Homemade hot chocolate is a world away from the powdered packets: thick, velvety, and intensely chocolatey with a smooth finish. A combination of cocoa powder and real chopped chocolate gives it deep flavor and a luxurious texture. This creamy hot chocolate from scratch takes just 15 minutes and uses simple pantry ingredients. It is the thick hot chocolate recipe with cocoa and chocolate you will make all winter long, whether for movie nights,...
Chocolate crinkle cookies are the holiday cookie that looks like fresh snow on a chocolate mountain. Their deep, fudgy centers taste like brownies, and the crackled powdered sugar coating makes them a showstopper on any cookie tray. This easy chocolate crinkle cookies recipe uses cocoa powder and oil for a rich, brownie-like texture. If you want fudgy chocolate crinkle cookies with cracked tops that stay soft for days, this is the one to bake....
Soft gingerbread cookies are everything you love about the holiday classic without the rolling pin. These thick, chewy cookies are packed with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and molasses, then rolled in sugar for a sparkly, crackled top. This easy soft gingerbread cookie recipe is a chewy drop version with no cookie cutters, just scoop and bake. If you want chewy molasses gingerbread cookies for a cookie swap or a cozy winter afternoon, this is the...
Peanut butter blossoms are the Christmas cookie that never goes out of style: soft, chewy peanut butter cookies rolled in sugar and topped with a melty chocolate kiss. They were the top-trending Christmas cookie in Google searches last holiday season, and for good reason. This easy peanut butter blossoms recipe makes a soft, thick cookie that stays tender for days. These classic peanut butter kiss cookies are simple enough for beginners and...
Pecan pie bars give you everything you love about the classic Thanksgiving pie in a neat, hand-held square. A buttery shortbread crust is topped with a gooey, caramel-like pecan filling that sets into chewy, crunchy perfection. These easy pecan pie bars with a shortbread crust are perfect for feeding a crowd. If you love pecan pie but not the slicing mess, this gooey pecan pie bar recipe is a holiday dessert you can make ahead. Recipe at a...
Turkey gravy without drippings is a Thanksgiving lifesaver: rich, silky, and full of savory flavor, with no turkey required. A golden butter and flour roux, flavorful broth, and a few seasoning tricks create gravy that tastes like it came from the roasting pan. This make ahead turkey gravy is a lump-free gravy made with easy ingredients and about 25 minutes of work. It is the easy homemade gravy with broth that saves you from last-minute stress....
Sweet potato casserole is the creamy, lightly spiced Thanksgiving side that doubles as dessert. Roasted sweet potatoes are mashed with brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon, then topped with a crunchy brown sugar pecan streusel. This sweet potato casserole with pecan streusel skips the marshmallows for a buttery, crunchy topping everyone fights over. It is an easy make ahead sweet potato casserole that frees up your oven time on the big day. Recipe...
Baked mac and cheese is the holiday side dish that disappears first. Tender elbow macaroni is folded into a silky sharp cheddar and Gruyere sauce, then baked under a golden, buttery breadcrumb crust. This creamy baked mac and cheese from scratch uses a simple roux-based sauce with no processed cheese. It is a make ahead Thanksgiving mac and cheese with a crunchy panko topping that works for holidays, potlucks, and Sunday dinners. Recipe at a...
Witches’ brew punch is the bubbling green drink that makes any Halloween party feel magical. Pineapple juice, lime juice, and lemon-lime soda swirl together with scoops of lime sherbet that foam into a spooky, frothy brew. This easy non-alcoholic Halloween punch for kids takes just 10 minutes and serves a crowd. If you want green witches’ brew punch with lime sherbet, this recipe has the right balance of sweet, tart, and fizzy. Recipe at a...
Pumpkin cheesecake bars bring together two fall favorites in one creamy, perfectly spiced dessert. A buttery graham cracker crust is topped with a velvety pumpkin cheesecake filling that bakes up smooth and sliceable. These easy pumpkin cheesecake bars with a graham cracker crust need no water bath and no fancy equipment. They are a no-water-bath pumpkin cheesecake bars recipe that is ideal for Halloween parties, Thanksgiving, and potlucks....
