Food Gift Recipes
Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal Muffins
The classic flavor of banana bread meets wholesome baked oatmeal in these personal-size muffins that are ideal for busy mornings. There’s an option for added protein, and the muffins freeze well too! I’ve been sitting on this recipe for years, regularly whipping up a batch for grab-and-go breakfasts and hearty snacks whenever a couple of…
Viral Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Rice Cake
The viral recipe gets an easy upgrade for a better ratio of peanut butter and chocolate to rice cake. And with one tablespoon of peanut butter and just two teaspoons of chocolate per rice cake, it’s a mostly healthy snack too! I don’t often follow the trends—although my kids wouldn’t likely call me a…
Big Batch Zucchini Bread or Muffins
Perfectly spiced with just the right level of sweetness, this zucchini bread recipe can be made as loaves or muffins – or both! Last summer, I gave a batch to my brother and his family, and these were the texts I received after they had eaten them: “These zucchini muffins were the best I’ve ever…
Maple Crisp Granola Bars
These crunchy bars are very lightly sweet, nutty, seedy, and delightfully satiating. Perfect for breakfast-on-the-run and convenient snacking anytime! Several years ago, my husband Jack discovered a crunchy, seedy, very lightly sweet (with a hint of salty) granola bar made by a local bakery. He quickly became a fan, and often enjoyed the bars…
Homemade Hot Honey
Hot honey is the buzz-worthy condiment that adds spicy-sweet appeal to all sorts of sweet and savory dishes. It’s easy to make at home—and cheaper than store-bought—and is a great gift! Traditionally used over fried chicken and biscuits in the south and more recently to flavor the likes of gourmet pizzas and fancy cocktails…
Grandma’s Rugelach
This two-bite cookie is hearty, subtly sweet, and can be filled with a variety of jam, chocolate, and/or nut fillings. It’s easy to make and perfect to bring to a Hanukkah party or any gathering! When Ann and I first started working together she asked me if wanted to share any of my own…
Snowballs
The cookie itself is lightly sweet and similar to a pecan sandie. A dusting of confectioner’s sugar provides the finishing touch of flavor and looks so pretty, too. (And for those with allergies–no eggs and a gluten-free option!) In the world of cookies, snowballs are neither cold nor wet, but they do pair well…
Classic Gingerbread Cookies
The only gingerbread recipe you will ever need, these perfectly-spiced cookies have stood the test of time and are as fun to make as they are to eat! As a kid, gingerbread cookies were all about the creative endeavor. After bringing the cut-out boys and girls to life with eyes, nose, striped skirts, polka…
Cut Out Sugar Cookies
A holiday staple, these tried-and-true sugar cookies are soft, a little chewy, and hold their shape beautifully. Use your favorite cookie cutters and have fun decorating! As a child, there were few kitchen projects more enticing to me than making cut out cookies–except maybe decorating the cookies. As an adult, I still feel the same…
Chocolate Chip Meringue Cookies
Sweet, crisp, and light as a cloud, these classic meringue cookies are easy to make and look beautiful on a holiday cookie platter. In its simplest form, a meringue is a dessert that is made by baking a mixture of stiffly beaten egg whites and sugar until crisp but not brown. The result is…
Classic Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Tender, chewy, and perfectly spiced, these easy-to-make cookies are just like the ones Grandma used to make and the aroma while baking is heavenly. A delicious way to get your oats! If you’re looking for the ultimate oatmeal raisin cookie, this is the recipe for you! These cookies are perfectly spiced with cinnamon, studded…
Magic Six Layer Bars (only 6 ingredients!)
This crowd-pleaser comes together in a snap and is perfect for parties, potlucks, bake sales, and holiday cookie platters. Six simple ingredients never tasted so good. See recipe notes for excellent gluten-free adjustment. One of my all-time favorite cookies is my grandmother’s recipe for six layer bars–six simple ingredients, layered in a pan, and…
