36
 
These Fudge Dreidels are such a fun way to incorporate Hanukkah traditions into dessert! Easy, no-bake and makes a ton!
Ingredients
  • FOR FUDGE:
  • 2 cups milk chocolate chips (1 (12 oz) bag)
  • 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • FOR DECORATION:
  • 36 Hershey's Kisses, unwrapped
  • 30 oz (approx. 3 bags) Ghirardelli White Melting Wafers (or another kind of melting chocolate/almond bark)
  • ½ bag (5 oz) dark chocolate melting wafers (such as by Ghirardelli)
  • Sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
  1. First, make your fudge. Line an 8x8" square pan with parchment and set aside. In a large pot, melt together the chocolate chips and condensed milk over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until melted and smooth. Whisk in the vanilla and pour the fudge into the prepared pan.
  2. Let the fudge chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours or until firm. Once firm, cut into 36 equally sized squares.
  3. Using a toothpick, skewer each piece of fudge, leaving a small piece of the toothpick exposed. Skewer a Hershey Kiss upside down (pointed side down) onto the toothpick and rest it gently against the fudge. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  4. Melt the vanilla melting chocolate according to package directions, or until smooth. Dip each dreidel into the vanilla chocolate, coating it completely and allowing excess to drip off. Return to the parchment-lined baking sheet to set, or top with sprinkles if using. Repeat with remaining dreidels.
  5. If piping on Hebrew letters, melt the dark chocolate according to package directions, or until smooth. Pipe Hebrew letters onto each dreidel. I find it's easiest to pour the melted dark chocolate into a small squeeze bottle with a small opening so you have more control of the chocolate. Let set, then eat!
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These No-Bake Fudge Dreidels are wonderful for Hanukkah! Chocolate fudge and Hershey Kisses combine to create these unique treats covered in creamy white chocolate and sprinkles. So easy and fun to make with kids!Fudgy, chocolaty goodness in one unique and adorable Hanukkah treat!

These No-Bake Fudge Dreidels are wonderful for Hanukkah! Chocolate fudge and Hershey Kisses combine to create these unique treats covered in creamy white chocolate and sprinkles. So easy and fun to make with kids! Have a super sweet day!

xo, Hayley

Filed Under: Candy, Chocolate, Everything!, Fudge, Holiday, No-Bake

Easy Homemade Peppermint Patties

December 2, 2016 5 Comments

These Homemade Easy Peppermint Patties should end up on your holiday table this Christmas! Simple mint and chocolate-coated candy made with only 6 ingredients you probably have at home! Peppermint patties are a quintessential Christmas treat! These Homemade Peppermint Patties are fantastic and SO easy! You’re only 6 ingredients away from having a homemade treat that’s great for gift-giving and makes a big batch!

You guys.

I am DONE with my book!

Well… done with the baking and photo portion of my book.

I still have ALLTHEWRITING to do. And believe me, it’s a lot of writing. So if you may hear crickets around here for a little bit of time because I’m trying to juggle cookbook author/blogger/human being and it ain’t easy.

BUT, I’m obviously still going to bringing you ample fabulous holiday desserts. Natch. Because I love ya and it’s the holidays, AKA Hayley’s Prime Time. I live for this time of year!

So: enter these Easy Homemade Peppermint Patties. I know there’s gonna be some wise guy saying it’s easier to buy and unwrap peppermint patties and call them homemade. Congratulations. You have worked the system. But for the rest of us who enjoy baking, creating and living a true life, there’s this recipe. So if you’re going to comment that, I’ll spare you your brilliant comment and say it here: Yes, you could buy peppermint patties at the store, unwrap them and pretend they’re homemade. Go for it, I’m not the boss of you.

BUT BUT BUT! These are better. Seriously.

There’s something so delicious about these melt-in-your-mouth mints. Maybe it’s the fact that they’re easy to make or because homemade stuff is usually better, but I think these would make a wonderful addition to your Christmas gift-giving, whether you place ’em alongside homemade cookies or wrap them in cute bags for neighbors. Again, I’m not the boss of your life or anything, but…

These Homemade Easy Peppermint Patties should end up on your holiday table this Christmas! Simple mint and chocolate-coated candy made with only 6 ingredients you probably have at home! To make these bad boys, simply beat the living daylights out of some butter, corn syrup, peppermint and vanilla extracts. Then beat in some powdered sugar. Well, a lot of powdered sugar. Roll them into balls and gently press them down into discs on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze them briefly, then whip up some smooth chocolate and dip them all! If you’re feeling fancy, top some off with crushed mints – I used candy canes – or even chocolate sprinkles. Live your life!

Be a wise guy and make ’em!

These Homemade Easy Peppermint Patties should end up on your holiday table this Christmas! Simple mint and chocolate-coated candy made with only 6 ingredients you probably have at home! *adapted slightly from here 

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Easy Homemade Peppermint Patties
Author: 
Recipe type: Candy
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 40-50
 
These Easy Homemade Peppermint Patties are so wonderful! They make a ton and are great for giving holiday gifts.
Ingredients
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ⅓ cup light corn syrup
  • 1 & ½ tsp peppermint extract
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 pkg (16 oz) chocolate candy coating (such as CandiQuik)
Instructions
  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside briefly.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter, corn syrup and extracts together on medium-high speed for 3 minutes or until fluffy and well combined. Beat in the powdered sugar slowly to incorporate, then on high until completely blended.
  3. Roll a teaspoon or so of dough in your hands to form a ball and place on the baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough, then with your fingers, gently press down to form a patty. Freeze the patties for about 30 minutes or until firm.
  4. Melt the candy coating according to package directions until smooth. Dip the peppermint patties into the chocolate using a fork and allowing excess chocolate to drip off. I like to dip the fork tines in the chocolate before dipping to ensure the sticky patty doesn't stick to the fork's tines. Gently push the coated patty off of the fork using a toothpick and, if using a garnish, sprinkle while the chocolate's wet.
  5. Allow patties to set before serving.
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These Homemade Easy Peppermint Patties should end up on your holiday table this Christmas! Simple mint and chocolate-coated candy made with only 6 ingredients you probably have at home! Smooth, melt-in-your-mouth mint & chocolate patties of goodness! I love these little guys!

These Homemade Easy Peppermint Patties should end up on your holiday table this Christmas! Simple mint and chocolate-coated candy made with only 6 ingredients you probably have at home! Have a super sweet day!

xo, Hayley

Filed Under: Candy, Chocolate, Christmas, Everything!, Holiday, Mint, No-Bake

Easy Homemade Divinity Candy

November 30, 2016 22 Comments

This Easy Homemade Divinity Candy is fantastic and so great for the holidays! Chewy, soft, melt-in-your-mouth candy that's a cross between nougat and fudge with vanilla and pecans. A must-make recipe! This Easy Homemade Divinity is incredible! Smooth, fudgy and delectable, this snow-white candy is surprisingly simple to make!

So confession: I’ve only had divinity one time before this, and it was from a local favorite, See’s Candies. Maybe you’ve heard of them?

I also had an ex-boyfriend whose grandma loved divinity, and I remember giving her a box for Christmas. So for me, divinity has always kind of felt like a Christmas candy recipe. Maybe I’m wrong, but there’s something so holiday-ish about divinity. It’s snow-white, which is shocking for a candy, and it looks like little melty snowballs. Plus, it’s kind of like a fudge, which always reminds me of the holidays.

If you don’t know, divinity is typically popular in the South and was invented (we think) by Karo corn syrup as a way to market their new product. It’s a cross between fudge, nougat and meringue and is totally unique and unparalleled. It’s so unlike the usual barks, brittles and fudges that are usually found around this time of year, and if you’ve never made it, I highly recommend you do!

The cool thing about this recipe is it can be customized to your preferences, too. I went with a traditional vanilla pecan divinity, but you can replace the vanilla extract with peppermint extract and add in shredded coconut, or use walnuts instead of pecans. Up to you!

This Easy Homemade Divinity Candy is fantastic and so great for the holidays! Chewy, soft, melt-in-your-mouth candy that's a cross between nougat and fudge with vanilla and pecans. A must-make recipe! This Easy Homemade Divinity Candy is fantastic and so great for the holidays! Chewy, soft, melt-in-your-mouth candy that's a cross between nougat and fudge with vanilla and pecans. A must-make recipe! Whatever you do, make yourself a tin of these and thank me later!

*Some Notes: in researching this recipe, I found that a lot of people advise against making this candy on a humid day, such as when it’s raining. The humidity can supposedly affect the way the candy sets up and dries, which is essential for divinity. I have not tested this theory, but I would just heed caution and try and make it on a low-humidity day. 

This Easy Homemade Divinity Candy is fantastic and so great for the holidays! Chewy, soft, melt-in-your-mouth candy that's a cross between nougat and fudge with vanilla and pecans. A must-make recipe! *adapted from here 

4.3 from 6 reviews
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Easy Homemade Divinity Candy
Author: 
Recipe type: Candy
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 12-16
 
This Easy Divinity Candy is SO fabulous and perfect for the holidays! Easier than you think to make, it comes together relatively quickly and is great for giving as gifts!
Ingredients
  • 2 egg whites, at room temperature
  • 2 & ¼ cups granulated sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup light corn syrup
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • ½ cup chopped pecans
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. In a large saucepan, heat together the sugar, water, corn syrup and salt. Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 7-10 minutes or until the temperature reaches 260 degrees F. on a candy thermometer. Just before the candy reaches temperature, beat the egg whites on high speed using an electric mixer or stand mixer until stiff peaks form.
  3. Remove the boiling candy from the heat and, with the mixer on high speed, stream in the hot candy VERY slowly. It should take you at least 2 or so minutes to fully pour the hot candy mixture into the egg whites. Continue beating the mixture until it's no longer glossy and it holds its shape, about 6-10 minutes (it depends on your mixer). Stir in the chopped pecans and vanilla extract until combined.
  4. Butter two spoons (or grease them lightly with cooking spray) and, working quickly, drop rounded Tablespoonfuls of the divinity mixture onto the parchment-lined baking sheets. You may need to scrape the candy mixture off of one spoon with the other spoon, then quickly flick your wrist to create a soft curl (like soft serve) on top of the candy. It's okay if you don't get it quite right!
  5. Allow the candy to set at room temperature - maybe overnight, depending on the humidity in your home - until dry to the touch and no longer sticky. Once set and dry, you can keep it at room temperature for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
  6. NOTES: It is totally okay to take a small teaspoon-sized spoon of candy and test it on the parchment before doing the larger scoops. The divinity is ready when it holds its shape in a mound on the parchment paper. If it turns into a puddle, continue beating the mixture.
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This Easy Homemade Divinity Candy is fantastic and so great for the holidays! Chewy, soft, melt-in-your-mouth candy that's a cross between nougat and fudge with vanilla and pecans. A must-make recipe! Chewy & soft, like nougat-meets-fudge, this is a must-try this holiday season!

This Easy Homemade Divinity Candy is fantastic and so great for the holidays! Chewy, soft, melt-in-your-mouth candy that's a cross between nougat and fudge with vanilla and pecans. A must-make recipe! Have a super sweet day!

xo, Hayley

Filed Under: Candy, Christmas, Easter, Everything!, Fudge, Holiday, No-Bake, Treats

No-Bake Eggnog Cream Pie

November 28, 2016 12 Comments

This No-Bake Eggnog Cream Pie is so perfect for the holidays! Creamy, smooth vanilla & nutmeg-flavored cream pie with a buttery graham cracker crust. Easy, impressive and a one of a kind dessert! For serious eggnog lovers only, this No-Bake Eggnog Cream Pie is fantastic! Creamy, smooth and loaded with eggnog flavor and spices piled high in a graham cracker crust. A must-make for the holidays!

Did everyone have a great Thanksgiving?!

We certainly did, but I am glad it’s over. Thanksgiving admittedly isn’t my favorite holiday, and while it’s nice to be with family, fielding some of their… inquisitions can be tiring 🙂 But of course, you can always avoid conversation by stuffing your face senseless with food. So there’s that.

Now we can move onto my favorite holiday: Christmas! There’s something so magical about Christmas that I just love. The music, the chilly air, the shopping (duh)… but also the flavors of Christmas. Eggnog, peppermint, gingerbread, hot cocoa… the list goes on.

And this pie is basically Christmas personified into a smooth & creamy pile of heavenly goodness.

AND! it couldn’t be easier to make. Seriously.

It starts with a package of instant French Vanilla pudding mix. If you can’t find French vanilla, then you can’t make it. KIDDING. Just use regular instant vanilla, but I like that French vanilla feels fancier. It’s like when you order a croissant, but instead of saying ‘croissant’, you say ‘cwesson’ like you’re French. Same thing pretty much.

In a bowl, you’ll whisk up your French vanilla pudding mix with eggnog in place of the milk. It’s really that easy, y’all. Whisk until it’s thick, then fold in some spices and Cool Whip, or fresh whipped cream (or creme, if you’re still fancy French) and pour that mishegas into a graham cracker crust.

This No-Bake Eggnog Cream Pie is so perfect for the holidays! Creamy, smooth vanilla & nutmeg-flavored cream pie with a buttery graham cracker crust. Easy, impressive and a one of a kind dessert! The most complicated part of this whole recipe is making sure it has plenty of time to set in the fridge. I’m talking at least four hours. I know, I know. But you can do it. I have faith.

Then serve it up with some more nog, as you do during the holidays.

Bottoms up!

This No-Bake Eggnog Cream Pie is so perfect for the holidays! Creamy, smooth vanilla & nutmeg-flavored cream pie with a buttery graham cracker crust. Easy, impressive and a one of a kind dessert!

5.0 from 2 reviews
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No-Bake Eggnog Cream Pie
Author: 
Recipe type: Pie
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8-10
 
This Eggnog Cream Pie could not be easier to whip up and it tastes JUST like eggnog: thick, creamy and smooth with spices and wonderful vanilla flavor.
Ingredients
  • 1 9" graham cracker pie crust (prepared, or homemade)
  • 1 (3.4-3.9 oz) box INSTANT French Vanilla pudding mix (or regular vanilla if you cannot find French Vanilla)
  • 2 cups eggnog
  • ½ tsp rum extract, optional but recommended
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 (8 oz) tub Cool Whip, thawed (or alternatively, you may use 2 cups freshly whipped cream)
  • Additional whipped cream for garnish, optional
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the instant dry pudding mix, eggnog, rum extract (if using) and nutmeg until thick, about 2 minutes. Fold in the Cool Whip or fresh whipped cream until fluffy and light. Spoon into the graham cracker pie crust and smooth out the top.
  2. Refrigerate the pie for at LEAST 4 hours, or overnight, to set.
  3. Just before serving, garnish with more whipped cream or Cool Whip and a sprinkling of nutmeg, if desired.
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This No-Bake Eggnog Cream Pie is so perfect for the holidays! Creamy, smooth vanilla & nutmeg-flavored cream pie with a buttery graham cracker crust. Easy, impressive and a one of a kind dessert! I love the je ne sais quoi that the fresh nutmeg adds to this recipe – it just totally ramps up that eggnog flavor and makes this pie just as authentic as the drink itself.

This No-Bake Eggnog Cream Pie is so perfect for the holidays! Creamy, smooth vanilla & nutmeg-flavored cream pie with a buttery graham cracker crust. Easy, impressive and a one of a kind dessert! Have a super sweet day!

xo, Hayley

 

Filed Under: Christmas, Everything!, Holiday, No-Bake, Pie

3-Ingredient Buttercream Frosting Fudge

November 16, 2016 4 Comments

This 3-Ingredient Buttercream Frosting Fudge is AWESOME! Smooth, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth DELICIOUS and tastes JUST like homemade buttercream icing! Super easy and makes great gifts!Attention all frosting fans! This Buttercream Frosting Fudge tastes just like buttercream frosting but in FUDGE form! Three-ingredients, made in minutes & so easy!

Are you a frosting person, or a vessel person?

I say ‘vessel person’ because frosting is on everything these days: cookies, cakes & cupcakes, whoopie pies, brownies…

I’m gonna be a brat right now, but why can’t we just have the vessel without frosting? Sometimes I just want a fudgy brownie with no frills. Or a sugar cookie that’s gone nudist. Or a cupcake that’s au naturel. Is that too much to ask?!

But, I know I am in the minority. Like, the minority of minorities. Because everyone loves frosting, right?!

My Mom could eat just a batch of buttercream frosting without a vessel needed – give her a spoon and the frosting and she’s happy. At kiddie birthday parties, I’d always scrape all of the frosting off of my cake and eat the plain cake, leaving that pile of sugar sludge to sit unwanted on the side until my Mom swooped in and scraped it up for herself.

So if you are like my Mom and could take an IV with a can of buttercream, you will thoroughly enjoy this Buttercream Frosting Fudge. It tastes just like buttercream frosting because it’s made with buttercream. AND! there’s only 3 ingredients, 4 if you count the sprinkles (but in my world, sprinkles don’t count as an ingredient because I put them on everything & basically carry a bottle in my purse for emergencies).

The frosting is super simple: melt a 12-ounce bag of white chocolate chips until smooth, then fold in a can of buttercream frosting – for this, I used vanilla (but of course). Fold it into the white chocolate with a splash of vanilla extract and spread the shebang into a foil-lined pan. Sprinkle the top liberally with your favorite sprinkles – I used Christmas-y ones here! – and let it chill in the fridge for a couple hours.

This 3-Ingredient Buttercream Frosting Fudge is AWESOME! Smooth, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth DELICIOUS and tastes JUST like homemade buttercream icing! Super easy and makes great gifts!Easy. As. That.

Frosting people: this one’s for you!

This 3-Ingredient Buttercream Frosting Fudge is AWESOME! Smooth, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth DELICIOUS and tastes JUST like homemade buttercream icing! Super easy and makes great gifts!

5.0 from 1 reviews
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3-Ingredient Buttercream Frosting Fudge
Author: 
Recipe type: Candy
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 24
 
This Buttercream Frosting Fudge is outstanding! It tastes JUST like buttercream frosting but in chewy, melt-in-your-mouth FUDGE form!!
Ingredients
  • 1 (12 oz) bag white chocolate chips
  • 1-2 Tbsp heavy cream (may not need it)
  • 1 can (16 oz) vanilla buttercream frosting
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Sprinkles, if using
Instructions
  1. Line an 8x8" square pan with foil, extending the sides of the foil over the edges of the pan. Spray the foil with cooking spray and set aside.
  2. In a large microwavable bowl, melt the white chocolate chips at 15-second increments on HIGH power until melted and smooth. If the mixture starts to get really thick and pasty, add in the cream. Do not over-heat. Alternatively, using the double-boiler method, place a pot of simmering water on medium-low heat and place a glass bowl on top, taking care to ensure the bowl does not touch the water. Melt the white chocolate over the double boiler until smooth, then proceed with the recipe as stated.
  3. Fold in the vanilla extract and can of buttercream frosting until blended. Mixture will be very thick. Spread into the prepared pan, smoothing out the top. Top liberally with sprinkles.
  4. Refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours or until firm before cutting into squares.
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This 3-Ingredient Buttercream Frosting Fudge is AWESOME! Smooth, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth DELICIOUS and tastes JUST like homemade buttercream icing! Super easy and makes great gifts!Smooth, creamy, chewy and melt-in-your-mouth delicious! This fudge will be the star of the show this holiday season!

This 3-Ingredient Buttercream Frosting Fudge is AWESOME! Smooth, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth DELICIOUS and tastes JUST like homemade buttercream icing! Super easy and makes great gifts! Have a super sweet day!

xo, Hayley

 

Filed Under: Candy, Christmas, Everything!, Fudge, Holiday, No-Bake

Easy Bourbon Balls

November 14, 2016 3 Comments

Easy Bourbon Balls: bite-sized truffles packed with rich and smooth bourbon flavor, crunchy pecans, and sweet cocoa. No-Bake, simple to make and would be wonderful for Christmas or holiday gifts! Everyone’s heard of rum balls, but for a different change of flavor, try these Easy Bourbon Balls! Tender, soft & chewy truffles made with Kentucky bourbon, cocoa, pecans and crushed cookies. Simple and no-bake!

Ever since becoming a food blogger, I have realized there are so many different Christmas cookie and candy recipes.

In my family, we made those refrigerated Pillsbury cookies with the little images printed on them. Or sometimes we made peanut butter blossoms. My grandma occasionally made Pecan Snowballs. But other than that, we never had fudge, fruit-cake (are we really missing out, though?), peppermint anything, Kahlua anything, homemade toffee, divinity, etc. Nothing.

The closest we came to getting fancy candies were found in those little cardboard box of chocolates. Not even Whitman’s or See’s brand… but like, dollar store truffles. Which, if you ever wondered, are so cheap tasting that they’re basically brown-flavor.

So this whole world of homemade candies, slice & bake cookies, and festively sprinkled and flavored goodies – all brand new to me. And I am loving every second of it. Because there’s only so many times you can make peanut butter blossoms, am I right?

To be fair, I wasn’t sure what to expect with this recipe. It’s a cross between a truffle and a cookie pop since it’s made with cocoa, but also made with crushed cookies. And it is extremely bourbon-y, so if you’re sensitive to alcohol or bourbon isn’t your fave, I’d definitely avoid this recipe.

But if you get crunk on bourbon, HONEY – you gotta try these. There is no mistaking that rich, amber bourbon flavor.

Easy Bourbon Balls: bite-sized truffles packed with rich and smooth bourbon flavor, crunchy pecans, and sweet cocoa. No-Bake, simple to make and would be wonderful for Christmas or holiday gifts! Of course, rum balls tend to be more widely known during this time of year, but I thought bourbon sounded even better than rum. Bourbon seems more Christmasy, and rum seems more like I need to have booked a Caribbean vacation last week. But, if you enjoy rum instead, I’m sure it’s interchangeable here.

Can we cheers to that?!

Easy Bourbon Balls: bite-sized truffles packed with rich and smooth bourbon flavor, crunchy pecans, and sweet cocoa. No-Bake, simple to make and would be wonderful for Christmas or holiday gifts! *adapted from My Recipes/Southern Living 

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Easy Bourbon Balls
Author: 
Recipe type: Candy
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 24-26
 
These Easy Bourbon Balls are a wonderful no-bake treat for the holiday season! Similar to rum balls but made with rich, amber-colored bourbon instead.
Ingredients
  • 1 (11 oz) box Nilla Wafers, finely crushed
  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar, plus ⅔ cup
  • 3 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • ½ cup high quality bourbon
  • 3 Tbsp corn syrup
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, combine the finely crushed Nilla Wafer cookies with the finely chopped pecans, ¾ cup of powdered sugar and the cocoa powder. Stir the corn syrup into the bourbon until blended; add to the Nilla Wafer mixture.
  2. Using a spatula, stir the mixture together until moistened and combined. Using a cookie scoop, scoop Tablespoon-sized balls of the mixture and roll them in your palms gently to smooth out. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining balls.
  3. Using the remaining ⅔ cup powdered sugar, coat each bourbon ball in powdered sugar. Chill for about 20-30 minutes or until set before serving. Can be stored in the fridge, covered, or at room temperature, covered.
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Easy Bourbon Balls: bite-sized truffles packed with rich and smooth bourbon flavor, crunchy pecans, and sweet cocoa. No-Bake, simple to make and would be wonderful for Christmas or holiday gifts! Crunchy, chewy, soft and packed with great texture from the chopped pecans and crushed cookies, these flavorful Bourbon Balls will surely be the first to go this holiday season!

Easy Bourbon Balls: bite-sized truffles packed with rich and smooth bourbon flavor, crunchy pecans, and sweet cocoa. No-Bake, simple to make and would be wonderful for Christmas or holiday gifts!

Have a super sweet day!

xo, Hayley

 

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Filed Under: Candy, Chocolate, Christmas, Everything!, Holiday, No-Bake, Truffles
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