Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting my friend’s farm, surrounded by blossoming cherry trees, and it instantly reminded me of one of my all-time favorite recipes: homemade cherry crisp using fresh cherries.

Cherry crisp, or as some may call it, cherry crumble, holds a special place in my heart. Its simplicity and irresistible flavor make it a go-to dessert for any occasion, whether it’s a summer barbecue, a cozy family dinner, or simply a sweet treat to enjoy on a warm evening. And as summer draws near, I couldn’t resist sharing this family recipe with you all.

Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.

Cherry Crisp Recipe

What sets this cherry crisp apart is its versatility. While cherries take center stage in my version, you can easily swap them out for blackberries, blueberries, or even apples.

No matter the fruit you choose, the result is always a mouthwatering delight that pairs perfectly with a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream.

Now, you might be wondering: what’s the difference between a crumble and a crisp?

While both are beloved desserts featuring a fruit filling topped with a crumbly mixture, the main distinction lies in the texture of the topping.

A crumble typically has a denser, more cookie-like topping, while a crisp boasts a lighter, crispier texture—hence the name.

What truly elevates this fresh cherry crisp is the combination of flavors and textures.

The tartness of the fresh cherries, enhanced by a hint of almond extract, perfectly complements the sweet and chewy crumble topping.

Made with a blend of butter, flour, oats, and brown sugar, the topping adds a delightful crunch that contrasts beautifully with the soft, juicy fruit filling.

Whether you’re hosting a summertime party, attending a potluck, or simply craving a decadent dessert to round off your Sunday dinner, this homemade cherry crisp with fresh cherries is sure to impress.

So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to indulge in the irresistible flavors of summer.

With each spoonful of this delightful dessert, you’ll be transported to a sun-kissed orchard, surrounded by the joy and warmth of the season.

Cheers to sweet summertime memories and the simple pleasures of homemade goodness!

Now for the Recipe

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Homemade Cherry Crisp

This Cherry Crisp, or some might call it a crumble, is super easy to make and so delicious. Serve it up warm with some vanilla ice cream and you'll be everyone's favorite person!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword cherry crisp, cherry crumble, cherry desserts, crisp, crumble, easy desserts

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 26 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Ingredients

• 4 cups tart pie cherries fresh or frozen
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 cup softened butter
• 1½ cup flour
• 1½ cup oatmeal
• 1½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tsp almond extract
• non-stick spray or coconut oil

Instructions

• Place 4 cups tart pie cherries fresh or frozen (can be frozen or thawed) in a mixing bowl. Add ½ cup sugar and 3 tsp almond extract and stir gently until the sugar is mixed in well.
• Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with non-stick spray and then dump the berries into the baking dish. Spread the cherries out to cover the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350°
• In another mixing bowl, combine the 1 cup softened butter, 1½ cup flour, 1½ cup oatmeal, 1½ cup brown sugar, and 1 tsp salt. Use a pastry cutter or your hands to mix the crumbled topping together. You'll want the pieces of butter to be pea-sized if possible.
• Dump the crumbled topping on top of the cherries in the baking dish and cover the cherries with the crumbled ingredients evenly. It's okay if some of the cherries are sticking out or if it doesn't go all the way to the edge of the pan.
• Bake at 350° for approximately 30 minutes. The juice from the cherries will bubble up around the edges.
• Let cool for 10-15 minutes and then serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Notes

If you want to use blueberries, raspberries, marion berries or peaches, omit the almond extract and use 2 tsp of cinnamon instead. 

For apples, use green tart apples and follow the recipe as is. 

Make sure you serve warm with vanilla ice cream! 

If you like the crumble topping, you can always double that part of the recipe!

Enjoy!

If you like this recipe, you’ll want to check out these:

The Best Light Dessert Recipes

Easy and Delicious Strawberry Lemon Trifle

The Best Blackberry Crumble Recipe

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The post Deliciously Mouthwatering Cherry Crisp Recipe With Fresh Cherries appeared first on Home With Holly J.

Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.

Easy Sticky Buns Recipe or AKA as Cinnamon Buns

Welcome back to my kitchen, where I’m about to embark on a journey down memory lane with this easy sticky buns recipe (we call them Cinnamon Buns) that’s been cherished in my family for the past 50 years.

These delightful treats are not only a sweet indulgence but also a testament to the simple joys of childhood.

Made with just a few pantry staples and a whole lot of love, these easy sticky buns with cinnamon are guaranteed to bring warmth and comfort to your home. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and get baking!

Now for the Recipe – Easy Sticky Buns Recipe

Easy Cinnamon Buns

This easy Cinnamon buns recipe is super simple and perfect for breakfast or dessert! I've been making this since I was eight years old and it's still a family favorite! It's similar to sticky buns but a little simpler.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, brunch, Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 8 People

Equipment

• 10-12 Cup Bundt Pan
• Liquid Measuring Cup

Ingredients

  

• 3 cans canned biscuit dough
• ½ cup sugar
• 3 tsp cinnamon
• 1 ½ cup butter
• 1½ cup brown sugar

Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a bundt pan generously with butter or non-stick cooking spray.
• Begin by preparing the biscuit dough. Open the 3 cans canned biscuit dough and cut each biscuit into quarters.
• In a shallow bowl, mix together the ½ cup sugar and 3 tsp cinnamon until well combined.
• Roll each quartered biscuit piece in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until coated evenly.
• Arrange the coated biscuit pieces in the greased bundt pan, layering them evenly.
• In a saucepan, melt the 1 ½ cup butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the 1½ cup brown sugar and stir until the mixture comes to a gentle boil.
• Allow the butter and brown sugar mixture to boil for about one minute, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
• Carefully pour the hot butter and brown sugar mixture over the biscuit pieces in the bundt pan, ensuring that it is distributed evenly.
• Place the bundt pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cinnamon buns are golden brown and the center is cooked through.
• Once baked, remove the cinnamon buns from the oven and invert the bundt pan onto a serving plate to release the cinnamon buns. Serve warm and enjoy the gooey goodness!

Keyword breakfast recipe, cinnamon buns, cinnamon dessert, dessert, sticky buns

And there you have it – Homemade Cinnamon Buns, straight from the heart of my childhood kitchen to yours. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal effort, you can recreate the magic of these beloved treats in your own home.

Whether enjoyed with a cup of coffee in the morning or as a comforting dessert after dinner, these easy cinnamon buns are sure to become a favorite in your family too. So, go ahead, take a bite, and savor the sweet memories!

Enjoy!

If you like this recipe, you’ll want to check out these:

Light Desserts

Fresh Peach Dessert

Make sure the subscribe to my blog so you never miss a recipe and if you’re looking for beautiful home decor that I use in all my posts, check out my online shop called Evolution Home Decor!

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The post Easy Sticky Buns Recipe | Homemade Cinnamon Buns appeared first on Home With Holly J.

If you’re looking for some wonderfully light desserts with fruit filling and all the goodness you wish for in the summer months, this round up is for you!

Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.

All of these recipes are from my own recipe box and are perfectly light recipes for a sweet summer treat.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie

When I first met my husband years ago, one of the things I loved most was getting to know his Grandma Jolley. She wasn’t too sure about me at first, but we eventually bonded over the love of cooking. She was an amazing cook and made everything from scratch, including this amazing pie, which is super light and refreshing.

The Perfect, Most Delicious Mello Jello Recipe

This Mello Jello Recipe is a tradition in our house for so many holidays, but it’s also great any time of year. Mello Jello is super easy to make and is the perfect side dish or can be served for a light dessert. It’s so yummy and tastes like a creamsicle – perfect for summer.

Fresh Peach Dessert Recipe

Whether I am in Utah or Washington, at the end of the summer it is peach season!  Both states have a lot of peach trees! I love peaches and the yummy desserts you can make with them. Peaches remind me of summertime and this light and fresh peach dessert recipe makes me wish it was summertime all year long!

Strawberry Lemon Trifle

If you’re looking for a delicious and easy light dessert recipe, definitely try my Strawberry Lemon Trifle recipe. It’s one of my go to’s and always a hit no matter when I serve it. Everyone always ask me for this one!

Stars and Stripes Flag Cake

This Stars and Stripes American Flag Cake is really easy to make and you don’t have to be a master cake decorator or expert baker to pull this off! The fruit keeps it light and refreshing. There are many holidays where this can be used and not just the Fourth of July! I’ve made it for Memorial Day and Veterans Day before. You don’t have to do the American flag either if you’re not an American! Try making your homelands flag using this idea.

Homemade Fresh Peach Pie with Cream Cheese Filling

This is another one of my husband’s grandma’s recipes and is essentially the same pie as the Strawberry Cream Cheese pie above. Grandma Jolley made the best pies and her fresh peach pie with cream cheese filling is one of our family favorites! You can also find the Homemade Pie Crust Recipe here that you can use with any of the pies I’ve shared!

Fresh Fruit Cobbler

Having lived in the Pacific Northwest for most of my life, I’ve grown accustomed to having berries all throughout the summer and then freezing them for the winter months.  I love any type of cobbler because it’s good any time of the year! This one is no exception!

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The post The Best Light Desserts to Sweeten Your Summer appeared first on Home With Holly J.

Delicious Salted Caramel Chocolate Trifle Recipe

Today I’m sharing another Trifle recipe! After sharing the Strawberry Lemon Trifle recipe a few weeks ago, many asked me to hurry up and share the others. This Salted Carmel Chocolate Trifle was also a big hit when I made this (and three others) for my niece’s bridal shower a few years back.

This delicious Salted Caramel Chocolate Tripe recipe is super easy to make! You can go all out and bake everything from scratch or you can use store-bought mixes like I did.

Trifles are one of the easiest desserts you can make, especially when you’re in a time crunch or need something fast and easy to make that also tastes amazing.

You can literally add anything into a trifle so be creative! I made this recipe up on the fly and I think it was the favorite for the chocolate lovers and rivaled the Strawberry Lemon Trifle I made the same day.

If you have never heard of a trifle dessert here is what it is:

From Taste of Home:

The traditional version of trifle that originated in England in the 18th century (with less similar dishes being made even earlier) consisted of three or four layers, including some sort of fruit, alcohol-soaked sponge cake, and custard. The fruit and cake were often layered with homemade jelly. This classic interpretation was always served in a round bowl.

American trifles are similar but fortunately, a bit less complicated. They consist of multiple layers of crumbled or cubed cake, pudding, and fruit.

The flavors can vary widely, from raspberries, peach yogurt, and angel food cake to brownies, white chocolate pudding, and candy bar bits.

They’re topped with whipped cream and some sort of crumbs or nuts to add texture.

Trifle should be served in a deep, round dish—ideally one that’s clear so diners can see all of the layers.

So really a trifle is a bunch of goodness all in the same bowl! How’s that for my own definition? You can really add in anything you like or have on hand. You could even add in some vanilla-flavored pudding to balance out all the chocolate. 

For this Salted Carmel Chocolate Trifle, I used a box of chocolate cake and baked it on a sheet cake pan. After it cools off, cut the cake into 1-2″ bite-sized pieces. 

Next, I added the cake to the bottom of my trifle dish and then drizzled some of the salted caramel over the cake. Then I made a box of jello instant chocolate pudding and then mixed them together. I added in a layer of this pudding mixture over the cake and caramel.

 

I then repeated the same layers then topped it off with more Cool Whip, salted caramel, and some shaved chocolate from a chocolate bar.

Now for the Recipe

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Salted Caramel Chocolate Trifle Recipe

This Salted Caramel Chocolate Trifle is super easy to make and so delicious. You can use store-bought ingredients or make everything from scratch. I've shared the easier store-bought ingredients version today and it's so chocolaty and yummy! It's a great recipe for a baby or bridal shower or any celebration!

Course Dessert, dessert recipe

Cuisine American, English

Keyword chocolate, dessert, easy dessert recipes, salted caramel, trifle recipes

Servings 8

Ingredients

• 1 box small jello instant chocolate pudding (prepared) + 2 cups milk
• 1 large container cool whip
• 1 jar salted caramel
• 1 box chocolate cake mix prepared as directed (eggs, oil, water)
• 1 bar chocolate

Instructions

• Prepare and bake a 1 box chocolate cake mix prepared as directed. Set aside to cool.
• When the cake has cooled, cut the cake into 1-2" pieces.
• Prepare 1 box small jello instant chocolate pudding (prepared) mix as directed and then add in 3/4 of the container of Cool Whip and mix together until well blended. Reserve the remainder of the cool whip to top the trifle at the end.
• In a trifle bowl or dish, layer the chocolate cake pieces onto the bottom and then drizzle some of the salted caramel on top of the cake.
• Next, add a layer of the pudding/cool whip mixture.
• Repeat the layer steps 1-2 more times until your trifle bowl is almost full.
• Once the layers are complete, top the trifle with the remainder of the cool whip and drizzle more salted caramel on top.
• Use a small cheese grater or zesting grater and shave off some of the chocolate bar on top for garnish.
• Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

 

Here are some of my favorite Trifle bowls:

Enjoy!

If you like this recipe, you’ll want to check out these:

Strawberry Lemon Trifle Recipe

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The post Delicious Salted Caramel Chocolate Trifle Recipe appeared first on Home With Holly J.

Easy and Delicious Strawberry Lemon Trifle Dessert

If you’re looking for a delicious and easy dessert recipe to make for your next family gathering or party, try my Strawberry Lemon Trifle recipe.

It’s one of my go-to recipes whenever I host a baby or bridal shower and is always a hit no matter when I serve it. Everyone asks me for the recipe so I’m finally sharing it!

What is a trifle?

It’s a layered dessert that’s so easy to make.

This dessert has been around for hundreds of years and originated in England. It is layers of cake, fruit, and a mixture of pudding and whipped cream. If you have a cake that sinks or breaks, you can always toss it into a trifle! I’ve had a few cake fails over the years that still tasted great but didn’t look great and I improvised and made a trifle with the broken cake pieces.

The Fan Favorite

I created this recipe many years ago when I hosted my niece’s bridal shower. I made four different trifles and this one was the favorite. I’ll share the other recipes in future posts but trifles are easy to make up on the fly! The one below in the back was made with a chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, whipped cream, and salted caramel. The one next to it was made with yellow cake, whipped cream, vanilla pudding, chocolate syrup, and a Heath bar crumbled in between the layers. The one on the front was made with yellow cake, vanilla pudding, whipped cream mixed with cream cheese, and fresh berries. I seriously just threw them together and used combinations that I thought would go good together!

Another thing I love about trifle is how quick and easy it is to make.

You can use a store-bought cake mix unless you have a special cake recipe you prefer.

For this one I used a lemon box cake mix, you can use any brand or make one from scratch. For the puddings, I used Jello brand lemon cooked pudding (which looks more like lemon curd or lemon pie filling) and lemon instant pudding and followed the directions on the boxes.

For the whipped cream, you can use cool whip or whip heavy cream. It’s totally up to you!

I have done it both ways but if you’re short on time and want to make it extra simple, you can use all the store-bought items I just mentioned.

Now for the Recipe

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Strawberry Lemon Trifle Dessert

This trifle recipe is quick and easy to make using store-bought ingredients. It's perfect for any baby or bridal shower, a summer barbecue, or any time you want a refreshing, simple dessert.

Course Dessert, dessert recipe

Cuisine American, English

Keyword cake, dessert trifles, english trifle, lemon, pudding, strawberries, trifle recipes, trifles

Servings 8

Equipment

• 1 Trifle Bowl

Ingredients

• 1 box Lemon Cake Mix (eggs, oil, water, made as directed)
• 1 large Box Jello Lemon Cooked Pudding (eggs, water, sugar, made as directed)
• 1 small Box Lemon Instant Pudding (milk, made as directed)
• 1 large Container Cool Whip
• 1 quart Strawberries, cut into slices
• 1 Lemon for garnish if preferred

Instructions

• Bake the 1 box Lemon Cake Mix (eggs, oil, water, made as directed). Set aside and let cool.
• While the cake is baking, make the 1 large Box Jello Lemon Cooked Pudding (eggs, water, sugar, made as directed) as directed and let cool. (You can set it aside to cool while the cake is baking and cooling off.)
• Make the 1 small Box Lemon Instant Pudding (milk, made as directed) as directed. Stir in half of the container of Cool Whip and mix well.
• Once the cake has fully cooled off, cut the cake into 1-2" squares. Use a spatula to loosen the little pieces of cake and remove the cake from the baking sheet or pan.
• Next start layering the ingredients into the trifle bowl. Start by layering some of the cake pieces onto the bottom of the trifle bowl loosely until most of it is covered. Next layer some of the lemon-cooked pudding (this looks more like lemon curd) on top of the cake until covered.
• Then layer some of the lemon pudding/cool whip mixture on top of the other lemon cooked pudding and then add some of the sliced strawberries on top. To make it pretty, you can add some strawberries along the inside of the bowl and then scatter the rest on top of the pudding mixture.
• Add another layer of cake, then the lemon cooked pudding, lemon pudding/cool whip then strawberries and layer this way until the trifle bowl is almost full. I can usually fit two layers into a trifle bowl but it can vary depending on how big your bowl is. You might even have enough to make a second one or make a mini one for later if you have leftover cake and pudding.
• Add some of the remaining cool whip on top and then garnish with strawberries and lemons if preferred.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve. I like to make mine a little bit ahead so it all has time to chill in the fridge before serving.

Enjoy!

If you like this recipe, you’ll want to check out these:

Homemade Banana Pudding Recipe

Homemade Banana Cream Pie

Mello Jello Recipe

Here are some of my favorite trifle dishes.

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The post Easy and Delicious Strawberry Lemon Trifle Dessert appeared first on Home With Holly J.

Homemade Milk Chocolate Chip Cazookie Recipe

Today I’m sharing one of my family’s favorite recipes. My Homemade Milk Chocolate Chip Cazookie.

What is a Cazookie?

What is a Cazookie? It’s a cookie that’s baked in a small pie dish or cake pan, served warm, then topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup. You can use any type of cookie or ice cream of course, but this one is our favorite.

I used to make these for my kids on their birthdays or an after-school snack. You can always just make milk chocolate chip cookies from this recipe but baking them in a small pie dish and adding the ice cream turns them into a cazookie and it becomes an extra special treat. Who doesn’t love a warm cookie and ice cream drizzled with hot fudge?!

I shared this on my Instagram as a reel. You can see the video here: Milk Chocolate Chip Cazookie Recipe

Recipe Notes

I start by making my homemade chocolate chip cookie dough recipe. I prefer to use milk chocolate chips but you can use semi-sweet too! Whatever you like better.

You could also use a small cake pan or any type of small baking dish that is oven-safe.

Then I take a few scoops of the dough, add it to a mini pie dish and press it into the dish.

Bake the cookie dough (I like to underbake mine just a bit so that it’s ooey-gooey in the middle).

Once the cookie is baked, add some vanilla ice cream to the top while the cookie is still warm.

Then drizzle some chocolate syrup or hot fudge to the top if you like.

Now for the Recipe

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Homemade Milk Chocolate Chip Cazookie Recipe

This milk chocolate chip cookie recipe is so good and I love to make them in mini pie dishes and turn them into Cazookies. Bake individually then add ice cream and hot fudge for the yummiest dessert or treat.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword cazookie, chocolate chip cookie, cookie recipes, cookies, homemade cookies, milk chocolate chip cookie recipe, pazookies

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Ingredients

• ¾ cup sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 2¼ cup flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 12oz bag milk chocolate chips
• 1 carton vanilla ice cream
• 1 jar hot fudge or chocolate sauce

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°
• Cream softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar in a stand mixer or by hand. Then add vanilla and mix in the egg.
• Add the flour, salt, and baking soda to the creamed ingredients and stir or mix until the cookie dough is well mixed. Then add the milk chocolate chips to the dough and mix until they are blended in evenly. I prefer to use Ghiradelli Milk Chocolate Chips.
  
• Use a cookie scoop and put 2-3 scoops into a mini pie dish or small cake pan and press down to flatten the dough evenly along the bottom of the dish/pan. Bake on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Don't over bake them. I like mine soft so I take them out just before they start to turn brown on the top. They should be soft and chewy.
  
• Depending on how many cazookies you decide to make out of this dough recipe, you may have some left over cookie dough. I usually double the recipe and freeze the rest of the dough for later or bake the rest of the cookies.
  
• Once cazookies are done, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top then drizzle with hot fudge and serve warm.
  
• If you want to bake the cookies separately, bake at 350° on a cookie sheet or baking stone for 10-12 minutes in the oven. I like to under-bake mine just a bit to keep them moist and chewy.
  

Enjoy!

If you like this recipe, you’ll want to check out these:

Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

Homemade Banana Pudding Recipe

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The post Homemade Chocolate Chip Cazookie Recipe appeared first on Home With Holly J.

If you’ve followed me awhile, you know how much I love cooking and baking, and Christmas desserts are always a crowd pleaser. So today, I rounded up some great recipes from some of my favorite blogger friends. Let’s get inspired!

Italian Christmas Cookies

First of all, how delicious do these look? These are the perfect addition to your Christmas baking list.

My friend Kristen from Ella Clair Blog touts these as “little bites of joy.”

The perfect mix of sugar cookie and cake, If you make these, you’ll be the hit of the holidays! You can find the full recipe for the Italian Christmas Cookies here.

The Christmas Cookie Box

This is brilliant! Imagine you could make one dough and create five different cookie recipes from it. Not only will they taste delicious, but you get the chance to experiment with different fillings, shapes, and sizes. You can find her full recipe for the entire cookie box here.

Iced Gingerbread Cookies

A holiday staple of course! These iced gingerbread cookies are sure to please. The smell alone will get you in the perfect holiday spirit! You’ll want to grab a cup of hot cocoa and snuggle up in a blanket by the fire. You can find Deborah’s full recipe here.

Plaid Christmas Cookies

My friend Lucy is an amazing artist and you can see that her painting skills carried over to her cookie decorating. These cookies would be totally awesome for any cookie exchange plus she has a great cheat code in her post to make them super simple. You can check it out here.

Make Ahead Christmas Dessert

My friend KariAnne is the queen of doing all things– while making it look easy! Love her so much! She’s an inspiration and always there to give advice and lift others up! So of course, I had to share her awesome ideas for make-ahead Christmas desserts.

These recipes are the perfect way to make sure you have enough quality time with your family while also enjoying some yummy sweet treats. Check out all of the recipes here.

Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies

And last, but not least, don’t forget about my Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprint cookies! These are simple to make, absolutely delicious, and can be made sugar-free which will save you from all the added sugar this holiday season if you are watching your waistline. Check out the full recipe here.

Alright, now you have to tell me, which one of these Christmas dessert recipes are you most excited to make this holiday?

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The post My Absolute Favorite Christmas Dessert Recipes appeared first on Home With Holly J.

It’s almost Thanksgiving and time to share one of my favorite pie recipes! This homemade banana cream pie recipe is a family favorite and it’s so easy to make. There is nothing better than a homemade pie during the holidays or any time of year.

The pie filling is your basic homemade vanilla pudding that is so much better than the store-bought instant pudding mix.

You can also use store-bought pie crust like I did here or you can make homemade pie crust too. I prefer homemade but if you don’t have a lot of time, frozen or refrigerator pie crusts work great too.  

The pie filling is easy to make and all you have to do is add in some bananas and top with homemade whipped cream and you have a yummy pie

Here’s my homemade pie crust recipe if you want to try making your own pie crust.

Use Quality Ingredients

It’s important to use real dairy products that are high quality. One of my favorite brands is Darigold. I also use pasture-raised, organic eggs. The yolks are so much darker and add a little extra color to your pudding than regular eggs and, they are better for you!

You’re going to temper the eggs when you make the filling. If you add the eggs directly to the hot liquid when making the pudding, you will have scrambled eggs! This step is very important.

To temper the eggs, whisk a little of the hot pudding mixture into the egg yolks in a separate bowl. It’s important to whisk constantly and vigorously as the hot ingredient is added. By keeping the eggs moving constantly, you raise the temperature of the eggs gradually, keeping them from cooking.

You can see more of how to make this pie on my Instagram reel post here

Print

Homemade Banana Cream Pie Recipe

I'm sharing my favorite homemade banana cream pie recipe. It's made with real pudding and tastes amazing! This is the perfect banana cream pie recipe for the holiday season or any time of year.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword banana cream pie, bananas, pudding recipe

Servings 8

Ingredients

• 3 ripe bananas
• 1/3 cup white flour
• 3 egg yolks
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¾ cup white sugar
• 2 tbps butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3 cups whole milk
• 9" pie crust (baked)

Instructions

• Bake a 9" pie crust (baked) and have it cooled and ready.
• In a medium saucepan, scald the 3 cups whole milk .
• In another large saucepan, combine the ¾ cup white sugar, 1/3 cup white flour, and ¼ tsp salt and stir with a whisk with no heat. Then add the scalded milk and whisk until well combined.
• Cook the filling mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened. I use a whisk and a spatula to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom of the pan. You do not want to scald the filling as it's thickening up.
• Once it's thickened, turn the heat down to medium-low and cook for two more minutes, stirring continuously.
• In a small bowl separate the 3 egg yolks and slightly beat them. Whisk in a small amount of the hot pudding mixture into the bowl (about one cup) with the egg yolks. (This is called tempering, see Holly's Helpful Hints below for more details).
• When the tempered egg mixture is well combined, pour it back into the saucepan with the hot pudding mixture and stir. Cook for one minute longer.
• Remove from heat and add in the 2 tbps butter and 1 tsp vanilla.
• Let sit until lukewarm.
• When the pudding mixture has cooled off to lukewarm, slice the 3 ripe bananas into the bottom of the pie shell. Pour the pie filling mixture into the pie and cover the bananas. Put the pie into the refrigerator.
• I like to top mine with whipped cream. You can do this step when the pie is done and put in the refrigerator or you can whip the cream and add it to the top of the pie later or before serving. I piped my whipped cream onto the pie with a piping bag but you can also dollop the whipped cream onto the pie and spread it out.
• Just before serving, I will add some bananas to the top and if desired, you can add some graham cracker crumbs to the top of the whipped cream.

When the cream comes together and has stiff peaks, it’s done. If you want to make your whipped cream extra white, add one tiny drop of blue food coloring. That will make the cream whiter (the vanilla tends to make it a little less white).

I used a piping bag and added little dollops onto the pie but you can spread it onto the pie as well or just have the whipped cream in a bowl and let everyone add their own! 

You can make it a day ahead and keep it in the refrigerator or make the day of as it sets up quickly. 

I hope you give my homemade banana cream pie recipe a try! It’s a crowd-pleaser and so yummy. You can make it a day ahead and keep it in the refrigerator or make the day of as it sets up quickly. 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Be sure the subscribe to my blog so you never miss a post or you can follow along with me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest! 

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Easy Trail Mix Recipe

Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.

Today I’m sharing this yummy trail mix recipe I came up with a few years ago. I went on a girl’s weekend retreat with some of my friends and one of the activities we planned was a hike in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. I wanted to make a treat for everyone so I made this Easy Trail Mix Recipe. It turned out this simple trail mix that I made came in pretty handy! We underestimated the distance of the hike and how cold it was in the eastern part of the mountains during winter and it took us a lot longer to make our way back to the trailhead. We ended up hiking in the dark and in freezing temperatures. Thankfully we didn’t end up lost in the mountains. None of us told any of our husbands where we were going exactly and no one had cell service. We all live on the west side of the Cascade Mountains where it’s not as cold during the winter and we didn’t plan very well.

I’m an experienced hiker and I’m an over-preparer so thank goodness we had some trail mix and phones with flashlights. Not my brightest hiking moment but the good news is, we made it back safe and everyone loved my trail mix!

You can use any type of nuts that you like to make this recipe, but my favorite place to get everything for this recipe is Trader Joe’s. They have a great selection of nuts and chocolate-covered treats that make this trail mix next level. Here are my favorites!

I prefer roasted and salted nuts but you can mix and match any type of nut, roasted, salted, unsalted, raw, or whatever you prefer, the items listed here are my favorites and create the best trail mix.

Chocolate Coconut Covered Almonds

Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Roasted & Salted Pecan Halves

Raw California Walnut Halves & Pieces

Roasted & Salted Whole Cashews

Dry Toasted Pignolies – Pine Nuts

Dry Roasted & Salted Almonds

Pistachios Roasted and Salted

Roasted & Salted Pumpkin Seeds

Roasted & Salted Sunflower Seeds

You can also add peanuts or any other type of nut you like to. I typically double the recipe and it makes a very large amount. I store it in an airtight container and it makes the perfect snack any time of day and satisfies your salty and sweet cravings at the same time.

It’s also great with oatmeal for breakfast or you can add it to some yogurt. You can also leave it out on the counter in a pretty bowl for all the enjoy.

It’s also the perfect treat to share with your hiking friends.

You can put some of the trail mix into a clear treat bag and tie some ribbon around it as a sweet treat to give to your friends and neighbors. They will love you forever if you decide to share! This is also a great Christmas treat to share!

Easy Trail Mix Recipe

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Easy Trail Mix Recipe

This Trail Mix Recipe is super easy to make and has the perfect balance of Salty and Sweet!

Course Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword easy snack recipe, snacks, trail mix

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 2 8 oz bags Roasted & Salted Pecans (Whole or Halves)
• 1 12 oz tub Chocolate Coconut Almonds
• 1 12 oz tub Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
• 1 16 oz bag Raw Walnuts (Halves & Pieces if you prefer)
• 1 16 0z bag Roasted & Salted Cashews (Whole or Halves)
• 2 8 oz bags Dry Toasted Pignolies (Pine Nuts)
• 1 16 oz bag Roasted and Salted Almonds
• 1 16 oz bag Dry Roasted & Salted Pistachios
• 1 16 oz bag Roasted & Salted Pumpkin Seeds
• 1 16 oz bag Roasted & Salted or Unsalted Sunflower Seeds

Instructions

• In an extra large mixing bowl, add all the ingredients in any order.
  2 8 oz bags Roasted & Salted Pecans, 1 12 oz tub Chocolate Coconut Almonds, 1 12 oz tub Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, 1 16 oz bag Raw Walnuts, 1 16 0z bag Roasted & Salted Cashews, 2 8 oz bags Dry Toasted Pignolies (Pine Nuts), 1 16 oz bag Roasted and Salted Almonds, 1 16 oz bag Dry Roasted & Salted Pistachios , 1 16 oz bag Roasted & Salted Pumpkin Seeds, 1 16 oz bag Roasted & Salted or Unsalted Sunflower Seeds
  
• Use a large spoon and gently stir everything together until everything is mixed together well.
  
• Store in an airtight container or you can package them individually for snacks or treats to give away.
  

Notes

I usually double the recipe and it makes a lot! If you store it in an airtight container, it will last for at least three months.

I prefer using Trader Joes products in this recipe but you can use any type of nut or chocolate covered treat. There really is no right or wrong. Trader Joes has a lot of yummy chocolate covered nuts and other goodies that you can mix in as well.

The amounts and types of each item I added is just a guesstimate. If you like more of one kind of nut or like more chocolate covered coconut almonds, feel free to change up the quantities. This is just how I make it and it seems to be a good balance of salty and sweet. I like pecans and pine nuts so I doubled that and my family loves the chocolate coconut almonds so I usually add more of those in. Everyone picks out the things they like first and the chocolate covered items usually go first!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you give this Easy Trail Mix Recipe a try! It’s so yummy and a somewhat healthy treat that covers all the salty and sweet bases! Enjoy!

Here are some of the sources for the metal bowl, milk glass pedestal dish, and napkins.

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The post Easy Trail Mix Recipe appeared first on Home With Holly J.

This post is sponsored by Walmart. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.

Mello Holiday Jello Recipe

This Mello Jello Recipe is a tradition in our house for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner and New Years Eve. Mello Jello is super easy to make and is the perfect side dish or can be served for dessert.

It’s the perfect treat for any of your holiday gatherings or any time of year. It’s so yummy and tastes like a creamsicle. Mixing orange jello and lemon pudding is the secret to this jello recipe and then it’s topped with a lemony-whip cream and mandarin oranges.

This is not your grandma’s potluck Jello that has weird things in it!

This is the best jello recipe out there and once you start eating it, you can’t stop! This Mello Jello Recipe was given to us by my sister-in-law Cheryl and has been a family favorite ever since! 

With the holiday season upon us, I wanted to share this yummy Mello Jello recipe and some tips for making holiday cooking and baking easier. My go-to, especially this time of year for last-minute groceries is Walmart, and using my Walmart+ Membership. I’m able to have fresh, high-quality groceries delivered right to my door as well as any last-minute gifts and other items I need to get ready for our holiday celebrations.

With unlimited free delivery, the Walmart+ Membership can help make planning and prepping easier so that you can focus on spending quality time with your family and celebrating the holiday season. I love baking Christmas cookies and other treats the week leading up to Christmas and then delivering boxes of homemade goodies to my friends and neighbors. Walmart+ helps me so much by making shopping faster and easier!

Another benefit of the Walmart+ Membership is you can order all your gifts, home decor, and hosting and entertaining items at Walmart’s everyday low prices.

Visit Walmart+ to start your free trial. Unlimited free delivery from your store* – $35 order minimum. Restrictions apply.

Here are some of my favorite items to use for this recipe and for my holiday meal prep, cooking, and baking. Sources are linked below and at the bottom of the post.

Now, it’s time for the amazing Mello Holiday Jello Recipe:

Tip:

You can make the Mello Jello in a large 9×13 baking or casserole-type dish or if you want to get fancy, you can make them in individual dessert cups. I recycled these little glass ones from some store-bought desserts a few years ago. They work perfectly for Mello Jello shooters. I’ve linked some similar ones here:

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Mello Jello

This is the best jello recipe and is made with orange jello, lemon pudding, whipped cream, and mandarin oranges. This is not your grandma's potluck jello!

Course Dessert, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword dessert, dessert recipe, holiday recipes, jello, party recipe, Side Dish, summertime recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Ingredients

• 1 large box of orange flavored jello (Make jello as directed – the recipe calls for 4 cups of water)
• 1 large box of Jello Brand lemon cooked pudding (Make cooked pudding as directed: The recipe calls for 3 egg yolks, 3/4 cup sugar, and 3 cups water)
• 1 small box of Jello Brand instant lemon pudding
• 2 cups cool whip
• 1 cup milk
• 2 small cans of mandarin oranges, drained (or one large can)

Instructions

• Make 1 large box of orange flavored jello according to the directions and pour it into a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
  
• Next, make the 1 large box of Jello Brand lemon cooked pudding as directed with the sugar, egg yolks, and water. When it thickens let stand for about 2-3 minutes. Stir it a few times and then pour the lemon pudding into the prepared orange jello in a large bowl. Stir them together until well blended.
  
• Pour the pudding and jello mixture into a 9×13 baking dish or you can do individual servings in mini dessert dishes, shooter cups, or ramekins. Just fill your serving containers 3/4's of the way to the top with the jello/pudding mixuture leaving a little room at the top for the topping and orange.
  
• Put in the refrigerator and chill for at least 6 hours or until it sets up.
• Once the jello/pudding mixture has set up and is firm, take it out of the refrigerator. Then in a separate mixing bowl, mix together the 1 cup milk, 1 small box of Jello Brand instant lemon pudding, and 2 cups cool whip. Whisk or stir it together until everything is combined well and it's nice and creamy. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl to ensure it's all mixed well.
  
• Then, spread the Cool Whip mixture evenly on the top of the jello and then top with the 2 small cans of mandarin oranges, drained. If you don't like the oranges, you can leave them off. If you want to do them individually in dessert cups, put a dollop of topping onto each one or, you can use a piping bag or a ziplock bag to pipe the Cool Whip mixture on top. Add a mandarin orange to the top of each one.
  
• Chill until ready to serve.

Here’s the Ingredients:

Mixing the orange jello mixture with the cooked lemon pudding mixture.

Here’s where I made them individually. This takes a little more time but they look so cute served this way.

After the jello has set up and chilled, make the topping and spread evenly on top of the jello.

Then top with the mandarin oranges.

I hope you give this yummy Mello Jello Recipe a try! It’s so good!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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