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A Warm Welcome to Fall in the Kitchen

Fall is the season where everything seems to slow down just a little—where the kitchen becomes the heart of the home and comfort food takes center stage. There’s something so special about this time of year—the changing leaves, the cozy sweaters, and the smell of something delicious baking in the oven.

If you’ve been here a while, you know I love sharing recipes that are not only delicious but also tied to special memories, family traditions, or a crisp autumn afternoon spent baking or simmering something on the stove.

Today, I’ve gathered all my favorite fall recipes in one place—these are the ones I make again and again, the ones that bring everyone to the table, and the ones that fill our home with warmth. I hope they inspire you to create something special this season, too.

1. Cream Cheese Pumpkin Swirl Muffins

These moist, spiced muffins have a creamy swirl of sweetened cream cheese running through them—and they are everything you want in a fall treat. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a mid-afternoon snack with a cup of cider or tea.

Baking Tip: I make my own pumpkin pie spice. It’s linked below if you want to make your own. It’s very expensive to buy and much more economical to make your own!

1

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins

These Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins will melt in your mouth! They are the perfect treat for fall!

Check out this recipe

2

Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix

Make your own pumpkin pie spice mix.

Check out this recipe

2. Homemade Potato Soup

This rich, creamy potato soup is pure comfort in a bowl. Made with simple ingredients like potatoes, sautéed onions, and savory seasonings, it’s the perfect cozy meal for a chilly fall evening.

Serving Idea: Add a dollop of sour cream, shredded cheddar, and crispy bacon bits on top for the ultimate loaded potato soup.

3

Homemade Potato Soup

This homemade classic potato soup recipe is so creamy and delicious. It's the perfect comfort food for any time of the year, I love making this for a potluck or luncheon and when the cooler temperatures in fall arrive.

Check out this recipe

3. Rustic Homemade Bread

There’s nothing quite like homemade bread, and this rustic loaf is easy to make and incredibly satisfying. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and perfect for dipping into soups or slathering with butter and honey.

Bread Tip: I often make a few loaves at once—one for dinner and the others to share or freeze.

4

Rustic Homemade Bread Recipe

This four-ingredient bread is simple and easy to make. The hint of sea salt on top is what makes this bread so good!

Check out this recipe

4. Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

This classic recipe is made completely from scratch—even the noodles! It’s hearty, nourishing, and perfect for when you’re under the weather or just craving something soul-soothing and warm.

Holly’s Touch: I love using leftover rotisserie chicken to save time, and I always make extra to freeze for later.

5

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Indulge in the comforting warmth of homemade chicken noodle soup made with the convenience of a rotisserie chicken and frozen egg noodles. This soul-soothing classic begins by simmering a flavorful broth, enriched with the flavor of the rotisserie chicken. Perfect for chilly days or whenever a bowl of comforting warmth is needed.

Check out this recipe

5. Cinnamon Sticky Buns

Soft, sweet, and swirled with cinnamon sugar—these homemade cinnamon buns are a fall breakfast favorite. The gooey frosting on top is what takes them over the edge!

Serving Suggestion: These are perfect for a weekend brunch or a cozy Sunday morning at home with the family.

6

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.

Check out this recipe

6. Mouthwatering Roast Beef

This roast beef recipe is a fall and winter staple in our home. It’s full of flavor, tender, and makes the most amazing leftovers (if you have any!).

Meal Idea: Serve this with mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, and my homemade brown gravy for the perfect comfort meal.

7

Classic Roast Beef Recipe

Roast beef is a classic Sunday dinner dish that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Here's a simple recipe for making a delicious roast beef that's homemade and is easy to make!

Check out this recipe

7. Flavor-Packed Homemade Brown Gravy

If you’ve never made homemade gravy before, this is the one to try. It’s simple, rich, and so much better than anything from a packet. The secret? Layering flavor and letting it simmer just right.

Pair It With: Roast beef, mashed potatoes, meatloaf, or even turkey—it’s a fall essential.

8

Homemade Brown Gravy Recipe

Sunday dinners are special occasions where families and friends gather around the table to enjoy a delicious meal. Roast beef is a classic dish for our Sunday dinner, but it's not complete without a rich, flavorful brown gravy and homemade mashed potatoes.

Check out this recipe

8. The Best Blackberry Crumble

This crumble is made with juicy blackberries and a crisp, buttery oat topping. It’s one of my absolute favorite fall desserts—especially when served warm with vanilla bean ice cream.

Seasonal Twist: You can swap out the berries for apples, peaches, or even a mix of seasonal fruits.

9

The Best Blackberry Crumble Recipe

This Blackberry Crumble, or some might call it a crisp, 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!

Check out this recipe

9. My Award-Winning Chili Recipe

This hearty, flavorful chili has won over more than a few crowds over the years! It’s packed with ground beef, beans, and just the right amount of spice to warm you up from the inside out.

Dinner Tip: Serve with cornbread or over a baked potato for a filling fall dinner.

10

Award Winning Chili Recipe

This homemade chili recipe has won many chili cookoff awards. It's simple and easy to make and everyone loves it!

Check out this recipe

10. The Best Macaroni and Cheese Ever

Rich, creamy, cheesy, and baked until golden—this mac and cheese is comfort food at its finest. Whether it’s a holiday side dish or the main event, it never lasts long at our house.

Make It a Meal: Pair it with roast beef or chili for the ultimate comfort combo.

11

The Best Macaroni and Cheese Ever

This is not your traditional mac and cheese. This recipe calls for egg noodles instead of macaroni and the cheeses are a mix of fontina, parmesan, and mozzarella. This is comfort food at its finest and you can add ham to make it a main dish or to add extra flavor.

Check out this recipe

11. Fresh Fruit Cobbler

This simple cobbler is perfect for showcasing seasonal fruits—apples, peaches, berries—you name it! The topping is biscuit-like and buttery, with just the right amount of sweetness.

Serving Suggestion: Don’t forget a scoop of ice cream or a drizzle of cream on top.

12

Fresh Fruit Cobbler:

Check out this recipe

Bringing it All Together

Whether you’re hosting a big family dinner, preparing cozy weeknight meals, or just baking something special to share, these recipes are all about creating warmth, comfort, and connection. That’s what fall is all about—gathering, savoring, and making memories.

If you try any of these, be sure to tag me on Instagram @homewithhollyj and use #HomeWithHollyJ so I can see your fall kitchen creations!

Wishing you a happy fall!

xoxo,

Check out my online shop for beautiful decor items to style your home with!

ShopHollyJHome.com

The post My Favorite Fall Recipes: Comfort Food for Cozy Days 🍂 appeared first on Home With Holly J.

Grandma’s Homemade Pie Crust

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.

Sharing my Grandma Jolley’s Homemade Pie Crust Recipe. This is a great recipe and so easy to make. The recipe makes the flakiest pie crust. I use it for all my pies including these two pies that are family favorites from Grandma Jolley.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie Recipe

Fresh Peach Pie with Cream Cheese Filling

Of course, you can use this pie crust recipe for any type of pie. Just double it you’re doing a baked pie with a top layer of crust.

The Pie Crust Recipe

Print

Grandma Jolley’s Favorite Pie Crust

Course baking, Dessert, dessert recipe, Pie Crust, strawberry pie

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 13 minutes minutes

Total Time 43 minutes minutes

Servings 8 people

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups flour
• 1 tsp. Salt
• ¼ cup cold water
• 1 TBSP white distilled vinegar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup Crisco or Butter

Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, sift the 2 ½ cups flour and 1 tsp. Salt together. Then using a pastry blender, mix the 1 cup Crisco or Butter together with the flour mixture until it becomes a little crumbly.
• In a separate bowl, mix the ¼ cup cold water, 1 TBSP white distilled vinegar, and 1 egg together. Slowly add liquid ingredients to the flour mixture using your pastry blender. Once incorporated well, use your hands to mix together and form 2 equal-sized balls out of the dough for each of the pie crusts.
• Sprinkle a little flour onto a clean, dry surface and gently roll out the pie dough a little less than ¼ of an inch.
• Roll the dough back up on the rolling pin. Lay it on the edge of your pie dish and unroll it right on top. Gently push the pie dough into the pan and then trim the edges about 1 inch below the edge and then fold under and pinch together with your fingers to form a nice edge.
• Poke holes in the crust with a fork and bake at 400 degrees for approximately 13-16 minutes. The crust should start to turn to a light brown color. Take out of the oven and cool on a wire rack for about 20-30 minutes.

This is what happens if you don’t add the parchment paper and the pie weights or beans.

Now you can fill the pie crust with any type of pie filling!

Here’s some of my other favorite pie recipes:

Easy Homemade Banana Cream Pie Recipe

Fresh Peach Pie with Cream Cheese Filling

[holly_healthful_tips]

Holly’s Helpful Tips

*When baking any pie crust shell, use dry beans or ceramic pie weights. Put a layer of parchment paper on top of the crust, and lay the beads on top. Put them in the pie shell before you bake and it will keep the pie crust from shrinking or sagging.

*If you don’t have the ceramic pie weights, you can use dry beans.  I have done it both ways.

*Use a fork to poke holes in the bottom and sides of the crust before you put the dry beans or ceramic pie weights in. This keeps the pie crust from bubbling up!

*Be careful not to overwork the dough. You want pie crust to be flaky!

*I like to add a little more almond extract than the recipe calls for because my husband loves it that way, but if you’re a purist, stick to Grandma’s recipe!

*You can freeze half of the dough if you are only making one pie. The dough can get really sticky and soft if out too long after making and if it’s warm.  I find it’s easier to refrigerate the dough if I have time.

[/holly_healthful_tips]

Thanks so much for stopping by! Follow along with me on Instagram @homewithhollyj and on Pinterest! You can also subscribe to  my blog so you never miss a post! xoxo,

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Homemade Pie Crust Recipe 

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Rustic Homemade Bread Recipe

I’m excited to share this simple and easy, four-ingredient homemade rustic bread recipe. This recipe comes from one of my husband’s favorite patients. We call this recipe Jeff’s Bread. Every evening, Jeff mixes up two batches of this rustic homemade bread recipe and then lets it rise overnight. The next morning, he bakes it up and delivers two of these delicious loaves to wherever he goes that day. He always brings some into my husband’s office and he and his staff love this bread so much!

It’s simple to make and tastes so good! I asked Jeff if I could share his recipe and he said yes! I hope you love it as much as we do!

For these photos, I doubled the batch and baked it in a rectangular Dutch oven baker but I usually do it in a single batch and shape it into dough balls, as some of the other photos show. It can be baked in any type of Dutch oven but for the round loaves, I find that the 7-10 quart enameled Dutch ovens work the best.

Ingredients

I prefer to use a kitchen aid stand mixer.

I raise the dough in a parchment paper-lined bowl.

I use a damp dish towel to cover it. This keeps the dough from drying out.

Let rise for about 6-12 hours.

Heat up the oven with the pot inside and then place the dough into the pot, drizzle with olive oil and sea salt. Cover and bake as directed below.

Print

Rustic Homemade Bread Recipe

This four-ingredient bread is simple and easy to make. The hint of sea salt on top is what makes this bread so good!

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American, French

Keyword baking, bread, bread recipe, easy bread recipe, french bread recipe, homemade bread

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Equipment

• Stand Mixer
• Cast Iron or Cast Iron Enameled Dutch Oven with Lid (7-10 quart is best)

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour (I use bread flour but any kind is fine)
• 2 tsp fine sea salt
• ½ tsp yeast
• 1⅓ cup water (does not need to be warm)

Instructions

• Add 3 cups flour, 2 tsp fine sea salt, and ½ tsp yeast into the bowl of a stand mixer or a bowl if you're making without a mixer.
• Stir in 1⅓ cup water gradually until the dough is just wet enough to stay together in a ball. Cover with a damp dish towel and let sit for a minimum of six hours or longer to a maximum of twelve hours.
• Place the cast iron pot and lid into the oven and preheat to 475°.
• Dust a clean countertop with flour, pour the dough ball onto the floured surface, and fold it into the center about four times, forming a round ball. Cover with a towel again while oven and pan continue to heat up to 475°.
• Once the oven is up to temperature, take the lid off and put the dough ball into the very hot cast iron pot. Sprinkle or brush with olive oil and sea salt and replace the lid onto the pot.
• Set a timer for twenty minutes to bake the bread, then remove the lid and bake for another ten minutes or so until golden brown.
• Remove bread carefully and let cool on a wire cooking rack.

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The post Rustic Homemade Bread Recipe 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.

Homemade Banana Pudding Recipe

When I went to NYC for the first time last fall, I asked for recommendations on what to do and where to find the best food.

A friend of mine told me about the banana pudding at Magnolia Bakery.

I had never heard of banana pudding and so the first thing we did after arriving and checking into our hotel was to hunt down this famous bakery.

It was so good and I shouldn’t admit that I ate it almost every day we were there.

Good thing we worked out every day and walked a lot or I would have gained five pounds! 

After coming home, I was craving this yummy dessert and I decided to try making it myself.

I think this homemade banana pudding recipe I came up with is pretty close to the one I tried in NYC and it’s all homemade.

Print

Homemade Banana Pudding

This is my version of Magnolia Bakery in NYC Banana Pudding made from scratch.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword banana pudding, dessert recipe, easy recipes, pudding, trifle recipes

Servings 8

Ingredients

• 6 cups Whole Milk
• 1 ½ cups Sugar
• ⅔ cup All Purpose Flour
• ½ tsp Salt
• 6 Egg Yolks (lightly beaten)
• 4 tbsp Butter
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 6 Bananas (Green or barley ripe)
• 1 box Nilla Wafers or Belvita Cookies (I used the Belvita toasted coconut cookies this time but nilla wafers are traditional)
• Optional: Salted Caramel Sauce
• 1 quart Heavy Whipping Cream
• ¾ cup Powdered Sugar (this is for the whipping cream)
• 1 tsp vanilla (this is for the whipping cream)

Instructions

• Dump the 6 cups Whole Milk into a medium-sized saucepan or Dutch oven. Scald the milk (If you haven't scalded milk before here are the directions: place milk in a saucepan and heat up the milk on medium heat. Once the milk has begun to steam and show small bubbles, it should be done. Milk is considered to be scalded once it exceeds a temperature of 180° F. You can use a thermometer if you like but be careful to not burn the milk).
• In another large saucepan or Dutch oven, combine the 1 ½ cups Sugar, ⅔ cup All Purpose Flour, and ½ tsp Salt; whisk them together and then gradually stir in the scalded milk.
• Over medium heat, stirring constantly, cook until thickened.
• Cover and, stirring occasionally, cook the pudding mixture for two minutes longer.
• In a small bowl, have the 6 Egg Yolks yolks, slightly beaten, ready; when the pudding mixture is done cooking for two minutes, add a cup of the mixture into the bowl with the eggs. Use a whisk to stir. This is called tempering the eggs and will prevent them from scrambling when you dump them into the bubbling pudding mixture. Once the cup or so of pudding and the eggs are thoroughly combined, add the egg mixture into the pudding slowly, stirring constantly.
• Cook for one minute longer, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
• Remove from heat; the pudding should be thickend at this point.
• Add in the 4 tbsp Butter and 2 tsp Vanilla Extract and stir until the butter is melted and everything is well blended.
• Let sit in the pan until lukewarm, stirring occasionally.
• Put the pudding into a large bowl and cover the pudding with plastic wrap. Don't cover the bowl though, actually put the plastic wrap right on top of the pudding to prevent it from getting a skin on the top. Refrigerate overnight or for a few hours until it's cooled.
• When you're ready to assemble the pudding, whip the 1 quart Heavy Whipping Cream with ¾ cup Powdered Sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. Whip the cream until stiff.
• Take half the whipped cream and gently fold into the pudding until well combined.
• You can make the puddings individually or you can do it in a 9×13 pan or trifle bowl. I did these in individual pint mason jars.
• Put 3 nilla wafers (or whatever cookie you're using) in the bottom of the jar, then layer some of the pudding on top of the cookies. I use a piping bag or zip lock bag to pipe the pudding into the jars.
• Add a layer of bananas; about 5-6 slices.
• Add aother layer of pudding on top of the banans and then add 2 or 3 more nilla wafers.
• Add one last layer of bananas and one last thin layer of pudding to cover the bananas. Top with the rest of the whipped cream and then stick a nilla wafer or whatever cookie you're using on top of the whipped cream. I also use a piping bag to for the whipped cream but you can spoon it in as well.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve. I will sometimes add a layer of salted caramel to the middle and then drizzle over the top when I'm ready to serve. This is optional.
• You can also fill the jars up a little less and put the lid on them to take on a picnic or to give to the neighbors as a little treat.

One thing I like to do is to fill them a little less full and then put the mason jar lid on and take them as a treat to my neighbors or make these ahead of time for a picnic. It’s really fun for everyone to get their own little mason jar filled with this yummy banana pudding.

As I mentioned earlier, I used Belvita toasted coconut cookies instead of Nilla wafers this time but Nilla Wafers are the traditional way and I like them both!  Try adding the salted caramel to them too! It’s another delicious layer!

I made the Banana Pudding in a trifle dish for our Utah Pioneer Day Party.

I added salted caramel in the middle layer and crumbled the Nilla Wafers on top.

Then I drizzled the salted caramel on top.  

The funniest part about this trifle was that I forgot the bananas! I cut up bananas right before I served the food and set them in a bowl beside the pudding so everyone just added them on top.

I hope you give this recipe a try. Some people make it with jello pudding and cool whip which is always an option but I prefer this one that’s all homemade. It tastes better when it’s homemade and it’s not full of preservatives. Homemade is always better in my humble opinion.

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Enjoy!

xoxo,

The post The Most Delicious and Delightful Homemade Banana Pudding Recipe appeared first on Home With Holly J.

The Best Blackberry Crumble Recipe

One of the things I’ve always loved about living in the Pacific Northwest (Washington and Oregon) is berry season. Every berry you can imagine grows extremely well here and there are farms aplenty to buy them at or you can pick your own. I look forward to berry season each year and have been so excited to share this family favorite recipe with you!

I’ve also joined up with some of my talented friends to share more favorite berry recipes. Make sure you scroll down to the bottom of this post for the other delicious berry recipes. These recipes are perfect for summertime entertaining or any time of the year.

In the Pacific Northwest, wild blackberries grow everywhere (they are actually an invasive species) and I’ve always picked buckets full right out of my yard.
They are easy to freeze in ziplock bags to be made into pies, cobblers, and crumbles

. Blackberries have a lot of seeds in them and can be a little tart which makes them the perfect berry to use in one of these types of recipes.

Blackberry Crumble Recipe

A few years ago my neighbors in Washington brought over the most delicious apple crisp and it was so good that I asked her for the recipe. I decided to try some other variations of it and this Blackberry Crumble is one of them. I think this one is my favorite. I’ve used tart cherries and blueberries too so feel free to improvise! I put instructions for the variations in the recipe below.

Print

The Best Blackberry Crumble Recipe

This Blackberry Crumble, or some might call it a crisp, 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 Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword baking, berries, blackberries, dessert, Fruit Dessert

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 10

Ingredients

• 5 cups Blackberries fresh or frozen
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1 cup Butter (two sticks)
• 1 1/2 cup Flour
• 1 1/2 cup Oatmeal
• 1 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
• 1 tsp Salt
• 2 tsp Cinnamon
• Non-Stick Spray Pam or Coconut Oil

Instructions

• Place five cups of fresh or frozen and thawed blackberries in a mixing bowl. Add 1/2 cup of sugar 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 blackberries out to cover the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
  
• In another mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, flour, oatmeal, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Use a pastry cutter or your hands to mix the crumble together. You'll want the pieces of butter to be pea-sized if possible.
  
• Dump the crumble topping on top of the blackberries in the baking dish and cover the berries with the crumble evenly. It's okay if some of the berries are sticking out or if it doesn't go all the way to the edge of the pan.
  
• Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes. The juice from the berries will bubble up around the edges.
  
• Let cool for a bit and then serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
  

Notes

If you want to use blueberries, raspberries, or marionberries, the recipe is the same.

If you want to make it with tart pie cherries. omit the cinnamon and add 3 tsp of almond extract.

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

Make sure you serve warm with vanilla ice cream! 

I hope you’ll give my blackberry crumble recipe a try! It’s the perfect dessert for any time of the year and keep scrolling down for four more delicious berry recipes from my friends!

Lory from To Have + To Host made these cast iron Mini Blackberry Cobblers

Holliday from Home With Holliday made these refreshing Raspberry Vodka Spritzers with Mint.

Shawna from Willow Bloom Home made this Delicious Summer Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Amy from Maison De Mings made this Raspberry Infused Lemon Naked Cake.

I hope you’ve enjoyed all these yummy berry recipes! If you’re looking for more yummy berry recipes, here’s my Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie and my Fresh Fruit Cobbler. These are amazing and family favorites!

xoxo,

The post The Best Blackberry Crumble Recipe 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.

The Best Braided French Bread Recipe

This is The Best Braided French Bread Recipe ever and it’s not only delicious, it looks a little fancier than a regular loaf of homemade bread. It’s much easier to make than it looks and it has six ingredients! You’ll wow everyone with this amazing recipe!

If you’ve been following along for a while you’ll probably know that there’s almost always a story behind most of my recipes. If you’re new here, welcome! I’ll try to keep it short so you can get to the good stuff–the recipe!

The Story Behind This Recipe

Many years ago we moved to Portland, Oregon, for my husband to attend dental school. We started attending a new church and were fortunate enough to be befriended by a wonderful family named the Myers. I became fast friends with Debra, the wife, and even though she was a little older than me, we had so much in common. I looked up to her as she had seven children, five boys and two girls! My two oldest boys were toddlers then and she always gave me great advice. She was also an amazing cook and I loved learning from her in the kitchen!

Debra’s braided French bread was legendary in our church circles! She taught a class one night at the women’s group meeting and we all learned to make this amazing bread. I promise this is easier than it looks! I’ve shared many photos and step-by-step instructions on how to pull this off below in the recipe section. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect! Mine are never the same exact size and shape. What really matters is how good this bread recipe tastes!

It’s the perfect recipe to deliver to the neighbors because it makes 3-4 loaves. I often double the recipe (as I did here in these photos) so I could have plenty to share. With my double batch, I usually end up with seven loaves but you can make them smaller or shape them into smaller braided rolls or small, round rolls. How you shape them is your choice, but the braided loaf has a bit of a WOW factor!

The Recipe: Debra’s Braided French Bread

Print

Debra’s Braided French Bread

The most delicious braided French bread is the best recipe! You'll want to make this bread recipe often!

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American, French

Keyword bread, bread recipe, breadrecipe, french bread, french bread recipe, homemade bread, rolls, rolls, bread, homemade, potato rolls, potato,

Prep Time 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Equipment

• Stand Mixer with a dough hook or attachment (I use my bosch mixer for this recipe since I usually double it.) A kitchen aid mixer is what I use when I don't double it.
• Baking Sheet Pan
• Dough Scraper
• Flour sifter (optional)
• Flour sack towel or tea towel
• Squirt bottle filled with water

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp yeast
• 3 1/2 cups water
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup butter *can substitute oil if you don't have butter
• 4 tsp salt
• 8 cups flour
• non-stick cooking spray
• extra flour for rolling out the dough

Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, stir 3 tbsp yeast into a warmed 3 1/2 cups water.
  
• Stir until yeast is dissolved. Let stand for a few minutes.
  
• When the yeast starts to froth on the top, dump it into a stand mixer. Then add 3/4 cup sugar, 1/3 cup butter (softened), and 4 tsp salt. Mix on low speed for about a minute or so.
  
• Start adding flour to the mixture 2 cups at a time. Allow it to mix in for about 20-30 seconds before adding the next 2 cups.
  
• After adding all 8 cups flour, you should have a soft, elastic dough. If the dough is super sticky, add another 1/2 cup-1 cup of flour. Let mix for a few minutes until all the flour is worked in.
  
• Spray a large bowl with a non-stick cooking spray and place the dough in the bowl.
  
• Cover the bowl with a damp towel. I run hot water on a clean flour sack towel to get it wet. You can use any tea or dish towel, just make sure it's clean and not a heavy towel. You don't want the top of the dough to dry out.
  
• Place the bowl of dough covered with the damp towel in a warm place. I use the proofing setting on my oven or the proofing mode on my bread warming drawer to speed it up. You can turn on your oven for a few minutes to get it warm, then turn it off and set it inside the oven. Be careful to not get it over 100 degrees or so. You want it warm, not hot.
  
• Let the dough rise until double in size. If the towel sticks to the top of the dough, gently remove the towel. You can always remove the towel towards the end and use the squirt bottle with water to keep the top of the dough moist. You don't want it to dry out.
  
• Sprinkle some flour onto a clean surface. I use a flour sifter to sprinkle the flour out more evenly.
  
• Dump the dough onto the floured surface.
  
• Try to get the dough into somewhat of a misshapen rectangular shape.
  
• Then start pulling and stretching sections from the side, and pull it over on top of the dough towards the middle, and press lightly down.
  
• This helps give the dough a more uniform look.
  
• When you've got it looking more uniform in shape, turn it over onto the flat, smooth side.
  
• Pat the ends to make it more flat and a long rectangle. This doesn't have to be perfect, just get it as close to this shape as you can.
  
• I do this process to make it easier to cut equal amounts of dough for each of the sections you are going to braid. I make little lines on the top of the dough with my dough scraper to section it into 9 or 12 sections. If you want 4 smaller loaves, do 12 sections. If you want 3 larger loaves, do 9 sections.
  
• Use the squirt bottle with water to lightly mist the top of the dough every so often so that it doesn't dry out while you're sectioning and braiding. I also keep the dough covered with a damp tea towel to keep it from drying out.
  
• Cut 3 sections at a time, then cover up the dough while you braid each loaf. Use your hands to stretch and roll each piece into about a 10"-12" piece.
  
• Pinch the three pieces together with the middle piece on top.
  
• Tuck the three pieces under themselves. You may need to hold them down with one hand while you start the braid with the other.
  
• You can tuck the end under more once the whole loaf has been braided so don't worry if it's not perfect.
  
• Take the right section over the middle section to start the braid.
  
• Then take the left section and continue the braid.
  
• The dough will keep stretching and getting longer as you braid.
  
• Keep the braid going and don't worry if it's not perfect. The dough will rise and hide all your imperfections.
  
• When you get to the end, pinch the 3 pieces of dough together and tuck under. Check the end you began with and make sure it's tucked under too. Get your baking sheets out (you'll need two) and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
  
• Now that the braid is done, use your dough scraper and your hand and gently lift the dough and set it on the baking sheet.
  
• You can get two braids on a standard baking sheet pan. I alternate the braided loaves so that they are opposite to each other. Cover with the damp towel again and let rise another 20-30 minutes.
  
• Bake for 15-20 minutes depending on your oven. When the top is dark golden brown, it's done.
  
• Remove from the oven and brush the tops with butter.
  
• Variations: Brush the dough with an egg wash or milk and sprinkle with sesame seeds or poppy seeds before baking.

  You can make it into individual French rolls, small braided rolls, or just round-shaped rolls.

You’re going to love this recipe! I promise! Each time I make it, I get a little better at shaping the dough. If it’s not perfect, just remember that when the braids start to rise again, then bake, they get a lot bigger and fill in any spots that didn’t look as good when it was in the shaping stage.

I took some of these loaves to each of my neighbors this past week. They were all so grateful and wanted the recipe! I hope you love Debra’s braided French bread as much as we do. The best part about this recipe is that whenever I make it, I think about my sweet friend and all the fun times we had together in Portland. We both moved away from Oregon many years ago but we still stay in touch and she graciously allowed me to share this special recipe with you all!

You may also like my Homemade Rolls Recipe!  Click here!

For the Bosch Stand Mixer click here.

Enjoy!

xoxo,

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The post The Best Braided French Bread Recipe appeared first on Home With Holly J.

This yummy macaroni and cheese recipe is comfort food at its finest and can be your main dish or a side dish. This is my go to recipe when I’ve cooked a ham and have some leftovers! Ham is optional, but I’ve always made it with the ham. This is not your traditional macaroni and cheese recipe because it actually doesn’t have macaroni or cheddar cheese in it! I use egg noodles and a delicious mix of fontina, parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses. I guess it should be called a different name, but egg noodles and cheese doesn’t quite have the same appeal.

The Ingredients

This recipe is easy to make and cooks in twenty five minutes! There are just a handful of ingredients and the mess is minimal.

The best part of this macaroni and cheese is the top layer of fontina, mozzarella, and parmsean cheeses. They melt and create a yummy crust on top.

Side note: One of my IG followers read my recipe and sent me a message saying this recipe is similar to Giada De Laurentis recipe. I don’t know the original source but there’s a good chance this is where this originated from. So, I’m crediting her since this looks almost exactly like the recipe I have! Giada’s Recipe

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The Best Macaroni and Cheese Ever

This is not your traditional mac and cheese. This recipe calls for egg noodles instead of macaroni and the cheeses are a mix of fontina, parmesan, and mozzarella. This is comfort food at its finest and you can add ham to make it a main dish or to add extra flavor.

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword mac and cheese, macaroni and cheese, main dish, pasta recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp butter (softened)
• 12 oz egg noodles
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 1/2 cups whole milk
• 2 tsp all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt plus more for pasta water
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 cups grated fontina cheese (packed)
• 3/4 cup finely grated parmesan (packed)
• 3/4 cup grated mozzarella (packed)
• 4 oz cooked ham, diced (this is optional)
• 1 tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley (italian parsley)
• water for boiling egg noodles

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 450º F
• Take the softened butter, and grease a 9 x 13 glass baking dish, and set aside.
• Cook the egg noodles as directed in a large pot of boiling water. Add about 2-3 tbsps. of salt to the water. Cook the noodles until tender but still firm to bite. Approximately 5-7 minutes.
• While the noodles are cooking, whisk together the cream, milk, flour, 1/2 tsp salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. 
• Stir in 1 cup of the Fontina Cheese, 1/2 cup of the parmesan, and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella, ham if using, and parsley. Mix well.
• When the noodles are done, drain well but do not rinse.
• Add the noodles to the mixing bowl and toss to coat. When mixed well, dump the noodle mixture into the buttered baking dish. 
• Toss the remaining grated cheeses together in a small bowl to blend. Sprinkle the cheese mixture over the noodle mixture.
• Bake until the sauce starts to bubble and the cheese melts and begins to brown on top. About 20-25 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

I've had this recipe for years and can't remember where I got it but there was no author on it. One of my IG followers messaged me, which I appreciate, and said this looks like Giada De Laurentis Macaroni and Cheese recipe so I'm crediting her after reading hers and mine. Whoever created this recipe though, it's amazing!

You’ll be the star of the show when you make this delicious version of mac and cheese. It’s a great recipe for your leftover Easter ham or any other time you have leftover ham to use up. You can always make it without the ham too!

The sauce tends to be a bit runny so let it set up for about 10 minutes. It’s also great as leftovers!

I like to add a little more cheese on top than it calls for so feel free to add more! You can never have too much cheese! Don’t add more to the mix though as it doesn’t set up if you add too much to the mix. Save the extra for the top! Sprinkle with some italian parsley at the end if you wish.

Here are the links to the items I used:

If you love fontina cheese, my Scalloped Potato Recipe is amazing!!

Enjoy!!

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The post The Best Macaroni and Cheese Ever appeared first on Home With Holly J.

Saint Patrick’s Day Chocolate Cupcakes

Making cupcakes is so much fun and something you can include your children in that’s a fun family activity. One of the most fun holidays to make cupcakes for is Saint Patrick’s! When my kids were little, they loved helping me bake and decorate cupcakes and sugar cookies. This year I thought it would be fun to make chocolate cupcakes with Aunt Jeanies Chocolate Cake recipe and decorate them for Saint Patrick’s Day. Instead of using the ganache frosting that goes with this recipe, I used my friend Ashley’s (www.livingbeautafully.com) go-to chocolate buttercream frosting recipe. I needed a stiffer frosting that could be piped so I could top the cupcakes with the gold chocolate coins and green sprinkles.

The Decorations

I found these cute green and gold cupcake liners, green sprinkles, and gold chocolate coins at one of my favorite baking supply stores and couldn’t wait to make these cute cupcakes.

I’ve listed the cake recipe below and also here: Aunt Jeanie’s Chocolate Cake. The only thing I had to alter for the cupcakes was the baking time. Cupcakes take less time to bake. I started checking them around 12-14 minutes and just kept an eye on them until they bounded back in the middle. I overcooked the first batch so watch them closely. Oven temperatures vary so it could be a little longer in your oven.

I’ve linked the buttercream frosting (above) that I used. Aunt Jeanie’s frosting can be used to frost the cupcakes but it sets up fast so you’d have to spread it onto the cupcakes quickly. It’s more of a ganache-type frosting and doesn’t pipe well. If you want to pipe the frosting on like I’ve done here then stick to the buttercream frosting I’ve linked above.

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Aunt Jeanies Chocolate Cake

The best chocolate cake with ganache frosting ever! 

Course Dessert

Keyword baking, cake, chocolate, chocolate cake, chocolate desserts, chocolate frosting, dessert, family recipes, homecooked, homemade

Servings 12

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 tbsp cocoa powder
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup water
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup buttermilk

Frosting

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup milk
• 5 tbsp butter
• 2 cups milk chocolate chips
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup Marshmallows *optional
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts *optional

Instructions

• CAKE
• In a large mixing bowl, add 2 cups sugar. Then sift the 2 cups flour and 4 tbsp cocoa powder into the bowl. Sifting the flour and cocoa is an important step so don't skip it!
  
• Then add the 1/2 cup butter on top of the sifted ingredients.
  
• Put the 1 cup water and the 2/3 cup vegetable oil in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour all at once over the flour, sugar, and cocoa mixture. 
  
• Stir until well combined.
  
• Add the 2 eggs, 1/2 cup buttermilk, 1 1/2 tsp baking soda, and 1 tsp vanilla and stir until smooth.
  
• Spray the baking dish with cooking spray. Pour into a 9x13 cake pan or large cookie sheet and bake at 350º for 25-30 minutes or until the cake bounces back when touched lightly in the middle. Don't overbake.
  

Frosting

• Put the 1 cup sugar, 1/3 cup milk, and 5 tbsp butter into a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Do not boil for more than 20 seconds. Remove from heat and add the 2 cups milk chocolate chips. Stir until dissolved and then add the 1 tsp vanilla and stir again. If using the marshmallows and/or the chopped nuts, add those in and gently stir. Immediately pour onto the cake and spread. This sets ups fast so work quickly. 
• This is best if made the day ahead. Allow at least 6-8 hours to set up if possible. 

These cupcakes were simple to make and tasted so good!  Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

xoxo

Tap the images for the links to each item:

Photos by Lizzy Early Cox from @yourcupofcake www.yourcupofcake.com

The post Saint Patricks Day Chocolate Cupcakes appeared first on Home With Holly J.

My husbands Grandma Fuhriman and her sister Jeanie were amazing cooks. We loved to visit them both and I always enjoyed following them around their kitchens trying to help them cook and learn some of their delicious recipes. They were the cutest things and shared a special relationship with one another.

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The two of them always made this chocolate cake that everyone loved. The rumor is that Grandma made up the frosting and Jeanie made up the cake. They were always tweaking the recipe of both the cake and frosting. We have found at least 7 different versions of this recipe!

Aunt Jeanie, as we called her, lived near our Washington home and we’d see her often. She never forgot anyone’s birthday and always showed up with at least one of her chocolate cakes no matter the occasion. She had this way of making everyone feel like they were the most important person in the world and she was always happy and upbeat even though she had experienced the loss of her husband and three of her four children. Anyone who knew her had been given a chocolate cake at some point. Making this cake for someone was her way of saying that she loved you.

Grandma, who lived in Idaho passed away in 2013 and we were so sad to lose her. Aunt Jeanie lived ten minutes away from us in Washington. We had always been close to her but after losing Grandma, we loved spending time with her even more.

In the past year, Aunt Jeanie’s health had started declining. Her granddaughter, Tiffany, who is a photographer, reached out to me and we discussed getting together and making the cake with Jeanie. We knew her time was limited and we wanted to get some photos of her making the cake with me. I had been wanting to share the recipe on the blog as well as having those memories saved for her posterity. I also wanted her to share her tips on making this cake.

Tiffany and I arranged a day to make the cake with Jeanie but sadly, she was not up for it and passed away shortly thereafter. We were both so sad we had waited too long. The day before she passed away, I filmed my very first recipe video making her cake and wish I’d been able to show it to her before she passed.  Over the Christmas holiday, Tiffany and her family came over to our home and we made the cake together and photographed it. It was nice to share this experience and reminisce about this sweet lady that we all loved so much.

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Aunt Jeanies Chocolate Cake

The best chocolate cake with ganache frosting ever! 

Course Dessert

Keyword baking, cake, chocolate, chocolate cake, chocolate desserts, chocolate frosting, dessert, family recipes, homecooked, homemade

Servings 12

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 tbsp cocoa powder
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup water
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup buttermilk

Frosting

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup milk
• 5 tbsp butter
• 2 cups milk chocolate chips
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup Marshmallows *optional
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts *optional

Instructions

• CAKE
• In a large mixing bowl, add 2 cups sugar. Then sift the 2 cups flour and 4 tbsp cocoa powder into the bowl. Sifting the flour and cocoa is an important step so don't skip it!
  
• Then add the 1/2 cup butter on top of the sifted ingredients.
  
• Put the 1 cup water and the 2/3 cup vegetable oil in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour all at once over the flour, sugar, and cocoa mixture. 
  
• Stir until well combined.
  
• Add the 2 eggs, 1/2 cup buttermilk, 1 1/2 tsp baking soda, and 1 tsp vanilla and stir until smooth.
  
• Spray the baking dish with cooking spray. Pour into a 9×13 cake pan or large cookie sheet and bake at 350º for 25-30 minutes or until the cake bounces back when touched lightly in the middle. Don't overbake.
  

Frosting

• Put the 1 cup sugar, 1/3 cup milk, and 5 tbsp butter into a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Do not boil for more than 20 seconds. Remove from heat and add the 2 cups milk chocolate chips. Stir until dissolved and then add the 1 tsp vanilla and stir again. If using the marshmallows and/or the chopped nuts, add those in and gently stir. Immediately pour onto the cake and spread. This sets ups fast so work quickly. 
• This is best if made the day ahead. Allow at least 6-8 hours to set up if possible. 

And there you have it, The Best Chocolate Cake Recipe Ever! I hope you’ll love this cake as much as our family does and I know Aunt Jeanie and Grandma Fuhriman are up in heaven smiling down knowing their special cake and frosting are still being made and enjoyed by so many. I hope to follow in her footsteps and continue Jeanie’s tradition of making this cake as a way of sharing my love for everyone in my life.

Photo Credit: Tiffany Fife Buckmiller, Aunt Jeanies granddaughter.

xoxo

Holly

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The post Aunt Jeanie’s Chocolate Cake: The Best Chocolate Cake Recipe Ever! appeared first on Home With Holly J.

This is a simple recipe for making your own Pumpkin Pie Spice.  I use this pumpkin pie spice recipe in my pumpkin pie, pumpkin cream cheese muffins, pumpkin roll, and any recipe that calls for pumpkin spice or pumpkin pie spice.

At times, I’ve had a difficult time finding it in the grocery store and it is quite expensive for a small amount. You can make a batch of your own and store it in a spice container or small mason jar.

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Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix

Make your own pumpkin pie spice mix.

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp ground ginger
• 1 1/2 tbsp ground allspice
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 2 tsp ground nutmeg

Instructions

• Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container or spice jar.

Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix RecipePumpkin Pie Spice Mix Recipe

The post Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix appeared first on Home With Holly J.