Deliciously Easy Recipes
I have more than 200 Christmas dessert ideas on my site, but these are the 50 best sweet treats, cheesecakes, cookies, and desserts I love making for Christmas Eve or gifts.
I’ve tested again and again all of them, and came up with the simplest versions of layered cakes, baked cheesecakes, red Velvet recipes, and donuts you can decorate with kids like the Grinch, snowman, reindeer, or simply with peppermint candy.
You will surely find some no-bake dessert recipes, as well!
View postSoft sweet Hawaiian bread rolls are perfect for breakfast and light dinner and have a secret ingredient adding sweetness – sweet and acidic pineapple juice and signature pillowy texture.
So many recipes can use a couple of good home-baked sweet Hawaiian dinner rolls and you can always just munch them as they are, especially if you make a simple honey glaze, mmm oh so good!
View postAn elegant, decadent, and a crowd pleaser for the Christmas table – baked brie and preserves, is an easy win and a delicious recipe for all cheese lovers.
There is nothing better for a crazy holiday season than to have up your sleeve an easy-baked brie recipe that comes together in less than 20 minutes and is always a huge hit.
Delicious and quick-to-make Christmas doughnuts coated in melted almond bark, sprinkled with green sanding sugar and lined with melted red candy. A sweet treat with a cup of coffee on a Christmas morning.
Easy to make Christmas donut recipe that will beat any store-bought sweet donuts. If you’re obsessed with delicious recipes you can make this holiday season – I promise you will love these little chewy cakey donuts.
View postCan you already hear Mariah or Bing Crosby? I can! So the Christmas preparations (including holiday cocktail recipes) are officially on in my house as soon as the last Thanksgiving leftovers are done with.
And no party can do without drinks, non-alcoholic punches, boozy coffee, themed jello shots, or classic cocktails with Christmas twists – this is my collection of delicious drink ideas for Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations.
View postFestive deviled eggs for Christmas table with salty and tangy flavors. Easy holiday appetizers to make with simple eggs, chives, bell pepper, and mayo-based sauce.
View postLooking for Unique Christmas Cookies recipes for a holiday baking session with family? These are the 30 cookie recipes I’ve made dozens of times over the years.
Time-tested recipes for old-fashioned butter cookies, chewy snickerdoodles, or all-time favorites Gingerbread Man cookies alongside decorated cookie ideas with Grinch heart, festive frosting, and creative treats like meringue cookies or a whole cookie board for gifting!
My holiday cookie ideas will be great for Christmas cookie exchanges, as well, as many recipes take only 30 minutes to whip up a bigger-than-usual batch.
View postHoliday grazing table for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or other celebrations filled with a colorful spread of cheeses, fruits, meats, breads, dips, and snacks arranged for guests to enjoy casually throughout a gathering.
There is nothing more satisfying than sharing good food with family and friends during the holiday season.
View postLooking for the perfect teacher gifts? Discover useful and thoughtful Christmas gift ideas that teachers will actually love and use!
Christmas is a magical time to say thank you to teachers, school employees, and coaches. Don’t forget assistants like kindergarten teacher’s aids and such – they help a lot and work hard, too, and deserve a little cheer!
And let me tell you, teachers have their lives too, and they do not need more apples, school buses, homemade food, lotions, or scented candles and mugs with big letter TEACHER on them.
View postThis Cajun Brined Turkey has the old-fashioned 12 to 24-hour brine that infuses the turkey with so much flavor for a juicy bite!
Brining the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner takes time but it is oh so worth it! This holiday bird is always a centerpiece and if you want to make something truly special, brining the whole turkey with some creole seasoning or Cajun can make a perfect home-cooked holiday meal that brings the entire family together.
View postA take on a traditional homemade pumpkin pie with lush creamy pumpkin puree, signature pumpkin spice notes, and gluten-free flaky crust full of buttery flavors.
Pumpkin pie is an easy crowd-pleaser at any Thanksgiving dinner party and potluck, and there is no worse nightmare than not being able to enjoy it fully because of the pie crusts containing gluten or dairy.
View postEasy side dish green bean recipe for Thanksgiving table with slow-cooked tender green beans, salty bacon, and tons of aroma and flavor.
If you love green beans, they have to be at your holiday table no matter what. The easiest way to make them is to use a slow cooker, it will be just a dump-and-go side dish that is comforting, yummy, and doesn’t take many ingredients or much time to whip up.
View postWhite elephant gift exchanges are all about the thrill of the steal, the roar of laughter, and that one gift everyone fights over.
I made a list that goes from funny gag gifts to some really practical things, and will work for both work gift exchanges and home parties.
If you want an idea better than a pack of batteries with a toy not included or Big Mouth Billy Bass, go throw the list of white elephant gift ideas I’ve curated for this holiday season.
View postThis silky smooth cheesecake made with pumpkin puree, warm fall spices, and graham cracker crust is a homemade delight that can easily beat the legendary pumpkin cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory.
A pleasing combination of pumpkin pie and creamy cheesecake in one recipe – it is creamy and light, packed with pumpkin flavor and sweetness, and only really needs a handful of basic ingredients.
View postA 30-minute delicious and easy one-pot lasagna soup recipe with ground beef, tomatoes, mozzarella, and lasagna noodles.
This yummy fix works for me when I’m craving lasagna but not ready to go out to an Italian restaurant or cook the classic lasagna at home. My other easy fix is a skillet lasagna.
View postThese Cheddar Bay Sausage Balls combine the savory flavors of sausage with the cheesy Cheddar goodness and Red Lobster’s Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix. Perfect for any occasion, they are easy to make and sure to be a hit.
This 4-ingredient 30-minute recipe makes easy sausage balls that are notoriously one of the best party appetizer ideas for gameday and are just the perfect comfort food for Thanksgiving or Christmas morning.
View postComforting casserole with creamy chicken filling and cornbread topping to feed the whole family. A classic Southern casserole with cornbread recipe.
Comfort food should be simple and tasty, that is all it takes for me to make the same recipe over and over again.
View postDecadent and easy no-bake chocolate cheesecake recipe with Oreo crust, cream cheese chocolate cheesecake filling, and rich chocolate whipped cream topping.
If you have a few pantry staples, some chocolate chips and Oreos, and an extra 20 minutes, you should make this chocolate version of a no-bake cheesecake. And if you’re still only making baked cheesecakes, I guarantee you will be shocked at how good the unbaked ones are!
View postIf there’s one thing every Thanksgiving table needs besides turkey and pie — it’s cupcakes! I said it!
These adorable and delicious Thanksgiving cupcake recipes capture all the cozy flavors of fall, from pumpkin spice and caramel apple to cranberry and Biscoff.
View postHearty beef bourguignon with bacon and beef chuck cooked in an instant pot with potatoes, mushrooms, and carrots in rich wine-based gravy till the beef melts in your mouth.
One of the staples in French cuisine – boeuf bourguignon or beef burgundy, is a comfort food created by French people who know a thing or two about a good meal, I reckon. They could not make it basic, so it has red wine in the gravy. Of course.
View postFall cake with fresh apples infused with warm spices and covered with rich salted caramel glaze.
This caramel apple cake is irresistible and yet so easy to make. I love the simple blend of cinnamon and nutmeg, tart caramelized apples, sweet and salty caramel topping, and its soft, bouncy texture. It just melts in my mouth!
View postWith kids back to school and holidays getting very close, life gets really busy. You want hearty, comforting meals for your family, but who has time to stand over a stove?
That’s where your crockpot comes in!
These slow cooker recipes are perfect for busy moms and homecooks who juggle a million things but still want to serve delicious, no-fuss dinners. From cozy soups to sweet desserts, this roundup has it all. Try the Crockpot Green Chile Chicken Soup for a lightly spicy, Southwestern kick or make classic beef stroganoff for a juicy, hands-off main dish.
Craving something sweet or maybe a crowd-pleaser for game day? I’ve got you covered. The Crock Pot Baked Apples fill your kitchen with cinnamon and caramel vibes, perfect for a chilly afternoon treat.
View postClassic chicken pot pie with flaky phyllo crust and rich creamy filling. Ultimate comfort food in one dish.
Casseroles and pot pies always have a special place in my cookbook and heart – they just feel like homemade food your grandma will make for you when you visit, don’t they?
Soft and moist banana pumpkin muffins with sweet ripe bananas, creamy pumpkin puree, and subtle flavor and aroma of vanilla with crunchy cinnamon-sugar topping.
These easy pumpkin banana muffins combine two recipes in one – super simple banana bread and moist pumpkin muffins.
View postThis slow cooker pepper steak is my secret recipe to make a delicious dinner for the whole family during the week. Saucy, tender sirloin steak with colorful bell peppers and thick, rich sauce. Oh, so good!
This dish is inspired by the popular Chinese pepper steak, which you’d normally make in a hot stir fry, but here, the slow cooker does all the work for you!
View post5-ingredient easy apple cobbler recipe with yellow cake mix and apple pie filling. Makes a perfect quick fall cake for a big family. We love dump cake recipes like this.
I’ll take a good old cake mix apple cobbler any time of the year, not just in the Fall season. So this version of the homemade recipe makes sure we can enjoy the flavors even when we don’t have fresh apples (or much time) on our hands.
View postSimple and creamy cauliflower carrot soup with aromatic herbs you can make on a whim for a weeknight dinner in 45 minutes.
Soup season is officially on and if you’re looking for more (new) soup recipes, that are both tasty, easy, and affordable to make on a cold night – this carrots and cauliflower soup may be just what you’re looking for.
View postIt’s pumpkin season so I hope you are ready for a whole lot of pumpkin recipes! These delicious sweet pumpkin donuts with creamy pumpkin puree and warm spices are shaped like cute little pumpkins and are perfect for the fall season and Halloween or Thanksgiving table.
My pumpkin pie spice donuts are both fried and baked and they are not your regular donuts – they are the cutest pumpkin-shaped donuts covered in cinnamon sugar mix.
View post2 hot cups of delicious Pumpkin spice chai latte packed with simple ingredients like creamy pumpkin puree and fall-infused pumpkin spice ready in less than 15 minutes. Regular and vegan options.
A perfect fall drink if you are a coffee lover but trying to consume less caffeine. The recipe literally includes 2 steps and only 6 to 8 ingredients, depending on what toppings you decide to go with.
View postTender moist chicken in a thick savory broth with perfect fluffy dumplings for a cozy dinner that comes together in no time.
These homemade Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings are the ultimate comfort dinner just like Cracker Barrel serves them but in the comfort of your own kitchen.
View postEasy 45-minute layer cake with spongey vanilla cake layer, juicy sweet and tart cherries, and luscious cream – an indulgent dessert for birthdays and summer celebrations.
A perfect white cake, pure and light, beautiful and super yummy. It has a slight bridal vibe and will be great for Mother’s Day or a birthday celebration.
View postHalloween parties are all about FUN! Anything that’s snackable, spooky, and cute goes. The beauty of making appetizers for Halloween or Dia De Los Muertos is that in many cases, you can turn your favorite recipe into a holiday one with just a few tricks.
I’ve got here 10 super simple recipes to make Halloween appetizers and snacks, from healthy options to holiday spins on classics like Halloween hot dogs or special Deviled Eggs.
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