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Pistachio Cheesecake

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Pistachio cheesecake is a luscious blend of creamy, tangy cheesecake with the subtle, nutty sweetness of real pistachios. With its buttery graham cracker and pistachio crust and a velvety pistachio-infused filling, each bite feels indulgent and luxurious. Topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of crushed pistachios, it's an elegant dessert that's simply delicious.

Side view of a pistachio cheesecake, with a slice missing, sitting on a desert pedestal

My husband loves pistachios. And I mean loves pistachios. We lived in Europe for four years, and I swear the only gelato he ever ate was pistachio. That kind of love. We also love cheesecake, so I've been making him pistachio cheesecake for many years. When I first started making it, there were no online recipes. And so I've made it many different ways. I've even put spinach in sometimes for a little more green coloring which wasn't pretty, but that was also during a phase where I didn't use any artificial food coloring. And you know what? You can't taste the spinach at all. Now, there are a lot more pistachio cheesecakes recipes online, but many of them have extra steps liking making pistachio butter. Not fun. And, sometimes, the simplest ways are the best. So this version is a simple, delicious pistachio cheesecake. And no spinach.

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Ingredients for the crust

Ingredients need to make a pistachio cheesecake crust: regular graham crackers, pistachios, white sugar and salted butter

See recipe card for quantities.

Ingredients for the cheesecake filling

Ingredients needed for pistachio cheesecake filling: cream cheese, eggs, white sugar, pistachio nut crumbs and almond extract
  • Cream cheese
  • White sugar
  • Eggs
  • Pistachio nut crumbs
  • Almond extract

See recipe card for quantities.

Ingredients for the cheesecake topping

Ingredients needed for pistachio cheesecake topping: heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and pistachio nut crumbs
  • Heavy whipping cream
  • Powdered sugar
  • Pistachio nut crumbs

See recipe card for quantities

Instructions for packing the pistachio crust

Unbaked graham cracker and pistachio crust

After mixing, place the pistachio crust ingredients in the springform pan. Then, even out the crumbs and pack down with a mini pastry roller or the bottom of a measuring cup. With medium pressure, continue packing down until the crust is set and looks like this. I also recommend par-baking the crust. Packing the crust down and par-baking creates a crisp crust that has a great texture and is easily moved off the springform pan.

Substitutions

  • Gluten free - you can substitute 1 and ½ cups of gluten free graham cracker for the regular graham crackers. However, different crackers have different fat content, so make sure to do the 'squeeze test'. Once you've finished mixing the crust, pick up a handful and squeeze it tight. If it mostly stays together in your hand, it's perfect. If it crumbles and won't stay together, add another tablespoon of melted butter and test again. If it is super wet and is loose, add more crushed crackers.
  • Almond extract - you can substitute pistachio extract for the almond extract. But I would not recommend using vanilla in this case because almond and pistachio extracts are more in line with the sweet, nutty flavor that we are going for.
Overhead photo of a partial view of a pistachio cheesecake, with a slice missing, on top of a dessert pedestal

Variations

  • Decorations on top - the decorations on top of the cheesecake don't need to be perfect. To pipe the whipped cream, I used a Wilton 1M tip. If you're just starting out with piping, the Wilton 1M is one of the most universal piping tips. You can do a lot of different designs with the 1M tip. I was looking to try something new and found this great YouTube video from Cakes by MK explaining different piping methods: Beginner's Piping Tutorial - 6 Designs, 1 Piping tip. She does a really good job of explaining how to pipe frosting on a cake. The same principles apply with whipped cream and cheesecake.

Equipment

A stand or hand mixer is needed for this recipe. Also, a food processor or blender is helpful so that you don't have chop nuts with a knife.

Storage

Store any leftover pistachio cheesecake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 to 7 days.

Side view of a single slice of pistachio cheesecake on a plate with a bite resting on a fork on the plate

Next Level Tips

  • Always use room temperature cream cheese and room temperature eggs for cheesecakes. 
  • The very best way to avoid cheesecake cracks is to bake at a lower temperature and use the moat method. In short, the moat method is where you place your springform pan inside of a cake pan and then put the cake pan in a roasting pan with water. This avoids leaky aluminum foil and protects the springform pan from direct heat. I also describe this in more detail, with photos, in my post about pumpkin spice cheesecake.
  • Allow the cheesecake to cool in the oven without touching it for two hours. Then, move the springform pan to a cooling rack and allow the cheesecake to come to room temperature before placing it in the refrigerator.
  • Cheesecakes need time to set in the refrigerator after baking. Try to refrigerate for at least 6-8 hours; however, overnight is best.
Overhead view of one slice of pistachio cheesecake on a plate with a bite resting on a fork on the plate.

FAQ

What type of pistachios should I use?

Most pistachios come as raw and unshelled or roasted and shelled. You can use either. But, I find that Costco's shelled and roasted pistachios are the best bang for your buck, they taste great, and it's much easier not to have to shell them. However, if you use raw and unshelled, I would add ¼ teaspoon of salt to the cheesecake filling.

Why par-bake the crust?

I always recommend par-baking the crust. By par-baking the crust, it helps set the crust so that the crust is nice and crisp and not soggy. A crisp crust has a better texture and is a better contrast to the creamy cheesecake filling. Also, a crisp crust also allows you to easily move the cheesecake off of the springform pan and onto a cake board, a cake taker or a serving plate. A crumbly crust is a mess to move and no one wants that!

What is the moat method?

The moat method creates a barrier between the springform pan and the direct heat of the oven. Kind of like in the olden days when castles used moats to protect the castles from invaders! So, in the moat method, we place the springform pan into a larger cake pan before putting the cake pan into a larger roasting pan with the water bath. This creates a moat (of air) that separates the springform pan from the cake pan and the water bath. So no more water seeping into your cheesecake pan! I highly recommend using this method as it works great.

How do I remove the bottom of a springform pan?

The reason we pack the graham cracker crust tightly, but not too tightly, into the springform pan is so that we can easily remove the bottom of the springform pan without the crust crumbling. After the rim of the springform pan is off, take a cake lifter (or metal pizza peel or a very large spatula) and gently slide it in between cheesecake crust and bottom of springform pan. Don't lift the cheesecake up in the air (especially if the whole crust is not supported). Rather, use the cake lifter to slide the cheesecake off of the springform bottom onto the serving plate. You can buy a cheap cake lifter on Amazon or like at a Hobby Lobby type store in the baking section. If you're using a large metal spatula, run it under the entire outer edge first before using it to slide the cheesecake.

Side view of the side and back of one slice of pistachio cheesecake in front of a cake stand with the rest of the cheesecake on a dessert stand in the background.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Overhead view of a pistachio cheesecake topped with whipped heavy cream and pistachio crumbs

Pistachio Cheesecake

Tracy @ Next Level Baker
Pistachio cheesecake blends creamy cheesecake with the subtle sweetness of real pistachios. Set on a buttery, pistachio graham cracker crust and topped with whipped cream and crushed pistachios, it's a rich, elegant dessert that's simply irresistible.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 6 minutes
Cooling and chilling time 8 hours
Total Time 9 hours 31 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 14

Equipment

  • 1 Stand or hand mixer
  • 1 blender or food processor

Ingredients
  

The crust

  • 1 sleeve graham crackers (9 full crackers per sleeve)
  • ½ cup pistachios ground
  • 6 tablespoons salted butter melted
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar

The filling

  • 4 blocks cream cheese (8 ounces per block) room temperature
  • 4 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • ¼ cup pistachios ground
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract

The toppings*

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream*
  • ½ cup powdered sugar*
  • ½ cup pistachios ground

Instructions
 

Creating the pistachio nut crumbs

  • Since we will be using the pistachio nut crumbs in the crust, in the filling and on top of the cheesecake, it is best to grind the pistachios into the nut crumbs all at once. Place 1 and ¼ cups of pistachios in a blender or food processor and grind into small nut crumbs. Set aside ½ cup for the crust, ¼ cup for the filling and ½ cup to be used for decorating the cheesecake.

Make the crust

  • Preheat the oven to 325°. Spray an 8 or 9 inch springform pan with cooking spray and set aside.
  • Add the graham crackers to the food processor and grind until the crackers are mostly fine crumbs.
  • Mix the graham cracker crumbs, ½ cup of pistachio nut crumbs, melted butter and 2 tablespoons of white sugar together in a small bowl until well combined and all the cracker crumbs are coated with butter.
  • Add the graham cracker mixture to the springform pan. Even out the crust and pack it down with a small pastry roller or the bottom of a measuring cup with medium pressure. It should be packed firmly but not too hard.
  • Bake for 6 minutes and set aside to cool.

Make the filling

  • Place the room temperature cream cheese into the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until creamy and all lumps are gone. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.
  • Add the white sugar to the cream cheese in the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.
  • Next, add the pistachio crumbs and almond extract to the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.
  • Add the eggs to the mixing bowl one at a time. Mix on low speed until each egg is combined before adding the next egg. Between eggs, scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.

Bake and cool the cheesecake

  • Add the filling to the springform pan. Place the springform pan in a larger cake pan. Fill a roasting pan with one inch of water. Carefully add the cake pan with springform pan into roasting pan. [Or, alternatively, if you're not using the moat method, add the springform pan wrapped very well in aluminum foil into roasting pan water bath.]
  • Bake at 325° for about 60 minutes until the center is mostly set. Then, turn off the oven and open the oven door to start the cooling process. Leave it alone for two hours. After two hours, remove the springform pan from the oven and let it cool on a cooling rack until it's room temperature.
  • When the cheesecake is at room temperature, run a knife around the edges to loosen the cheesecake from the sides. Then, cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 6 hours but preferably overnight or longer.
  • After 6 hours, or preferably the next day, remove the rim. Also, remove the cheesecake from the bottom of the springform pan (see FAQ if needed) if so desired and top with your favorite topping or a whipped cream topping.

Make the whipped cream topping (optional)

  • Put the metal mixing bowl in the refrigerator or freezer until cold while you're gathering ingredients.
  • Add the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar to the mixing bowl and mix on medium-high to high speeds until stiff peaks form. The time this takes depends on how cold the bowl and cream are as well as the speed of the mixing. Plan on 5-8 minutes but watch it carefully once it starts to fluff. You can stop the mixer at any time and check for stiff peaks. If the consistency is not at stiff peaks then continue mixing and checking.
  • Pipe or spoon the whipped cream topping on to the top of the cheesecake.
  • Sprinkle the remaining pistachio crumbs over the whipped topping and exposed cheesecake. If there are any remaining pistachio crumbs, you can press them into the sides of the cheesecake just like you would do if you were finishing a cheeseball.
  • Serve immediately or refrigerate. Enjoy!

Notes

*This batch of whipped cream topping makes enough for you to cover the whole cheesecake. If you are familiar with piping and just want to do the edging, you can use 1 cup of heavy whipping cream and ¼ cup of powdered sugar. If you are unsure about piping and only want to do the edging, use 1 and ½ cups of heavy whipping cream and ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar. 

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Keyword Pistachio Cheesecake
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Single slice of pistachio cheesecake on a plate with a fork in front of a cake stand with the rest of the pistachio cheesecake

Southwestern Cobb Salad

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Southwestern Cobb Salad is a bold twist on a classic favorite and is packed with vibrant flavors and hearty ingredients. Grilled chicken tops a bed of mixed greens, creamy avocado, sweet corn, black beans and juicy cherry tomatoes. A zesty chipotle lime vinaigrette brings it all together with a spicy, tangy kick. It's a satisfyingly delicious entrée disguised as a salad.

Front view of a plate of Southwestern Cobb Salad made with mixed greens, grilled chicken, black beans, avocado, cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, shredded cheese, sliced red onions, topped with cilantro lime vinaigrette next to a napkin and fork with cilantro, cut limes and additional cilantro lime vinaigrette in the background.

Cobb salad was never at the top of my list. I think it was the processed chicken cubes and heavy ranch dressing that threw me off. But once I started making it myself with fresh grilled chicken and skipping the ranch, everything changed. And the best part? You don't have to give up the traditional Cobb you love. This Southwestern Cobb salad is just a fun, flavorful alternative to a classic favorite!

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Ingredients for the Southwestern Cobb salad

Ingredients needed for making a southwestern Cobb salad: mixed greens, grilled chicken, black beans, avocado, tomatoes, sweet corn, red onions, shredded cheese and cilantro for garnish.
  • Mixed greens of choice
  • Cooked chicken
  • Avocado
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Black beans
  • Sweet corn
  • Shredded Mexican cheese
  • Red onions
  • Cilantro

See recipe card for quantities.

Ingredients for the Chipotle Lime Vinegarette

Ingredients for chipotle lime vinaigrette: lime juice, avocado oil, canned chipotles in adobo sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, agave, salt and cumin.
  • Lime juice
  • Neutral oil (like avocado or grapeseed oil)
  • Canned chipotles
  • Rice vinegar
  • Garlic
  • Agave (or honey)
  • Salt
  • Cumin

Substitutions

  • Gluten free - this salad is naturally gluten free, so no adjustments are necessary.
  • Vegan - for a vegan salad, omit the grilled chicken and cheese. That still leaves you with a great veggie Cobb salad. You can also use vegan substitutes for those ingredients as well.
Very close-up overhead view of Southwestern Cobb Salad made with mixed greens, grilled chicken, black beans, avocado, cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, shredded cheese, sliced red onions, topped with cilantro lime vinaigrette.

Variations

  • Different meat - you could also use sliced flank steak, pork tenderloin, fish or shrimp to top the salad.
  • Different cooking method for the meat - you can use your favorite method to cook the chicken instead of grilling it. You could also substitute precooked grilled chicken, canned chicken or rotisserie chicken if you're short on time. No judgement here!
  • Spicier vinaigrette - to make the chipotle lime vinaigrette spicier, add another canned chipotle and ¼ teaspoon of chipotle chili powder.

Equipment

If you're grilling the chicken, you'll need an outdoor grill or an indoor electric grill. A blender or food processor is also helpful for the chipotle lime vinaigrette.

Storage

Store any extra leftover cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Any lettuce that has dressing on it doesn't last long, so store any leftover, dressed Southwestern Cobb Salad in the refrigerator just overnight. Store any extra Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days.

Front view of Southwestern Cobb Salad made with mixed greens, grilled chicken, black beans, avocado, cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, shredded cheese, sliced red onions, topped with cilantro lime vinaigrette with cilantro, cut limes and additional cilantro lime vinaigrette in the background.

Next Level Tips

  • I like to use cherry tomatoes for the convenience sake. But if you have regular tomatoes growing in the garden, use those. There's nothing like a fresh tomato!
  • If you want the salad to be even closer to a traditional Cobb salad, you can add bacon bits and hard boiled eggs. For two salads, plan on 2-4 pieces of chopped, thick-cut bacon and 2-4 hard boiled eggs. You could also make extra hard boiled eggs and bacon, then you'll have breakfast for the next morning.
  • To save time, you can use bottled chipotle ranch dressing. Or if you have chipotle almond dip in your refrigerator, you can turn it into a salad dressing by thinning it with water. Chipotle almond dip is something that's always in my refrigerator. At a minimum, I use it as a taco sauce for lunch tacos multiple times a week.
  • For this salad, I buy one package of thinly closed chicken breasts. But I only use two of the breasts, one per salad. What to do with the rest? You could sprinkle some homemade taco seasoning on the other breasts and grill those at the same time so that you have the chicken already made for tacos or another meal. Or you could buy one chicken breast from the butcher and ask them to slice it horizontally into two thinly sliced breasts.
  • I like to store my homemade salad dressings in little jars. It's easy to pour and also easy to shake if the dressing starts to separate.
  • Southwestern Cobb Salad is also amazing for meal prep. Just assemble the salads on prep day but hold the dressing until the day you're eating it.
Front view of a plate of Southwestern Cobb Salad made with mixed greens, grilled chicken, black beans, avocado, cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, shredded cheese, sliced red onions, topped with cilantro lime vinaigrette with cut limes and additional cilantro lime vinaigrette in the background.

FAQ

What type of cheese should I use?

Cheese that you shred yourself always tastes best. If you shred your own cheese, try a cheddar. If you're buying pre-shredded cheese, I like to use a Mexican blend with the largest shreds. Cojita and Queso Fresco, although different textures, would also work well with this salad.

What are thinly sliced chicken breasts?

A thinly sliced chicken breast is when one regular chicken breast is sliced in half horizontally to make two thinly sliced chicken breasts. They are typically sold in packages right next to the regular chicken breasts. You can also buy a chicken breast from the butcher and ask them to slice it in half horizontally for you.

What should I do if I have extra ingredients?

If you have extra canned corn or canned beans, you can pile them on your salad or save them for a different salad. They would work great in a build-your-own-salad. You can also refrigerate any extra canned chipotles for another salad dressing or for Chipotle Almond Dip.

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Southwestern Cobb Salad:

Overhead view of Southwestern Cobb Salad made with mixed greens, grilled chicken, black beans, avocado, cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, shredded cheese, sliced red onions, topped with cilantro lime vinaigrette.

Southwestern Cobb Salad

Tracy @ Next Level Baker
Southwestern Cobb Salad is a bold, flavorful twist on a classic Cobb. Grilled chicken, avocado, corn, black beans, cherry tomatoes and cheese sit atop fresh mixed greens. And it's all tied to together with a zesty chipotle lime vinaigrette to make a hearty, satisfying entrée salad.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes
Course Main Course, Salad
Cuisine American, Mexican
Servings 2

Equipment

  • 1 Small food processor or blender
  • 1 Outdoor or indoor grill

Ingredients
  

Entree salad ingredients for two:

  • 4 cups mixed salad greens
  • 2 thinly sliced chicken breasts grilled
  • 1 large avocado diced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes cut in half
  • 1 cup canned black beans rinsed
  • 1 cup canned (or cooked) corn kernels
  • 1 cup mixed Mexican cheese shredded
  • ¼ cup red onion thinly sliced
  • cilantro for garnish
  • salt and pepper for chicken

Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette

  • ½ cup fresh lime juice
  • ½ cup neutral oil (like avocado or grapeseed oil)
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
  • 2 medium chipotle peppers (canned)
  • 1 tablespoon liquid from the canned chipotle peppers
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 teaspoon agave (or honey)
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

Make the Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette

  • Add all vinaigrette ingredients, except the neutral oil, to a small food processor or blender. Blend on medium until smooth and creamy.
  • Slowly drizzle in the neutral oil (or add it in stages), blending until it's fully emulsified and incorporated into the dressing.

Make the grilled chicken

  • Turn the grill on high and let the grill heat up for 10 minutes.
  • Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of each thinly sliced chicken breast.
  • Turn the burners down between medium and medium high and then add the thinly sliced chicken breasts.
  • Grill the thinly sliced chicken breasts for 3-4 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165℉. Thicker breasts will take longer.
  • Allow the grilled chicken to rest and cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing.

Put the salad together

  • Prep the vegetables and rinse the black beans.
  • Add two cups of mixed greens of your choice to a salad plate or bowl.
  • Add half of the cut tomatoes, diced avocados, black beans, corn and cheese sections over the mixed greens on each salad. Or you can just sprinkle them over the mixed greens.
  • Top each salad with sliced onions and one sliced chicken breast. Garnish with cilantro. Drizzle vinaigrette across each salad. Enjoy!

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Keyword Southwestern Chicken Salad
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Front view of Southwestern Cobb Salad made with mixed greens, grilled chicken, black beans, avocado, cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, shredded cheese, sliced red onions, topped with cilantro lime vinaigrette with cilantro and additional cilantro lime vinaigrette in the background.

No Bake Nutella Cheesecake with a Gluten Free Hazelnut Oreo Crust

by Leave a Comment

No Bake Nutella Cheesecake is the perfect blending of a luscious Nutella and cream cheese filling with a crisp, gluten free Oreo hazelnut crust. This rich, chocolatey dessert comes together with minimal effort. It's the perfect cheesecake for anyone who loves the classic pairing of chocolate and hazelnuts and also wants a gluten free crust.

Side view of a No Bake Nutella Cheesecake topped with Nutella drizzle, hazelnut crumbs, Nutella whipped cream and Kinder Bueno bar pieces

Nutella is a brand name for a classic hazelnut spread enhanced with cocoa. Yes, it has a lot of sugar. Let's just acknowledge that, have a moment of silence and move on. Nutella is something we can occasionally truly enjoy, but we don't have to eat it everyday. Unless, you're in Europe. Then you might just find Nutella at the continental breakfast, and you try telling a 9 year old they can't eat Nutella for breakfast. I failed that morning. In fact, here's proof of just how much I failed. My daughter also found the largest piece of bread ever made in which to put her Nutella on.

Child eating a piece of Nutella covered bread

But I digress. So, have you tried roasted hazelnuts straight out their package? Roasted hazelnuts naturally have a fantastic hint of chocolate flavor, so it's really only natural that we pair hazelnuts and chocolate together. And Nutella did a great job of capturing that hazelnut flavor, enhancing it with chocolate and turning it into a spreadable form. Nutella lends itself perfectly to a no bake cheesecake.

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Ingredients for the Gluten Free Oreo Crust

Photo of ingredients needed for an Oreo gluten free crust: gluten free Oreos, roasted hazelnuts, salted butter

See recipe card for quantities.

Ingredients for the Nutella Cheesecake Filling

Photo of ingredients needed for the Nutella cheesecake filling: Nutella, cream cheese, heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar
  • Nutella
  • Cream cheese
  • Powdered sugar
  • Heavy whipping cream

See recipe card for quantities.

Ingredients for Decorating the Nutella Cheesecake

Photo of ingredients for decorating the Nutella cheesecake: Nutella, heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, hazelnuts, cocoa powder and Kinder Buenos
  • Nutella
  • Heavy whipping cream
  • Powdered sugar
  • Roasted hazelnuts
  • Cocoa powder
  • Kinder Bueno bar (not gluten free)

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions for decorating the cheesecake

Decorating cheesecakes is easier than you think it is! Just break it down into smaller steps.

Decorating a Nutella Cheesecake step 1: remove the cheesecake from the bottom of the springform pan and place on a wakeboard or serving plate.
  1. Prep the cheesecake. Remove the sides of the springform pan. Optionally, remove the cheesecake from the bottom of the springform pan and slide it onto a serving plate or cake board.
Decorating a Nutella Cheesecake step 2: make a Nutella drizzle and pipe it on top of the cheesecake.
  1. Add the Nutella drizzle. Heat ½ cup of Nutella in the microwave for 30 seconds. Add it to a decorator bottle or piping bag and pipe it on to the top of the cheesecake in the design of your choice.
Decorating a Nutella Cheesecake step 3: grind hazelnuts and add a chocolate nut crumb on top of the piped Nutella drizzle.
  1. Add the hazelnut crumbs. Put ¼ cup roasted hazelnuts and ¼ teaspoon of cocoa powder in a food processor and blend until the hazelnuts are coated in the cocoa powder and are the size of nut crumbs. Sprinkle the nut crumbs on top of the Nutella drizzle.
  1. Add the whipped cream and candy pieces. Whip together one cup of heaving whipping cream, ½ cup powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of Nutella until stiff peaks have formed. It takes 3-5 minutes at high speed. Pipe or spoon the whipped cream on the cheesecake and top with optional Kinder Bueno bar (not gluten free) pieces.

Substitutions

  • Gluten Free Oreos - you can substitute other sandwich cookies of your choice. Other sandwich cookies may have a different fat content though, so you'll want to make sure your crust is not too dry. Start by making the crust as described below with the different sandwich cookies. Once you've finished mixing the crust, pick up a handful and squeeze tight. If it mostly stays together in your hand, it's perfect. If it crumbles and won't stay together, add another tablespoon of melted butter and test again. However, we don't need a lot of butter to hold together a no bake crust.

Equipment

A hand or stand mixer is needed to make the cheesecake filling. A small food processor is helpful to grind the hazelnuts, but those can be chopped with a knife as well.

Storage

Store the no bake Nutella cheesecake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Photo of slice of no Bake Nutella cheesecake on a white plate with a fork in front of the rest of the Nutella Cheesecake with scattered hazelnuts

Next Level Tips

  • I like to top my desserts so that the decoration gives a clue to the flavor of the dessert. Nutella cheesecake is brown similar to chocolate cheesecake. So to give the expectation of hazelnut flavor, I like to add Kinder Bueno bar pieces to the top. Kinder Bueno bars contain hazelnuts and are light and delicious. You can also use Ferrero Rocher hazelnut chocolates. I just prefer Kinder Buenos as they have a lighter texture. Kinder chocolates are everywhere these days too. A lot of grocery stores even carry Kinder Buenos with all the other candies by the cash registers. Kinder Buenos and Ferrero Rocher hazelnut chocolates are not gluten free.
  • Decorating a cheesecake is easy when you think about it one step at a time. See the instructions for the Nutella cheesecake decorations above. You also don't have to complete all steps. You can stop at any step or skip some steps.
  • For decorating the cheesecake in the photos, I used an Ateco 4 tip for the drizzle and a Wilton 1M tip for the Nutella whipped cream.
  • We only add 1 tablespoon of Nutella for the whipped cream on top because we're mostly using it for coloring and a light flavoring, and we want the texture to be light.
Overhead partial view of No Bake Nutella Cheesecake with a slice taken out

FAQ

Can I use other sandwich cookies?

Yes, you can use other sandwich cookies, even regular Oreos that contain gluten if you want a regular crust. Just count out the same number of cookies. Not all sandwich cookies have the same fat content though, so just check to make sure your crust is not too dry. Once you've finished mixing the crust, pick up a handful and squeeze. If it mostly stays together in your hand, it's perfect. If it crumbles and won't stay together, add another tablespoon of melted butter and test again.

Do I have to make a Nutella ganache for the drizzle?

No, melted Nutella works great as a drizzle all by itself. There's no need to create an extra step of making a ganache. Just microwave the Nutella for about 30 seconds, just until it drips well. Then, put it in a decorator bottle or piping bag and pipe it on. You can also use a spoon to dribble on the drizzle.

What size springform pan should I use?

I prefer 8 inch springform pans for no bake cheesecakes and 9 inch springform pans for baked cheesecakes, but you can use either.

Can I use non roasted hazelnuts?

Yes, but roasting brings out the chocolate flavor in hazelnuts. I highly recommend roasted hazelnuts.

Looking for other no-bake cheesecakes? Try these:

Overhead photo of No Bake Nutella Cheesecake topped with Nutella drizzle, hazelnut crumbs, Nutella whipped cream and Kinder Buenos

No Bake Nutella Cheesecake with a Gluten Free Hazelnut Oreo Crust

Tracy @ Next Level Baker
No Bake Nutella Cheesecake blends a creamy Nutella and cream cheese filling with a crisp, gluten free Oreo hazelnut crust. Rich, chocolatey and easy to make. Perfect for chocolate hazelnut lovers seeking a gluten-free treat.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Chill and decorating time 6 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 45 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12

Equipment

  • 1 Stand mixer or hand mixer
  • 1 Food processor optional

Ingredients
  

Crust

  • 14 gluten free Oreos
  • ½ cup chopped roasted hazelnuts
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter melted

Filling

  • 24 ounces cream cheese room temperature
  • 1 cup Nutella
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • ½ cup powdered sugar

Toppings

  • ¼ cup Nutella for drizzle
  • ¼ cup roasted hazelnuts
  • ¼ teaspoon cocoa powder
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Nutella for whipped cream

Instructions
 

Make the crust

  • Spray an 8 or 9 inch springform pan with cooking spray.
  • Add 14 gluten free Oreos (insides included) and ½ cup hazelnuts into a food processor and grind into smaller pieces.
  • Microwave 3 tablespoons of salted butter just until melted, 15-30 seconds. Mix the butter into the Oreo mixture until the butter is evenly distributed.
  • Add the crust mixture to the springform pan. Even it out and then press very firmly into the pan with a flat bottom of a measuring cup.

Make the filling

  • Add the room temperature cream cheese to a mixing bowl and mix on low speed until the cream cheese is light and fluffy with no lumps remaining. Approximately 2-3 minutes.
  • Add 1 cup of Nutella to the mixing bowl and mix on low until the Nutella and cream cheese are fully combined.
  • Add the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar to the mixing bowl and mix on medium high to high until light and fluffy. Approximately 2-3 minutes.
  • Pour the cheesecake filling on top of the crust and even out the top with a spatula.
  • Refrigerate for a minimum of 6 hours but preferably overnight.

Decorate the cheesecake

  • Run a knife around the outside of the springform pan and then remove the ring.
  • If using a cardboard cake board or a serving plate, remove the cheesecake from the bottom of the springform pan with a cake lifter by gently sliding the cheesecake from the springform pan bottom on to the cake board or serving plate while supporting the underside of the cheesecake.
  • Microwave ¼ cup of Nutella for 20-30 seconds, just until it will drip. Add it to a decorator bottle or piping bag (or use a spoon) and drizzle across the cheesecake. [If you would like a lot of drizzle, use ½ cup of Nutella instead.]
  • In a food processor, grind ¼ cup of hazelnuts and a ¼ teaspoon of cocoa powder until the hazelnuts are coated in chocolate and the nuts are the size of a crumb. [You can also chop them with a knife.] Sprinkle across the cheesecake over the drizzle.
  • Add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and Nutella to a mixing bowl. Preferably use the whisk attachment and whisk on medium high to high until medium to stiff peaks form. Be patient. It may take 3-5 minutes. [If you want a lot of Nutella whipped cream, you can double the ingredients.] Pipe or spoon on the Nutella whipped cream and top with the Kinder Bueno candy bar pieces if desired (Kinder Bueno bars are not gluten free.)
  • Serve immediately or refrigerate!

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Paloma Mocktail

by Leave a Comment

A Paloma Mocktail is a refreshing twist on the classic Mexican Paloma cocktail. It's still the light and refreshing drink we all love but without the alcohol. With bright grapefruit, zesty lime, and sparkling fizz, it's perfect for any time you want something light, refreshing and citrusy.

Side view of Paloma mocktail with a Tajin rim garnished with lime and a grapefruit slice with lime slices and a grapefruit in the background

One of the best parts of summer used to be enjoying a refreshing cocktail on the patio outside in the early evening. Before it gets too hot. Before the bugs come out. A time to relax just before dinner or just after dinner. I don't want to miss those moments, but I really don't want all the alcohol either. I'm also not really a fan of the word mocktail either, but it fits. And a Paloma mocktail just fits too.

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Ingredients

Ingredients needed to make a Paloma Mocktail: nonalcoholic tequila, grapefruit sparkling water, grapefruit, limes, Tajin and salt.
  • Non-alcoholic tequila
  • Grapefruit sparkling water
  • Lime juice
  • Seltzer water
  • Tajin
  • Salt
  • Agave (optional)

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions for adding Tajin to the rim

Tajin on a plate with a glass turned upside down on it dipping in the Tajin. Another empty glass with a Tajin on the rim in the background

Step 1: Add the Tajin or salt (or a mix) to a small plate. Step 2: Wet the rim of the drink glass by dunking it in a small bowl of water or under the kitchen faucet. Step 3: Dip the wet rim of the glass into the Tajin or salt and twirl around until the desired amount is on the rim.

Substitutions for Grapefruit Sparkling Water

  • Fresh grapefruit juice plus seltzer - I love making this zero proof Paloma with fresh grapefruit juice and seltzer. Have you eaten fresh grapefruit straight off the tree? It's so sweet and insanely delicious, nothing like the ones in the grocery store. I got some from my neighbor a few months ago, and I swear I ate 4 the first day. They were that good! You can easily substitute 2 ounces of fresh squeezed grapefruit juice and 4 (or more) ounces of seltzer for the grapefruit sparkling water
  • Grapefruit soda - another option is to use a grapefruit soda like Squirt, diet Squirt, Jarrito grapefruit soda or Jarritos Zero Sugar grapefruit soda. Be mindful of the sugar contents for the non-diet sodas though.
  • Mixer - if you want to imitate a sweetened bar or restaurant style Paloma, you can use a premade mixer like Q Mixer in Sparkling Grapefruit. It does have quite a lot of sugar and the color is weird, but it's another option.

Storage

Any unfinished drinks can be covered and stored in the refrigerator overnight.

Side view of Paloma mocktail with a Tajin rim garnished with lime and a grapefruit slice with lime slices and a grapefruit in the background

Next Level Tips

  • I recommend using a salt rim, a Tajin rim or a mixed Tajin and salt rim. A lot of non-alcoholic brands of spirits add citric acid to give it that 'bite' of regular alcohol. And salt helps balance the citric acid. This is important because citrus fruits also have citric acid and citrus flavored sparkling sodas often contain citric acid too. Tajin also gives the Paloma mocktail a little spice which also helps balance the citric acid. When the citric acid is more balanced, a drink tastes a lot better which reduces or eliminates the need to add sugar to balance the acidity. Agave syrup is listed as optional in this recipe. Personally, I don't add agave syrup to my Paloma mocktails, but I also don't like overly sweet drinks either. I'll save my sugar for my desserts, thank you.
  • Just use water to wet the rim of the glass. Tajin and salt both stick just fine with water. You can use a lime wedge to wet the rim of the glass, but that can be sticky, messy and very lime-y. Water is perfect.
  • You can use more or less grapefruit sparking water, but I find 6 ounces works great. Then you can make 2 Paloma mocktails for every can of grapefruit sparkling water.
  • I love lime. A quick squeeze of lime adds a nice flavor. Start with a quick squeeze and work your way up to half a lime.

FAQ

What brand of zero proof tequila should I use?

Use your favorite brand! My favorite, so far, is Ritual brand zero proof tequila alternative. It tastes good, and it smells so much like regular tequila.

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with this Paloma mocktail:

Side view of Paloma mocktail with a Tajin rim garnished with lime and a grapefruit slice with lime slices and a grapefruit in the background

Paloma Mocktail

Tracy @ Next Level Baker
The Paloma Mocktail is a fresh, zero proof spin on the classic Mexican cocktail. Bursting with citrus flavor, it is light, refreshing and perfect for any occasion.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • ½ tablespoon Tajin optional
  • ½ tablespoon salt optional
  • 6 ounces grapefruit sparkling water
  • 2 ounces non-alcoholic tequila
  • lime for a quick squeeze of juice* and garnish slice
  • grapefruit for a quick squeeze of juice** and garnish slice
  • 1 teaspoon agave optional

Instructions
 

  • If using a Tajin rim, salt rim or a mixed Tajin and salt rim, add the Tajin and/or salt to a small plate. Wet the rim of the glass with water and then dip the rim of the glass into the Tajin or salt and twirl until the desired amount is on the rim of the glass.
  • If using ice, add the desired amount of ice next.
  • Next, add the non alcoholic tequila followed by the grapefruit sparking water. If using agave syrup, add it next and stir. Follow with a splash of grapefruit and lime juices and garnish with any desired lime or grapefruit slices.

Notes

*If you're not sure how well you like fresh lime juice,  start with a quick squeeze. You can also add more, up to a half of a lime. 
**If you're not sure how well you like fresh grapefruit juice, start with a quick squeeze. You can also add more, up to 2 ounces. 

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Side view of Paloma mocktail with a Tajin rim garnished with lime and a grapefruit slice with another Paloma mocktail and lime slices in the background

Restaurant Style Blender Salsa

by Leave a Comment

If you're looking for an easy salsa recipe that tastes amazing, it doesn't get easier than Restaurant Style Blender Salsa. Restaurant style means the salsa is usually made with canned tomatoes, has a mild to medium spice level and has a smooth yet slightly chunky texture. And it doesn't get any easier than throwing all your ingredients in a blender and pulsing a few times to end up with a delicious blended salsa.

Overhead view of bowl of restaurant style blender salsa with a spoon sticking on a decorative plate full of corn tortilla chips. Blue corn tortilla chips and cut limes are in the background.

Ask people what they love about Mexican restaurants, and the free chips and salsa would be really high on the list. Many restaurants are now starting to charge for chips and salsa though, but we still order it anyway. Why? Because well-made salsa is so good. Now you can make your own though! Blender salsa is my favorite condiment too. Yes, it's perfect for tortilla chips, but it's also great for wraps, bowls, most Mexican foods and even potatoes and scrambled eggs!

We use canned fire roasted tomatoes in restaurant style blender salsa to make it quick and easy. But, if you are looking for a fresh tomato salsa recipe, try my Pico de Gallo salsa.

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Ingredients

Ingredients needed for restaurant style blender salsa: canned fire roasted diced tomatoes, canned green chilis, onion, jalapeño, lime juice, garlic, cilantro, apple cider vinegar and salt.
  • Canned fire roasted tomatoes
  • Canned mild green chilis
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Jalapeños
  • Cilantro
  • Lime juice
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Salt

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Overhead view of onion and jalapeño cut into large chunks for blender salsa

Step 1: Rough chop the onion and jalapeño.

Blender salsa in a blender at the stage where it has been pulsed but it's still chunky

Step 2: Pulse the blender several times before blending.

Step 3: After pulsing, blend on medium until all the large chunks are gone and the texture is smooth but slightly chunky. Don't over-blend. Cover and chill.

Overhead view of bowl of restaurant style blender salsa made with fire roasted tomatoes on an orange plate with half regular tortilla chips and half blue corn tortilla chips

Step 4: Enjoy!

Salt

We can't make salsa without talking about salt. When we make food at home, we use a lot less salt than restaurants use. But there are a few foods that just need a lot of salt, like tomatoes and potatoes. No one wants to eat french fries without salt, and no one wants to eat salsa without salt either. Fire roasted tomatoes are the best canned tomatoes to use for blended salsa, and it's very difficult to find unsalted fire roasted tomatoes. So we're going to start with regular, fire roasted tomatoes and add even more salt. Why? We can make homemade salsa look like restaurant style salsa without a lot of salt, but we can't make it taste like restaurant style salsa without a lot of salt.

Spice levels

This blender salsa is written to have a restaurant style salsa texture, flavor and spice level. Everyone has differing sensitivities to hot peppers, but here are some basic guidelines on how to adjust the spiciness of this blender salsa recipe:

  • Mild - use only one jalapeño
  • Mild to Medium - make the recipe as written
  • Solid Medium - add one more jalapeño pepper
  • Medium to Hot - add one more jalapeño and one habanero pepper
  • Solid Hot - add one more jalapeño and two habanero peppers.
Overhead view of bowl of restaurant style blender salsa with a spoon sticking out next to regular and blue corn tortilla chips

Substitutions

  • Apple cider vinegar - if you don't have apple cider vinegar, you can substitute a rice vinegar which also works really well. Vinegar is often a secret ingredient to making salsas pop, but if you don't have vinegar or don't want to add it, you can substitute more lime juice. Vinegars and lime juice are both acidic like tomatoes, but they are less acidic than tomatoes and help bring down the overall acidity levels some. You can also add a teaspoon of sugar as sugar balances out the acidity of tomatoes too.

Variations

  • Smoky - you can also add some canned chipotles in adobo sauce or some chipotle pepper powder (start with only ½ teaspoon and taste) to add a smoky, spicier flavor. If you don't have chipotle pepper powder, you can also use smoked paprika with a pinch of cayenne pepper to kick up the heat in a smoky way.
Overhead view of bowl of restaurant style blender salsa on an orange plate with half regular tortilla chips and half blue corn tortilla chips

Equipment

A blender or food processor is needed for this blender salsa recipe.

Storage

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 7 days.

Next Level Tips

  • If you have time, make this salsa the day before you need it which gives the flavors more time to blend and meld. Yes, you could theoretically make this blender salsa in 5 minutes. But if you're going for the best flavor, then give the salsa some time to develop a deeper flavor.
  • Don't be afraid of adding extra salt. Potato and tomato dishes need a lot more salt than home cooks expect. Have you ever tasted salsa and think it needs more of something but you're not quite sure what it needs? The answer, when it comes to salsa, is usually more salt. Salt enhances the other ingredients, cuts down on bitterness and balances acidity. And remember, we're making restaurant style salsa, and restaurants use a lot more salt than we typically do at home.
  • Don't over-blend the salsa. Over-blending ruins the texture and can also result in a bitter flavor.
  • If you're worried about raw onion flavor, you can soak the rough chopped onion for 10 minutes. Then drain and rinse. That mellows the flavor. You can also use a red onion as most people find red onions less intense than white onions.
  • Be careful handling jalapeños and habaneros. Cut jalapeños only to remove the stem and into a few large chunks for the blender. Only remove the stem on the habanero and add it directly to the blender. Wash your hands with dish soap immediately after handling hot peppers. The capsaicin that causes the heat can stay on your hands for hours. Your hands usually don't burn, but it can burn hours later taking out your contact lenses or going to the bathroom.
  • If you're looking for a salsa with fresh tomatoes, try my Pico de Gallo recipe. Pico de Gallo is the perfect salsa recipe to use fresh tomatoes.
Overhead view of bowl of restaurant style blender salsa with a spoon sticking on a decorative plate full of corn tortilla chips. Blue corn tortilla chips and cut limes are in the background.

FAQ

Can I eat the salsa immediately?

You can, but salsa is best when given time for the flavors to combine and meld. I suggest waiting for at least an hour before eating. But the very best salsas are usually made the day before. If you're taste testing while you are making the salsa, I suggest only doing an initial taste for salt and/or heat. Those also need a little bit of time to develop, but you can get a rough idea if the salsa needs more salt or heat as you make it.

Can I use other types of tomatoes?

Yes, you can also use regular diced, canned tomatoes that are not fire roasted. If they are unsalted, then you may need to add more salt. If you want to use fresh tomatoes, I would recommend more of a Pico de Gallo recipe. However, you could use fresh tomatoes with this recipe. You would need to cut the tomatoes before adding them to the blender so that you could drain off the juices though.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Overhead view of bowl of restaurant style blender salsa made with fire roasted tomatoes on an orange plate with half regular tortilla chips and half blue corn tortilla chips

Restaurant Style Blender Salsa

Tracy @ Next Level Baker
For a quick and delicious salsa, try this Restaurant Style Blender Salsa. Just toss the ingredients in a blender, pulse a few times, and enjoy a smooth, slightly chunky salsa with a mild to medium spice level.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Chill time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Mexican

Equipment

  • 1 blender or food processor

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cans diced, fire roasted tomatoes (14.5 ounces each)
  • 1 medium onion rough chopped
  • 3 jalapeños rough chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 can mild green chilis (7 ounces)
  • 1 bunch cilantro medium size bunch
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice fresh squeezed
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Instructions
 

  • Rough chop the onion and jalapeños.
  • Add the canned tomatoes to the blender followed by the onions, jalapeños, garlic and then the rest of the ingredients.
  • Pulse the blender several times to move around the larger chunks and cut down their size. After pulsing several times, blend on medium until the desired consistency is reached. This usually takes about 30 to 60 seconds depending on the blender. Do not over-blend as we want a slightly chunky texture.

Notes

To change the spice level of this blender salsa:
  • Mild - use only one jalapeño 
  • Mild to medium - make recipe as written 
  • Solid medium - add one more jalapeño 
  • Medium to hot - add one more jalapeño and one habanero pepper
  • Solid hot - add one more jalapeño and two habanero peppers

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Overhead view of bowl of restaurant style blender salsa on an orange plate with half regular tortilla chips and half blue corn tortilla chips

Spring Roll Salad

by 1 Comment

Spring Roll Salad is a fresh salad packed with leafy greens, chopped veggies, rice noodles and shrimp, and then it's topped with a tangy peanut dressing. It's a deconstructed spring roll, so it captures all the best flavors of a spring roll without the wrapper. This satisfying spring roll salad is light yet refreshing, the perfect entree for when you don't want a heavy meal.

Angled view of entree size plate of Spring Roll Salad drizzled with peanut dressing, next to a small bowl of limes and another plate of Spring Roll Salad

Who doesn't love a good fresh spring roll? They usually contain shrimp, chopped veggies like cucumbers and carrots, rice noodles and herbs and...are sooooo delicious! I always eat too many, yet I still always want more. So let's get rid of the worst part of the spring roll, the wrapper, and add a lot more of the other ingredients. Think of a spring roll salad as a deconstructed fresh spring roll without the wrapper. And you still get the yummy spring roll sauce as a dressing too.

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Ingredients for spring roll salad

Ingredients needed for Spring Roll Salad: shrimp, rice stick noodles, carrots, cucumbers, cabbage, limes, cilantro and lettuce
  • Mixed leafy greens
  • Carrots
  • Cucumbers
  • Shrimp
  • Rice noodles
  • Cilantro
  • Limes
  • Optional veggies: red cabbage, avocado, bean spouts or green onions

See recipe card for quantities.

Ingredients for peanut dressing

Ingredients needed for peanut dressing: peanut butter, hot water, tamari sauce, rice vinegar, honey, Gochujang and limes
  • Peanut butter
  • Hot water
  • Tamari sauce (or soy sauce)
  • Rice Vinegar
  • Lime juice
  • Honey or agave nectar

See recipe card for quantities.

Angled view of entree size plate of Spring Roll Salad drizzled with peanut dressing, next to a small bowl of limes and another plate of Spring Roll Salad

Substitutions

  • Peanut butter - you can substitute almond butter for the peanut butter.
  • Rice vinegar - if you don't have rive vinegar, you can use white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or more lime juice. Rice vinegar is mild and slightly sweet with a lower acidity, so regular white vinegar is not a good substitute.
  • Herbs - if you're not a fan of cilantro (some people think it tastes like soap), you can substitute Thai basil or mint in this deconstructed spring roll salad as they are sometimes found in spring rolls as well.
  • Gochujang - if you don't have Gochujang (spicy Korean chili paste), you can substitute Sriracha.
  • Other veggies - spring rolls almost always contain carrots, cucumbers and leafy greens. They used to contain bean sprouts, but bean sprouts aren't as common anymore. You can change up the veggies to add red cabbage (I'm adding cabbage to everything these days), avocado, green onions or other veggies.

Variations

  • Vegan - substitute pan fried tofu for the shrimp or just omit the shrimp.
  • Gluten Free - make sure to use Tamari instead and not soy sauce and a gluten free brand of Gochuchang. Gochuchang is not always gluten free as some brands sneak in wheat products.
Close up photo of Spring Roll Salad: shrimp, rice stick noodles, carrots, cucumbers, cabbage, cilantro and lettuce topped with peanut dressing

Storage

Store any leftover spring roll salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator until the following day. Leafy greens with dressing do not last long. Any unused peanut dressing can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 5-7 days.

Next Level Tips

  • Gochujang is an amazing way to give dishes some spice, but different brands have different spice levels. They can range from spicy to super spicy, so always be cautious when trying a new brand. If you don't like spicy foods at all, you can omit the Gochujang.
  • This is a great salad to use as an entree salad. It includes a protein, fresh veggies, leafy greens and noodles in larger portions that makes this chopped spring roll salad quite filling. For an even heartier salad, you can add more shrimp.
  • I also recommend buying raw shrimp and cooking it at home. Most cold, cooked shrimp from the grocery store is flavorless and rubbery. Shrimp cooks very quickly and is often overcooked. Watch your shrimp carefully when cooking!
Overhead view of entree size plate of Spring Roll Salad drizzled with peanut dressing, next to a fork and napkin, limes and another plate of Spring Roll Salad

FAQ

What is Gochujang?

Gochujang is a Korean red chili paste that has a unique, spicy yet slightly sweet flavor. It's usually made from red chilis, fermented soybean, glutinous rice, salt and other flavorings. However, check the label if you're gluten free as some brands use wheat products as well. Different brands have different spice levels. They can range from spicy to very spicy. Always be cautious when using a new brand.

Where can I buy Gochujang?

Gochujang is becoming more common. Now, you can buy it on Amazon, Whole Foods or even many local grocery stores. I was surprised to see it at my local grocery store in the section with other Asian foods. Walmart online even currently carries it.

Can I use another type of noodle?

Yes, spring rolls are typically made with rice stick noodles (also called rice vermicelli) but you can use another noodle of your choice.

Looking for other recipes for dinner? Try these:

Overhead view of entree size plate of Spring Roll Salad drizzled with peanut dressing, next to a fork and napkin, limes and another plate of Spring Roll Salad

Spring Roll Salad

Tracy @ Next Level Baker
Spring Roll Salad is a fresh, light mix of leafy greens, veggies, rice noodles and shrimp that is topped wiith a tangy peanut dressing. It's all the delicious flavor and crunch of a spring roll, without the wrapper.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Asian Fusion
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

Peanut Dressing

  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  • ¼ cup hot water
  • 2 tablespoons tamari sauce (or soy sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice fresh squeezed
  • 1 tablespoon honey or agave nectar
  • ½ tablespoon Gochujang sauce* optional

Spring Roll Salad for Two

  • 4 ounces thin rice stick noodles cooked
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or sesame oil
  • ½ pound shrimp cooked
  • 4 cups mixed leafy greens
  • 2 medium carrots peels or matchsticks
  • 1 large cucumber large half slices
  • ½ cup cilantro
  • 1 lime quartered for garnish
  • 1 cup red cabbage optional
  • Other optional veggies: avocados bean sprouts, green onions

Instructions
 

Making the dressing

  • Add the peanut butter and hot water to a small bowl and whisk until fully combined. Or use a salad shaker and agitate until fully combined.
  • Add the remaining ingredients and whisk until fully combined.
  • Taste. Add more Gochujang for a spicier dressing.

Making the Salad for two

  • Chop the cilantro, limes, carrots, cucumbers and any optional veggies. Set aside.
  • Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions. Usually, they are cooked by adding the rice noodles to boiling water, turning off the heat and letting them sit for 10 minutes until soft. Drain completely and set aside.
  • Cook the shrimp. Use paper towels to pat the thawed shrimp completely dry. Heat a skillet to medium high heat. Add a tablespoon of olive oil or sesame oil. Add shrimp in a single layer to the heated skillet. Cook 2 minutes on the first side. Flip and cook 1 to 3 minutes on the second side. Cook just until the shrimp turn opaque and pink. Remove the shrimp from the pan immediately and set aside. Squeeze a quarter of a lime over the shrimp.
  • Add two cups of the leafy greens to each salad plate. Top with the rice noodles, shrimp, veggies and herbs in sections over the leafy greens.
  • Drizzle the peanut dressing over the salads.

Notes

*Some Gochujang brands can be very spicy. Start with the listed amount for a mild to medium spice level. Then taste it and add more if you want. Or you can also put some Gochujang on the side for those who want to make their salad spicier. For a non-spicy version, omit it completely. 

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Overhead view of entree size plate of Spring Roll Salad drizzled with peanut dressing, next to a fork and a gray napkin, a bowl of limes, random limes and cilantro, a very small bowl of Gochujang and another plate of Spring Roll Salad

Old Fashioned Sour Cream Cookies

by Leave a Comment

Old fashioned sour cream cookies are soft, drop sugar cookies with a nostalgic flavor that instantly takes you back to Grandma's kitchen. The sour cream makes them extra soft and also adds a little tang. They are topped with a smooth layer of frosting and sprinkles to match your theme which just adds to their cute charm.

Sour cream cookies with pink frosting and multicolored sprinkles on a cooling rack

Old fashioned sour cream cookies are my absolute favorite frosted sugar cookie. When it comes to cookies, I am firmly on Team Chewy, and these are nice and soft. The sour cream adds extra moisture and gives them a soft tender texture. Since they are drop cookies, they are easy to make too. There is no rolling, cutting or shaping involved. Just scoop them with a cookie scoop and drop them right onto the baking sheet. I love making these for special occasions and holidays because they are so easy to customize. They are perfect for Easter, Mother's Day, the Fourth of July, baby showers and Christmas. Really any occasion where you want a pop of color to match your theme. They are truly a very versatile sugar cookie.

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Ingredients for sour cream cookies

Ingredients needed to make old fashioned sour cream cookies: all purpose flour, white sugar, sour cream, vegetable shortening, an egg, baking soda, baking powder, almond or vanilla extract and salt.
  • All-purpose flour
  • White sugar
  • Sour cream
  • Shortening
  • Egg
  • Baking soda
  • Baking powder
  • Vanilla (or almond) extract
  • Salt

See recipe card for quantities.

Ingredients for frosting

Ingredients needed for frosting: milk, salted butter and powdered sugar. Other optional ingredients are food coloring, sprinkles and almond extract.
  • Milk
  • Salted butter
  • Powdered sugar
  • Almond extract
  • Sprinkles (optional)
  • Food coloring (optional)

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions for baking the cookies

Overhead view of uncooked sour cream sugar cookies on a cookie sheet

Step 1: With a small cookie scoop (or a tablespoon), drop the cookies on a cookie sheet. About 20 cookies on a cookie sheet works great. They don't have to be perfect because they will be frosted. Then bake at 350 degrees for 11-13 minutes.

Overhead view of cooked sour cream sugar cookies on a cookie sheet

Step 2: The cookies are done when you can see that the bottoms have browned and the tops are just barely starting to brown.

Substitutions

  • Extract - you can use vanilla or almond extract or even another kind of extract in the sour cream cookies. My other sugar cookie recipe Colored Cookie Dough Sugar Cookies uses both almond and vanilla extract. Vanilla is absolutely amazing, but sometimes life gets a little too vanilla. Try something new! For the frosting, I recommend almond extract or clear vanilla if you're using food coloring.
Overhead photo of sour cream cookies with pink frosting and multicolored sprinkles on a serving plate

Variations

I like to vary the frosting and sprinkles to match my theme. I rarely ever use food coloring. But, these cookies and my Colored Cookie Dough Sugar Cookies are the exceptions. And, of course, you could still use a natural food coloring. But, if you are going to use artificial food coloring, I recommend using a gel food coloring. I used Wilton's icing color Pink for the pink frosted cookies in this post. The white frosted cookies need no coloring, just make sure to use almond extract or clear vanilla extract in the frosting. Regular vanilla will also work, but it can give the frosting a slight color tint.

Close up photo of sour cream cookies with white frosting and red, white and blue star sprinkles stacked up

For the green frosting color, I used Wilton's icing color in Leaf Green.

Close up photo of sour cream cookies with leaf green frosting and red and green sprinkles stacked up on a plate

Equipment

A stand or hand mixer is helpful for the sour cream cookies, and a small sauce pan is best for the frosting.

Storage

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5-7 days. Or up to 10 days in the refrigerator.

Next Level Tips

  • Don't be afraid of the occasional use of vegetable shortening. It's vegan and it helps keep cookies moist and hold their shape. I definitely won't claim it's healthy. But, then again, most cookies aren't healthy anyway. These sour cream drop sugar cookies are great for special occasions when you need a colored treat that will match the theme of your event or holiday.
  • The frosting is a cooked frosting that hardens quickly, so I set up my frosting area by the stove in case I need to reheat the frosting. Cooked frosting might sound a little odd if you've never tried it, but it's so worth the extra effort. Regular buttercream frosting is too soft for cookies. But this cooked frosting hardens enough so that you can easily stack the cookies, yet it is still soft when you bite into it.
  • I set up a cooling rack inside of a baking sheet for frosting the cookies so that I can catch any wayward sprinkles.
  • This recipe can easily be doubled if you are having a large party or are making a lot of holiday cookies.
Overhead photo of sour cream cookies with pink frosting and multicolored sprinkles stacked up on a multi colored plate

FAQ

What makes these cookies old fashioned?

Sour cream cookies were very popular in the U.S. in the mid 20th century (okay, that alone makes them sound really old). And many grandmas from that era have a version of a sour cream cookie. Sour cream was (and is still) a great way to make moist cookies. Also, most of the time when you see shortening in a cookie recipe, it's almost always an old fashioned recipe.

Can I make the dough the day before?

Yes, you can make the dough the day before. This sour cream cookie dough is a very soft dough that doesn't get rock hard in the refrigerator. You can take the chilled dough out of the refrigerator and start working with it right away, even if it's been in the refrigerator overnight.

What type of sour cream should I use?

I recommend using full fat sour cream in baking. However, I have made these cookies with light sour cream, and they are still very good.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Overhead photo of sour cream cookies with pink frosting and multicolored sprinkles stacked up on a multi colored plate

Old Fashioned Sour Cream Cookies

Tracy @ Next Level Baker
Old fashioned sour cream cookies are soft, chewy drop cookies with a hint of tang and a smooth layer of frosting. They're easy to make and perfect for any occasion, from holidays to casual gatherings.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Chill and frosting time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 7 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 40 small cookies

Equipment

  • 1 Stand or hand mixer

Ingredients
  

Cookie ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup vegetable shortening
  • ¾ cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon almond (or vanilla) extract
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup sour cream

Frosting Ingredients

  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon salted butter
  • 1 teaspoon almond (or vanilla) extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • food coloring optional

Instructions
 

Making the cookies

  • Add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt to a small bowl. Stir well and set aside.
  • Add the shortening to a mixing bowl and mix on medium until no lumps remain.
  • Slowly add the white sugar to the mixing bowl and mix on medium until the shortening and sugar are creamed.
  • Add the extract and the egg to the mixing bowl and mix on medium until the egg is incorporated.
  • Alternate adding the flour mixture and the sour cream to the mixing bowl and mix on medium until fully incorporated.
  • Chill for a minimum of two hours up to overnight. The dough is very soft and sticky. Chilling also makes the dough easier to work with.
  • Preheat oven to 350℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat.
  • Use the smallest, one tablespoon cookie scoop and drop the dough on to the lined baking sheet. 20 cookies evenly spaced per baking sheet is perfect. A cookie scoop is great for making uniform sized cookies, but you can also drop one tablespoon of dough from the tablespoon itself as well.
  • Bake for 11-13 minutes. Check at 11 minutes. The bottoms will be golden brown but the tops will be just staring to lightly brown.
  • Allow the cookies to fully cool before frosting.

Making the frosting

  • Melt the milk and salted butter in a small saucepan over medium low heat. Once the butter has melted, add in any extract and food coloring and stir. Stir until the food coloring has completely dissolved and incorporated.
  • Turn the heat to low. Add the powdered sugar about one cup at a time and stir until melted. [The frosting can be made thicker by adding more powdered sugar. Add only ¼ cup more powdered sugar at a time and then stir. The frosting thickens quickly. If you made it too thick and want a thinner frosting, you can add more milk but only add one tablespoon of additional milk at a time.]
  • Once the frosting has melted and is spreadable, turn the heat off. You can remove the pan from the stove, but leave the frosting in the saucepan.
  • Add the frosting to cookies with an icing spatula, regular spatula, knife or spoon. As you go, you'll want to stir the frosting in the saucepan frequently to keep it from hardening. If the frosting in the saucepan hardens too much, place it back on the stove on low until the frosting is spreadable again.
  • The frosting hardens on the cookies very quickly. If using sprinkles, it's best to add the sprinkles to each cookie as each cookie is frosted.
  • Once the frosting has fully hardened, the cookies may be served immediately or stacked and placed in an airtight container.

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Keyword Old Fashioned Sour Cream Sugar Cookies, Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
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Sour cream cookies with pink frosting and multicolored sprinkles stacked up on a serving plate

No Bake Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake

by Leave a Comment

No Bake Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake is the perfect light and refreshing dessert. With a creamy, fluffy strawberry cheesecake filling, a crunchy strawberry crust and topping for texture, and a vibrant garnish of fresh strawberries, it's a delicious and irresistible dessert. It's prefect for berry season and warm summer days when you don't want to turn on the oven.

Photo of a partial no bake strawberry crunch cheesecake that has been cut. Cheesecake topped with strawberry crunch and cut strawberries. Inside of cheesecake visible.

Strawberries are the ultimate flavor of summer. Aside from watermelon, they're my favorite summer fruit. And while watermelon cheesecake might be pushing it, no bake strawberry cheesecake is the perfect summer dessert. It has that signature light and fluffy texture you expect from a no bake cheesecake and then it's paired with the sweet flavor of fresh strawberries. A strawberry crunch creates both the crust and the crumble topping, and sliced strawberries finishes it off beautifully.

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Ingredients

Ingredients needed to make no bake strawberry crunch cheesecake: cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, freeze dried strawberry powder, strawberries, Golden Oreos and salted butter
  • Strawberries
  • Freeze dried strawberry powder (unsweetened)
  • Cream cheese
  • Heavy whipping cream
  • Powdered sugar
  • Golden Oreos
  • Salted butter

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructional tips

Overhead photo of strawberry crunch crust in a springform pan

Strawberry crunch crust tip: since we're not baking the crust, make sure to press the crust very firmly into the springform pan.

Overhead photo of a bowl of mashed strawberries

Mashed strawberries tip - don't process or mash the strawberries into juice. Leave some texture in the strawberries.

Overhead photo of no bake strawberry cheesecake in a springform pan before it has been decorated

Cheesecake filling tip - add the cheesecake filling on top of the crust and use a spatula to even out the filling. We'll be adding strawberry crunch topping, so it doesn't have to be perfect.

Overhead view of an entire no-bake strawberry cheesecake topped with strawberry crunch and cut strawberries

Finishing the cheesecake tip - wait until after the cheesecake is done chilling to top with the strawberry crunch. Finally, finish it off with some beautifully cut fresh strawberries.

Substitutions

  • Freeze dried strawberry powder - if you don't have freeze dried strawberry powder, you can make your own by grinding up freeze dried strawberries (like from Trader Joe's). You can also substitute strawberry gelatin in a pinch, though I would not recommend this. Strawberry gelatin can have a processed, chemically flavor. The ingredient list for gelatin can be pretty gross too.
  • Golden Oreos - you can substitute other plain or vanilla sandwich cookies for the Golden Oreos if they have a similar fat content.

Variations

  • Other berries - strawberries are the most common berries used to make cheesecakes. However, you can easily substitute raspberries or blackberries or use a combination of berries to create a mixed berry version.
Overhead view of half of a no-bake strawberry cheesecake topped with strawberry crunch and cut strawberries

Equipment

Making this strawberry crunch cheesecake is easier if you have a stand mixer and a food processor, but a hand mixer and a hand masher will work just fine.

Storage

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. After that, the fresh cut strawberries can become mushy and the strawberry crunch on top will start to absorb some of the moisture from the cheesecake and become less crunchy over time.

Next Level Tips

  • Definitely use freeze dried strawberry powder or grind your own powder from freeze dried strawberries. It's more natural and better tasting than the strawberry gelatin that's in a lot of strawberry cheesecake recipes.
  • No bake cheesecakes don't have any eggs, so you can taste the filling and add more strawberry powder to the cheesecake cake filling if you want. You might be tempted to add more mashed strawberries, but remember that real strawberries are mostly water so we don't want to add too much water to the cheesecake filling.
  • I also par-bake a lot of my no bake cheesecake crusts. You can bake the crust at 325 for 6 minutes to get a crisp crust. Otherwise, just make sure to firmly press down the crust when adding the strawberry crunch to the springform pan. That way, it will stay together when slicing and serving.
  • You can also experiment with other decorations for the topping. Here is an article from Shari's Berries on how to make strawberry roses . I have yet to master strawberry roses, but they do look super fun!
Overhead view of an entire no-bake strawberry cheesecake topped with strawberry crunch and cut strawberries

FAQ

Can I use strawberry gelatin instead of freeze dried strawberry powder?

Yes, but gelatin can have an unnatural, chemical strawberry flavor on top of a questionable ingredient list. It's best if you can use a freeze dried strawberry powder or grind your own powder from freeze dried strawberries.

Can I whip the heavy whipping cream and then fold it in?

Yes, of course. I find that by method more time consuming and more stressful. By starting with room temperature cream cheese, we can add the powdered sugar and heavy cream at the end and mix it on medium high to high to get the same light fluffy texture. Less steps and less stress = baking win!

Can I add pink food coloring to make the filing more pink?

Yes, but it's not necessary for this dessert. The filling has a pink tint, the strawberry crunch has a pink tint, and if you put strawberries on top, it's very clear what the flavor of the dessert will be. If you still want to use added food coloring in the cheesecake filling, I recommend adding it with the cream cheese when you are mixing it to eliminate any lumps. That's the best time to make sure any food coloring gets evenly distributed.

Overhead view of a no bake strawberry cheesecake that has been cut. The cheesecake is topped with strawberry crunch and cut strawberries. There are several full and cut strawberries on the table surrounding the cheesecake.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Overhead view of an entire no-bake strawberry cheesecake topped with strawberry crunch and cut strawberries

No Bake Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake

Tracy @ Next Level Baker
No Bake Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake is a light and fluffy cheesecake filling layered in between strawberry crunch and topped with fresh berries. It's an easy, oven-free dessert that's perfect for berry season and warm summer days.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 35 minutes
Minimum chill time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12

Equipment

  • 1 Stand or hand mixer
  • 1 Food processor or hand masher

Ingredients
  

Strawberry crunch crust and topping

  • 24 Golden Oreos
  • 2 tablespoons freeze dried strawberry powder unsweetened
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter melted

Strawberry cheesecake filling

  • 24 ounces cream cheese room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons freeze dried strawberry powder unsweetened
  • ½ cup strawberries mashed
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar

Decorating the cheesecake

  • 1 cup reserved strawberry crunch from the crust step
  • 1 tablespoon salted butter melted
  • fresh cut strawberries for decoration no added sugar

Instructions
 

  • Spray a 8 or 9 inch springform pan with cooking spray.

Making the strawberry crunch crust and topping

  • Add 24 Golden Oreos (insides included) into a food processor and grind into smaller pieces. When almost finished, add in 2 tablespoons of freeze dried strawberry powder and blend until the powder is evenly distributed and the large chunks of Oreos are gone.
  • Remove one cup of the Oreo and strawberry crunch mixture and reserve for the topping. Place in an airtight container.
  • Microwave 3 tablespoons of salted butter just until melted, 15-30 seconds. Mix the butter into the remaining Oreo mixture.
  • Add the crust mixture to the springform pan. Even it out and then press very firmly into the pan with a flat bottom of a measuring cup.

Making the strawberry filling

  • Add enough berries to a food processor to create ½ cup of mashed berries. Start with 5-6 berries. The number needed will vary with the size of the strawberries. Blend them until the berries are mashed but not a liquid. Set aside.
  • Add the room temperature cream cheese to the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until the cream cheese is light and fluffy with no lumps remaining. Approximately 2-3 minutes.
  • Add 2 tablespoons of freeze dried powder and the mashed strawberries to the mixing bowl, and mix on low until blended. Approximately one minute.
  • Add the powdered sugar and heavy whipping cream to the mixing bowl and mix on medium high to high until light and fluffy. Approximately 2-3 minutes.
  • Pour the cheesecake filling on top of the crust and even out the top with a spatula.
  • Refrigerate for a minimum of 6 hours but preferably overnight.

Topping the cheesecake

  • Run a knife around the outside of the springform pan and then remove the ring.
  • Melt one tablespoon of butter in the microwave, approximately 10-15 seconds. Mix the melted butter in with the one cup of the reserved strawberry crunch until the butter has been evenly distributed and the mixture resembles a crumble.
  • Sprinkle the strawberry crunch over the entire cheesecake.
  • Slice strawberries and place the strawberries slices around the outer edge of the cheesecake rim.
  • If using a cardboard cake board or a serving plate, remove the cheesecake from the bottom of the springform pan with a cake lifter by gently sliding the cheesecake from the springform pan bottom on to the cake board or serving plate while supporting the underside of the cheesecake. [This can also be done before decorating, but I find it less messy overall to move the cheesecake after decorating.] Serve or refrigerate!

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Keyword No bake strawberry cheesecake, No bake strawberry crunch cheesecake
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Overhead view of a partial view of a no bake strawberry cheesecake on a cake board that has been cut. The cheesecake is topped with strawberry crunch and cut strawberries. One slice of cheesecake is on a plate next to the cut cheesecake.

Aldi Charcuterie Board

by Leave a Comment

Aldi makes shopping for cheeses, meats, fruits and fancy snacks for a charcuterie board cheap and easy. The best of both worlds! Aldi has a great selection of very budget friendly choices that look great and taste fantastic. And we'll show you how to create an Aldi Charcuterie Board for under $30 too. No, this post is not sponsored by Aldi. I just love the store.

Overhead photo of a plate with nuts and pita chips next to a charcuterie board made with ingredients from Aldi and some small decorative skewers

Charcuterie boards are fun and fancy, which is a great combination. A lot of things are fun but not fancy or fancy but not fun. Yet, charcuterie boards are both! I used to find building them stressful and expensive though. But after I learned a few tips on how to build them and create them cheaply, it's now super easy. For this charcuterie board, we bought everything at Aldi and the goal was to stay under $30, which we did. Aldi seems to be opening a lot of new stores near us, so they are very convenient. But if you don't have an Aldi near you, look for a Trader Joe's. Then check out my how to build a cheap charcuterie board post where we bought all the ingredients at Trader Joe's.

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Aldi Charcuterie Board Shopping List

Close up photo of a Charcuterie Board made from ingredients bought at Aldi: strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, cheese cubes, pita chips, nuts, meat sticks and cured meats

Here is what we bought (see receipt below):

  • One pack of cheese cubes ($2.99)
  • One package of pita crackers ($2.49)
  • Two beef sticks ($1.45 each)
  • Two packages of salami ($3.49 each)
  • One package of everything bagel cashews ($4.29)
  • Strawberries ($1.79), Blueberries ($3.59) and Blackberries ($2.39)
Photo of receipt for items purchased for Aldi Charcuterie Board for under $30

Cost

The cost of a charcuterie board can get expensive if you're shopping at a regular grocery store. However, making a charcuterie board shopping list and shopping at a low cost store like Aldi will help bring down the cost. Our budget was $30, and our total came in under budget at $27.42. See the receipt photo above. It's totally reasonable and actually easy to make a cheap charcuterie board that looks and tastes fabulous.

Overhead photo of a Charcuterie Board made from ingredients from Aldi: strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, cheese cubes, pita chips, nuts, meat sticks and cured meats

Instructions for making the charcuterie board

    If you want step by step instructions with photos on how to build another cheap charcuterie spread from Trader Joe's, check out my how to make a cheap charcuterie board post with step by step photos and instructions.

    What is a charcuterie box?

    A charcuterie box is a more portable charcuterie spread that is typically packaged in a bakery box or in a pan with a lip. The pan we used for this charcuterie spread was 10.5 inches by 12.5 inches with a 1.5 inches high lip. So why did we put our charcuterie spread in a pan? Because we were taking it to a get together, and it's so much easier to transport! If you're serving your charcuterie spread at home, using a board is easy. But transporting the board isn't always easy. So using a pan or a bakery box where the ingredients don't shift while traveling is key. Using a ceramic pan or a box lined with parchment paper helps prevent any staining of your charcuterie board too. Here are some common options for a charcuterie box:

    • A baking or serving pan with a lip
    • A quarter-sheet or half-sheet baking sheet
    • A bakery box lined with parchment paper

    You can buy bakery boxes at places like Hobby Lobby or Amazon. A 10x10 inch box is perfect for a smaller square spread and a 10x14 inch box is perfect for a more typical sized charcuterie spread. Some bakery boxes have cute little windows too.

    Close up photo of a Charcuterie Board made from ingredients bought at Aldi: strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, cheese cubes, pita chips, nuts, meat sticks and cured meats

    Substitutions

    • Gluten free - make sure to choose gluten free crackers.
    • Vegan - skip the meats (or use meat substitutes) and use vegan cheeses.

    Storage

    To store leftover charcuterie board ingredients, separate them into different air tight containers. Meats, cheeses and fruits go in the refrigerator. Crackers can be stored at room temperature.

    Next Level Tips

    • We built this Aldi charcuterie board with only ingredients we purchased at Aldi with a budget of $30. But, you can always fill in your board with ingredients you already have at home. I usually have other nuts, olives, carrots, hummus and little jam and honey jars at home. Sometimes, I'll use baguette slices, mustards, chocolates and other candies if I have those too. The options are limitless, and it will save even more money if you use some ingredients that you already have on hand.
    • Fruits for charcuterie boards can be one of the most expensive parts. Choosing fruits that are in season will help reduce the costs. When we were in the produce section, we noticed that strawberries were on sale so we knew our board would have strawberries!
    • Putting your charcuterie spread in a box or a pan with a lip is perfect for traveling. But using a pan with a lip is a great idea to use at home too. The lip allows you to pile more ingredients on (so you have to refill it less) and it prevents any ingredients from tumbling off too.
    Side view of a portion of a charcuterie board made with ingredients from Aldi next to some plates and some small decorative skewers

    Looking for other recipes for brunch? Try these:

    Overhead photo of a part of Charcuterie Board made from ingredients from Aldi: strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, cheese cubes, pita chips, nuts, meat sticks and cured meats

    Aldi Charcuterie Board

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    Using ingredients from Aldi makes building a charcuterie board simple and affordable-good cheeses, solid meats, fresh fruits, and fun crackers and nuts that look great without spending a ton.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    0 minutes
    Total Time 15 minutes
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American

    Ingredients
      

    • 1-2 different types of cheeses
    • 1-2 different types of cured meats
    • 1-2 different types of crackers
    • 1 or more different fruits
    • 1 or more different types of nuts

    Instructions
     

    • Chop any ingredients that need to be chopped.
    • When you are building the board, start by adding enough ingredients to cover the bottom of the board. (Then go back in and layer more once you have added some of all of the ingredients and are happy with your basic design.)
    • Place any ingredients that are watery, like cut strawberries or olives, in little bowls. You can also use little bowls for decorative purposes.
    • If you are building a box, it's easier to start at the edges and work your way in. Start by placing some fruit and folded or rolled cured meats in opposite corners.
    • Add some cheese(s) near the meats and some crackers near the cheese(s).
    • Add in any other types of fruit near the existing fruit.
    • Fill in any holes with nuts or more meats.
    • Once the bottom of the board/box/pan is completely covered, layer in more ingredients to give the board more bulk. If you don't want to refill the board, make sure the board is as full as possible before serving.
    • Serve or refrigerate.

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    Overhead photo of a Charcuterie Board made from ingredients from Aldi

    Biscoff Cinnamon Rolls

    by Leave a Comment

    Biscoff cinnamon rolls are soft, sweet swirls of dough filled with rich cinnamon and Speculoos cookie butter and then topped with a creamy cookie butter frosting, a warm drizzle of melted cookie butter and a sprinkle of crushed Biscoff cookies. The Speculoos adds a deep, caramelized sugar flavor that takes these cinnamon rolls to the next level. They are comforting, indulgent and absolutely irresistible.

    Overhead view of a pan of Biscoff cinnamon rolls with one missing

    Have you seen all my other cinnamon roll recipes? It's no secret that I love cinnamon rolls. There's just something magical about soft, fluffy dough swirled with sweet cinnamon. It's one of my all-time favorite flavor combos! These Biscoff cinnamon rolls start with my basic cinnamon roll recipe, and then we add cookie butter to the filling and frosting and then top the rolls with a cookie butter drizzle and crushed Biscoff cookies. I'm not going to lie-they're definitely sweet. They are also rich, indulgent and absolutely perfect for special occasions. You know, those occasions that you want to treat yourself, your family and your friends.

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    Ingredients for Biscoff Cinnamon Rolls

    Ingredients needed for Biscoff Cinnamon Rolls: all-purpose flour, whole milk, eggs, active dry yeast, white sugar, salted butter, cookie butter, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon.
    • All-purpose flour
    • Whole milk
    • Eggs
    • Salted butter
    • White sugar
    • Active dry yeast
    • Salt
    • Cinnamon
    • Brown sugar
    • Cookie butter

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Ingredients for Biscoff Frosting and Toppings

    Ingredients needed for Biscoff frosting, drizzle and toppings: powdered sugar, salted butter, cookie butter, heavy whipping cream and Biscoff cookies.
    • Cookie butter
    • Powdered sugar
    • Salted butter
    • Heavy shipping cream
    • Biscoff or cinnamon cookies

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Substitutions

    • Biscoff cookie butter - you don't have to use Biscoff brand cookie butter, you can use Trader Joe's Speculoos cookie butter if that's more convenient for you.
    • Biscoff cookies - you can substitute other cinnamon cookies for the crumble on top or you can skip those cookies altogether, but they do add a fun crunch to the top of the Biscoff cinnamon rolls.
    • Vegan - Biscoff cookie butter and Biscoff cookies are both vegan. You can make a vegan version of these cinnamon rolls by using a neutral plant-based milk like oat milk, your favorite plant-based butter, your favorite plant-based heavy cream (or just a smaller amount of plant-based milk) for the heavy cream, and flax eggs* or Bob Mill's egg replacer for the eggs. *To make 3 flax eggs, mix 3 tablespoon of flaxseed meal and 9 tablespoons of water and let it sit for 10 minutes

    Equipment

    A hand mixer or stand mixer is needed for these cinnamon rolls.

    Overhead photo of Biscoff cinnamon roll on a plate with a bite taken out in front of a partial view of a pan of Biscoff cinnamon rolls with a few Biscoff cookies scattered around

    Storage

    Store the Biscoff cinnamon rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To warm up cinnamon rolls with Biscoff on day 2 or later, put them on a plate and microwave them for 15-25 seconds. The frosting melts quickly, so start with 15 seconds and check them.

    Next Level Tips

    • You can also make these the night before just like my overnight cinnamon rolls. If I know I'll be rushed for time on the morning I need the rolls, I will start the cinnamon rolls the day before. The overnight cinnamon rolls recipe contains all the instructions for starting the sweet rolls the night before.
    • Weigh your flour. I definitely recommend buying a kitchen scale if you don't already have one. Kitchen scales are fairly cheap now. The measurements are more accurate with weight, and you'll find it's quicker too. Different brands of flour have different weights, and not everyone measures flour the same. If you don't have a kitchen scale, the next best way to measure flour is the fluff and scoop method. Fluff the flour in its container and then lightly scoop the flour into the measuring cup with a spoon. Lightly level the measuring cup with a knife. I use Kirkland's organic all-purpose flour from Costco, and I always weigh flour even if I don't weigh any other of the ingredients.
    Side view of one Biscoff cinnamon roll on a plate in front of a pan of cinnamon rolls

    FAQ

    How do I cut the cinnamon roll log into individual rolls?

    There are three popular methods for cutting the log into cinnamon rolls: the serrated (or very sharp knife) method, the dental floss method and the pizza cutter method.
     
    The serrated knife or very sharp knife method. Use a serrated knife or a very sharp knife to cut the log into rolls. 

    The dental floss method. Break off a long string of (non-flavored!) dental floss and slide the floss underneath the log roll where you want to make a cut. Make sure the log is in the center of the string of floss and bring the two sides of floss together to meet each other. Then put the floss pieces into the opposite hands, cross the floss over each other across the top of the roll and pull each side until it cuts through the log. Repeat for each roll. 

    The pizza cutter method. Use a pizza cutter and make 9-12 individual cuts. Roll each strip up separately. This method can be messy, so you'll need to make an extra effort to roll the rolls tightly.

    How much cookie butter do I need altogether?

    You can buy one small 14 ounce jar of cookie butter to use for this entire recipe. You'll use most of it, but you won't need the whole jar.

    Looking for other brunch recipes? Try these:

    Overhead photo of Biscoff cinnamon roll on a plate with a bite taken out in front of a partial view of a pan of Biscoff cinnamon rolls

    Biscoff Cinnamon Rolls

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    Biscoff cinnamon rolls are soft, sweet swirls filled with Speculoos cookie butter and topped with creamy frosting, melted cookie butter drizzle and crushed Biscoff cookies. The Speculoos cookie butter adds a rich, caramelized layer of flavor that makes these cinnamon rolls delicious, indulgent and irresistible.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 28 minutes
    Rise Time and Frosting 3 hours 30 minutes
    Total Time 4 hours 13 minutes
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12

    Equipment

    • 1 Hand or stand mixer

    Ingredients
      

    Dough

    • ¾ cup whole milk warmed
    • 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
    • ¼ cup white sugar
    • 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour (540 grams)
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 10 tablespoons salted butter room temperature
    • 3 eggs room temperature

    Filling

    • ¼ cup Biscoff cookie butter
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon cinnamon

    Cookie Butter Frosting

    • 8 tablespoons salted butter softened
    • ¼ cup Biscoff cookie butter
    • 3 cups powdered sugar
    • 3 tablespoons heavy cream

    Toppings

    • ¼ cup Biscoff cookie butter melted
    • 4 Biscoff cookies (crushed) optional

    Instructions
     

    Make the Dough

    • Bring the butter and eggs to room temperature.
    • Heat the milk in the microwave until warmed to 105℉ - 110℉. [It's best to use a kitchen thermometer if you have one.] Add the warm milk, yeast and a little of the white sugar to the mixing bowl. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
    • Add the all-purpose flour and salt to a small bowl and set aside.
    • Add the rest of the white sugar, the softened butter and the eggs to the mixing bowl. Mix on low speed until the eggs are incorporated. The butter will not incorporate at this stage, which is normal.
    • Add the flour and salt mixture to the mixing bowl in three to four different stages. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl after each addition and then mix on a low speed until the flour has been incorporated. Repeat until all flour has been added.
    • After the flour has been incorporated, switch to the dough hook and knead on low speed for 5 minutes. If you don't have a dough hook, you can knead by hand.
    • Spray a large bowl (or reuse the mixing bowl) with cooking spray. The dough is sticky and that's normal. Let the dough rise in a covered bowl for a total of two hours. After one hour, knead the dough using the stretch and fold method. If you're familiar with this method, do it in the bowl. If this is your first time, take the dough out of the bowl and set on a floured surface. Take a hold of a large piece of dough at the 12 position, stretch it away from your body, and then fold it back toward the middle of the dough ball. Rotate the ball ⅛ to ¼ of a turn and repeat the stretch out and fold back motions. Keep repeating until you have gone around 2 times and the dough becomes less stretchy. You DO NOT have to do this, BUT it does make the rolls more fluffy and soft. Put the dough back in the bowl to rise for another hour. So, the total rise time is two hours with the optional stretch and fold after one hour.

    Make the Filling

    • Spray a 9x13 pan (or a large round pan) with cooking spray and set aside.
    • After the dough has risen for the two hours, put it on a floured surface and roll it out into a 12 x 18 inch rectangle. [If the dough is ever resistant, let it rest for 10 minutes. Don't overwork the dough trying to roll it out. It should roll out easily.]
    • Soften ¼ cup of cookie butter in the microwave for 15 seconds. Brush the cookie butter onto the dough with a pastry/silicone brush or a spatula. The cookie butter is the glue that will hold the brown sugar and cinnamon to the dough.
    • Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl until the cinnamon is incorporated into the brown sugar.
    • Sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture evenly over the dough and lightly press it in.
    • Starting with the long side, roll the dough into a tight log.
    • Cut the dough into 9-12 pieces. I use 9 pieces for a large round pan or 12 pieces for a 9x13 pan. Use your favorite cutting method. If you aren't sure how to cut the roll, see my FAQ section for different cutting methods.
    • Add the cut cinnamon rolls into your sprayed pan of choice, cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and let rise for 30-60 minutes depending on the temperature. On warmer days, the dough will rise quicker. [For overnight rolls, cover and place directly in to the refrigerator before rising. Remove the next day and let sit on the counter for one hour to get to room temperature prior to baking.]

    Baking the Cinnamon Rolls

    • Preheat oven to 350 ℉.
    • Bake the cinnamon rolls uncovered for 27-32 minutes. Check them at 27 minutes. [If you made overnight rolls, they could take longer if they were colder to start with.] They will be lightly golden brown on top.
    • When you remove the cinnamon rolls from the oven, start making the frosting.

    Making the Frosting

    • Put the softened butter and cookie butter in to a mixing bowl and mix on medium until thoroughly combined and fluffy.
    • Add the powdered sugar and heavy whipping cream to the mixing bowl and mix on medium to medium high until light and fluffy. It takes about 3-4 minutes.
    • Once the cinnamon rolls have cooled for at least 20 minutes, spread the frosting on the rolls. If you are not serving them warm, wait until the rolls have completely cooled to frost them.

    Drizzle and Cookie Crumbles

    • Warm ¼ cup of cookie butter in the microwave for 15-30 seconds until the cookie butter is pourable but still holds its shape. Use a spoon, piping bag or a decorator bottle to drizzle the cookie butter across the tops of the cinnamon rolls in any pattern.
    • Crush a few Biscoff cookies and sprinkle them over the cinnamon rolls. This is optional but it adds a fun and delicious crunch to the cinnamon rolls.

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    Overhead view of a pan of Biscoff cinnamon rolls with one missing

    Single Layer Carrot Cake (No Nuts)

    by Leave a Comment

    Single layer carrot cake is moist and flavorful, with a nice balance of spices and grated carrots. It's topped with a smooth cream cheese frosting that adds a sweet and creamy touch. Carrot cake is an indulgent, satisfying dessert that's perfect for Easter or any special occasion. Best of all, no nuts!

    Overhead view of carrot cake in a 9x13 baking pan with a few pieces missing

    I'm not sure how or when carrot cake became associated with Easter. I was about to research it when I decided...it doesn't matter. I'm just thankful that someone, somewhere decided to put carrots in a cake. And I'm thankful we eat it at Easter and anytime anyone else requests it!

    Also, I'll be honest, I don't eat carrot cake because it's healthy. It just isn't, no matter how many carrots we use. This single layer carrot cake recipe is the same basic 9x13 carrot cake recipe that my mom has made my entire life. I've developed healthier versions of a lot of her other recipes over the years, but not this one. Carrot cake is just one of those desserts that was meant to be enjoyed because it is moist, it is sweet and it is indulgent. Could we cut down on the oil or the sugar? Sure, absolutely. And we can also just enjoy carrot cake for what it was meant to be...over the top and indulgently delicious.

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    Ingredients for Carrot Cake

    Ingredients needed for carrot cake: shredded carrots, all-purpose flour, white sugar, eggs, olive oil, cinnamon, baking soda and salt
    • Shredded carrots
    • All-purpose flour
    • White sugar
    • Vegetable oil
    • Eggs
    • Cinnamon
    • Baking soda
    • Salt

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Ingredients for Cream Cheese Frosting

    Ingredients needed for cream cheese frosting: salted butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar and salt

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Variations

    • Vegan - this carrot cake can easily be made vegan with an egg substitute. I've used flax eggs as an egg substitute with this recipe. To make 4 flax eggs, use 4 tablespoons of ground flaxseed and 12 tablespoons of water. Mix well and then let sit for 5-10 minutes.
    • Add-ins - while this recipe is for more of a pure carrot cake, you can add nuts, drained pineapple or raisins to the carrot cake if you want. Or you can top the frosting with toasted coconut. If you've never toasted coconut, I describe the process in my Samoas cupcake recipe.
    Overhead photo of slice of carrot cake on a plate in front of a baking pan of carrot cake with three pieces missing

    Equipment

    A grater or a food processor is needed for this recipe.

    Storage

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    Next Level Tips

    • Grate your carrots! I know it takes a little longer than dumping the carrots in a food processor, but freshly grated carrots provide a better and moister texture to the cake.
    • If you want to add fancy frosting decorations like in the photos, I used a Wilton 1M tip for the rosettes and stars. The Wilton 1M is my favorite all-around tip. To pipe a rosette flower, think of it as the opposite of traditional cupcake frosting. For traditional cupcake frosting, you would start at the outside of the cupcake circle and spiral inward and upward. To pipe a rosette flower, start at the inside of an imaginary circle and spiral outward but not upward. It's just a flat flower. Then, when you're done with the rosettes, go back and add little stars, with the same 1M tip, to cover any open cake space that didn't get originally covered with rosettes. Or you can overlap the rosettes, but I like the combination of rosettes and stars on single layer cakes.
    Overhead photo of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting piped on in rosettes

    FAQ

    Do I have to do the fancy frosting?

    No, absolutely not. I've just piped so many cakes and cupcakes in my life, that it's faster for me. If you look closely at the picture, the frosting isn't perfect. But guess what? It only took 5 minutes, and it would take me a lot longer to frost a cake neatly with a knife. As long as you have the frosting, no one cares what it looks like, so get it on however you would like.

    Close up side view of carrot cake

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    Close up side view of carrot cake

    Single Layer Carrot Cake (No Nuts)

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    This single-layer carrot cake is moist and flavorful, with a perfect blend of spices and grated carrots. Topped with a smooth cream cheese frosting, it's an indulgent dessert that's perfect for any special occasion.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 50 minutes
    Frosting 20 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24

    Equipment

    • 1 Grater or food processor

    Ingredients
      

    Carrot Cake

    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
    • 2 teaspoons baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 cups white sugar
    • 1 ½ cups vegetable oil
    • 4 eggs
    • 3 cups grated carrots

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 8 tablespoons salted butter softened
    • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
    • 4 cups powdered sugar
    • ½ tablespoon vanilla optional*
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt optional**

    Instructions
     

    Making the carrot cake

    • Preheat the oven to 350℉ and spray a 9x13 cake pan with cooking spray.
    • Add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt to a mixing bowl and mix well.
    • Add the white sugar and oil to the mixing bowl and mix on low until integrated.
    • Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix on low until integrated.
    • Add the shredded carrots and stir or mix on low until they are evenly distributed.
    • Pour the cake batter into sprayed 9x13 baking pan. Bake at 350℉ for about 50 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to fully cool before frosting.

    Making the frosting

    • Put the softened cream cheese and softened salted butter in to a mixing bowl and mix on medium until thoroughly combined and fluffy with no lumps remaining.
    • Add 3 cups of the powdered sugar, and the salt and the vanilla (if using) to the mixing bowl and mix until integrated. Scrape down the sides. Add the last cup of powdered sugar and mix on medium high to high until light and fluffy, approximately 5-7 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl halfway through.
    • Apply the frosting to the cooled cake with a piping bag, offset icing spatula or a regular knife.

    Notes

    *The vanilla in the cream cheese frosting is optional. It gives the frosting a nice hint of flavor, but regular brown vanilla does tint the frosting so keep that in mind. 
    **The salt in the frosting is also optional. Frosting can be very sweet, so the added salt and salted butter helps to cut the sweetness of the frosting. 

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    Overhead photo of slice of carrot cake on a plate in front of a baking pan of carrot cake

    Hot Honey Roasted Carrots

    by Leave a Comment

    Sweet, spicy, and stunning! These hot honey roasted rainbow carrots are roasted to perfection, bringing out the natural sweetness and vibrant colors of the carrots. Roasted with a chili-infused honey glaze, they're the perfect sweet and spicy side dish to brighten up any meal!

    Chopped hot honey roasted carrots on a serving platter with parsley garnish

    I confess that I haven't always liked cooked carrots. I remember them as mushy, flavorless and too sweet. But when my aunt told me that she uses my bread dipping seasoning, olive oil and honey on her cooked carrots, it really got me thinking about cooked carrots. And then I started making my own. And guess what? I don't just like roasted carrots, I love them. (In fact, I love them so much that I was eating them with my fingers while taking the photos for this blog post. A big no-no on so many levels, mostly for my camera's sake, but these are that good!) Roasting brings out some of the natural sweetness of carrots. And these are tossed with a small amount hot chili-infused honey. The hot honey adds a little more sweetness but with a sidekick of spice for a more balanced sweet and spicy flavor. So good!

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    Ingredients

    Ingredients need for Hot Honey Roasted Carrots: carrots, hot honey, olive oil and salt as well. Also included are optional ingredients of green onions, bread dipping seasoning and fresh parsley
    • Fresh carrots
    • Hot honey
    • Olive oil
    • Salt
    • Green onions (optional)
    • Bread dipping seasoning or Italian seasoning (optional)
    • Fresh parsley (optional)

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Substitutions

    • Vegan - to make this recipe vegan, you can substitute maple syrup and a dash of cayenne pepper for the hot honey.
    • Hot honey - if you don't want to use spicy, hot honey, you can substitute regular honey.
    • Bread dipping seasoning - you can substitute regular Italian seasoning for the bread dipping seasoning or also skip it all together. It's optional.
    • Rainbow carrots - rainbow carrots are fun, but they taste almost exactly like regular carrots so you can substitute regular carrots for the rainbow carrots. You can also use baby rainbow or regular carrots, but I don't recommend doing that. Baby carrots are processed and don't have as much flavor as regular carrots. Peeling the carrots goes pretty quickly and full size carrots are usually cheaper pound for pound. Technically, you don't even have to peel the carrots, just wash them well.
    Two pounds of roasted full length rainbow carrots on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper

    Variations

    • Full carrots - if you are having a nice dinner or just want to be fancy, you can leave the carrots whole. You'll only need to trim them so that they fit on a plate. Some of my carrots were really long, so a few needed the ends snipped off.

    Storage

    Store the hot honey roasted rainbow carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.

    roasted full length rainbow carrots on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper with the sun shinning partially on them

    Next Level Tips

    • If you buy fresh carrots with the carrot tops still on, save the carrot tops for your salads! Save the tops of the green onions too. Check out my how to build a salad post where using fresh herbs is one of the ingredients! Carrot tops can also be used as a parsley substitute. They are more earthy and bitter, but they are perfect for including in salads.
    • Definitely use fresh full carrots if you can, not baby carrots. Baby carrots are processed, are soaking in a water solution and are older than regular fresh carrots.
    • Double or triple the recipe for dinner parties or holiday gatherings!

    FAQ

    Do I have to peel my carrots?

    No! You can definitely skip the peeling step. However, make sure to wash your carrots very well if you are not peeling off the outer layer.

    What type of hot honey should I use?

    Mike's Hot Honey is probably the most well known brand. I have used both Mike's Hot Honey and Nate's Hot Honey. Both work well. I've also been seeing hot honey showing up at farmer's markets lately. Any chili infused, spicy hot honey will work.

    Chopped hot honey roasted carrots on a serving platter with parsley garnish

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    Close up overhead view of chopped hot honey roasted carrots on a serving platter with parsley garnish

    Hot Honey Roasted Carrots

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    Sweet, spicy, and beautifully caramelized, these hot honey roasted rainbow carrots highlight the natural sweetness and vibrant colors of the carrots. Roasted with a sweet, fiery honey glaze, they're the perfect bold and flavorful side dish for any meal!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound carrots peeled
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ tablespoon hot honey
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ½ bunch green onions optional
    • ½ teaspoon bread dipping seasoning optional
    • 1 tablespoon parsley finely chopped optional

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 400℉ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat.
    • Mix the olive oil, hot honey and salt in a small bowl until it's fully combined.
    • Wash, peel and cut the carrots. I like to cut them into 3-4 inch long pieces or leave them full length. If the carrots are extra wide, cut them in half or quarters so that all the pieces are of somewhat similar size.
    • If you are using green onions, wash and cut them into the same lengths as the carrots. Set them aside.
    • Add the carrots to a large bowl. Drizzle the olive oil and hot honey mixture over the carrots and toss the carrots until all are fully coated. [If you are keeping the carrots full length, they are harder to toss. You can use your hands to fully coat the carrots.]
    • Put the coated carrots on the baking sheet in a single layer.
    • After the carrots are on the baking sheet, toss the green onions in the bowl with any leftover hot honey olive oil mixture and set aside. They will be added to the carrots halfway through the roasting time.
    • Bake for 20-25 minutes. Halfway through, remove the carrots from the oven and flip them. If you are using green onions, add them now and sprinkle the bread dipping seasoning over the vegetables. Check at 20 minutes and remove for a firmer texture or roast an additional 5 minutes for a softer texture. Carrots will continue to soften a bit after removed from the oven. Serve hot.

    Notes

    Double or triple the recipe for dinner parties or holiday gatherings! 

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    Close up view of chopped hot honey roasted carrots on a serving platter with parsley garnish

    GIANT PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

    by Leave a Comment

    Giant bakery-style peanut butter cookies are thick, chewy and packed with rich peanut butter flavor. They are also loaded with peanut butter chips for a soft, dense center that melts in your mouth, and they're baked until they have a slightly crisp exterior. These double peanut butter cookies are the perfect balance of chewiness, sweetness and nuttiness.

    Close up photo of giant peanut butter cookies randomly stacked on a cooling rack

    I loved my mom's peanut butter cookies when I was growing up. The ones with the little criss-cross fork marks or the ones with the chocolate candy kiss in the center. In fact, this is her recipe that I altered to add peanut butter chips and make them bakery style. Why is it even more satisfying to eat a giant bakery style cookie? I'm not sure, but I'll take one giant cookie over four smaller cookies any day. Especially when the giant cookie is soft, chewy and peanut buttery.

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    Ingredients

    Photo of ingredients needed to make peanut butter cookies: peanut butter, salted butter, white sugar, brown sugar, an egg, all purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and peanut butter chips
    • Peanut butter
    • Salted butter
    • Brown sugar
    • White sugar
    • Egg
    • All purpose flour
    • Baking powder
    • Baking Soda
    • Salt
    • Peanut butter chips

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions on how to shape the dough

    Overhead photo of 6 peanut butter cookie dough balls inside of 6 baking rings to prevent cookies from spreading

    Step 1: Roll dough into balls and place one ball in the center of each ring.

    Overhead view of six flattened peanut butter cookie dough balls inside of six bakery rings

    Step 2: Flatten the balls down into more of a hockey puck size.

    Use a kitchen scale to section off 12 equal pieces of dough. For the flour I use, that means the dough balls weigh roughly 2.2 ounces or 62 grams each. (If you don't have a kitchen scale, you can use a large 4 tablespoon cookie scoop that you use for cupcakes but pack it full). Then, roll the dough into a ball with your hands. Next, flatten the dough to the size of a hockey puck with the bottom of a measuring cup or regular cup. Flattening the dough a bit helps the cookies bake more evenly.

    Baking rings

    Baking rings (also known as english muffin, tart or burger rings) are used to keep the cookies in a nice round shape and from spreading too much. They are especially helpful for soft doughs like peanut butter cookie doughs. These rings are one of secrets to making amazing bakery style cookies at home!

    Equipment

    A stand or hand mixer is helpful for these double peanut butter cookies. Six 4-inch dessert or burger rings are strongly recommended.

    One giant peanut butter cookie on a white plate in front of more giant peanut butter cookies randomly stacked on a cooling rack

    Storage

    Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

    Next Level Tips

    • Bakery rings are super helpful when baking giant soft cookies so that they don't spread too much. You can also use the bakery rings for baking tarts, English muffins, hamburger buns or shaping hamburgers. They're not expensive either.
    • Buy a cheap kitchen scale so you can weigh your ingredients, especially the flour.
    • Weigh your flour! Different flours have different weights. For all-purpose flour, I love Costco's organic all-purpose flour. On the back of the Costco organic all-purpose flour package, one serving equals ¼ cup and 30 grams. So if I need 1 and ¼ cups of flour for this recipe, I know it is 150 grams. If you use a different flour, then use the weight for 1 and ¼ cups of that brand. You can find the weight per serving on the nutrition label.
    • Weigh your cookie dough balls! Yes, you can use a 4 tablespoon large cookie scoop for this recipe. But, to get all your cookies the same size, it's best to weigh them. It's actually faster too once you get used it. So how do you do it? After you're done making the dough, weigh it. You can use ounces or grams. I like grams. Then take the weight of your dough and divide by 12. Then, make them all that size! For this recipe, it is roughly 62 grams or 2.2 ounces depending on the flour you use.
    Side view of 4 giant peanut butter cookies on a plate with more blurred cookies in the background

    FAQ

    What type of peanut butter should I use?

    While it may not be as healthy as all-natural peanut butter, regular processed peanut butter works best with these cookies.

    Do I have to chill the dough?

    It's highly recommended to chill soft cookie dough. It's not as highly critical when using the bakery rings, but it's still highly recommended.

    Do I need the dessert or burger rings to make these cookies?

    Yes, otherwise the cookies can spread too much.

    Close up photo of giant peanut butter cookies randomly stacked on a cooling rack

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    Close up photo of giant peanut butter cookies randomly stacked on a cooling rack

    Giant Peanut Butter Cookies

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    These giant peanut butter cookies are thick, chewy, and bursting with rich peanut butter flavor. With a soft center, crunchy edges and extra peanut butter chips, they're the perfect sweet and nutty treat!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 11 minutes
    Chill Time 2 hours
    Total Time 2 hours 26 minutes
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12

    Equipment

    • 1 Stand or hand mixer
    • 6-12 4-inch dessert or burger rings

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
    • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup peanut butter
    • ½ cup salted butter softened
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • ½ cup white sugar
    • 1 egg
    • ¾ cup peanut butter chips

    Instructions
     

    • Add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt to a small bowl. Stir together and set aside.
    • Add the peanut butter and softened butter to a mixing bowl. Mix on medium until the butters are completely mixed and there are no umps.
    • Add the brown sugar and white sugar to the mixing bowl and mix on medium until incorporated.
    • Add the egg and mix on medium until the egg is incorporated.
    • Add the flour mixture slowly and mix just until incorporated.
    • Stir in the peanut butter chips until they are evenly distributed.
    • Cover the mixing bowl and chill in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.
    • Preheat the oven to 350℉. Line the baking sheet(s) with parchment paper or a baking mat. Lightly spray the insides of the baking rings.
    • Use a kitchen scale to section off 12 equal pieces of dough that weigh roughly 2.2 ounces or 62 grams each. (Or use a large 4 tablespoon cookie scoop packed full.) Roll the dough into balls and place one ball in the center of each baking ring. Lightly flatten with the bottom of a measuring cup or regular cup until it's the shape of a hockey puck. I have 6 bakery rings, so I make 2 batches of these cookies.
    • Bake for 11-12 minutes until the bottoms are lightly browned. The tops will be extremely soft and look undercooked when you take them out of the oven. That's normal for peanut butter cookies. They will continue to set and develop a nice crackly top as they cool. (Bake 11 minutes for a softer cookie and 12 minutes for a cookie with a crispier bottom and sides.) DO NOT OVERBAKE!
    • If you are reusing the baking rings, allow the cookies to cool at least 10 minutes before removing the rings. Then, let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for an additional 10 minutes before moving the cookies.

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    Overhead view of a broken peanut butter cookie on a white plate in front of more giant peanut butter cookies randomly stacked on a cooling rack

    Whipped Tofu with Truffle Garlic Bread

    by Leave a Comment

    Whipped tofu with truffle garlic bread is a decadent yet light vegan appetizer that combines light tofu 'ricotta' with crispy, truffle garlic bread. The tofu is whipped to a smooth texture and served alongside crunchy garlic bread. The result is a delightful contrast of textures, perfectly complemented by rich umami flavors.

    Overhead photo of a bowl of whipped tofu surrounded by garlic bread and parsley sprigs

    I love whipped tofu. It's super easy to make, and it has a similar texture to whipped ricotta which makes it a perfect dairy-free vegan spread for crunchy truffle garlic toast. We make whipped tofu by blending firm tofu in a food processor until it becomes light and creamy. It's really that easy. Then truffle oil is layered throughout the whipped tofu and the garlic toast adding a rich, earthy umami flavor that takes this appetizer to the next level!

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    Ingredients

    • Firm tofu
    • Nutritional yeast
    • Garlic powder
    • Salt
    • Truffle oil (or olive oil)
    • Plant-based butter
    • Garlic
    • Parsley (optional)
    • Baguette or bread of choice

    See recipe card for quantities.

    What is Nutritional Yeast?

    Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast that is most often sold as small flakes. It has a savory, nutty, cheesy flavor, so it's perfect for vegan dishes. Tofu doesn't have a strong flavor on its own, so the nutritional yeast gives the whipped tofu more of a cheesy flavor. Whipping tofu with nutritional yeast helps bring the flavor and texture similar to a whipped ricotta. But, it's actually even better!

    Bowl of whipped tofu garnished with finely shopped parsley next to pieces of garlic bread

    Substitutions

    • Truffle oil - if you don't have truffle oil, you can substitute olive oil or another favorite flavor of oil.
    • Garlic bread - you can skip the garlic bread and serve the whipped ricotta tofu with regular bread, crackers or veggies. Or use it as a spread for sandwiches and wraps.

    Equipment

    A food processor or blender is needed to whip the tofu.

    Storage

    Store any leftovers separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Before serving, give the whipped tofu ricotta a stir if the texture has firmed up.

    Next Level Tips

    • Whipped tofu with truffle oil tastes amazing on garlic toast. But there are so many more uses too! You can use it as a dip for veggies, a spread for crackers, a pasta sauce, and as a condiment for roasted vegetables, wraps and sandwiches.
    • If you want to grill the garlic bread, grill it after the rest of the food is done. The grill adds that distinct smoky flavor that elevates your garlic bread to an even higher level. Also, the oven won't heat up the house in the summer.
    Pieces of garlic bread and a spoon topped with whipped tofu and chopped parsley on a grey plate

    FAQ

    Should I use white or black truffle oil?

    You can use either in this recipe. White truffle oil can sometimes be more peppery and garlicky while black truffle oil can be bolder and earthier. Both will work! There are also flavored truffle oil options out there that are infused with garlic, jalapeños and chilis. New flavors are available all the time.

    Why do we use firm tofu?

    We use drained, firm tofu as it creates a light, airy texture when whipped. Soft or silky tofu doesn't whip as well and can have a mushy texture.

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    Close up photo of a bowl of whipped tofu with shopped parsley garnish and a piece of garlic toast dipping into the bowl

    Whipped Tofu with Truffle Garlic Bread

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    Whipped Tofu with Truffle Garlic Bread combines airy, creamy tofu with crunchy garlic toast and layers of truffle oil. The creamy tofu has a cheesy, earthy flavor while the crisp garlic bread brings an umami flavor creating a perfect balance of textures and flavors.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 35 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 45 minutes
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12

    Equipment

    • 1 food processor or blender

    Ingredients
      

    Whipped Tofu

    • 1 package firm tofu (16 ounces)
    • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
    • 1 teaspoon truffle oil
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

    Garlic Bread

    • 1 baguette (or bread of choice)
    • 2 tablespoons plant-based butter
    • 2 garlic cloves minced
    • 1 teaspoon truffle oil
    • salt to taste

    Optional Garnish

    • fresh parsley chopped
    • ½ teaspoon truffle oil

    Instructions
     

    Press and whip the tofu

    • While removing the tofu from the package, drain any excess liquid. Wrap the tofu in a clean tea towel or layers of paper towel and place on a plate. Place another plate on top and add weight on top (like a can of tomatoes or beans) of the plate to press the tofu. Leave for 30 minutes.
    • Add the pressed tofu, nutritional yeast, truffle oil, garlic powder and salt to a food processor. Blend until light and airy, 30 to 60 seconds. Don't over-blend.
    • Add the whipped tofu to a bowl and serve.
    • Optional: add finely chopped parsley and drizzle ½ teaspoon truffle oil on top of the whipped tofu for garnish.

    Make a garlic bread

    • Preheat the oven to broil. Or turn the grill to medium high heat.
    • Cut a baguette (or bread of choice) into 8-12 pieces and set aside.
    • Melt 2 tablespoons of plant-based butter in the microwave for 15-30 seconds. Add the minced garlic and 1 teaspoon of truffle oil to the melted butter.
    • With a pastry brush or a small spatula, spread the melted garlic truffle butter on to each piece of bread
    • Place the bread on a baking sheet with the buttered side up and broil until the edges are browned to taste (approximately 2 minutes). [Grilling takes a similar amount of time. To grill, place the bread on the grill with the buttered side down and check for grill marks after 1 minute. If grill marks are well defined on the garlic bread, remove it from the grill. If not, grill for one additional minute and check again.]
    • Finish the garlic bread with a light dusting of salt from a salt shaker. Serve with the whipped tofu.

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    Keyword Truffle Garlic Bread, Whipped Tofu
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    Baileys Irish Cream Cupcakes

    by Leave a Comment

    Baileys Irish Cream Cupcakes are rich, moist chocolate cupcakes infused with smooth and creamy Baileys Irish Cream liqueur. The Baileys cupcakes are then topped with a velvety, sweet Baileys buttercream frosting and chocolate shavings. It all comes together to create a delicious boozy dessert that's perfect for St. Patrick's Day or any special occasion.

    Many chocolate Baileys Irish Cream cupcakes with Baileys buttercream frosting on a cake plate with a mini bottle of Baileys Irish Cream in the midst of the cupcakes

    Boozy cupcakes are always fun especially when you can match them to a holiday. And these Baileys Cupcakes are fabulous for St. Patrick's Day. I'm part Irish, Irish Cream is Irish and so is St. Patrick's Day. And while St. Patrick's Day has been around a lot longer than Irish Cream, why not celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a little Irish Cream? It's super smooth and awesome for adding to desserts especially desserts with a little chocolate. Therefore, chocolate Baileys cupcakes are perfect for any St. Patrick's Day celebrations. See the logic there? Yes! But, these are so yummy that you'll want to make them during the rest of the year too.

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    Ingredients for chocolate Baileys cupcakes

    Ingredients needed to make chocolate Baileys Irish Cream cupcakes: cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, salted butter, white sugar, eggs, buttermilk and Baileys Irish Cream
    • Cake flour
    • Cocoa powder
    • Baking soda
    • Salt
    • White sugar
    • Salted butter
    • Eggs
    • Buttermilk
    • Baileys Irish Cream

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Ingredients for Baileys buttercream

    Ingredients needed to make Baileys buttercream: Salted butter, powdered sugar and Baileys Irish Cream with optional ingredients of heavy whipping cream and a semi-sweet chocolate bar for decorating the cupcakes
    • Salted butter
    • Powdered sugar
    • Baileys Irish Cream
    • Heavy whipping cream (optional)
    • Semi sweet chocolate bar for chocolate shavings (optional)

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions for brushing Baileys on the cupcakes

    Step 1: Pour 3 tablespoons of Baileys into a small bowl. While the cupcakes are still warm, use a pastry brush to brush the tops of the cupcakes with the Baileys. Let the Baileys soak in and repeat again for each cupcake.

    Variations

    • Baileys - try your favorite Baileys flavor. It doesn't have to be the regular Irish Cream flavor. You can use another brand of Irish Cream. Kavanagh brand is highly recommended too.
    One chocolate Baileys Irish Cream cupcake with Baileys buttercream frosting in front of another cupcake and a small bottle of Baileys Irish Cream

    Storage

    Store the cupcakes with Baileys in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

    Next Level Tips

    • Use a high quality cocoa powder. Like I mentioned in my Chocolate Sweet Rolls recipe, my very favorite cocoa powder is the Valrhona brand which can be found on Amazon and at Whole Foods among other places. After Valrhona, I'd recommend Guittard or Ghirardelli brands which can be found in regular grocery stores.
    • For buttercream frosting, my favorite piping tips for frosting are the Wilton 1A for a round tip and a Wilton (or Ateco) 1M for a star tip. If you only have two piping tips, these are the two to own!
    • Instead of disposable piping bags, I recommend reusable piping bags. They're easy to wash, you won't unexpectedly run out and it's less waste going to the landfill.
    • Don't limit yourself to making these Baileys cupcakes on St. Patrick's Day. They're great for any time of the year.
    • We brush Baileys on to the warm, baked cupcakes as that retains more of the alcohol flavor than baking the Baileys inside the cupcakes. Alcohol can have a drying effect when baked inside of baked goods too.
    45 degree overhead front view of a chocolate Baileys Irish Cream cupcake with Baileys buttercream frosting on a cake plate in the midst of partial view of other Baileys cupcakes

    FAQ

    Can I make these Baileys cupcakes ahead of time?

    Yes. And if you are making a lot of cupcakes (many times I've made hundreds in a day), I highly recommend baking the base cupcakes the day before and then frosting the cupcakes the day you will be eating them.

    What kind of chocolate works best for chocolate shavings?

    Semi sweet chocolate in the 50-65 percent range works best for chocolate shavings. Milk chocolate is too soft and very dark chocolate is too hard and won't shave nicely. You may need to press hard with the peeler or chocolate shaver.

    Three Baileys cupcakes with Baileys buttercream frosting on a gray plate. One cupcake has a bite taken out.

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    One chocolate Baileys Irish Cream cupcake with Baileys buttercream frosting in front of another cupcake and a mini bottle of Baileys Irish Cream

    Baileys Irish Cream Cupcakes

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    Baileys Irish Cream Cupcakes are rich, moist chocolate treats infused with the smooth flavor of Baileys Irish Cream liqueur. Topped with a creamy Baileys buttercream frosting and chocolate shavings, they're the perfect boozy dessert for St. Patrick's Day or any special occasion.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 18 minutes
    Decorating Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 48 minutes
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 20

    Equipment

    • 1 Stand or hand mixer

    Ingredients
      

    Cupcake base

    • 1 ½ cups cake flour
    • ½ cup cocoa flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 ¼ cups white sugar
    • 10 tablespoons salted butter
    • 3 eggs room temperature
    • 1 ⅓ cup buttermilk room temperature
    • 3 tablespoons Baileys Irish Cream for cupcake tops

    Frosting

    • 8 tablespoons salted butter room temperature
    • 4 cups powdered sugar
    • 3-4 tablespoons Baileys Irish Cream
    • 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream optional
    • 1 semi sweet chocolate bar for shaving optional

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350℉. Line two 12-cup or one 24-cup muffin pans with cupcake liners.

    Cupcake base

    • Add the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt to a small bowl. Mix well and set aside.
    • Add the butter and sugar to the mixing bowl. Mix on low until fully incorporated.
    • Add the eggs, one at a time, to the mixing bowl. Mix on low until incorporated.
    • Alternate adding half of the flour mix and half of the buttermilk. Mix on low until incorporated.
    • Use a large 4 tablespoon cookie scoop to fill each muffin tin.
    • Bake for 18-19 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. [If you are using two 12 cup muffin pans on different oven racks, rotate pans halfway through.]
    • Let the cupcakes cool for 5-10 minutes. Pour the Bailey's Irish Cream into a small bowl. With a pastry brush, lightly brush the tops of each cupcake with the Baileys. Brush each cupcake twice. Move the cupcakes to a cooling rack to cool completely.

    Frosting

    • Add the room temperautre butter to a mixing bowl and mix on medium speed until creamy, about 1-2 minutes.
    • Add the powdered sugar and three tablespoons of Baileys to the mixing bowl. Mix on medium high until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides several times, about 7-8 minutes. [Depending on the temperature of the butter and the humidity of the kitchen, you may need to add an additional tablespoon of Baileys or heavy cream if the frosting is too heavy/thick.]
    • Add the frosting to the cupcakes by using an icing (offset) spatula, a regular knife or by piping it on.
    • Optional: top with chocolate shavings. To make chocolate shavings, use a vegetable peeler or a chocolate shaver to peel small pieces off the side of a semi sweet chocolate bar. (Handle the shavings minimally and quickly to avoid melting.)

    Notes

    Yields 20-24 cupcakes.

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    Close up photo of a Baileys cupcake with Baileys buttercream frosting with a bite taken out in front of two other cupcakes on a gray plate

    Biscoff Cookie Butter Cheesecake

    by 1 Comment

    Biscoff Cookie Butter Cheesecake combines the warm cinnamon and caramelized sugar flavors of speculoos cookie butter and Biscoff cookies with the creaminess of a cheesecake. It's the perfect blend of richness and warm spices on a crisp crust made with Biscoff cookies.

    Side view of undecorated Biscoff Cookie Butter Cheesecake

    My first experience with speculoos cookies was love at first bite. When we lived in Europe, they would often serve a little treat on the side of your coffee orders. A lot of times, it was a little biscotti or a speculoos cookie. Perfect for dunking if you're the dunking type! I'm not, but I still loved the little treat. For this Biscoff Cookie Butter Cheesecake, it perfectly blends that familiar crunchy Biscoff cookie crunch with a creamy cookie butter cheesecake filling. Crunchy and creamy. Warm and sweet. Old memories and new memories. All the best combinations.

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    Ingredients

    Ingredients for Biscoff Cookie Butter Cheesecake: Biscoff cookies, salted butter, white sugar, cream cheese, eggs and cookie butter
    • Biscoff cookies
    • Cookie butter
    • Cream cheese
    • White sugar
    • Eggs
    • Salted butter

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Overhead view of partial Biscoff Cookie Butter cheesecake decorated with cookie butter drizzle and crumbled Biscoff cookies

    HOW TO BAKE A CHEESECAKE WITHOUT CRACKS

    Okay, let's get to one of the biggest issues with cheesecakes: unsightly cracks. Cracks don't make the cheesecake taste any differently and, of course, they could be covered up. But, there are two main things to know to avoid cracks: baking temperature and water baths.

    BAKE AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE

    For temperature, cheesecakes turn out best when baked at a lower temperature. For that reason, I bake almost all of my cheesecakes, including this one, at 325 degrees.

    USE THE MOAT METHOD FOR THE WATER BATH

    The most basic way to do a water bath is to wrap the springform pan with aluminum foil and place it in a roasting pan with water and then hope it doesn't leak. But, have you ever wrapped it super carefully with the extra wide aluminum foil only to discover that it still leaked? Yes, me too. Instead, I use the moat method. To use the moat method, place your 8 or 9 inch springform pan inside a 10 inch cake pan. Then place the 10 inch cake pan into a larger roasting pan with water. With this moat method, there is no possible way that water gets in to your springform pan. I've never had a cheesecake crack when I've combined a lower baking temperature with the moat method.

    STEAM BATHS

    Ok, say you don't have a roasting pan big enough to fit your springform pan and cake pan. You can do the steam bath method, which usually works. I say usually because it's not quite as fool proof as the moat method. But, you can fill a 9x13 pan with one inch of water and place it on the oven rack directly beneath the springform pan. (If you have a cake pan, you can still put the springform pan in a cake pan according to the above moat method.) The water in the pan creates steam and a humid environment in the oven which helps to prevent cracks.

    Instructions for Moat Method

    Step 1: Fill roasting pan with one inch of water. Place springform pan inside of a cake pan and then place the cake pan in the roasting ran.

    Variations

    • Decorations - there are many, many ways to decorate a cheesecake. I love drizzle, and cookie butter works like a charm for drizzling. All you have to do is slightly heat it in the microwave, and it's super easy to drizzle with a spoon, piping bag, or decorator bottle. You can do straight lines of drizzle back and forth across the top. Or use a more random design like I did for my Thin Mints Cheesecake. You can add a whipped cream topping. Extra full cookies on top. No cookies on top. So many options!

    Equipment

    To make the best cheesecakes, a stand up mixer or hand held mixer is needed. Also, a springform pan is needed to take the cheesecake out of the pan. A roasting pan is also helpful. However, if you don't have a roasting pan big enough for the moat method, you can fill a 9x13 pan with an inch or two of water to create a steam bath instead.

    Side view of partial Biscoff Cookie Butter cheesecake decorated with drizzled cookie butter and crumbled cookies

    Storage

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 to 7 days.

    Next Level Tips

    • Always use room temperature cream cheese and room temperature eggs for cheesecakes. 
    • The very best way to avoid cheesecake cracks is to bake at a lower temperature and use the moat method, as described above and in the FAQs. In short, this is where you place your springform pan inside of a cake pan and then put the cake pan in a roasting pan with water. This avoids leaky aluminum foil yet still doesn't allow direct heat on the springform pan.
    • Allow the cheesecake to cool in the oven without touching it for two hours. Then move the springform pan to a cooling rack and allow the cheesecake to come to room temperature before placing it in the refrigerator.
    • Cheesecake needs time to set in the refrigerator after baking. Refrigerate for at least 6-8 hours; however, overnight is best.
    • I love to use offset or artsy designs on the tops of cheesecakes. If you like a dead-center kind of centerpiece or a ring of whipping cream swirls around the edges, go for it. I've done lots and lots of those. Currently, I go for more of an artsy look. The best part about art is that it's meant to be imperfect. Have fun and don't worry about any mess ups!
    Grey plate with a fork, full Biscoff cookies, and a slice of Biscoff cookie butter cheesecake with a bite taken out with the rest of the cheesecake behind it

    FAQ

    Do I need to use room temperature cream cheese and eggs?

    Yes! However, you can carefully speed up this process if you forgot to set out the cream cheese and eggs. Most microwaves now have a soften option. You can carefully soften the cream cheese in the microwave to room temperature but not melted. For the eggs, you can place them from the refrigerator into a bowl of warm (not hot) water to quicken up the process for the eggs. However, I do recommend letting the cream cheese and eggs come to room temperature naturally on the counter. Unless you're in a pinch, of course. We've all been there!

    What's the best way to remove the bottom of a springform pan?

    The reason we pack the crust tightly, but not too tightly, into the springform pan is so that we can easily remove the bottom of the springform pan without the crust crumbling. After the rim of the springform pan is off, take a cake lifter (or metal pizza peel or a very large spatula) and gently slide it in between cheesecake crust and bottom of springform pan. Don't lift the cheesecake up in the air. Instead, use the cake lifter to slide the cheesecake sideways off of the springform bottom onto a serving plate or a round cardboard cake board. You can buy a cheap cake lifter on Amazon or at a Hobby Lobby type store in the baking section. If you're using a large metal spatula, run it under the entire outer edge first before using it to gently slide the cheesecake.

    What is the moat method?

    The moat method creates a barrier between the springform pan and the direct heat of the oven. Kind of like in the olden days when castles used moats to protect the castles from invaders! So, in the moat method, we place the springform pan into a larger cake pan before putting the cake pan into a larger roasting pan with the water bath. There ends up to be a moat (of air) that separates the springform pan from the cake pan and the water bath. I highly recommend doing it this way as it works great.

    Do I need to par-bake the crust?

    Par-baking the crust is optional but highly recommended. Par-baking the crust doesn't take very long and it helps maintain a crisp crust for your cheesecake.

    What kind of cookie butter should I use?

    I recommend either Trader Joe's brand of Speculoos cookie butter spread or Lotus brand of creamy Biscoff cookie butter. Both will work well.

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    Front 45 degree view of a whole Biscoff Cookie Butter Cheesecake
    Overhead photo of whole Biscoff Cookie Butter Cheesecake

    Biscoff Cookie Butter Cheesecake

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    Biscoff cookie butter cheesecake is a rich, creamy cheesecake infused with the irresistible flavor of cookie butter. The buttery Biscoff crust adds the perfect crunch, balancing the creaminess of the cheesecake. Topped with cookie butter drizzle and crumbled Biscoff cookies, every bite is pure indulgence.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 1 hour
    Cooling and Chill Time 10 hours
    Total Time 11 hours 15 minutes
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12

    Equipment

    • 1 Stand or hand mixer
    • 1 8 or 9 inch springform pan
    • 1 10 inch cake pan optional
    • 1 roasting pan optional

    Ingredients
      

    Crust

    • 1 package Biscoff cookies (8.8 ounces) Reserve 6 cookies for decorating
    • 2 tablespoons white sugar
    • 5 tablespoons salted butter melted

    Filling

    • 4 cream cheese blocks (8 ounces each) room temperature
    • 1 cup white sugar
    • 4 eggs room temperature
    • ½ cup cookie butter

    Topping (optional)

    • ½ cup cookie butter
    • 6 Biscoff cookies reserved from crust

    Instructions
     

    Making the crust

    • Preheat oven to 325°. Spray an 8 or 9 inch springform pan, including the sides, with cooking spray and set aside.
    • Set aside 6 Biscoff cookies for decorating. Put the other 26 cookies in a food processor and grind the cookies into small crumbs. [It's ok to have some bigger pieces of cookies as the grind doesn't need to be super fine.]
    • Mix the cookie crumbs, melted butter and 2 tablespoons of white sugar together in a medium bowl until well combined.
    • Add the crust mixture to the springform pan. Pat down flat with hands or a flat measuring cup with medium pressure. It should be packed firmly but not too hard.
    • Bake the crust for 6 minutes and set aside to cool. [This step is optional but highly recommended for a crisp crust.]

    Making the filling

    • Place the room temperature cream cheese into the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until creamy and all lumps are gone. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.
    • Add the cookie butter to the cream cheese in the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl as needed.
    • Add the white sugar to the cream cheese mixture in the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.
    • Next, add the eggs one at a time. Mix on low speed just until each egg is combined before adding the next egg. Between eggs, scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.

    Baking and cooling the cheesecake

    • Pour the filling into the crust in the springform pan. Place the springform pan in a larger cake pan (or cover the sides of the springform pan with aluminum foil). Fill the roasting pan with one inch of water to create the water bath. Carefully add the cake pan (or the wrapped springform pan) into the water. [See FAQ or post description on why the moat method is preferred.]
    • Bake at 325° for about 60 minutes until the center is mostly set. Then, turn off the oven and open the oven door to start cooling. Leave it alone for two hours. After two hours, remove the cake pan (or wrapped springform pan) from the oven and the water bath and let cool on a cooling rack until room temperature.
    • Before placing in the refrigerator, run a knife around the edges to loosen the cheesecake from the sides. Cover and refrigerate a minimum of 8 hours but preferably overnight.
    • After 8 hours, or preferably the next day, remove the rim. Also, remove the cheesecake from the bottom of the springform pan (see FAQ if needed) if so desired and decorate the cheesecake.

    Topping the cheesecake (optional)

    • Warm the cookie butter in the microwave for 15-30 seconds until the cookie butter is pourable but still holds its shape. Use a spoon, piping bag or a decorator bottle to drizzle the cookie butter across the cheesecake in any pattern. You can also spread on the pourable cookie butter with a knife. Crumble the reserved cookies and add them on top. You can also create a pooled spot of drizzle to secure full cookies as shown in the photos.

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    Overhead partial view of Biscoff Cookie Butter cheesecake with a piece cut out of it

    How to Make a Cheap Charcuterie Board

    by Leave a Comment

    Building a cheap charcuterie board is easy if you follow a few simple tips. We will show you some cute and cheap charcuterie board ideas made with ingredients found at Trader Joe's. All for under $30 too! Cheap charcuterie boards are the perfect appetizer for your next game night, dinner party, holiday get together or brunch!

    Top view of finished charcuterie board with assorted crackers, assorted meats, assorted cheeses, red and green grapes, and cut strawberries

    I'm not going to lie, making charcuterie boards used to cause me a little stress. But people love them. I love them. So I pressed on and made them anyway. But once I put different foods into category type and color, that made creating cute charcuterie boards a lot easier. However, charcuterie boards can get expensive if you're not careful. I found that both Trader Joe's and Aldi have perfect ingredients that cost a lot less. You can make a cute, easy charcuterie board from simple ingredients for under $30. For this post, we used ingredients from Trader Joe's. I'll even show you a step by step process and post my receipt!

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    Ingredients for an cheap charcuterie board

    Ingredients need for making an easy charcuterie board: assorted crackers, cut cheddar cheese, assorted meats, Spanish white cheese sampler, red and green grapes, and strawberries
    • Two different colors or types of crackers (buy an assorted pack!)
    • Two different colors or types of cheeses (like cheddar or Spanish cheeses)
    • Two different types of meats (buy an assorted pack!)
    • Two different types of fruit (like grapes and berries)

    Ideas for an easy charcuterie board

    Step 1 of making a charcuterie board: place crackers in an S shape

    Step 1: Lay out two different types of crackers in an S pattern.

    Step 2 of making a charcuterie board: add fruits near crackers on board

    Step 2: Add two or more types of fruits in different spots so that they are not touching each other.

    Step 3 of making a charcuterie board: add meats to crackers and fruits on the board

    Step 3: Roll or fold two or more types of meats. Add them in different spots.

    Step 4 of making a charcuterie board: fill in any remaining open spaces on the board with the cheeses

    Step 4: Fill in all the remaining spots with two or more colors/types of cheeses.

    Close up photo of a charcuterie board

    Substitutions

    • Gluten free - make sure to choose gluten free crackers.
    • Vegan - skip the meats (or use meat substitutes) and use vegan cheeses.

    Storage

    To store leftover charcuterie board ingredients, separate them into different air tight containers. Meats, cheeses and fruits go in the refrigerator. Crackers can be stored at room temperature.

    Next Level Tips

    • This post was about making an easy and cheap charcuterie board from ingredients found at Trader Joe's. But you can always fill in your board with ingredients you already have at home. I usually have nuts, olives, carrots, hummus and little jam and honey jars at home. Sometimes, I'll use baguette slices, mustards, chocolates and other candies if I have those too.
    • You can use any style or shape of board for your charcuterie board. You can even just use parchment paper on the counter! The dimensions of the boards in the photos are as follows: the rectangle board is 9x13 inches and the circle board is 13.5 inches in diameter.
    Side view of a full charcuterie board with another full charcuterie board in the background

    Cost

    For this easy and cheap charcuterie board, we wanted to stay under a budget of $30. It was close, but we did by 6 cents! The most expensive part of our purchase was the fruit. My daughter loves to use grapes and strawberries in her charcuterie boards, but I think we could have saved money by picking other fruits that were cheaper at Trader Joe's.

    Receipt from Trader Joes for charcuterie board ingredients

    I've seen a lot of posts online where they say they made a charcuterie board for X dollars but then add a whole bunch of other stuff from home. So I wanted to make sure that our first board (the rectangle board) only used the items that we bought at Trader Joe's. And guess what? We did it and had leftovers too! So we decided to make a second board (the circle board). We had some meat leftover from the first board, but my daughter may have eaten it. Ahem. So for the second board, we decided to add items from home which were the nuts, olives, blackberries and blueberries. Even after the second board, we still had some leftover fruit and crackers from our Trader Joe's purchase.

    Overhead view of two charcuterie boards next to each other

    FAQ

    How big of a board should I make?

    If you're making a board on a budget, I would recommend using a medium-sized board. The rectangle board in the photos is 9x13 inches. If you are hosting, you can always refill the board as needed or make a second board with the leftovers. If you're taking the board to a party, medium size works for that too. You don't want to take a massive board somewhere if you don't know if it will fit and what other foods will be there.

    What types of cheese should I use?

    When you're doing a charcuterie board on a budget, we suggest using different colored and textures of cheeses. You can use a hard cheddar or a gouda for orange. For white, you can use a manchego (we bought a Spanish sampler at Trader Joe's), a soft brie, havarati or Monterey Jack. You can pick cheeses that would normally be eaten with crackers or cut the cheeses into smaller cubes or pieces so that they can be eaten any themselves.

    What type of meats should I use?

    Use at least two different types of meats. Prosciutto can be rolled. Pre-sliced hard salami meats are always a hit. Little beef sticks are a great finger food too. Even lunch meat will work! Just roll it and make it took pretty.

    What types of crackers should I use?

    Flat crackers like table water crackers always work. Buttered crackers and flavored crackers work too. If you have spicy cheeses and meats, pick plain crackers. If you're using more plain cheeses, then a flavored cracker is a perfect pick. Sliced baguette is a filling and inexpensive option too.

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    Pairing

    These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:

    Top view of charcuterie board with cheddar cheese, manchego cheese, assorted crackers, salami, prosciutto, strawberries, green grapesand red grapes

    How to Make a Cheap Charcuterie Board

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    Making a charcuterie board can be easy and cheap if you follow some simple steps and shop at a discount store like Trader Joe's or Aldi.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 or more different types of cheeses (different colors and textures work best)
    • 2 or more different types of crackers
    • 2 or more different types of meats
    • 2 or more different fruits

    Instructions
     

    • Start with the crackers. Lay them on the board in an S shape so that the whole board has crackers from end to end. Use some from each type of cracker.
    • Next, place the fruit in groups near the crackers. For fruits that may bleed or juice, place them in a small bowl on the board. For grapes, cut them into small groups of 3 or 4 before placing them in clusters on the board.
    • After the fruit, place the meats on the board near the fruit. If you're using a long thin meat like prosciutto, roll it so that it's smaller. If you're using large pieces of salami, you can fold them in half and then fold them in half again and then cluster them on the board like flowers.
    • Lastly, fill in the rest of the board with sliced, cubed or chunks of different cheeses.

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    Side view of a charcuterie board with cheeses, meats, fruits and crackers with another full charcuterie board in the background

    Berry Yogurt Parfait

    by Leave a Comment

    Berry yogurt parfait is a yummy layered dish that's perfect for breakfast, meal prep or a snack. It's beautifully layered with berries, walnuts and Greek yogurt. This berry yogurt bowl has lots of protein with no added sugar which makes for a perfect breakfast, meal prep or snack.

    Side view of four jars of berry yogurt parfaits

    Friends, I eat this berry yogurt bowl for breakfast almost every day. Except for the occasional scrambled eggs or breakfast out, I do literally eat this berry yogurt parfait for breakfast every day. For years now! Typically, I just dump it in a bowl each morning. It's not as pretty as using jars, but it works and it's just as yummy. A lot of the time, I even use frozen blueberries and just microwave them for a minute first. I also use unsweetened high protein yogurt, as the berries are a natural sweetener. Plus, for the crunch, I use nuts instead of granola. So no sugar added either! And, because this berry yogurt parfait has lots of protein, it keeps you satisfied for much longer. It's super easy to meal prep too!

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    Ingredients

    Ingredients needed to make yogurt berry parfaits: blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, walnuts and greek yogurt
    • Greek yogurt
    • Berries of choice
    • Walnuts (or nuts of choice)

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Substitutions

    • Vegan - for vegan berry yogurt parfait, I highly recommend Forager Project's Organic Unsweetened Plain or Unsweetened Vanilla. The protein content is much less than Greek yogurt, but you could also add chia seeds, hemp hearts or a vegan protein powder to get more protein.
    • Gluten free - this recipe is naturally gluten free, so no substitutions are needed!

    Variations

    • Fruit - I typically use blueberries, but you can use any berry or combination of berries that you wish. You can even use a different type of fruit. I've made yogurt parfaits with mangos, jackfruit and bananas.
    • Nuts - I buy walnuts by the bag at Costco. They sell both organic and regular walnuts. If you don't like walnuts, use your favorite nut. I do recommend unsalted nuts if you use a different nut or a mixed nut combination though.
    Overhead view of a strawberry, walnuts and greek yogurt bowl

    Protein

    Greek yogurt is typically much higher in protein compared to other yogurt. The brand I used for this recipe has 16 grams of protein per serving. Walnuts have about 5 grams per serving. To add even more protein, you could add 2 tablespoons of chia seeds (4-5 grams of protein) or hemp hearts (6-7 grams of protein) to the yogurt part of the parfait. You could also mix in your favorite protein powder for extra protein as well.

    Storage

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 5 days.

    Next Level Tips

    • Some of the healthiest meals and snacks are the simplest. Never be afraid to keep it simple! Simple doesn't have to mean boring or flavorless. I love the flavor combination of yogurt, berries and nuts. There's no need for any added sugar. Skip the granola!
    Side view of mason jar filled with greek yogurt, blueberries and walnuts next to two other jars filled with berry yogurt parfait partially visible

    FAQ

    Can I meal prep this recipe?

    Absolutely! You can make up to 5 days worth ahead of time. Preparing berry yogurt parfaits ahead of time works out perfectly for anyone that needs a grab and go breakfast or snack.

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    Overhead view of a strawberry, walnuts and greek yogurt bowl

    Berry Yogurt Parfait

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    Berry yogurt parfait is a deliciously layered dish. It's perfect for breakfast, meal prep, or a snack. Packed with berries, walnuts, and Greek yogurt, it's high in protein with no added sugar-just pure goodness!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Total Time 5 minutes
    Course Breakfast, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1

    Ingredients
      

    For each individual serving

    • ¾ cup Greek yogurt
    • ½ cup berries of choice
    • ¼ cup walnuts

    Instructions
     

    • Layer the yogurt, berries and walnuts in a jar or bowl. For meal prep, layer it so that the yogurt and walnuts are not touching. Stir together just before eating.

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    Side view of three and a half jars of berry yogurt parfaits at an angle

    Kimchi Slaw

    by 2 Comments

    Kimchi slaw is a fusion of traditional coleslaw with Korean kimchi flavors. It is a bold, tangy and spicy twist on a classic slaw. You get all the amazing flavor of kimchi with the crunch of a coleslaw. It's quick and easy too!

    Overhead view of kimchi slaw in a bowl next to a fork and napkin

    When we travel, I loving trying street food and going to street markets. When we were in South Korea, you could get kimchi made from all different kinds of vegetables and in lots of different flavors. The fresh kimchi sold in the street markets was incredible. Where I live, we don't have a lot of choices for kimchi. However, most grocery stores carry at least a couple of options in the refrigerated section of the produce department. For convenience, I buy the Jongga brand from Costco. It's a medium spicy kimchi, tastes really good and, of course, you can't beat Costco prices. Jongga is a well known brand in South Korea too. The ingredients for this kimchi slaw make it an easy fusion of cabbage kimchi with crunchy cabbage coleslaw.

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    Kimchi Slaw Ingredients

    Ingredients needed to make kimchi slaw: prepackaged coleslaw cabbage, kimchi, sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, white miso, garlic and maple syrup
    • Coleslaw mix
    • Kimchi
    • Sesame oil
    • Rice vinegar
    • Soy sauce or tamari
    • Garlic
    • Miso paste
    • Maple syrup

    See recipe card for quantities.

    What is Kimchi?

    Kimchi is a traditional Korean fermented vegetable dish, most commonly made with cabbage as the main vegetable. It is seasoned with ingredients like garlic, onions, ginger, red pepper, fish sauce and fermented shrimp and then left to ferment. Fermented foods develop probiotics which are good bacteria. The probiotics give kimchi that tangy, slightly sour flavor and can also help with gut health and digestion. I'm always trying to find new ways to eat more probiotics.

    How to Make the Sesame Dressing

    Step 1 of making kimchi slaw: add sesame dressing ingredients to a small bowl

    Step 1: Combine all the sesame dressing ingredients into a small bowl.

    Step 2 of making kimchi slaw: whisk sesame dressing until all ingredients are combined

    Step 2: Whisk until all the sesame dressing ingredients are incorporated.

    How to slice the Kimchi

    Step 3 of making kimchi slaw: place kimchi on cutting board

    Step 1: Using a slotted spoon, place the kimchi on a cutting board.

    Step 4 of making kimchi slaw: slice kimchi until pieces more like coleslaw pieces

    Step 2: Cut the kimchi into pieces smilier in size to the coleslaw mix.

    Substitutions

    • Vegan - kimchi is not typically vegan. If you want to make this kimchi slaw vegan, make sure you buy special kimchi that is labeled vegan.
    • Gluten free - use tamari sauce instead of regular soy sauce. They are both made from soy, but they are processed differently. Tamari sauce is almost always gluten free, but check the label.
    • Broccoli slaw - you can easily substitute a broccoli slaw mix for the coleslaw mix.
    • Mayo - you can substitute flavored mayo for the sesame dressing. I would recommend a Korean (or Japanese) mayonnaise as they usually have vinegar and other seasonings added.

    Variations

    • Spicy - I usually go with a medium spicy kimchi. If you want the kimchi slaw to be spicy, you can use a spicy kimchi or you can mix in some gochujang or sriracha into the dressing to make it spicier.
    Kimchi slaw in a bowl with light rays shining on the bowl

    Storage

    Store kimchi slaw in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Next Level Tips

    • I almost always have red cabbage on hand for my everyday salad, so I add more red cabbage for some color pop. There's never enough red cabbage in the premade bag of coleslaw!
    • I also like to add cilantro and black sesame seeds as garnish. Both are completely optional but add another layer of flavor to the kimchi slaw.

    FAQ

    Can I make my own coleslaw mix?

    Absolutely! Thinly slice enough green cabbage, red cabbage and carrots to fill 8 cups. You can add as much or as little of each ingredient to fill the 8 cups. I rarely ever buy premade salad mixes, but for this recipe I do. The main flavor of kimchi slaw comes from the kimchi and the sesame dressing. The coleslaw mix is for crunch. So you can certainly make your own coleslaw mix, you could also make it easy and buy the premade coleslaw mix for this recipe. I won't tell. It will be cheaper too.

    I don't have miso paste or doenjang. What else can I use?

    You can use peanut butter or almond butter in place of the miso paste or doenjang. They don't have the same flavor, but both can add thickness to the dressing and another layer of flavor just like the miso paste or doenjang does.

    Partial bowl of kimchi slaw garnished with black sesame seeds and cilantro

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    Overhead view of a partial bowl of kimchi slaw in a bowl

    Kimchi Slaw

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    Kimchi slaw is a fusion of kimchi and coleslaw. It combines the tangy and spicy flavor of kimchi with the crunch of a coleslaw. Best of both worlds!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American, Korean
    Servings 8

    Ingredients
      

    Dressing

    • ¼ cup sesame oil
    • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari for gluten free
    • 1 garlic clove minced
    • 1 tablespoon miso paste or doenjang
    • 1 teaspoon maple syrup

    Slaw Mix

    • 8 cups coleslaw mix*
    • 2 cups kimchi chopped
    • salt to taste optional
    • extra red cabbage or carrots for color optional
    • black sesame seeds or garnish optional
    • cilantro leaves or microgreens for garnish optional

    Instructions
     

    Make the dressing

    • Add all the dressing ingredients to a small bowl and whisk until incorporated. Set aside.
    • Add the coleslaw mix to a large bowl.
    • Scoop the kimchi out of its container with a slotted spoon. Chop the kimchi into similar sized pieces as the coleslaw mix. Add to the coleslaw mix and mix well.
    • Mix the dressing into the kimchi and coleslaw mixture.
    • Optional: salt to taste. I don't typically add salt as the soy sauce and kimchi usually adds enough salt.
    • Optional: garnish with black sesame seeds, cilantro or cilantro micro greens.

    Notes

    * An 14-16 ounce premade bag of coleslaw contains roughly 8 cups. You can also make your own coleslaw mix by thinly slicing 8 cups worth of green cabbage, red cabbage and carrots. 

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    Overhead view of partial bowl of kimchi slaw garnished with black sesame seeds and cilantro

    Small Batch Cinnamon Rolls

    by Leave a Comment

    Small batch cinnamon rolls are perfect for when you're craving fresh baked cinnamon rolls but don't want to make a whole pan. You get the same soft and fluffy cinnamon rolls but in a more manageable batch of 4 rolls. Enough that you could share. Yet not too many that you couldn't keep them all for yourself either.

    Overhead view of four cinnamon rolls in mini square baking cups next to an icing spatula with cream cheese frosting on it on top of a cooling rack.

    I love cinnamon rolls. I mean I really, really, really love them. They are one of my very favorite breakfast pastries. I usually take my overnight cinnamon rolls for brunch potlucks when there's a big group. But, sometimes, I don't need a whole pan. Sometimes, I just need a small batch. This recipe is perfect for the times when you need rolls for a smaller group, or just yourself, without having too many extras.

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    Ingredients

    Ingredients needed to make small batch cinnamon rolls: all purpose flour, white sugar, milk, egg, slated butter, active dry yeast, salt, brown sugar, cinnamon, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and heavy whipping cream.
    • All purpose flour
    • White sugar
    • Whole milk
    • Salted butter
    • Egg
    • Active dry yeast
    • Salt
    • Brown sugar
    • Cinnamon
    • Cream cheese
    • Powdered sugar
    • Heavy cream

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Best way to cut small batch cinnamon rolls

    For small batch cinnamon rolls, we roll the dough into a smaller rectangle of 4 inches by 10-12 inches and then top with the filling. Instead of rolling the dough into a log, use a pizza cutter and cut the dough into 4 strips. Roll each strip individually and tightly and place them into a small baking pan or individual baking cups. Since we have only 4 rolls, this makes cutting the rolls a lot easier. This method works for regular batch cinnamon rolls too, but it's super helpful for small batches.

    Cinnamon roll dough rolled out into rectangle topped with softened butter, brown sugar and cinnamon and cut into 4 strips ready to be rolled.

    Substitutions

    • Vegan - You can make these small batch cinnamon rolls as vegan sweet rolls. To replace the egg, you can make a flax egg or use an egg replacer like Bob Mill's. [For one flax egg, mix one tablespoon of flaxseed meal and three tablespoons of water and let sit for 10 minutes]. For the butter, substitute your favorite plant based butter. My current favorite is Miyoko's Plant Milk Butter, but it's not always easy to find. Most grocery stores now carry some version of plant based butter like Earth Balance or Country Crock brands. For the milk, substitute your favorite plant based milk. I recommend oat milk for a neutral milk when baking. For the heavy cream, you can substitute plant based heavy cream (Trader Joe's is the best I've tried so far), or use a little less of a plant based milk. And, of course, use vegan sugar.

    Variation

    You can also make my other flavored sweet rolls in smaller batches. Try the Lemon Raspberry Sweet Rolls or the Chocolate Rolls with Espresso Frosting.

    Equipment

    A hand mixer, or small stand mixer, is helpful in making small batch cinnamon rolls.

    Overhead close up photo of a cinnamon roll in a mini square baking cup next to an icing spatula with cream cheese frosting on it.

    Storage

    Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days or in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. To warm up cinnamon rolls on day 2 or thereafter, just microwave them for 15-20 seconds. Not long, just enough to warm them up!

    Next Level Tips

    • Use a high quality cinnamon. There are different types of cinnamon and a good cinnamon can take your sweet rolls to a whole other level! Try a single source organic brand. I'm currently in love with Ceylon cinnamon from Indonesia. Think of cinnamon like coffee and chocolate. Where it's made and how it made make a difference!
    • You can bake this 4 cinnamon roll small batch in a small baking pan, ramekins or you can little aluminum baking cups like shown in the photos. For the baking cups, I suggest using the 5 ounce square or round baking cups. Cinnamon rolls expand out and up when baking. If you use a cup that's too small around, then the sweet rolls have no where to go but up. If that happens, you can lightly press them down a bit, but it's best to give the sweet rolls enough room to rise when baking.
    Overhead view of four cinnamon rolls in mini square baking cups on top of a cooling rack.

    FAQ

    Can I make these ahead of time?

    Definitely! To make these ahead of time, follow the instructions up through the Making the Filling instruction #6. Immediately after cutting the sweet rolls and placing them in the baking pan or baking cups, cover the pan/cups and place them in the refrigerator. The following day, take them out and let them sit covered on the counter to come to room temperature, approximately thirty minutes. Remove the cover and continue with the baking instructions.

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    Side view of cinnamon roll on plate with a bite on a fork.
    Overhead view of four cinnamon rolls in mini square baking cups on top of a cooling rack.

    Small Batch Cinnamon Rolls

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    Small batch cinnamon rolls are perfect when you want all the gooey, cinnamon-y deliciousness of a homemade cinnamon roll but don't want to make a whole pan. This small batch makes 4 rolls.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Rise Time 3 hours
    Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4

    Ingredients
      

    Dough

    • ¼ cup whole milk
    • ¾ teaspoon active dry yeast
    • 2 tablespoons white sugar
    • 3 tablespoons salted butter room temperature
    • 1 egg
    • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Filling

    • 2 teaspoons salted butter*
    • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
    • 2 teaspoon cinnamon

    Cream cheese frosting

    • 2 ounces cream cheese
    • 1 tablespoon salted butter
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream

    Instructions
     

    Making the dough

    • Take out the 3 tablespoons of butter and the egg to bring them to room temperature.
    • Heat the milk in the microwave until warm 105℉ - 110℉. [It's best to use a kitchen thermometer if you have one.] Add the warm milk, yeast and a little of the white sugar to the mixing bowl. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
    • Add the rest of the sugar, the softened butter and the egg to the mixing bowl. Mix on low speed until the eggs are incorporated. The butter will not incorporate at this stage, which is normal.
    • Add the flour and salt to the mixing bowl and mix on low until the flour has been incorporated.
    • Switch to the dough hook on the mixer and mix on low, or knead by hand, for 5 minutes.
    • Spray a small bowl (or reuse the mixing bowl) with cooking spray. The dough is sticky and that's normal. Let the dough rise in a covered bowl for a total of two hours. After one hour, knead the dough using the stretch and fold method. If you're familiar with this method, do it in the bowl. If this is your first time, take the dough out of the bowl and set on a floured surface. Take a hold of a large piece of dough at the 12 position, stretch it away from your body, and then fold it back toward the middle of the dough ball. Rotate the ball ⅛ to ¼ of a turn and repeat the stretch out and fold back motions. Keep repeating until you have gone around 2 times and the dough becomes less stretchy. You DO NOT have to do this, BUT it does make the rolls more fluffy and soft. Put the dough back in the bowl to rise for another hour. So, the total rise time is two hours with the optional stretch and fold after one hour.

    Making the filling

    • Spray the baking pan or baking cups with cooking spray.
    • After the dough has risen for the two hours, put it on a floured surface and roll it out into a 4 x 10 inch rectangle. [If the dough is ever resistant, let it rest for 10 minutes. Don't overwork the dough trying to roll it out. It should roll out easily.
    • Brush less than one tablespoon of very soft butter on to the dough with a pastry or silicone brush. You want to use very soft but not melted butter. Think of the butter as the glue that will hold the brown sugar and cinnamon to the dough. You can also use your fingers or a knife to spread the butter.
    • Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl until the cinnamon is incorporated into the sugar. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the buttered dough and lightly press it in.
    • Cut the dough into 4 long strips using a pizza cutter.
    • Add the cut sweet rolls to your sprayed pan or cups of choice and cover with aluminum foil.
    • Allow the sweet rolls to rise in the pan for one hour.
    • While the sweet rolls are rising, preheat the oven to 350 ℉.
    • If you are using individual baking cups, place the baking cups on a baking sheet.
    • Bake the sweet rolls for 15-20 minutes. Check at 15 minutes. The sweet rolls are done when they are lightly golden brown on top. Don't overtake them.

    Making the frosting

    • When the cinnamon rolls are close to being done, start the frosting.
    • Put the softened cream cheese and softened butter in to a mixing bowl and mix on medium until thoroughly combined and fluffy.
    • Add the powdered sugar and the heavy whipping cream and mix on medium until light and fluffy. It will take 2-3 minutes.
    • While the cinnamon rolls are still hot, spread a very thin layer of frosting on every part of the outer layer of the cinnamon rolls. It will melt, and that's perfect. It softens the outer layer of the lightly browned rolls.
    • Once the sweet rolls have cooled for at least 15 minutes, spread the rest of the frosting on the sweet rolls. If you are not serving them warm, wait until they have completely cooled to frost them.

    Notes

    • You need less than one tablespoon of butter for the filling. Just eyeball it when you're cutting the stick of butter since the hash lines are in one tablespoon increments. 

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    Top view of cinnamon roll on plate with a bite on a fork.

    Easy Chocolate Zucchini Cake

    by Leave a Comment

    Single layer chocolate zucchini cake is easy, chocolatey and delicious. The zucchini makes this cake moist, but you'll never taste the zucchini. It's the perfect way to use up extra zucchini and sneak in some vegetables.

    Close up photo of a slice of chocolate zucchini cake with chocolate buttercream frosting. Two additional slices of cake with frosting in the background.

    Chocolate zucchini cake is one of my very favorite chocolate cakes. It's moist, sweet and contains vegetables! It's a win-win-win cake. I often just serve this cake naked (plain) or with a dusting of powdered sugar for a little flair. But if you want to top it with frosting, I will also include an easy chocolate buttercream frosting. The chocolate buttercream frosting takes this moist and delicious cake to something wickedly decadent. You choose! Either way you top it, the cake still has zucchini and some extra nutrients that you don't normally get in chocolate cake.

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    Chocolate Zucchini Cake Ingredients

    Ingredients for chocolate zucchini cake: all purpose flour, liquified zucchini, white sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, cocoa powder, milk, cinnamon, espresso powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt.
    • Cocoa powder
    • All purpose flour
    • Espresso powder
    • Baking powder
    • Baking soda
    • Cinnamon
    • Salt
    • Vegetable oil
    • White sugar
    • Eggs
    • Liquified zucchini
    • Milk

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Chocolate Buttercream Ingredients

    Ingredients needed for chocolate buttercream frosting: salted butter, powdered sugar, heavy whipping cream, cocoa powder

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Variations

    • Add-ins - this chocolate zucchini cake can support 1 cup of finely crushed nuts or 1 cup of chocolate chips. Just stir them in until they're evenly distributed.
    • Vegan - you can make this chocolate zucchini cake vegan by replacing the milk, butter and heavy cream with plant based equivalents. (I like oat milk for baking, Miyoko's plant based butters and Trader Joe's vegan heavy cream.) For the eggs, you can substitute an egg replacer (like Bob's Red Mill brand) or you can use flax eggs. To replace the 3 eggs used in this recipe, mix 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed with 9 tablespoons of water. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes before adding it in place of the eggs.

    Equipment

    A food process or blender is needed to liquify the zucchini. A hand mixer or stand mixer is needed to make the chocolate buttercream frosting. However, a mixer is not necessary to make the chocolate zucchini cake itself.

    Side view of row of chocolate zucchini cake in the baking pan

    Storage

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.

    Next Level Tips

    • I love using espresso powder to enhance the flavor of chocolate. You can easily substitute instant coffee for the espresso powder. Or if you don't have espresso powder or instant coffee, you could also use 2 teaspoons of vanilla.
    • I usually serve this easy chocolate zucchini cake naked (plain) without any decorative additions. The cake is sweet and moist enough without any frosting. Sometimes, I sprinkle powdered sugar on top for fun. But when I really want to take this cake to the next level, I add a chocolate buttercream frosting. I'll add the chocolate buttercream recipe here as optional.

    FAQ

    How do I liquify zucchini?

    Zucchini will easily liquify in a food processor or a blend. First, chop the zucchini in to large chunks to fit them in the food processor or blender, and then blend until the zucchini becomes a chunky liquid. It usually takes under a minute.

    Side view of slice of chocolate zucchini cake topped with powdered sugar on a plate

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    Close up photo of a slice of chocolate zucchini cake with chocolate buttercream frosting.

    Easy Chocolate Zucchini Cake

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    Chocolate zucchini cake is a decadent, super moist dessert where chocolate meets the subtle magic of liquified zucchini. It's super easy to make too!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 50 minutes
    Frosting 20 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 15

    Equipment

    • 1 food processor or blender
    • 1 hand or stand mixer or whisk

    Ingredients
      

    Chocolate Zucchini Cake

    • 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
    • ½ cup cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon espresso powder
    • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ¾ cup neutral vegetable oil
    • 2 cups white sugar
    • 3 eggs
    • 2 cups liquified zucchini (approx. 3 medium zucchinis)
    • ½ cup milk

    Chocolate Buttercream Frosting (optional)

    • 2 sticks salted butter* room temperature
    • ¼ cup cocoa powder
    • 4 cups powdered sugar
    • 2-4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

    Instructions
     

    Chocolate zuccini cake

    • Preheat the oven to 350 ℉. Lightly spray a 9x13 baking pan.
    • Combine the flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, espresso powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl and set aside.
    • Add the sugar and vegetable oil to a mixing bowl and mix until combined
    • Add the eggs to the mixing bowl and mix until combined.
    • Liquify the zucchini in a food processor or blender until it's a chunky liquid. Then add it to the mixing bowl and mix until combined.
    • Alternate adding the dry ingredients and the milk. Mix until combined.
    • Pour the batter into a 9x13 baking pan. Bake at 350 ℉ for 50-55 minutes. Check at 50 minutes. The edges should be slightly pulling away and the center of the cake should spring back. Allow the cake to cool completely before adding any powdered sugar or frosting.

    Chocolate buttercream frosting

    • Add the salted butter and the cocoa powder to a mixing bowl. Mix on medium speed until all the cocoa powder has been incorporated into the butter and the mixture is light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides once or twice.
    • Then add the powdered sugar and two tablespoons of the heavy whipping cream to the mixing bowl. Mix on medium high until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides several times, about 5-6 minutes. [Depending on the temperature of the butter and the humidity of the kitchen, you may need to add more heavy cream if the frosting is too heavy/thick. Add additional heavy cream one tablespoon at a time, mix on medium high and check for fluffiness.]
    • Frost the cake by using an icing (offset) spatula, a regular knife or by piping it on.

    Notes

    *If using unsalted butter, add ¼ teaspoon of salt. The salt balances the sweetness of the sugar in the frosting. 

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    Chocolate Bundt Cake

    by Leave a Comment

    Rich, moist and easy chocolate chocolate chip bundt cake that starts with a boxed cake mix and pudding mix. Simple. Elegant. Delicious.

    Top view of chocolate bundt cake with no frosting or decorations

    This Chocolate Bundt cake recipe has been a family favorite for over 15 years. It's the one my son always requested for his birthday. 15 years ago, I only made a handful of cakes from scratch. It was a time when jazzed up boxed cake mixes were very popular. In fact, this recipe was inspired by and adapted from the Darn Good Chocolate Cake recipe from Anne Byron's The Cake Mix Doctor cookbook. This great cookbook was first published in 1999, which means it was published before Nothing Bundt Cake existed. I have no idea what inspired Nothing Bundt Cakes' Chocolate Chocolate Chip bundt cake recipe, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were inspired by Anne Byron as well. It's just that good. In fact, I would argue that this recipe is even better than Nothing Bundt Cakes' Chocolate Chocolate Chip bundt cake.

    Top view of a chocolate bundt cake topped with powdered sugar

    And as for the frosting, the original recipe by Anne Byron had no frosting or glaze. The cake is sweet and rich and moist and really needs no frosting or glaze. But I always used a powdered sugar shaker to shake on some powdered sugar to make it a little prettier. Until Nothing Bundt Cake came out with their frosting drips and fancy cake toppers. So now whenever I really want to add some extra flair to this cake, I will do a cream cheese frosting droop design and add some fresh flowers. This is where you can add your own favorite frosting design or cake topper too!

    Close up of chocolate bundt cake with frosting and a pink floral topper
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    Cake Ingredients

    Ingredients for chocolate bundt cake: Devils' food cake mix, vanilla pudding, cocoa powder, espresso powder, water, vegetable oil, sour cream and eggs
    • Devil's Food cake mix
    • Small vanilla instant pudding mix
    • Cocoa powder
    • Espresso powder
    • Sour cream
    • Vegetable oil
    • Warm water
    • Eggs
    • Semi sweet chocolate chips

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Frosting Ingredients

    • Powdered sugar
    • Cream cheese
    • Salted butter
    • Heavy whipping cream

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Substitutions

    • Pudding mix - you can use chocolate pudding mix in place of the vanilla pudding mix + cocoa powder. The original recipe called for chocolate pudding mix, but I have a cocoa powder that I truly love. So I always use vanilla pudding mix + my favorite cocoa powder.
    • Espresso powder - you can grind your own favorite coffee bean into a fine grind or even substitute instant coffee powder for the espresso powder. However, if the instant coffee granules are large and not a fine grind like used for espresso, dissolve them in the warm water.

    Variations

    • Cupcakes - you can turn use this recipe for cupcakes as well. Bake those at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes.

    Storage

    Store the chocolate bundt cake in an airtight container for up to 7 days. Non-frosted cake may be stored at room temperature, but frosted cake should be stored in the refrigerator.

    Next Level Tips

    • I love making desserts from scratch. But I'm not going to lie, this is one of my go-to cakes for when I need an easy, last-minute fool-proof dessert. There are big opinions on both sides about using boxed cake mix. My opinion is that if bakeries can do it (some just buy the mix by the 50 pound bag instead) and professional bakers can do it, then so can I on occasion. And I do, without any guilty feelings. This cake is just that good!
    • The espresso powder is optional, but espresso powder enhances the chocolate flavor. Try it! Even if you have to use instant coffee instead of espresso powder, it's worth it.
    • If you find frosting too sweet, add ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon of salt to the frosting. Salt balances out the sweetness. And by using a small amount, you don't taste saltiness.
    • I love topping this cake with fresh flowers. Just make sure the flowers you choose are non-poisonous and safe to be touching food.
    Side view of cut chocolate chocolate chip bundt cake

    FAQ

    Can I make my own cake topper?

    Absolutely! You can make a light tissue paper flower or use real flowers. To use real flowers, you can wrap the stems in plastic wrap to make a centerpiece to fit in the hole of the bundt cake. Or, sometimes, I'll just use one or two flowers and stick them directly into the cake. Just make sure to use non-poisonous flowers.

    What piping tip was used in the photos?

    The Ateco round tip #12 was used for the chocolate bundt cake in the photos.

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    Top view of a chocolate bundt cake topped with powdered sugar

    Chocolate Bundt Cake

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    Chocolate bundt cake with chocolate chips is rich, moist and dense with pockets of yummy chocolate chips. And because the base is a boxed cake mix, it's super easy.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 50 minutes
    Frosting time 30 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16

    Equipment

    • 1 Hand or stand mixer

    Ingredients
      

    Cake Base

    • 1 box of Devil's Food cake mix
    • 1 small box of vanilla pudding mix
    • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon espresso powder optional
    • 1 cup sour cream
    • ½ cup vegetable oil
    • ½ cup warm water
    • 4 eggs
    • 10 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

    Frosting (optional)

    • 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
    • 4 tablespoons salted butter room temperature
    • 4 cups powdered sugar
    • 2-3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

    Instructions
     

    Making the cake

    • Preheat the oven to 350 ℉. Spray a 9 inch bundt pan with cooking spray.
    • Place the cake mix, pudding mix, cocoa powder and espresso powder in a mixing bowl and mix until the dry ingredients are combined.
    • Add the water, oil, sour cream and eggs to the dry ingredients in the mixing bowl. Mix on low for one minute. Scrap down the sides and mix an additional minute or just until all the ingredients are combined.
    • Stir in the chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed.
    • Pour the batter in to the sprayed bundt pan. The batter will be thick. Smooth out the batter with a spatula.
    • Bake for 45-50 minutes until the cake starts pulling away from sides and also springs back when touched.
    • Remove the cake from the oven and cool on a cooling rack for at least 20 minutes.
    • Invert the cake on to a cakeboard or a serving plate. Allow the cake to completely cool before frosting or finishing with powdered sugar.

    Frosting the cake (optional)

    • Add the room temperature cream cheese and butter to a mixing bowl and mix on medium speed until creamy with no lumps, about 2 minutes.
    • Add the powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream to the mixing bowl. Mix on medium high until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides several times, about 5-6 minutes. [Depending on the temperature of the cream cheese and butter and the humidity of the kitchen, you may need to add more heavy shipping cream if the frosting is too heavy/thick. Add additional heavy whipping cream one tablespoon at a time, mix on medium high and check for fluffiness.]
    • Add the frosting to a piping bag and pipe on the frosting. Or use a knife or icing offset spatula to spread the frosting on the cake.

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    Keyword Chocolate Bundt Cake
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    Overhead view of entire chocolate chocolate chip bundt cake with frosting drips and a floral cake topper

    Everything Bagel Cheeseball

    by Leave a Comment

    Everything Bagel Cheeseball is everything you love about a classic cheeseball but crusted with everything bagel seasoning! It's crunchy, nutty, garlicky and delivered with a rich, creamy cheese blend for a perfect savory bite. All from 5 simple ingredients!

    Serving platter with an everything bagel cheeseball surrounded by plain bagel slices, carrots and pita chips

    I love everything bagels and everything bagel seasoning. But I actually love everything bagel seasoning best when it's not on the outside of a bagel. I love it best when it's directly on the cheese. Then, you get the full flavor of the spices and the full crunchiness of the texture. And you get to taste the everything bagel seasoning in each creamy cheesy bite and not just on the top half of a bagel. I feel like Trader Joe's made everything bagel seasoning famous, but it's now found in almost every grocery store. Personally, I love to make my own for the freshest flavor. Homemade everything but the bagel seasoning is an easy mix of six spices. Buy it in the store or make your own, but definitely use it to make a cheeseball. So yummy!

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    Ingredients

    Photo of ingredients needed to make everything but bagel cheeseball: shredded sharp white cheddar cheese, cream cheese, everything but bagel seasoning and parsley
    • Shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
    • Cream cheese
    • Green onions
    • Everything but the bagel seasoning
    • Parsley

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    Cheeseballs are easy to make with a few helpful steps.

    Melted cheese step of making an Everything Bagel Cheeseball

    Step 1: Add the shredded white cheddar cheese and the cream cheese to a microwavable bowl. Melt and stir in 30 second increments until fully melted and combined. Approximately 90 seconds.

    Process shot of forming a cheeseball with plastic wrap inside a cup

    Step 2: Stir in the rest of the ingredients to the cheese mixture. Add the cheese mixture to a cup lined with plastic wrap and cinch the top together. Refrigerate in the cup for a minimum of 2 hours but preferably overnight.

    Process shot of formed cheeseball still in plastic wrap

    Step 3: After chilling, remove the plastic wrapped cheeseball from the cup and finish shaping the cheeseball.

    Process shot of rolling a cheeseball in everything but bagel seasoning to cover it in the seasoning

    Step 4: Add the rest of the everything bagel seasoning to a plate and roll the cheeseball in the seasoning until the cheeseball is completely coated.

    Once the cheeseball is fully covered (I do the bottom too!), place it on a serving plate or charcuterie board and surround with bagel slices, crackers or veggies.

    Substitutions

    • Cheese - I love using sharp white cheddar cheese for everything bagel cheeseballs, but you can easily substitute another type of cheese. You can also use a milder cheese and then add 1 ½ teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce for a little umami kick.

    Variations

    • Mini cheeseballs - instead of one large cheeseball, you can use this recipe to make tiny, bite-size cheeseballs that are perfect for an appetizer plate or charcuterie boards. Follow all of the instructions until the cheeseball is fully chilled. Once it's fully chilled, you can take pieces of the cheeseball and roll them into smaller balls. If you want them all the same size, use a cookie scoop. You can also add fun little appetizer skewers too.

    Storage

    Store the everything bagel cheeseball in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

    Close up photo of an everything bagel cheeseball on a serving platter surrounded by plain bagel slices, carrots and pita chips

    Next Level Tips

    • Shred your own cheese! It's cheaper to buy cheese in chunks. Also, chunks of cheese don't have the additives and coatings that pre-shredded cheese does. It only takes 2 minutes to shred your own cheese and it tastes so much better!
    • For an umami kick, you can add 1 ½ teaspoons of Worcestershire or soy sauce to this recipe. I love the added flavor, but it does add a brown tint to the cheeseball. I usually only add those sauces with orange cheeses, but the flavor is amazing.
    • For a charcuterie board or as an appetizer, can make make tiny bite-size individual cheeseballs with this same recipe. They're super cute with a fun little appetizer skewer too.

    FAQ

    Can I make this ahead of time?

    Absolutely! I recommend making the cheeseball at least a day ahead of time and then rolling it in the everything but the bagel seasoning the day of serving.

    Plate with small bites of sliced bagels, pita chips and carrots with everything but bagel seasoning cheeseball on each bite in front of the serving platter with the everything but bagel seasoning cheeseball and extra bagel slices, pita chips and carrots

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    Everything Bagel Cheeseball

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    Everything bagel cheeseball is the perfect crowd pleaser for any party, holiday or game day celebration. It's easy to make and delivers the richness of a cheeseball topped with a savory crunch.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cooling time 2 hours
    Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese shredded
    • 8 ounces cream cheese
    • ¼ cup green onions, all parts sliced thinly
    • ¼ cup everything but bagel seasoning
    • 1 teaspoon dried parsley

    Instructions
     

    • Gather the ingredients and shred the white cheddar cheese. Thinly slice the green onions using all of the white parts, some light green parts and some green tops and set aside.
    • Line the cup that you will use to shape the cheeseball (short mugs or soup cups work great) with two overlapping pieces of plastic wrap and set aside.
    • Add the shredded cheddar cheese and the cream cheese to a microwavable bowl. Melt and stir in 30 second increments until fully melted and combined. Approximately 90 seconds to two minutes.
    • Stir the the green onions, parsley, and 1 and ½ teaspoons of the everything bagel seasoning in to the cheese mixture.
    • Add the cheese mixture to the plastic lined cup and cinch with a clip.
    • Refrigerate for a minimum of two hours but preferably overnight.
    • Remove the plastic wrapped cheeseball from the refrigerator and the cup. While the cheeseball is still in the plastic, shape the cheeseball as desired.
    • Spread the rest of the everything but the bagel seasoning on a plate. Remove the cheeseball from the plastic and roll in the seasoning until the cheeseball is fully covered in the seasoning.
    • Refrigerate or serve and enjoy!

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    Keyword Everything Bagel Cheeseball
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    Everything But The Bagel Seasoning

    by Leave a Comment

    Homemade everything but the bagel seasoning is inspired by the crunchy spices found on an everything bagel. It's a savory, nutty and garlicky blend that can be sprinkled on any dish to take it to the next level.

    Photo of deviled eggs topping with everything but bagel seasoning plus carrots and pretzels on the side

    I'm not sure who invented the everything bagel. Believe it or not, that appears to be a contentious subject. And I'm not even sure who first starting making everything bagel seasoning blends and offering them for sale in grocery stores. But I have to give props to Trader Joe's for the super fun names of their spice blends. So while the spice blend itself has been around for a long time, the name of this spice blend is a little nod to Trader Joe's. And I love Trader Joe's, but I can't always make it out to one. Thankfully, I also love making my own spice blends, so here is my favorite version of everything but the bagel seasoning.

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    Ingredients

    Homemade everything but the bagel seasoning blend consists of 6 spices

    Photo of ingredients needed to make everything but bagel seasoning in tiny bowls: white sesame seeds, flakes salt, dried granulated minced garlic, dried minced onion, black sesame seeds and poppy seeds
    • Toasted white sesame seeds
    • Flaked salt
    • Dried minced garlic
    • Dried minced onion
    • Black sesame seeds
    • Poppy seeds

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Uses for Everything but the Bagel Seasoning

    Everything but the bagel seasonings is, of course, awesome on bagels. But, there are so many more ways to use it:

    • Avocado toast
    • English muffins
    • Everything but the bagel cheeseball
    • Deviled eggs
    • Hard boiled eggs
    • Popcorn
    • Roasted veggies
    • Meat rubs

    Variations

    • No salt - if you need a no salt seasoning, you can leave the salt out. You can also cut down on the amount of salt in the recipe for a low salt option. You can also substitute a different type of salt, like course salt.

    Storage

    Store homemade everything but the bagel seasoning in a cool but dry, dark place for 3 to 6 months.

    Next Level Tips

    • If you can't find toasted white white sesame seeds, toast your own! Toasting is optional, but don't skip it. Toasted white sesame seeds takes homemade everything but the bagel seasoning to the next level!
    • I highly recommend flaked salt for everything but the bagel seasoning. It's nice and light but won't all sink to the bottom of the jar. However, I also highly recommend that you smash it a hit. Sometimes, there are quite large pieces and no one wants a bite full of salt! So just smash it down a bit first.
    • Homemade spice blends make great little gifts for friends and neighbors!

    FAQ

    I can't find toasted sesame seeds, so can I toast my own?

    Absolutely! Toasting your own sesame seeds is a cheaper way to go, and it's super easy. It's very similar to toasting coconut. See the section below on toasting sesame seeds.

    How to Toast Sesame Seeds

    Process shot of toasted white sesame seeds

    Toasting sesame seeds step: Use a non-stick pan and turn the heat to medium. Do not use any cooking spray, oil or butter. Add the white sesame seeds in mostly a single layer. Stir occasionally until the sesame seeds start to brown and then stir frequently until the sesame seeds are light golden brown and smell nutty, approximately 3-5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the toasted sesame seeds to a plate to cool as they will continue cooking in the hot pan.

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    Jar of everything bagel seasoning spilling out onto a gray plate

    Everything but the Bagel Seasoning

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    Everything but the bagel seasoning is a flavorful spice blend inspired by the toppings of an everything bagel, but without the bagel. It's super versatile and adds a bold flavor to any dish.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Total Time 5 minutes
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 tablespoons white sesame seeds toasted
    • 2 tablespoons flaked salt smashed
    • 2 tablespoons dried minced garlic
    • 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
    • 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds
    • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds

    Instructions
     

    • Add all ingredients to a spice storage jar and shake well. Yields just over ½ cup.

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    Jar of everything bagel seasoning spilling out onto a gray plate

    Thin Mints Cheesecake

    by 2 Comments

    Thin Mints cheesecake is a rich, creamy dessert that combines cool mint and rich chocolate with the iconic Girl Scout cookies for the perfect decadent dessert. This is an indulgent yet refreshing dessert and absolutely perfect for Thin Mints lovers!

    One slice of Thin Mints cheesecake on a plate with a bite on a fork in front with a box of Thin Mints in the background

    I always look forward to the end of January, because the end of January means it's Girl Scouts cookie time! I loved Girl Scouts as a kid, as a Girl Scout leader and now as a baker too. As a baker, I love using Girl Scout cookies as an ingredient in other desserts. Thin Mints are dreamy in cupcakes like my Thin Mints Cupcakes recipe, and they're dreamy in cheesecakes too. The nostalgic flavor of Girl Scout cookies just elevates any other dessert. It's that place where the familiar meets the unexpected. Pure dessert bliss!

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    Ingredients

    Ingredients needed to make Thin Mints cheesecake: Thin Mints cookies, Oreo cookies, salted butter, white sugar, cream cheese, eggs, peppermint extract, chocolate melting wafers
    • Thin Mints cookies
    • Oreo cookies
    • Salted butter
    • White sugar
    • Cream cheese
    • Eggs
    • Peppermint extract
    • Chocolate melting wafers

    See recipe card for quantities.

    HOW TO BAKE A CHEESECAKE WITHOUT CRACKS

    Okay, let's get to one of the biggest issues with cheesecakes: unsightly cracks. Cracks don't make the cheesecake taste any differently and, of course, they could be covered up. But, there are two main things to know to avoid cracks: baking temperature and water baths.

    Bake at a lower temperature

    For temperature, cheesecakes turn out best when baked at a lower temperature. For that reason, I bake almost all of my cheesecakes, including this one, at 325 degrees.

    Use the moat method for the water bath

    The most basic way to do a water bath is to wrap the springform pan with aluminum foil and place it in a roasting pan with water and then hope it doesn't leak. But, have you ever wrapped it super carefully with the extra wide aluminum foil only to discover that it still leaked? Yes, me too. Instead, I use the moat method. To use the moat method, place your 8 or 9 inch springform pan inside a 10 inch cake pan. Then place the 10 inch cake pan into a larger roasting pan with water. With this moat method, there is no possible way that water gets in to your springform pan. I've never had a cheesecake crack when I've combined a lower baking temperature with the moat method.

    Steam baths

    Ok, say you don't have a roasting pan big enough to fit your springform pan and cake pan. You can do the steam bath method, which usually works. I will say it's not quite as fool proof as the moat method though. But you can fill a 9x13 pan with one inch of water and place it on the oven rack directly beneath the springform pan. (If you have a cake pan, you can still put the springform pan in a cake pan according to the above moat method.) The water in the pan creates steam and a humid environment in the oven which helps to prevent cracks.

    Photo of partial Thin Mints cheesecake topped with chocolate drizzle, crumbled Thin Mints and two full Thin Mints

    Variations

    • Decorating - there are many, many ways to decorate a cheesecake. You can use a ganache instead of the melting chocolate for a drizzle with a softer texture. You can do straight lines of drizzle back and forth across the top. You can add a whipped cream topping. Extra full cookies on top. No cookies on top. So many options!
    • Cookies - the reason that this recipe has part Oreos and part Thin Mints is Thin Mints are expensive, so I like to keep my recipes to one box of Thin Mints or less. You need a few leftover to sample after all! I also feel like Thin Mints have a little too much fat to use all Thin Mints in the crust. However, you could easily replace all the Thin Mints with Oreos for a mint Oreo cheesecake though.
    • Food coloring - my personal preference is minimal food coloring, but you could easily add some green food coloring to the cheesecake filling. If you want to add food coloring, add it at the beginning with the cream cheese blocks.

    Equipment

    To make the best cheesecakes, a stand up mixer or hand held mixer is needed. Also, a springform pan is super helpful if you want to take the cheesecake easily out of the pan. A 10 inch cake pan and roasting pan are needed for the moat method. However, if you don't have a roasting pan big enough, you can fill a 9x13 pan with an inch of water to use the steam bath method instead.

    Storage

    Store the Thin Mints cheesecake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days.

    Next Level Tips

    • Always use room temperature cream cheese and room temperature eggs for cheesecakes. 
    • The very best way to avoid cheesecake cracks is to bake at a lower temperature and use the moat method, as described above and in the FAQs. This is where you place your springform pan inside of a cake pan and then put the cake pan in a roasting pan with water. This avoids leaky aluminum foil yet still doesn't allow direct heat on the springform pan.
    • Allow the cheesecake to cool in the oven without touching it for two hours. Then move the springform pan to a cooling rack and allow the cheesecake to come to room temperature before placing it in the refrigerator.
    • Cheesecake needs time to set in the refrigerator after baking. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours; however, overnight is best.
    • I love to use offset or artsy designs on the tops of cheesecakes. If you like a dead-center kind of centerpiece or a ring of whipping cream swirls around the edges, go for it. I've done lots and lots of those. Currently, I go for more of an artsy look. This one was decorated with some random swirls using Ghirardelli dark chocolate flavored melting wafers and chopped Thin Mints. It was done within minutes. It can be that easy!
    Overhead view of Thin Mints cheesecake on a cakeboard plate with a slice of Thin Mints cheesecake on another plate with three Thin Mints cookies and a box of Thin Mints nearby

    FAQ

    Do I need to use room temperature cream cheese and eggs?

    Yes! However, you can carefully speed up this process if you forgot to set out the cream cheese and eggs. Most microwaves now have a soften option. You can carefully soften the cream cheese in the microwave to room temperature but not melted. For the eggs, you can place them from the refrigerator into a bowl of warm (not hot) water to quicken up the process for the eggs. However, I do recommend letting the cream cheese and eggs come to room temperature naturally on the counter. Unless you're in a pinch, of course. We've all been there!

    What's the best way to remove the bottom of a springform pan?

    The reason we pack the crust tightly, but not too tightly, into the springform pan is so that we can easily remove the bottom of the springform pan without the crust crumbling. After the rim of the springform pan is off, take a cake lifter (or metal pizza peel or a very large spatula) and gently slide it in between cheesecake crust and bottom of springform pan. Don't lift the cheesecake up in the air. Instead, use the cake lifter to slide the cheesecake sideways off of the springform bottom onto a serving plate or a round cardboard cake board. You can buy a cheap cake lifter on Amazon or at a Hobby Lobby type store in the baking section. If you're using a large metal spatula, run it under the entire outer edge first before using it to gently slide the cheesecake.

    What is the moat method?

    The moat method creates a barrier between the springform pan and the direct heat of the oven. Kind of like in the olden days when castles used moats to protect the castles from invaders! So, in the moat method, we place the springform pan into a larger cake pan before putting the cake pan into a larger roasting pan with the water bath. There ends up to be a moat (of air) that separates the springform pan from the cake pan and the water bath. I highly recommend doing it this way as it works great.

    One slice of Thin Mints cheesecake with a box of Thin Mints in the background

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    Close up photo of Thin Mints cheesecake topped with chocolate drizzle, crumbled Thin Mints and two full Thin Mints

    Thin Mints Cheesecake

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    Thin Mints Cheesecake combines the creamy, velvety texture of cheesecake with the flavors of cool mint, rich chocolate and an iconic Girl Scout cookie to create the perfect dessert.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Cook Time 1 hour 6 minutes
    Chilling and decorating time 8 hours 30 minutes
    Total Time 9 hours 56 minutes
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12

    Equipment

    • 1 Stand or hand mixer
    • 1 8 or 9 inch springform pan
    • 1 10 inch cake pan optional
    • 1 large roasting pan optional

    Ingredients
      

    Crust

    • 1½ cups Oreo cookies (approx. 20 cookies) centers removed
    • ½ cup Thin Mints cookies (approx. 5 cookies)
    • 6 tablespoons salted butter melted
    • 2 tablespoons white sugar
    • ½ teaspoon pepermint extract

    Cheesecake filling

    • 4 cream cheese blocks (8 ounces each) room temperature
    • 1 cup white sugar
    • 4 eggs room temperature
    • ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
    • ½ cup Thin Mints (approx 5. cookies) chopped

    Cheesecake toppings

    • ½ cup melting chocolate wafers melted
    • Thin Mints (approx 2. cookies) chopped
    • Additional Thin Mints for decoration

    Instructions
     

    Make the crust

    • Preheat oven to 325°. Spray 8 or 9 inch springform pan with cooking spray and set aside.
    • Remove the white centers of the Oreos and discard. Use a food processor to grind the Oreos and Thin Mints into small crumbs. [It's ok to have some bigger pieces of cookies as the grind doesn't need to be too fine.]
    • Mix the cookie crumbs, melted butter, peppermint extract and 2 tablespoons of white sugar together until well combined.
    • Add the crust mixture to the springform pan. Pat down flat with hands or a flat measuring cup with medium pressure. It should be packed firmly but not too hard.
    • Bake the crust for 6 minutes and set aside to cool. [This step is optional but highly recommended for a crisp crust.]

    Make the Filling

    • Place the room temperature cream cheese into the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until creamy and all lumps are gone. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.
    • Add the white sugar and peppermint extract to the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.
    • Next, add the eggs one at a time. Mix on low speed just until each egg is combined before adding the next egg. Between eggs, scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.
    • Gently stir in the chopped Thin Mints cookies until evenly distributed.

    Bake and Cool the Cheesecake

    • Add the filling to the crust in the springform pan. Place the springform pan in a larger cake pan (or cover sides of springform pan with aluminum foil). Fill the roasting pan with one inch of water. Carefully add the springform pan in a cake pan (moat method) or with an aluminum foil wrap into the roasting pan with water. [See FAQ or post description on why the moat method is preferred.]
    • Bake at 325° for about 60 minutes until the center is mostly set. Then, turn off the oven and open the oven door to start cooling. Leave alone for two hours. After two hours, remove the cake pan (or wrapped springform pan) from the oven and the water bath and let cool on a cooling rack until room temperature.
    • Before placing in the refrigerator, run a knife around the edges to loosen the cheesecake from the sides. Cover and refrigerate a minimum of 6 hours but preferably overnight.
    • After 6 hours, or preferably the next day, remove the rim. Also, remove the cheesecake from the bottom of the springform pan (see FAQ if needed) if so desired and decorate the cheesecake.

    Decorate the cheesecake

    • Melt the melting chocolate wafers in the microwave according to the package instructions. Most melt in less than 60 seconds. Using a decorator squeeze bottle, a piping bag or a spoon, drizzle the chocolate onto the cheesecake. Top with chopped and/or whole Thin Mints cookies.

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    Photo of Thin Mints cheesecake topped with chocolate drizzle, crumbled Thin Mints and two full Thin Mints

    Samoas Cheesecake

    by Leave a Comment

    The beloved flavors of caramel, chocolate and toasted coconut meet creamy cheesecake in this indulgent treat. This Samoas cheesecake is a delicious tribute to a classic Girl Scouts cookie.

    Slice of Samoas cheesecake topped with chocolate and toasted coconut on a plate with a bite of cheesecake on a fork on the plate with a box of Samoas cookies in the background.

    It's so fun (and yummy!) to try and make good things even better. Like, what if we could get all the best flavors of a Samoas cookie, but in a rich, creamy cheesecake? I'm not going to lie, cheesecakes are one of my top 5 favorite desserts. Ever. So I've made a lot of cheesecakes. Like hundreds and hundreds of cheesecakes. I especially love when I can bring a new flavor to a cheesecake. The mouth watering combination of caramel, chocolate and toasted coconut is not new. There's good reason that Samoas (or Carmel deLites depending on where you live) are one of the most beloved Girl Scouts cookies of all time. And bringing those flavors to a cheesecake just takes cheesecake to a whole next level!

    Need more Samoas recipes? Check out my recipe for Samoas Cupcakes!

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    Ingredients

    Ingredients needed to make Samoas Cheesecake: cream cheese, white sugar, eggs, salted butter, graham crackers, Samoas cookies, salt, vanilla, caramel sauce, shredded coconut, melting chocolate

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    Unbaked Samoas cheesecake crust

    Step 1: Make the crust and bake at 325 degrees for 6 minutes.

    Unbaked Samoas cheesecake batter

    Step 2: Make the cheesecake filling and bake in a water bath at 325 degrees for 60 minutes. Cool and refrigerate overnight.

    Toasted Coconut in non-stick pan
    1. Step 3: Toast the shredded coconut. Use a non-stick pan and turn the heat to medium. DO NOT use any cooking spray, oil or butter. Add the shredded or flaked coconut in a single layer and STIR CONSTANTLY until over half of the coconut is light golden brown, approximately 3-5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and immediately transfer the coconut to a plate to cool as it will continue cooking in the hot pan.
    Overhead view of full Samoas cheesecake topped with chocolate, toasted coconut and Samoas cookies
    1. Step 4: After Samoas cheesecake has cooled completely (preferably overnight), decorate the cheesecake with ganache or melting chocolate, toasted coconut and Samoas cookies.

    HOW TO BAKE A CHEESECAKE WITHOUT CRACKS

    Okay, let's get to one of the biggest issues with cheesecakes: unsightly cracks. Cracks don't make the cheesecake taste any differently and, of course, they could be covered up. But, there are two main things to know to avoid cracks: baking temperature and water baths.

    BAKE AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE

    For temperature, cheesecakes turn out best when baked at a lower temperature. For that reason, I bake almost all of my cheesecakes, including this one, at 325 degrees.

    USE THE MOAT METHOD FOR A WATER BATH

    The most basic way to do a water bath is to wrap the springform pan with aluminum foil and place it in a roasting pan with water and then hope it doesn't leak. But, have you ever wrapped it super carefully with the extra wide aluminum foil only to discover that it still leaked? Yes, me too. Instead, I use the moat method. To use the moat method, place your 8 or 9 inch springform pan inside a 10 inch cake pan. Then place the 10 inch cake pan into a larger roasting pan with water. With this moat method, there is no possible way that water gets in to your springform pan. I've never had a cheesecake crack when I've combined a lower baking temperature with the moat method.

    Overhead view of full Samoas cheesecake topped with chocolate, toasted coconut and Samoas cookies with box of Samoas cookies blurred in the background

    Variations

    • Decorating - there are many, many ways to vary the cheesecake decorations. You can use a ganache instead of the melting chocolate for a softer texture. You can add a salted caramel drizzle on top. You could use coconut flakes instead of shreds. You can add a whipped cream topping. Crumbled cookies, only cookies on top or no cookies. So many options!
    • No cookies - Somoas cookies aren't required for this recipe. You can entirely leave them out of the crust, the filling and the toppings. While I do buy extra Girl Scout cookies, sometimes I crave this cheesecake in October when I can't get any new cookies. And I make it anyway without cookies. This Somoas cheesecake still has the great flavor profile of caramel, chocolate and toasted caramel even without the cookies. It will always be inspired by the cookie, even when we can't get the cookies.

    Equipment

    To make the best cheesecakes, a stand up mixer or hand held mixer is needed. Also, a springform pan is super helpful if you want to take the cheesecake easily out of the pan.

    Storage

    Store the Samoas cheesecake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days.

    Next Level Tips

    • Always use room temperature cream cheese and room temperature eggs for cheesecakes. 
    • The very best way to avoid cheesecake cracks is to bake at a lower temperature and use the moat method, as described above and in the FAQs. This is where you place your springform pan inside of a cake pan and then put the cake pan in a roasting pan with water. This avoids leaky aluminum foil yet still doesn't allow direct heat on the springform pan.
    • Allow the cheesecake to cool in the oven without touching it for two hours. Then move the springform pan to a cooling rack and allow the cheesecake to come to room temperature before placing it in the refrigerator.
    • Cheesecake needs time to set in the refrigerator after baking. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours; however, overnight is best.
    • I love to use offset or artsy designs on the tops of cheesecakes. If you like a dead-center kind of centerpiece or a ring of whipping cream swirls around the edges, go for it. I've done lots and lots of those. Currently, I go for more of an artsy look. Another reason I love the intentionally off-center look is because that design looks like you meant to do it that way. If you are going for a dead center kind of look but are slightly off, it can look like you just missed the middle. BUT, if you go with a more extreme off-center look, it looks like it was intentional. Like art! Before you start, think of what you want to do, take a deep breath and go for it!

    FAQ

    Do I need to use room temperature cream cheese and eggs?

    Yes! However, you can carefully speed up this process if you forgot to set out the cream cheese and eggs. Most microwaves now have a soften option. You can carefully soften the cream cheese in the microwave to room temperature but not melted. For the eggs, you can place them from the refrigerator into a bowl of warm (not hot) water to quicken up the process for the eggs. However, I do recommend letting the cream cheese and eggs come to room temperature naturally on the counter. Unless you're in a pinch, of course. We've all been there!

    How do I remove the bottom of a springform pan?

    The reason we pack the crust tightly, but not too tightly, into the springform pan is so that we can easily remove the bottom of the springform pan without the crust crumbling. After the rim of the springform pan is off, take a cake lifter (or metal pizza peel or a very large spatula) and gently slide it in between cheesecake crust and bottom of springform pan (see below photo). Don't lift the cheesecake up in the air. Instead, use the cake lifter to slide the cheesecake off of the springform bottom onto a serving plate or a round cardboard cake board. You can buy a cheap cake lifter on Amazon or at a Hobby Lobby type store in the baking section. If you're using a large metal spatula, run it under the entire outer edge first before using it to gently slide the cheesecake. Photo illustrating how to slide a cake lifter in between a cheesecake bottom and the bottom of a springform pan

    What is the moat method?

    The moat method creates a barrier between the springform pan and the direct heat of the oven. Kind of like in the olden days when castles used moats to protect the castles from invaders! So, in the moat method, we place the springform pan into a larger cake pan before putting the cake pan into a larger roasting pan with the water bath. There ends up to be a moat (of air) that separates the springform pan from the cake pan and the water bath. I highly recommend doing it this way as it works great.

    What type of melting chocolate should I use?

    You can use your favorite brand of candy chocolate melts or even make a ganache. I've been using Ghirardelli dark chocolate flavored melting wafers as they taste good, work well and are easily found in regular grocery stores.

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    Overhead view of partial Samoas cheesecake topped with chocolate, toasted coconut and Samoas cookies

    Samoas Cheesecake

    Tracy @ Next Level Baker
    Samoas cheesecake is a rich, creamy dessert inspired by the irresistible caramel, chocolate and toasted caramel flavors of the classic beloved Girl Scout cookie.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 1 hour 6 minutes
    Chill and decorating time 6 hours 30 minutes
    Total Time 7 hours 53 minutes
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12

    Equipment

    • 1 Stand or hand mixer

    Ingredients
      

    Crust

    • 1½ sleeves graham crackers (approx. 13 ½ full sheets)
    • 3 Samoas cookies
    • 8 tablespoons salted butter melted
    • 2 tablespoons white sugar

    Cheesecake filling

    • 4 cream cheese clocks (8 ounces each) room temperature
    • ⅓ cup store bought or homemade salted caramel sauce
    • 1 cup white sugar
    • 4 eggs room temperature
    • 3 Samoas cookies chopped
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Cheesecake toppings

    • ½ cup shredded coconut toasted
    • ½ cup melting chocolate wafers melted
    • Samoas cookies

    Instructions
     

    Make the crust

    • Preheat oven to 325°. Spray 8 or 9 inch springform pan with cooking spray and set aside.
    • Use a food processor to grind the graham crackers and Samoas cookies into small crumbs. It's ok to have some bigger pieces of cookie or crackers. We don't want the grind to be too fine.
    • Mix the crumb mixture, melted butter and 2 tablespoons of white sugar together until well combined.
    • Add the crumb mixture to the springform pan. Pat down flat with hands or a flat measuring cup with medium pressure. It should be packed firmly but not too hard.
    • Bake for 6 minutes and set aside to cool.

    Make the Filling

    • Place the room temperature cream cheese and the salted caramel sauce into the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until creamy and all lumps are gone. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.
    • Add the white sugar, vanilla and salt to the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.
    • Next, add the eggs one at a time. Mix on low speed just until each egg is combined before adding the next egg. Between eggs, scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.
    • Gently stir in the chopped Samoas cookies until evenly distributed.

    Bake and Cool the Cheesecake

    • Add the filling to the springform pan. Place the springform pan in a larger cake pan (or cover sides of springform pan with aluminum foil). Fill the roasting pan with one inch of water. Carefully add the springform pan in a cake pan (moat method) or with an aluminum foil wrap into roasting pan filled with water. [See FAQ or post description on why the moat method is preferred.]
    • Bake at 325° for about 60 minutes until the center is mostly set. Then, turn off the oven and open the oven door to start cooling. Leave alone for two hours. After two hours, remove the cake pan (or wrapped springform pan) from the oven and the water bath and let cool on cooling rack until room temperature.
    • Before placing in the refrigerator, run a knife around the edges to loosen the cheesecake from the sides. Cover and refrigerate a minimum of 6 hours but preferably overnight.
    • After 6 hours, or preferably the next day, remove the rim. Also, remove the cheesecake from the bottom of the springform pan (see FAQ if needed) if so desired and decorate the cheesecake.

    Toast the coconut

    • Use a non-stick pan and turn the heat to medium. DO NOT use any cooking spray, oil or butter. Add the shredded or flaked coconut in a single layer and STIR CONSTANTLY until over half of the coconut is light golden brown, approximately 3-5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and immediately transfer the coconut to a plate to cool and stop the cooking process.

    Decorate the cheesecake

    • Melt the melting chocolate wafers in the microwave according to the package instructions. Most melt in less than 60 seconds. Using a decorator squeeze bottle, a piping bag or a spoon, drizzle the chocolate onto the cheesecake.
    • Finish with some Thin Mintscookies for decorations, if so desired. You can press them into the cheesecake directly or cut off a piece of the cookie on one side to make a flat side and then lightly press them into the melting chocolate.

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    Overhead view of full Samoas cheesecake topped with chocolate, toasted coconut and Samoas cookies

    Samoas Cupcakes

    by Leave a Comment

    The perfect chocolate, caramel and coconut cookie meets its cupcake match! Samoas cupcakes capture the chewy, crunchy and chocolaty-caramel-toasted coconut deliciousness of the classic Girl Scout cookie. They're a perfect tribute to a favorite cookie.

    Four Samoas cupcakes on a plate with a box of Samoas cookies blurred in the background

    Are they Samoas or Caramel deLites? They're both heavenly bites of chocolate, caramel and coconut with a cookie crunch. But why are the names different? Well, the name depends on where you live as the Girl Scouts use two different bakers, serving different parts of the country, to produce their cookies. Since they have the same chocolate, caramel and coconut flavors, I'm just going to call them Samoas from here on out since I've mostly lived in places where these scrumptious cookies are called Samoas. And these Samoas cupcakes are a true tribute meant to highlight all the best parts of the Samoa cookies...the heavenly combination of chocolate, caramel, and toasted coconut. Coming next will be out my Samoas cheesecake recipe!

    [feast_advanced_jump_to]

    Ingredients

    Ingredients needed to make Samoas cupcakes: Samoas cookies, cake flour, cocoa powder, white sugar, salted butter, coconut milk, baking soda, salt, coconut flakes, salted caramel sauce and powdered sugar

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions for toasting coconut

    Toasting unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut completely transforms the coconut. It brings out a delicious nutty, caramelized flavor in the coconut. And it also takes the texture from chewy to crispy which is exactly what we need for topping cupcakes.

    Toasted Coconut in non-stick pan

    Stove Top Method: I prefer the stove top method for toasting unsweetened coconut as it's quicker, easier and there's less risk of burning. Use a non-stick pan and turn the heat to medium. DO NOT use any cooking spray, oil or butter. Add the shredded or flaked coconut in a single layer and STIR CONSTANTLY until over half of the coconut is light golden brown, approximately 3-5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and immediately transfer the coconut to a plate to cool as it will continue cooking in the hot pan.

      Substitutions

      • Coconut milk - coconut milk adds a great layer of flavor to these Samoas cupcakes. However, you can substitute buttermilk in the cupcake base and heavy whipping cream in the buttercream frosting if you wish.
      • Cake flour - you can substitute all purpose flour with corn starch for the cake flour. For this recipe, measure 1 ½ cups of all purpose flour. Remove 3 tablespoons of the flour and add 3 tablespoons of cornstarch. Then sift the all purpose flour and cornstarch together twice to combine and aerate the mixture.

      Variations

      You can also add a chocolate drizzle by using a chocolate ganache or chocolate candy melts. However, I found that the decorations can start to look messy with multiple drizzles.

      Equipment

      When making standard size cupcakes, I highly recommend using a large cookie scoop. That way, the cupcakes all come out the same size and filling the muffin tins goes much quicker too. The large 4 tablespoon cookie scoop is the perfect size for making cupcakes. A hand or stand mixer is needed for these Samoas cupcakes as well.

      5 Samoas cupcakes on a plate with toasted coconut and boxes of Samoas cookies blurred in the background

      Storage

      Store Samoas cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

      Next Level Tips

      • Use a high quality cocoa powder. Like I mentioned in my Chocolate Sweet Rolls recipe, my very favorite cocoa powder is the Valrhona brand found on Amazon and in the Whole Foods bulk section. After Valrhona, I'd recommend Guittard or Ghirardelli brands which can be found in regular grocery stores. 
      • For buttercream frosting, my favorite piping tips for frosting are the Wilton 1A for a round tip and a Wilton (or Ateco) 1M for a star tip. If you only have two piping tips, these are the two to own!
      • Instead of disposable piping bags, I recommend reusable piping bags. They're easy to wash, you won't unexpectedly run out, it's less waste going to the landfill and it's cheaper in the long run.
      • Girl Scout cookies aren't sold year round, but Samoas freeze really well. Buy a couple extra boxes so that you can make these Samoas cupcakes later in the year for a real treat!
      • Check out my Thin Mints cupcakes for another tribute to a Girl Scouts fan favorite cookie.
      Close up of Samoas Cupcake with bite taken out

      FAQ

      Can I make Samoas cupcakes ahead of time?

      Yes. And if you are making multiple batches of cupcakes, I highly recommend baking the base cupcakes the day before and then frosting the cupcakes the day you will be eating them.

      Why unsweetened coconut?

      Organic unsweetened coconut is the best choice for coconut to top these Samoas cupcakes. Unsweetened coconut is more natural, and the texture of unsweetened coconut is better for toasting. Plus, the process of toasting the coconut brings out the naturally sweet flavor of coconut anyway.

      Do I need a decorative squeeze bottle?

      No, decorative squeeze bottles are not necessary. Instead, you could wash out a used condiment bottle. [While I do own several Wilton squeeze bottles (meh), my very favorite decorative bottle for drizzle is actually an old balsamic glaze bottle.] Or you can also let the caramel sauce drip off the end of a spoon as you wiggle the spoon back and forth.

      Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

      Close up of Samoas cupcakes on a plate with toasted coconut and a box of Samoas cookies blurred in the background

      Samoas Cupcakes (Caramel deLites)

      Tracy @ Next Level Baker
      Inspired by Samoas cookies, these Samoas cupcakes have a chocolate coconut base with caramel coconut buttercream finished with caramel drizzle and toasted coconut for the ultimate indulgent sweet treat.
      Print Recipe Pin Recipe
      Prep Time 15 minutes
      Cook Time 18 minutes
      Cooling and frosting time 1 hour 30 minutes
      Course Dessert
      Cuisine American
      Servings 20

      Equipment

      • 1 Hand or stand mixer

      Ingredients
        

      Cupcake base

      • 1½ cup cake flour
      • ½ cup cocoa powder
      • 1 teaspoon baking soda
      • ½ teaspoon salt
      • 1 ¼ cups white sugar
      • 10 tablespoons salted butter room temperature
      • 3 eggs room temperature
      • 1⅓ cups full fat coconut milk

      Buttercream frosting

      Toppings

      Instructions
       

      • Preheat oven to 350℉. Line two 12-cup or one 24-cup muffin pans with cupcake liners. Yields 20-24 cupcakes.

      Make the cupcakes

      • Add the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt to a small bowl. Mix well and set aside.
      • Add the butter and sugar to a mixing bowl. Mix on low until fully incorporated.
      • Add the eggs, one at a time, to the mixing bowl. Mix on low until incorporated.
      • Alternate adding half of the flour mix and half of the coconut milk. Mix on low until incorporated. Don't overman .
      • Use a large 4 tablespoon cookie scoop to fill each muffin tin.
      • Lightly tap the muffin pans on the counter. Bake for 18-19 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. [If you are using two 12 cup muffin pans on different oven racks, rotate pans halfway through.]
      • Cool in the muffin tins for 10 minutes and then move the cupcakes to a wire rack to finish cooling. Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.

      Toast the coconut

      • Use a non-stick pan and turn the heat to medium. DO NOT use any cooking spray, oil or butter. Add the shredded or flaked coconut in a single layer and STIR CONSTANTLY until over half of the coconut is light golden brown, approximately 3-5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and immediately transfer the coconut to a plate to cool and stop the cooking process.

      Make the buttercream frosting

      • Add the butter and 2 tablespoons of salted caramel sauce to a mixing bowl and mix on medium speed until combined and creamy, about 2 minutes.
      • Add the powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of coconut milk to the mixing bowl. Mix on medium high until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides several times, about 5-6 minutes. [Depending on the temperature of the butter and the humidity of the kitchen, you may need to add more coconut milk if the frosting is too heavy/thick. Add additional coconut milk one tablespoon at a time, mix on medium high and check for fluffiness.]
      • Add the frosting to the cupcakes by using an icing (offset) spatula, a regular knife or by piping it on.

      Decorate the cupcakes

      • Heat the salted caramel sauce in the microwave for 10-15 seconds, just until it's a pourable consistency but not hot. [Hot caramel can melt the frosting.] Drizzle the salted caramel sauce on the cupcakes using a spoon or a decorator squeeze bottle.
      • Sprinkle the cooled toasted coconut on top of the caramel drizzle.
      • Cut 10-12 Samoas cookies in half. Lightly press the cookie half into the decorated frosting.
      • Serve or place in an airtight container.

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      Six Samoas cupcake on a plate with toasted coconut and a box of Samoas cookies blurred in the background

      Thin Mints Cupcakes

      by Leave a Comment

      Thin Mints Cupcakes are a scrumptious peppermint chocolate cupcake with bits of Thin Mints cookies topped with refreshing peppermint buttercream frosting and a Thin Mints cookie! It's a delicious way to showcase the popular Thin Mints cookies!

      Photo of 7 Thin Mints Cupcakes on a cooling rack

      Friends, it's Girl Scouts cookie time! You're about to see a lot of sweet faces selling cookies at big box stores, grocery stores and farmer's markets. Of course, I do like to try the new cookies, but Thin Mints will always be my favorite. These chocolate peppermint cupcakes topped with Thin Mints come from a time period in my life where my cupcake phase overlapped with my Girl Scouts leader phase. The two just go together so deliciously! And like my Thin Mints cheesecake recipe, it's an awesome way to celebrate and take a favorite Girl Scout cookie to the next level!

      [feast_advanced_jump_to]

      Ingredients

      Ingredients needed to make Thin Mints cupcakes: Thin Mints cookies, cake flour, butter, eggs, white sugar, peppermint extract, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, buttermilk, powdered sugar, heavy whipping cream
      • White sugar
      • Salted butter
      • Cake flour
      • Cocoa powder
      • Buttermilk
      • Eggs
      • Thin Mint cookies
      • Peppermint extract
      • Baking soda
      • Salt
      • Powdered sugar
      • Heavy whipping cream

      See recipe card for quantities.

      Substitutions

      • Cake flour - for these Thin Mints cupcakes, you can substitute all purpose flour with corn starch for the cake flour. For this recipe, measure 1 ½ cups of all purpose flour. Remove 3 tablespoons of the flour and add 3 tablespoons of cornstarch. Then sift the all purpose flour and cornstarch together twice to combine and aerate the mixture.

      Equipment

      When making standard size cupcakes, I highly recommend using a large cookie scoop. That way, the cupcakes are easily all the same size. Filling the muffin tins goes much quicker too. The large 4 tablespoon cookie scoop is the perfect size for making cupcakes.

      Close up photo of one Thin Mints cupcake with bite taken out with a box of Thin Mints cookies in the background

      Storage

      Store these Thin Mints cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

      Next Level Tips

      • My personal preference is no added food coloring for the peppermint buttercream frosting when there's a full Thin Mints cookie on top. Thin Mints cookies have a very distinctive shape. Having a full cookie on top lets everyone know exactly what flavor to expect without the food coloring. However, you can certainly add green food coloring to the buttercream. This will be our secret, but I've also used blanched and ground spinach for a green food coloring.
      • Use a high quality cocoa powder. Like I mentioned in my Chocolate Sweet Rolls recipe, my very favorite cocoa powder is Valrhona brand found on Amazon and at Whole Foods. After Valrhona, I'd recommend Guittard or Ghirardelli brands which can be found in regular grocery stores.
      • For buttercream frosting, my favorite piping tips for frosting are the Wilton 1A for a round tip and a Wilton (or Ateco) 1M for a star tip. If you only have two piping tips, these are the two to own!
      • Instead of disposable piping bags, I recommend reusable piping bags. They're easy to wash, you won't unexpectedly run out and it's less waste going to the landfill.
      • Girl Scout cookies aren't sold year round, but they do freeze really well. Buy a couple extra boxes so that you can make these Thin Mints cupcakes later in the year for a real treat!
      Photo of many Thin Mints Cupcakes on a cooling rack with a box of Thin Mints cookies in the background

      FAQ


      Can I make these Thin Mints cupcakes ahead of time?

      Yes. And if you are making a lot of cupcakes (many times I've made hundreds in a day), I highly recommend baking the base cupcakes the day before and then frosting the cupcakes the day you will be eating them.

      Can I substitute milk for the heavy cream in the peppermint buttercream frosting?

      Yes, but you will need to use less of the milk as milks are thinner than heavy cream. In addition, they are not as rich so the taste and texture will be slightly different depending on the milk used.

      Can I leave out the cookies?

      Yes, you can leave out the Thin Mints cookies in the cupcake base. You can also crumble the cookies on top or leave them off completely for just a chocolate peppermint cupake

      Close up photo of one Thin Mints cupcake with box of Thin Mints cookies in the background

      Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

      Photo of many Thin Mints Cupcakes on a cooling rack with a box of Thin Mints cookies in the background

      Thin Mints Cupcakes

      Tracy @ Next Level Baker
      Thin Mints cupcakes combine Thin Mints cookies with a rich chocolate cupcake and a refreshing mint buttercream frosting for a perfect way to showcase the always popular Girl Scout Thin Mints cookies.
      Print Recipe Pin Recipe
      Prep Time 15 minutes
      Cook Time 18 minutes
      Cooling and frosting time 1 hour 30 minutes
      Total Time 2 hours 3 minutes
      Course Dessert
      Cuisine American
      Servings 24

      Equipment

      • 1 Stand or hand mixer

      Ingredients
        

      Cupcake base

      • 1 ¼ cups white sugar
      • 10 tablespoons salted butter room temperature
      • 3 eggs room temperature
      • 1½ cups cake flour
      • ½ cup cocoa powder
      • 1 teaspoon baking soda
      • ½ teaspoon salt
      • 1⅓ cups buttermilk room temperature
      • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
      • ½ cup Thin Mint cookies (approx. 6 cookies) chopped

      Frosting

      • 8 tablespoons salted butter room temperature
      • 4 cups powdered sugar
      • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract*
      • 2-4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

      Decorations

      • 24 Thin Mint cookies

      Instructions
       

      • Preheat oven to 350℉. Line two 12-cup or one 24-cup muffin pans with cupcake liners.

      Make the cupcakes

      • Add the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt to a small bowl. Mix well and set aside.
      • Add the butter and sugar to the mixing bowl. Mix on low until fully incorporated.
      • Add the eggs, one at a time, to the mixing bowl. Mix on low until incorporated.
      • Alternate adding half of the flour mix and half of the buttermilk. Mix on low until incorporated.
      • Chop ½ cup of Thin Mint cookies (approximately 6). Add chopped cookies and peppermint extract to the mixing bowl and mix or stir just until the cookies are evenly distributed.
      • Use a large 4 tablespoon cookie scoop to fill each muffin tin.
      • Bake for 18-19 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. [If you are using two 12 cup muffin pans on different oven racks, rotate pans halfway through.]
      • Cool in the muffin tins for 10 minutes and then move the cupcakes to a wire rack to finish cooling. Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.

      Making the Frosting

      • Add the butter to a mixing bowl and mix on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes.
      • Add the powdered sugar, peppermint extract and 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream to the mixing bowl. Mix on medium high until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides several times, about 7-8 minutes. [Depending on the temperature of the butter and the humidity of the kitchen, you may need to add 1-2 more tablespoons of heavy cream if the frosting is too heavy/thick. Add the additional tablespoon(s) of heavy cream one at a time.]
      • Add the frosting to the cupcakes by using an icing (offset) spatula, a regular knife or by piping it on.
      • Lightly press one cookie into the frosting of each cupcake.
      • Serve or place in an airtight container.

      Notes

      *Peppermint extract can be very strong in frosting. In the cakes, it will cook out some, but extracts do not cook out of frosting. You can always start with ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract instead and then taste it. If you want them more minty, add another ½ teaspoon. 

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      Keyword Peppermint Buttercream, Thin Mints Cupcakes
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      Photo of many Thin Mints Cupcakes on a cooling rack with a box of Thin Mints cookies in the background

      Carmelitas

      by 2 Comments

      Carmelitas cookie bars are a rich layered treat made with oatmeal, nuts, chocolate, caramel and crumble crust. Each bite is a perfect blend of chewy, sweet, salty and nutty.

      Stack of 4 cut Carmelita cookie bars with parchment paper separating the cookie bars

      There's something special about the combination of chocolate, salted caramel and nuts. Sweet, salty and nutty. It's truly one of my favorite flavor combinations. And thanks to the old-fashioned rolled oats, we can almost call these Carmelitas cookie bars healthy. I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Adding oats doesn't make these Carmelitas bars healthy. But, it does make them extra yummy! I mean, who can resist chocolate, caramel and nuts sandwiched in between two layers of oat cookie crumble? Not me.

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      Ingredients

      All ingredients needed for Carmelitas bars: flour, white sugar, brown sugar, oats, pecans, walnuts, caramel sauce, chocolate chips or chunks, butter, baking soda and salt

      See recipe card for quantities.

      Instructions

      Carmelitas recipe process shot #1 of crust ingredients a bowl

      Step 1: Combine the flour, baking soda and salt into a mixing bowl and stir well. Next, add the oats, brown sugar, white sugar and melted butter to the mixing bowl and mix until combined.

      Carmelitas recipe process shot #2 of crust in 9x13 baking dish

      Step 2: Place half of the crust mixture into a 9x13 baking dish and press into tan even layer. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

        Carmelitas recipe process shot #3 of crust with pecans and walnuts

        Step 3: Sprinkle pecans and walnuts evenly over the baked bottom crust.

        Carmelitas recipe process shot #4 of crust with pecan and walnuts and chocolate chunks layered on top

        Step 4: Next, sprinkle the chocolate chips/chunks evenly over the nuts.

        Carmelitas recipe process shot #5 of crust with pecans, walnuts, chocolate chunks and caramel layered on top

        Step 5: Pour the salted caramel sauce evenly over chocolate chips/chunks.

        Carmelitas recipe process shot #4 of crust with pecan, walnuts, chocolate chunks, caramel and top crust paired on top

        Step 6: Crumble the remaining crust on top. Bake the Carmelita bars for 18-20 minutes at 350 degrees.

        Substitutions

        • Nuts - you can substitute your favorite nuts. Pecans are the most common nuts used in Carmelitas. I always have walnuts on hand though, so I typically use a mix of half pecans and half walnuts. However, you can use a single nut, a combination of nuts, or leave the nuts out. The nuts part of this recipe is totally flexible.
        • Vegan - you can easily make these vegan by substituting vegan chocolate chips and vegan caramel sauce and using vegan sugar.
        • Gluten Free - you can substitute a one-for-one gluten free flour for the all purpose flour.

        Storage

        Store any leftover oatmeal caramel bars in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

        Photo of Carmelitas bars on parchment paper on top of cooling rack

        Next Level Tips

        • Many recipes for Carmelita bars involve unwrapping and melting caramel chews. That is time consuming and just doesn't taste as amazing as caramel sauce. I highly recommend using my homemade salted caramel sauce recipe for the caramel layer. It's simply divine and really takes this dessert to the next level.

        FAQ

        Do I have to use nuts?

        No, you can easily skip the nuts layer.

        Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

        Photo of Carmelitas cookie bar on parchment paper on top of cooling rack

        Carmelitas

        Tracy @ Next Level Baker
        Carmelitas cookie bars are a decadent layered dessert featuring a buttery oat crumble, nuts, gooey caramel and rich chocolate.
        5 from 1 vote
        Print Recipe Pin Recipe
        Prep Time 10 minutes
        Cook Time 30 minutes
        Total Time 40 minutes
        Course Dessert
        Cuisine American
        Servings 24

        Equipment

        • 9x13 baking pan

        Ingredients
          

        Crust

        • 2 cups all purpose flour
        • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
        • 1 cup salted butter melted
        • 1 cup brown sugar
        • ¼ cup white sugar
        • 1 teaspoon baking soda
        • ½ teaspoon salt

        Filling

        Instructions
         

        • Preheat the oven to 350℉ and line a 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper.
        • Add the flour, baking soda and salt to a mixing bowl and stir well. Add the oats, brown sugar, white sugar and melted butter to the mixing bowl and mix until fully combined.
        • Place half of the crust into the baking pan and press down into an even layer. Bake for 10 minutes and remove from the oven.
        • Sprinkle the nuts evenly over the baked crust.
        • Next, sprinkle the chocolate chips/chunks evenly over the nuts.
        • Heat the caramel sauce for 15-30 seconds in the microwave to make it pourable. Pour evenly over chocolate chips.
        • Crumble the remaining crust mixture on top of the caramel sauce. Return the baking pan to the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes until the top is lightly golden brown.
        • Allow the bars to completely cool before removing them from the pan and cutting.

        Notes

        If you want to make a smaller batch in an 8x8 pan, here are the quick conversions:
        • 1 cup all purpose flour
        • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
        • ½ cup salted butter, melted
        • ½ cup brown sugar
        • 2 tablespoons white sugar
        • ½ teaspoon baking soda
        • ¼ teaspoon salt
        • ¼ cup pecans
        • ¼ cup walnuts
        • 5 ounces chocolate chips (half bag)
        • ½ cup store bought or homemade salted caramel sauce

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        Photo of Carmelitas bar with more Carmelitas bars blurred in the background

        Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce

        by Leave a Comment

        Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce is a rich, creamy blend of caramelized sugar, cream, butter and salt that come together to make the perfect topping for ice cream, cupcakes, cheesecakes, brownies and hot drinks. Just four ingredients create one of the best sweet treats ever!

        Three different sized small jars of homemade salted caramel sauce. The jar in front has a wooden spoon in it.

        So are you with me that homemade caramel sauce is one of the best sweet treats ever? It's a shocker that I didn't even like it much growing up. I was only exposed to jarred caramel sauce and butterscotch. So in that case, I was team butterscotch. But homemade salted caramel sauce is so, soooooo much better than store bought caramel sauce. Homemade salted caramel sauce is like liquid perfection. I use it as a secret ingredient in some of my desserts but also as the star player in a lot of other desserts. I mean, the versatility is endless. It's one of those things that you could even eat straight out of the jar with a spoon like my homemade lemon curd. Or if you want to be refined, then use a piece of dark chocolate! I promise I won't tell anyone either way.

        [feast_advanced_jump_to]

        Ingredients

        Ingredients needed for homemade salted caramel sauce: white sugar, butter, heavy whipping cream and salt
        • White sugar
        • Heavy whipping cream
        • Salted butter
        • Salt

        See recipe card for quantities.

        Variations

        • Vegan - you can certainly make a vegan version of this homemade salted caramel sauce. First, you would substitute a vegan heavy whipping cream (Trader Joe's brand works great) for the heavy cream. Or if you don't mind a coconut flavor, you can use full fat coconut milk. Then, substitute a plant based butter for the salted butter. Miyokos plant milk butter or Country Crock plant butter sticks work well. Finally, make sure you use vegan labeled or organic sugar as most white sugar is not technically vegan due to how it's processed.

        Storage

        Store any unused salted caramel sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

        Next Level Tips

        • I highly recommend making more than you need! Homemade salted caramel is great to have in the refrigerator ready made. It also makes great little gifts too!
        • I often store extra sauce in decorator bottles. It's easier to reheat the caramel already in the bottle. It often only takes 15-30 seconds in the microwave depending on how thick I want it.
        • Add a splash of bourbon or rum if you want to add an extra layer of depth to the caramel sauce.
        • To make cleaning any dried caramel sauce from spoons, whisks or pans easier, just use hot water. Hot water will melt any hardened sauce back in to a liquid and then clean as normal from there.
        Overhead view of three different sized small jars of homemade salted caramel sauce. The jar in front has a spoon in the jar.

        FAQ

        Do I stir continuously or not stir at all?

        Instructions for homemade caramel sauce online can be very conflicting. Some recipes say stir continuously. Some say don't stir at all. I've tried it both ways and my answer is...well, both. Until the sugar starts to melt, don't stir it at all. This lets the sugar start to melt faster and saves time. Once the sugar starts to melt, however, is when you want to start stirring. And the more the sugar melts, the more often you want to stir until you're stirring continuously at the end.

        Why only 225 degrees Fahrenheit?

        Maybe you've heard that caramel should be heated up to 230 or 240 degrees Fahrenheit and you're wondering why I recommend stopping at 225? This is because the hotter the mixture gets, the more quickly it heats. Something like exponential heating. So if you wait too long, you run a high risk of burning your caramel by the time you get the candy thermometer out of the pan and the burner turned off. I've done it friends. Stopping once the candy thermometer reads 225 gets you a beautifully caramelized sugar sauce with no burnt aftertaste!

        Wait, do I need a candy thermometer?

        No, just make sure you are stirring or whisking constantly once the sugar really starts to melt. Once there are only a small amount of sugar clumps left, break them with a spoon. After all sugar clumps have melted, stir for another 30 seconds and remove from the heat.

        Do I need to use fancy salt?

        No, regular table salt or sea salt is fine. We want the salt to dissolve anyway. Save the fancy flaked salt for when it's used as a finishing salt that makes a dessert prettier.

        Do I have to add all the salt?

        No, you can leave out some or all of the salt and also use unsalted butter (though I highly recommend salted butter). The salt does balance the sweetness while taking the flavor up a level, but it is not an absolute necessary ingredient.

        Spoon of homemade salted caramel sauce dripping into jar of homemade salted caramel sauce

        Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

        Spoon of homemade salted caramel sauce dripping into jar of homemade salted caramel sauce

        Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce

        Tracy @ Next Level Baker
        Homemade salted caramel sauce is rich, creamy blend of golden deliciousness that's perfect for drizzling on desserts, adding to drinks and taking your sweet treats to the next level.
        Print Recipe Pin Recipe
        Prep Time 5 minutes
        Cook Time 15 minutes
        Total Time 20 minutes
        Course Dessert
        Cuisine American
        Servings 8

        Equipment

        • 1 sauce pan with high sides
        • 1 candy thermometer optional
        • 1 whisk
        • 1 funnel optional

        Ingredients
          

        • 2 cups white sugar
        • 8 tablespoons salted butter room temperature
        • 1 cup heavy whipping cream room temperature
        • 2 teaspoon salt

        Instructions
         

        • Bring the butter and heavy whipping cream to room temperature by leaving them sit out or using the microwave. Get a whisk ready and set aside.
        • Put the white sugar in a sauce pan with high sides and place on the stove over medium low heat. Do not stir until you see the the sugar around the edges start to melt and turn brown. Be patient, this could take up to 5 minutes.
        • Once the sugar starts to melt, stir occasionally with a wooden spoon so that the sugar melts evenly. As the sugar starts to melt, it will clump first. That's normal. The more the sugar melts, the more you'll want to stir.
        • Continue stirring until only a few large clumps of sugar remain. Break those up with the spoon. Remove the pan from the heat once the sauce reaches 225℉ (or no more than 30 seconds after all sugar has dissolved.)
        • Have the whisk ready. CAREFULLY pour in ¼ of the cream. The mixture will violently bubble up and that's normal. Whisk quickly until the mixture calms. [Take care to make sure you are whisking the entire pan or globs of caramel may form at the edges of the pan.] Add the next ¼ of the cream and whisk quickly. Keep repeating until all cream has been incorporated.
        • Add the salted butter 1-2 tablespoons at a time. Whisk quickly until all butter has melted and been incorporated.
        • Add the salt and whisk until incorporated.
        • Using a funnel, carefully pour the liquid caramel into storage jars (or decorating bottles) to cool. [If any chunks have formed, place a strainer over the funnel and strain the caramel through a strainer while pouring into the funnel.]
        • Allow the caramel sauce to come to room temperature before using or placing in the refrigerator.
        • Refrigerated caramel sauce becomes thick. To return refrigerated caramel back to a sauce, microwave the caramel in increments of 10-15 seconds until desired fluidity is reached. Caramel sauce heats and becomes liquid very, very quickly.

        Notes

        I highly recommend making a full batch or more! You can always find extra uses for homemade salted caramel sauce! But if you want to only make a half batch, here is a quick list of ingredients:
        • 1 cup white sugar
        • 4 tablespoons salted butter (room temperature)
        • ½ cup heavy cream (room temperature)
        • 1 teaspoon salt 

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        Decorator bottle filled with salted caramel sauce with three plates in partial view that have swirly designs made with the salted caramel on them

        Grilled Cheese Appetizer

        by Leave a Comment

        Bite-sized, cheesy, gooey baked grilled cheese sandwiches that are perfect for an appetizer or for sharing. By using four cheeses and a tomato dipping sauce, we add layers and layers of flavor into tiny appetizer-sized sandwiches.

        White plate with appetizer size pieces of baked grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato dipping sauce

        Everyone loves grilled cheese and tomato dipping sauce. So let's stop saving this amazing combination for rainy days. This recipe turns baked grilled cheese into an appetizer or a meal for a crowd. We bake the 'grilled' cheese because that's the easiest and quickest way to make a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches at one time. A baking sheet will easily fit 8 or more sandwiches. 8 grilled cheese sandwiches baked in 10 minutes? Sign me up! I have a love-love relationship with cheese too, so I always use three or four cheeses. Using multiple cheeses takes our bite size grilled cheese appetizer to a whole next level!

        [feast_advanced_jump_to]

        Ingredients

        Ingredients needed to make baked grilled cheese appetizer and tomato dipping sauce
        • Four cheeses like:
          • Gruyere for meltiness
          • Cheddar for comfort
          • Smoked Gouda for smokiness
          • Goat cheese for a little tang
        • Good bread
        • Salted butter

        See recipe card for quantities.

        Substitutions

        • Cheese - they're endless options for different cheeses. Other cheeses that work well in grilled cheese are havarati, fontina, white cheddar, brie, mozzarella and blue cheese.
        • Bread - I love using sourdough bread for baked grilled cheese appetizers, but you can use any bread that is not too thin. Ciabatti buns work great too. Or use focaccia for an interesting twist.
        Close up grilled cheese on a ciabatta bun with tomato dipping sauce on the side

        Variations

        There are tons of additional ingredients you can add for yet another layer of flavor and texture to your grilled cheese such as: sliced pears or apples, sliced tomatoes, arugula, caramelized onions, bacon or sliced ham.

        Equipment

        If you're making grilled cheese as an appetizer or for a crowd, I highly recommend baking it. Baked grilled cheese is a fast and easy way to make a lot of sandwiches at once. However, if you're only making a few sandwiches, you can use the stovetop, a grill or a panini maker.

        Storage

        Store any leftover grilled cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

        Close up of appetizer size pieces of baked grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato dipping sauce

        Next Level Tips

        • Yes, the cheese is important for grilled cheese appetizers, but don't skimp on the bread! A good quality sourdough bread is perfect. Or use your favorite gluten free bread, but use a good bread!
        • Don't be tempted to go overboard on the spices in the dipping sauce. The dipping sauce is a complimentary tomato flavor that won't overshadow our baked grilled cheese. If you must jazz up the dipping sauce, you can use my homemade bread dipping seasoning or an Italian seasoning that contains some crushed red pepper. If you have leftover homemade marinara sauce, you can use that as a dipping sauce for grilled cheese too.

        FAQ

        Do I really need four cheeses to make baked grilled cheese?

        No, but I would highly recommend a minimum of two to three. If you don't want to start with four cheeses, start with your favorite cheese for flavor. Next add gruyere as it's a mild cheese that's know for it's melting qualities.

        Do I need to grate the cheese?

        No, but grating the cheese helps the cheese melt evenly. Also, don't use pre-shredded cheese from the grocery store. Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents and additives. It is also often much less flavorful than the same type of cheese that is sold in chunks. Pound for pound, it's also cheaper to grate your own cheese than buy it pre-shredded.

        Cab I use crushed tomatoes instead?

        You can, but crushed tomatoes are often too watery for a dip. It works better to use diced tomatoes, drain them and then mash them.

        Stacks of cut baked grilled cheese sandwiches next to a bowl of tomato dipping sauce

        Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

        Pairing

        These are my favorite dishes to serve with baked grilled cheese:

        Grey plate with appetizer size pieces of baked grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato dipping sauce

        Grilled Cheese Appetizer

        Tracy @ Next Level Baker
        Bite size sandwiches of gooey, cheesy, baked grilled cheese that is perfect for sharing or serving as an appetizer.
        Print Recipe Pin Recipe
        Prep Time 15 minutes
        Cook Time 10 minutes
        Total Time 25 minutes
        Course Appetizer, Main Course
        Cuisine American
        Servings 4

        Ingredients
          

        Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

        • 1 cup cheddar cheese
        • ½ cup Gryuere cheese
        • ½ cup Gouda cheese
        • ¼ cup goat cheese
        • 4 tablespoons salted butter
        • 8 slices of bread

        Dipping Sauce

        • 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes
        • 1 tablespoon olive oil
        • 1 large clove garlic minced
        • 1 teaspoon salt
        • 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream

        Instructions
         

        • Start the dipping sauce as you preheat the oven to 425℉.

        Dipping Sauce

        • Drain the canned diced tomatoes and set aside.
        • Heat a small sauce pan over medium heat and add olive oil.
        • Add the minced garlic to the sauce pan and cook for one minute.
        • Add the canned tomatoes and salt to the sauce pan. Mash the tomatoes with a masher or a wooden spoon.
        • Allow the sauce to cook down until the sandwiches go in the oven.
        • Add the heaving whipping cream and turn temperature to medium low. Stir occasionally.
        • When the sandwiches are done, remove the tomato dipping sauce from the heat and add to dipping bowl(s).

        Baked grilled cheese

        • Grate all cheeses (except the goat cheese), mix them together and set aside.
        • Line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
        • Butter one side of all slices of bread. Place one piece of bread with the buttered side down on the baking each for each sandwich.
        • Add about ½ cup of grated cheese to each sandwich (more if larger bread slices). For the goat cheese, crumble approximately 1 tablespoon on top of the grated cheese for each sandwich.
        • Top each sandwich with one slice of bread, buttered side up.
        • Bake for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven and flip each sandwich over. Bake for an additional 4-6 minutes until the tops are golden brown and the cheese is melted.
        • Cut the sandwiches in triangles, squares or strips. Serve with the dipping sauce.

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        Keyword Baked Grilled Cheese, Grilled Cheese Appetizer
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        Grey plate with appetizer size pieces of baked grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato dipping sauce with white appetizer plate with grilled cheese sandwich with bite taken out

        How to Build a Salad

        by 1 Comment

        A few simple instructions make building a delicious, fresh green salad at home super easy! Just pick one or more ingredients from each category and then chop, toss and serve!

        Photo of salad on plate. Salad is topped with green cabbage, red onions, tomatoes, carrots, orange bell pepper, avocados, pepita seeds, cilantro, pepper, soy sauce and olive oil. Little bowls of pepita seeds, oil and soy sauce in the background.

        I love huge green salads with layers of flavors! When I go out to eat, I like to order things that I can't or don't make at home. For a long time, I ordered a lot of salads because I just didn't know how to easily make a salad at home. Then I just decided to tackle making homemade salads head on. Since then, I've made hundreds and hundreds of salads. I eat some sort of salad every day, usually as part of my lunch. And, somewhere along the way, I realized there were categories of ingredients for salads. Once I realized this, it took all the uncertainty and guesswork out of making salads. I was able to make tons of different combinations just by picking one or more ingredients from each category. And now? Making homemade salads is super easy, and I look forward to them everyday!

        [feast_advanced_jump_to]

        1. How to build a salad: pick one or more leafy greens

        • Any single leaf lettuce
        • Spinach
        • Mixed spring greens (my current favorite!)
        • Arugula
        • Cabbage
        Photo of lettuce choices for building a salad: spring lettuce mix, arugula, spinach and cabbage

        2. Pick one or more root vegetables

        • Red onions
        • Carrots
        • Radishes
        • Turnips
        • Beets
        Photo of root vegetables choices for making a salad: sliced carrot, sliced red onion, sliced turnips and beets

        3. Pick one or more fruits

        • Cucumbers
        • Tomatoes
        • Avacadoes
        • Bell peppers (red, yellow or orange)
        Photo of fruit choices for making a salad: sliced cucumbers, diced cucumbers, halved cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, and sliced yellow bell peppers

        4. Pick one or more fresh herbs or microgreens

        • Cilantro
        • Basil
        • Dill
        • Microgreens such as cilantro, arugula or broccoli
        Photo of fresh herb choices for making a salad: chopped cilantro, chopped basil, broccoli micro greens and dill

        5. Pick one or more seeds

        • Pepitas (or pumpkin seeds)
        • Sunflower seeds
        • Sesame seeds
        • Hemp seeds
        Photo of seed choices for making a salad: pepitas, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds and sesame seeds

        6. Pick one oil

        • Olive oil
        • Sesame oil
        • Grapeseed oil
        • Any other neutral oil
        Photo of oil choices for making a salad: regular olive oil, sesame oil, grapeseed oil and roasted garlic olive oil

        7. Pick one acid

        • Balsamic vinegar
        • Soy sauce or tamari sauce (gluten free)
        • Lemons or limes
        Photo of acid choices for making a salad: lemons, limes, balsamic vinegar and tamari soy sauce

        Variations

        There are so many more options that you can use to build a salad at home:

        • Green vegetables - thinly sliced fresh asparagus, zucchini or green beans
        • Protein - grilled chicken, beef, salmon, boiled eggs, tofu or beans
        • Cheese - feta, goat cheese, blue cheese or fresh mozzarella
        • Nuts - walnuts, pecans, cashews, peanuts, almonds or pistachios
        • Berries - blueberries, strawberries, blackberries or raspberries
        • Additional toppings - dried fruits or croutons

        Meal Prep Salads

        Salads are awesome for meal prep! For lunches at work, I usually took a salad and some leftovers that I could heat up at work. For meal prep, line out your containers. Start with 2 handfuls of your leafy greens for each container. Then as you chop the ingredients from each category, add those ingredients straight to the containers. Don't worry about measuring, just use as much of each ingredient as looks good. You'll get the hang of it quickly after a few times. Add all the ingredients except for the dressing. Add the dressing on the day you will be eating the salad.

        Photo of salad in meal prep container with fork with two meal prep containers with salad in the background. Salad is topped with purple cabbage, cucumbers, carrots, tomato, yellow bell pepper, micro greens, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and dill.

        Storage

        Store any meal prep or leftover salad in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For meal prep salads, wait to add any dressing until the day you are eating the salad.

        Next Level Tips

        • I love to challenge myself at the grocery store to try new vegetables. It makes building and eating salads week after week more fun. Turnips, watermelon radishes, golden beets. There are so many options! And, as a bonus, root vegetables are usually not very expensive either.
        • Don't throw away leftover veggies, save them for your salads! Say you buy green onions for a recipe, but you don't need the green top parts. Chop them and save them for your salad. Or maybe you have extra asparagus or zucchini from the garden. Just thinly slice the veggies and add them to your next salad. Yes, I mean fresh, uncooked asparagus! Sliced thinly, it adds a perfect crunch and another layer of flavor to your salad!
        • Don't forget the seeds! Seeds are so healthy and salads are a perfect way to eat more seeds!
        Photo of salad on blue salad bowl. Salad is topped with tomatoes, red cabbage, turnips, carrots, micro greens, basil, pipits seeds, oil and lemon juice.

        FAQ

        Can I use premade salad dressing?

        Yes, you can use store bought salad dressing, but most are full of sugar and other yucky stuff. Skip them and save some money too! You don't even need to make your own vinaigrette. Just drizzle a little olive oil and an acid like a balsamic vinegar directly on to your salad. It works because there are so many other layers of flavors on this salad!

        Wait, soy sauce on a green salad?

        Yes! Soy sauce on salad is so, soooooo good. It adds a great umami flavor. I do suggest a reduced sodium soy or tamari sauce though. Also, don't add any additional salt on the salad if you are using soy sauce. Soy sauce and olive oil is my current favorite combination for salad dressing!

        What is tamari sauce?

        Tamari is a soy-based sauce that's been processed differently than regular soy sauce but tastes almost exactly like soy sauce. Tamari is typically gluten free, unlike regular soy sauce.

        I don't want to add oil to my salad. What else can I use as a dressing?

        You can use an acid without any oil. Frozen blueberries also work as a perfect salad dressing as they naturally juice themselves as they thaw. Room temperature, previously frozen blueberries add just enough liquid to use as a dressing. They are a low calorie and super healthy alternative to oil based salad dressings. And yummy too!

        Pairing

        These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:

        Photo of salad on blue salad bowl. Salad is topped with tomatoes, red cabbage, turnips, carrots, micro greens, basil, pipits seeds, oil and lemon juice.

        How to Build a Salad

        Tracy @ Next Level Baker
        Build a delicious green salad by picking one or more ingredients from each category and then just chop, toss and serve!
        5 from 1 vote
        Print Recipe Pin Recipe
        Prep Time 20 minutes
        Total Time 20 minutes
        Course Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
        Cuisine American
        Servings 1

        Ingredients
          

        • 2 cups (handfuls) leafy greens
        • ¼ cup pick one or more sliced root vegetables ex. carrots, red onions or beets
        • ¼ cup pick one or more diced fruits ex. tomato, cucumber or avocado
        • 1 tablespoon pick one or more seeds ex. pepitas, sunflower or sesame
        • 1 tablespoon pick one of more fresh herbs ex. cilantro, dill, or micro greens
        • ½ tablespoon pick one oil ex. olive oil, grapeseed oil or sesame
        • ½ tablespoon pick one acid ex. balsamic vinger, lemons or soy sauce
        • salt and pepper to taste

        Instructions
         

        • Start with 2 cups/handfuls of leafy greens in each salad bowl or meal prep container.
        • Choose one or more ingredients per category of root vegetables, fruits, fresh herbs and slice or dice. Layer each ingredient onto the salad bowl or meal prep container as you go. Sprinkle seed of choice on top.
        • Drizzle the oil lightly across the the salad. Drizzle the acid (balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, etc.) across the salad in the opposite direction.
        • Add salt and pepper to taste if so desired. (Do not add additional salt if using soy sauce in salad.)
        • Toss or lightly fluff with fork before serving or eating.

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        Close up photo of salad on plate. Salad is topped with green cabbage, red onions, tomatoes, carrots, orange bell pepper, avocados, pepita seeds, cilantro, pepper, soy sauce and olive oil

        Mini No Bake Lemon Cheesecake (Keto)

        by Leave a Comment

        These easy Keto Mini No Bake Lemon Cheesecakes are a perfect dessert for when you're craving a creamy dessert but don't want all the carbs. This four ingredient no bake cheesecake uses the tartness of lemon to balance the low carb sweetener to create the perfect easy, light and refreshing dessert.

        Close up photo of single serving jar of keto mini lemon cheesecake with additional jar of cheesecake in the background

        For many reasons, some of us can't have or don't want all the carbs of a regular cheesecake. However, personally, there is not an artificial sweetener that I truly love, love. So that's where the lemon comes in. The light lemon in this low carb cheesecake perfectly balances the aftertaste of many artificial sweeteners. Also, while regular baked cheesecakes use sugar as a sweetener, they also use sugar for structure and texture. So I strongly recommend going the no bake route when replacing the sugar. Plus, since this is a no bake cheesecake, we can fluff the batter to create a light and creamy texture that is divine. Then, we pour the batter into individual serving size jars or ramekins so that we don't have to worry about cutting the cheesecake before serving. Quick, easy and yummy!

        [feast_advanced_jump_to]

        Ingredients

        Ingredients needed to make keto mini lemon cheesecakes: cream cheese, heavy whipping cream artificial sweetener, lemon, salt and keto cookies.
        • Cream cheese
        • Heavy whipping cream
        • One-for-one powdered sugar replacement (such as Swerve brand)
        • Lemon
        • Salt (optional)
        • Gluten free keto cookies (optional)

        See recipe card for quantities.

        Substitutions

        • Lemon - if you don't like lemon, you can also use another acidic, tart fruit to cut the aftertaste of the artificial sweetener.
        • Heavy whipping cream - if you want a lower calorie dessert, you can substitute whole milk. However, it will have more of the texture of a fluff than a no bake cheesecake.
        Close up photo of two single serving jars of keto mini lemon cheesecake

        Variations

        If you ended up here looking for a regular, full carb no bake lemon cheesecake, you can replace the artificial sweetener with the same amount of regular powdered sugar. You can also mix the two if you are just starting to cut down on sugar.

        Equipment

        I highly recommend a hand or a stand mixer, but you could also whisk this no bake cheesecake by hand.

        Storage

        Store any extra mini keto no bake lemon cheesecake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.

        Next Level Tips

        • I love no bake cheesecakes for what they are: quick and light cheesecakes. In keeping with the quick and light theme, I love to put the 'crust' on top by breaking up some cookies, nuts or berries and putting them on top. Think of it like an upside down cheesecake where the crisp crust is already broken up for you but it just so happens to be on top. It works friends! As a bonus, it makes the cheesecakes prettier too!
        • If you don't want crisp cookies on top and also want to add a little extra lemony flavor, you can dip the cookies for the topping in additional lemon juice. Just squeeze an additional 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice into a bowl and dip the cookies in the lemon juice before crumbling and sprinkling on top of the cheesecake.
        Close up photo of keto mini lemon cheesecake on a spoon with a jar of cheesecake in the background

        FAQ

        What type of cookies should I use for the crust?

        Any cookie works on top! That's one of the big bonuses of putting the crust on top. That means you can use whatever cookie is in keeping with your diet or your guests' diets: regular cookies, gluten free cookies or keto cookies. They all work. I also sprinkle the cookies on just before serving so that regardless of the crisp cookie you choose, the cookie retains its crispiness.

        Do I have to use heavy whipping cream?

        If you are looking for a lower calorie version, you can use whole milk instead of the heavy whipping cream. It will just have more of a fluff texture than a no bake cheesecake texture.

        Why is there salt in this recipe?

        Salt is often used as a flavor enhancer. But in this cheesecake, we use it to balance out the sweetness of the artificial sugar. It's optional.

        Close up photo of single serving jar of keto mini lemon cheesecake

        Mini No Bake Lemon Cheesecake (Keto)

        Tracy @ Next Level Baker
        The richness of cream cheese is combined with the tartness of lemon and a low carb sweetener and then whipped and served in mini jars or ramekins for the ultimate quick and light dessert.
        Print Recipe Pin Recipe
        Prep Time 15 minutes
        Chill time 4 hours
        Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
        Course Dessert
        Cuisine American
        Servings 6

        Equipment

        • 1 Hand or stand mixer

        Ingredients
          

        • 16 ounces cream cheese room temperature
        • ½ cup one for one powdered sugar replacement artificial sweetener
        • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
        • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice* approximately 1-2 lemons
        • ¼ teaspoon salt optional
        • keto cookies for topping optional

        Instructions
         

        • Remove the cream cheese from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature.
        • Add the cream cheese to the mixing bowl and mix on medium until there are no lumps and it is soft and creamy.
        • Add the sweetener, lemon and salt to the mixing bowl and mix on medium until they are fully incorporated with the cream cheese.
        • Add the heavy whipping cream to the mixing bowl. If using a stand mixer, switch to the whisk attachment. Mix on high for one minute until light and fluffy.
        • Spoon into small ramekins or jars. Makes 6 four ounce servings (or 4 large six ounce servings).
        • Refrigerate the mini cheesecakes for at least 4 hours before serving.
        • Before serving, crumble 1-2 cookies per serving and and then sprinkle the cookies on top of each mini cheesecake.

        Notes

        For a light lemon flavor, use 2 tablespoons of fresh squeezed lemon juice. For a more lemony flavor, add an additional tablespoon of lemon juice. There are no raw eggs or flour, so you may taste the batter if you want to add additional lemon juice to taste. 

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        Keyword Mini keto no bake lemon cheesecake, mini low carb lemon cheesecake
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        Jar of keto mini lemon cheesecake next to a wooden spoon with lemons in the background

        Bourbon Sweet Potatoes

        by Leave a Comment

        Bourbon sweet potatoes are a classic Southern holiday side dish. A little bourbon and some warm spices elevate your sweet potatoes into a side dish that is decadent, nutty and comforting. Mashed bourbon sweet potatoes are perfect for fall holiday gatherings.

        Bourbon Sweet Potatoes garnished with pecans in a Crockpot

        Confession time: I've never liked marshmallows on my sweet potatoes. Marshmallows are great for s'mores, but on sweet potatoes? Not so much. Also, I don't like canned yams drowned in maple syrup either. So at holiday gatherings, the sweet potato side dish was the one I usually skipped. Until, one day, a friend introduced me to bourbon sweet potatoes. Not too sweet, and also warm with a depth of flavor. They were so good that I think I went back for thirds that first Thanksgiving. These baked mashed bourbon sweet potatoes quickly became a family favorite, so I've been making them ever since. Almost 20 years now!

        [feast_advanced_jump_to]

        Ingredients

        Photo of ingredients needs to make bourbon sweet potatoes: sweet potatoes, bourbon, butter, brown sugar, orange, pumpkin pie spice, salt and pecan pieces

        See recipe card for quantities.

        Substitutions

        • Bourbon - if you don't have bourbon, you can substitute a different type of whisky. If you don't have bourbon or whisky, then you can substitute 1 tablespoon of vanilla for a similar flavor profile. However, most extracts are alcohol based, so using vanilla does not eliminate the alcohol.
        • Pumpkin pie spice - if you don't have pumpkin pie spice already made, you can substitute ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon of cloves, ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger, ⅛ teaspoon of allspice and ⅛ teaspoon of nutmeg for the one teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice.
        • Pecans - pecans are the perfect nut for this recipe. However, you can substitute another favorite nut or leave them out entirely.
        Close up photo of bourbon sweet potatoes on a plate with a fork and garnished with pecan pieces

        Equipment

        You'll need a stand or hand mixer, or a hand masher, to mash the sweet potatoes.

        Storage

        Store any leftover mashed bourbon sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for for up to 5 days.

        Next Level Tips

        • Did you know that Crockpot brand inserts are typically oven safe (without the lid) up to 400 degrees? Learning this was a game-changer for me! For any baked side dishes that I want to keep warm, I bake it in the Crockpot insert and then put it straight into the Crockpot on warm. No more sad, cold sweet potatoes! It also means you can make these ahead of time which is always helpful when you're trying to pull a large holiday meal together.
        • You can buy little bags of finely chopped nut, but they are expensive. Instead, you could buy the larger pecan halves and pule them in a food processor for 30 seconds.
        Bourbon sweet potatoes in a crockpot insert on a cooling rack

        FAQ

        How do I make pumpkin pie spice?

        You can follow my homemade pumpkin pie spice recipe. Or for this bourbon sweet potato dish, you can substitute ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon of cloves, ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger, ⅛ teaspoon of allspice and ⅛ teaspoon of nutmeg for the one teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice.

        Do I have to boil the sweet potatoes first?

        No, you can also bake the sweet potatoes at 400 degrees for 30-45 minutes depending on the size of the sweet potatoes chunks. Bake them until the sweet potatoes are fork tender. Then proceed with the rest of the recipe.

        Can I use more Bourbon?

        Yes, this recipe can support up to ½ cup of Bourbon. After that, you're just better off drinking the Bourbon!

        Bourbon sweet potatoes on a plate with a fork and garnished with pecan pieces

        Pairing

        These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:

        Close up photo of bourbon sweet potatoes in a crockpot insert

        Bourbon Sweet Potaotes

        Tracy @ Next Level Baker
        Bourbon sweet potatoes combine the creaminess of mashed potatoes with warm spices and pecans to create a sweet yet deeply rich and indulgent side dish. Perfect for holiday gatherings!
        Print Recipe Pin Recipe
        Prep Time 15 minutes
        Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
        Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
        Course Side Dish
        Cuisine American
        Servings 12

        Ingredients
          

        • 4 pounds sweet potatoes (4 pounds = 4 large or 6 medium)
        • ½ cup salted butter
        • ⅓ cup brown sugar
        • 3 tablespoons bourbon
        • 2 tablespoons orange juice fresh squeezed or ready made
        • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice*
        • ½ teaspoon salt
        • ¼ cup pecan pieces (optional) chopped in small pieces

        Instructions
         

        • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cut the sweet potatoes into similar sized, large chunks. Carefully add the sweet potatoes to the boiling water. Boil until fork tender, approximately 30 minutes.
        • Remove the sweet potatoes to a strainer. Allow the sweet potatoes to cool. Once cooled, remove the skins from sweet potatoes.
        • Add the sweet potatoes to a mixing bowl and use a stand or hand mixer to mash. [Or you can also use a hand masher to mash the sweet potatoes.]
        • Add all the other ingredients, except the pecan pieces, to the mixing bowl and combine with the sweet potatoes.
        • Preheat the oven to 350℉.
        • Spray a baking dish (6-8 cups) or crockpot insert with cooking spray. Add the sweet potatoes to the baking dish.
        • Sprinkle the pecan pieces around the edges for a pretty look. [Most often, I just cover half of the dish with pecan pieces so that there is half with nuts and half without.]
        • Bake for 45 minutes.

        Notes

        If you don't have pumpkin pie spice already made, you can substitute:
        • ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
        • ¼ teaspoon of cloves
        • ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger
        • ⅛ teaspoon of allspice
        • ⅛ teaspoon of nutmeg 

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        Close up photo of bourbon sweet potatoes in a crockpot insert

        Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

        by Leave a Comment

        Chewy ginger molasses cookies are a perfect balance between sweet and spicy. The rich, deep flavor of molasses is complimented by the ginger, cinnamon and cloves creating a warm and spicy yet sweet cookie. Perfect for the holidays or a fall treat!

        11 chewy ginger molasses cookies on a cooling rack. Some with bites taken out.

        This chewy ginger molasses cookie is basically my mom's ginger snap recipe that's been slightly altered. My family loves, loves, loves the flavors of ginger and molasses in a cookie. But the snap part? Not so much. Yes, ginger snaps are perfect for dunking in coffee. However, I think as an American society, we're just not a society of dunkers anymore. I loved living in Europe and ordering coffee at a cafe and receiving my coffee in a real cup with a little hard cookie next to it. Maybe we should bring dunking back here too? But, until then, I'll take my cookies chewy, thank you.

        [feast_advanced_jump_to]

        Ingredients

        • Vegetable shortening
        • White sugar + rolling sugar
        • Molasses
        • Egg
        • All purpose flour
        • Baking soda
        • Bsking powder
        • Salt
        • Cinnamon
        • Cloves
        • Ginger

        See recipe card for quantities.

        Variations

        • Vegan - vegetable shortening cookie recipes are among the easiest to switch to vegan since there is no butter that needs substituting. For the egg, you can make a flax egg or use an egg replacer like Bob Mill's. [For one flax egg, mix 1 tablespoon of flaxseed meal and 3 tablespoons of water and let sit for 10 minutes]. Also,make sure to use organic sugar.

        Equipment

        A hand held or stand mixer is helpful for this cookies.

        close up photo of 5 chewy ginger molasses cookies stacked on a plate

        Storage

        Store the chewy ginger molasses cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days. These cookies can be frozen up to 3 months as well.

        Next Level Tips

        • For chewy cookies, bake at 350 degrees. For medium cookies, make at 375 degrees. For hard ginger snaps, bake at 400 degrees.
        • If you want darker colored cookies, use a dark molasses instead of regular molasses.
        • These make great gifts for neighbors and awesome potluck contributions. Everyone loves ginger molasses cookies!

        FAQ

        What if I want harder cookies?

        With this recipe, you can adjust the temperature to get a harder cookie. For a medium cookie, bake at 375 degrees. For hard ginger snaps, bake at 400 degrees.

        top view of stack of chewy ginger molasses cookies with some additional cookies in the background

        Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

        Close up photo of stack of chewy ginger molasses cookies on a pedestal

        Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

        Tracy @ Next Level Baker
        Chewy ginger molasses cookies are a perfect balance between sweet and spicy. The rich, deep flavor of molasses is complimented by the ginger, cinnamon and cloves for a yummy holiday treat.
        Print Recipe Pin Recipe
        Prep Time 20 minutes
        Cook Time 30 minutes
        Total Time 50 minutes
        Course Dessert
        Cuisine American
        Servings 36

        Equipment

        • 1 Stand or hand mixer

        Ingredients
          

        • ¾ cup vegetable shortening
        • 1 cup sugar
        • ¼ cup molasses regular or dark
        • 1 egg beaten
        • 2 cups all purpose flour
        • 2 teaspoons baking soda
        • ¼ teaspoon salt
        • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
        • 1 teaspoon cloves
        • 1 teaspoon ginger
        • ¼ cup sugar for rolling

        Instructions
         

        • Preheat oven to 350℉. Line the baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
        • Add the all purpose flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and ginger to a small bowl. Stir well and set aside.
        • Cream the vegetable shortening and one cup white sugar together in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer.
        • Add the molasses and beaten egg to the mixing bowl and mix well.
        • Add the flour mixture to the mixing bowl in two batches. Mix well after each addition.
        • Put ¼ cup white sugar (or organic sugar for larger crystals) into a small bowl.
        • Roll the dough into small balls. [For small cookies, I like to use a small cookie scoop.] Dip the balls into the sugar and place on the cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
        • Bake for 9-10 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet for a few minutes before moving to a cooling rack. Makes approximately 36-42 cookies.

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        5 chewy ginger molasses cookies stacked on a small pedestal

        Colored Cookie Dough Sugar Cookies

        by Leave a Comment

        Colored cookie dough sugar cookies are a vibrant and fun twist on traditional sugar cookies. They are perfect for holidays, themed events and special celebrations or any time you want to add a little color pop to your cookies. The colored dough is so vibrant that you won't want to cover it up with frosting.

        Serving platter with colored cookie dough sugar cookies

        My daughter and I developed these cookies over 10 years ago. It came out of a time period where she become more interested in baking, I was looking to cut down on the mess, and Santa was trying to eat a little healthier. They are so fun and colorful that we didn't want to cover them up with frosting. But, also, these colored sugar cookies didn't need any frosting! They are sweet enough with out any messy frosting. And no vacuuming up sprinkles for weeks! So this recipe has been one of our must make Christmas cookies ever since. It's super fun to see how creative kids (and adults too!) get in rolling out their cookies and adding little details on top of their cookies as well. But, this colored cookie dough recipe isn't just for Christmas cookies, you can also use this recipe for any holiday, any special occasion or themed event, or any time you want to add a little extra fun in kitchen.

        Two colored cookie dough cookies with bites taken out on a plate that says "Cookies for Santa"
        [feast_advanced_jump_to]

        Ingredients

        Ingredients to make colored cookie dough sugar cookies
        • All purpose flour
        • White sugar
        • Salted butter
        • Eggs
        • Baking soda
        • Baking powder
        • Vanilla extract
        • Almond extract
        • Salt
        • Gel food coloring

        Substitutions

        I like the balance of both almond and vanilla extracts. But if you don't have almond extract, you can substitute more vanilla extract. Or vice versa. Or experiment with other extracts to match your colored cookie dough theme.

        Equipment

        A stand or hand mixer will make these colored cookie dough sugar cookies much easier to make.

        Photo of six colored cookie dough sugar cut out cookies on parchment paper on a cookie sheet

        Storage

        Store these no frosting colored sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 weeks or freeze them for up to 3 months.

        Next Level Tips

        • If you're using artificial food coloring, use gel food coloring. Gel food coloring will produce the most vibrant colors. Use only as much as you need as some brands have a bit of an aftertaste. I used Wilton brand colors for these colored cookie dough cookies. The colors used in the photos were Leaf Green, Royal Blue and Christmas Red. You can see that red doesn't get you true red, but still it's a pretty pink-red.
        Pictures of raw colored cookie dough in balls. Red, blue and green balls

        FAQ

        What kind of food coloring should I use?

        So, I'm no fan of food coloring. I'm the one that adds spinach for green and berries for purple. However, this recipe is where I make the exception. I highly recommend using a gel food coloring. You'll get a more vibrant color while using less product. I use Wilton brand gel coloring for these cookies. However, Americolor and Chefmaster brands are also readily available on Amazon. Also, most craft stores like Hobby Lobby or Michaels also have a baking section where you can buy gel food coloring.

        Can I make the dough the day before?

        Yes! That's a great way to work ahead. The dough needs to chill for a minimum of 2 hours but can be chilled overnight. You will need to let the dough sit out just until it's workable. Roll out the dough while it's still chilled.

        Can I use this recipe for sliced cookies?

        Yes, roll the colors into a log about 2 to 2 and ½ inches in diameter before chilling. Once the dough has chilled, cut into slices that are ¼ inch thick and continue with the baking instructions.

        Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

        Close up photo of teddy bear colored cookie dough sugar cookie on top of other colored

        Colored Cookie Dough Sugar Cookies

        Tracy @ Next Level Baker
        Colored cookie dough sugar cookies are a fun and super easy way to make holiday cookies or themed cookies. They are sweet just the way they are. No frosting needed!
        Print Recipe Pin Recipe
        Prep Time 30 minutes
        Cook Time 40 minutes
        Chilling Time 2 hours
        Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes
        Course Dessert
        Cuisine American

        Equipment

        • 1 Stand or hand mixer

        Ingredients
          

        • 3 ½ cups all purpose flour
        • ¼ teaspoon salt or ½ teaspoon if using unsalted butter
        • ½ teaspoon baking soda
        • ½ teaspoon baking powder
        • 1 cup salted butter softened
        • 1 cup white sugar
        • 2 eggs
        • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
        • 1 teaspoon almond extract

        Instructions
         

        • Combine the all purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Stir well and set aside.
        • Combine the softened butter and sugar and mix with stand mixer (or hand mixer) on medium speed until light and fluffy.
        • Add the eggs, vanilla extract and almond extra to the mixing bowl and mix on medium speed until mostly combined.
        • Add the flour mixture to the mixing bowl about a third at a time. Mix on medium until combined.
        • Separate the dough into balls by how many different colors you want to use. [I usually do three, but you can do more or less.]
        • Next, put the first ball and a small amount of food coloring back into the mixing bowl. Mix until the color is completely combined. If needed, add more coloring until the desired color is reached. Thoroughly wash the mixing bowl before repeating with the next color. [Alternatively, you can color the dough by hand. Put on kitchen gloves. Work the food coloring in by kneading the dough in your hands. Continue adding color until desired color is reached. Wash your gloved hands thoroughly. Repeat with next color.]
        • If you're making cut out cookies, cover each dough ball separately with plastic wrap and chill for two hours. If you want slice and bake cookies, pieces together the colored dough as desired and roll into a 2 to 2.5 inch log.
        • Preheat the oven to 400℉.
        • Remove the dough from refrigerator. Prepare the cookie sheets with parchment paper, if desired. The cookies have enough butter that they do not stick.
        • For cut out cookies, take chunks from the desired colors and roll out. How you roll the dough will determine if colors stay separate or blend together. It's a personal preference. Have fun! Use little to no flour as it affects the color, and it's not necessary. Use cookie cutters to make desired shapes.
        • Place the cookies two inches apart on a cookie sheet. As soon as a cookie sheet is full, place it in the oven.
        • If the dough starts to warm up, place it back in the refrigerator. You can also place scraps back in the refrigerator to use at the end.
        • Bake 5-6 minutes. Tops will not look done, but the bottoms will be lightly browned. You don't want the tops of the cookies to brown as that will affect the color. Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet. They will firm up as they cool.

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        Keyword Colored Cookie Dough, Colored Sugar Cookies
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        Close up photo of teddy bear colored cookie dough sugar cookie on top of other colored sugar cookies

        Lemon Raspberry Sweet Rolls

        by Leave a Comment

        Lemon raspberry sweet rolls combine tangy citrus with sweet raspberries and a fluffy dough to make a wonderfully balanced breakfast treat. Real raspberries are used throughout including the frosting for a vibrant and happy look to match the flavor. They are a unique option when you're craving something sweet and tangy for breakfast.

        Side view of lemon raspberry sweet roll on a plate with another roll in the background

        I love fresh picked lemons. And where I live, they ripen in abundance in November and December. So I love when my neighbors have lots and lots of extra lemons. I always make homemade lemon curd and use some for vinaigrette and tea. But I love trying new recipes too. I've had lemon raspberry sweet rolls in my head all year just waiting for lemon season. I love how it turned out too!

        [feast_advanced_jump_to]

        Ingredients

        • All purpose flour
        • White sugar
        • Whole milk
        • Salted butter
        • Eggs
        • Lemon zest and lemon juice
        • Dried lemon peel (optional)
        • Active dry yeast
        • Salt
        • Powdered Sugar
        • Cream Cheese
        • Raspberries

        See recipe card for quantities.

        Substitutions

        • Berries - if you have a different favorite berry like blueberries or blackberries, you could easily substitute a different berry.
        • Citrus - you could also substitute a different citrus fruit, such as oranges, in place of the lemons.

        Variations

        There are so many different types of sweet rolls. A few of my other favorites are:

        • Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
        • Chocolate Sweet Rolls with Espresso Frosting
        • Vegan substitutions - For the eggs, you can substitute homemade flax eggs or use an egg replacer like Bob Mill's. [For three flax eggs, mix three tablespoon of flaxseed meal and nine tablespoons of water and let sit for 10 minutes]. For the butter, use your favorite plant based butter. My current favorite is Miyoko's Plant Milk Butter, but it's not always easy to find. Most grocery stores now carry some version of plant based butter like Earth Balance or Country Crock. For the milk, substitute your favorite plant based milk. I recommend oat milk for a neutral milk when baking. For the heavy cream, you can substitute plant based heavy cream (Trader Joe's is the best I've tried so far), or use a little less of a plant based milk. And, of course, use vegan sugar.
        Top view of pan of lemon raspberry sweet rolls with one missing

        EQUIPMENT

        It is easiest to use a stand mixer or hand held mixer to make these sweet rolls.

        STORAGE

        Store the lemon raspberry sweet rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days or in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. To warm up the sweet rolls on day 2 or thereafter, just microwave them for 15-20 seconds. Not long, just enough to warm them up!

        Next Level Tips

        • Use fresh lemons and fresh raspberries whenever possible! You can use frozen raspberries, but they thaw quickly so they are super messy so I don't recommend it.
        • Make these sweet rolls with the lemon peels you have leftover after making homemade lemon curd!
        View of sweet dough rolled out with lemon sugar and raspberries sprinkled on top

        FAQ

        Why salted butter?

        Please see my post on Salted vs. Unsalted Butter.

        How do I cut the sweet roll log into individual sweet rolls?

        There are three popular methods for cutting the log into the sweet rolls: the serrated (or very sharp knife) method, the dental floss method and the pizza cutter method.

        The serrated knife or very sharp knife method. Use a serrated knife or a very sharp knife to cut the log into rolls.

        The dental floss method. Break off a long string of (non-flavored!) dental floss and slide the floss underneath the log roll where you want to make a cut. Make sure the log is in the center of the string of floss and bring the two sides of floss together to meet each other. Then put the floss pieces into the opposite hands, cross the floss over each other across the top of the roll and pull each side until it cuts through the log. Repeat for each roll.

        The pizza cutter method. Use a pizza cutter and make 9-12 individual cuts. Roll each strip up separately. This method can be messy, so you'll need to make an extra effort to roll the rolls tightly.

        Can I make these ahead of time?

        Absolutely! To make these ahead of time, follow the instructions up through the Filling Instructions #7. Immediately after cutting the sweet rolls and placing them in the pan, cover the pan and place it in the refrigerator. The following day, take out the pan and let it sit covered on the counter to come to room temperature, approximately one hour. Remove the cover and continue with the baking instructions.

        Side view of lemon raspberry sweet roll on a plate

        Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

        Top view of lemon raspberry sweet roll on a plate

        Lemon Raspberry Sweet Rolls

        Tracy @ Next Level Baker
        Lemon raspberry sweet rolls combine citrusy tang, sweet berries and fluffy dough for the perfect light and fruity twist on a classic breakfast favorite.
        Print Recipe Pin Recipe
        Prep Time 30 minutes
        Cook Time 30 minutes
        Rise Time 3 hours
        Total Time 4 hours
        Course Breakfast
        Cuisine American
        Servings 12

        Equipment

        • 1 Stand or hand mixer

        Ingredients
          

        Dough

        • ¾ cup whole milk
        • 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
        • ¼ cup white sugar
        • 8 tablespoons salted butter room temperature
        • 3 eggs room temperature
        • 4 ½ cups all purpose flour (4½ cups = 540 grams)
        • 1 teaspoon salt (add ⅛ teaspoon extra if using unsalted butter)
        • Zest from 1 lemon
        • 1 teaspoon dried lemon peel optional*

        Filling

        • 2 tablespoons butter very soft
        • ½ cup white sugar
        • 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
        • Zest from 1 lemon
        • 1 pint rasperries set aside ⅓ cup for frosting

        Frosting

        • 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
        • 2 tablespoons salted butter room temperature
        • 3 cups powdered sugar
        • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
        • ⅓ cup fresh raspberries mashed
        • ¼ teaspoon salt

        Instructions
         

        Dough

        • Take out the butter and eggs to bring them to room temperature.
        • Heat the milk in microwave until warm 105℉ - 110℉. [It's best to use a kitchen thermometer if you have one.] Add the warm milk, yeast and a little of the white sugar to the mixer bowl. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
        • Add the flour and salt to a small bowl and set aside.
        • Add the rest of the sugar, the softened butter and the eggs to the mixing bowl. Mix on low speed until the eggs are incorporated. The butter will not incorporate at this stage, which is normal.
        • Add the flour and salt mixture to the mixing bowl in three to four different stages. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl after each addition and then mix on a low speed until the flour has been incorporated. Repeat until all flour has been added.
        • After the flour has been incorporated, switch to the dough hook and knead on low speed for 5 minutes.
        • Spray a large bowl (or reuse the mixing bowl) with cooking spray. The dough is sticky and that's normal. Let the dough rise in a covered bowl for a total of two hours. After one hour, knead the dough using the stretch and fold method. If you're familiar with this method, do it in the bowl. If this is your first time, take the dough out of the bowl and set on a floured surface. Take a hold of a large piece of dough at the 12 position, stretch it away from your body, and then fold it back toward the middle of the dough ball. Rotate the ball ⅛ to ¼ of a turn and repeat the stretch out and fold back motions. Keep repeating until you have gone around 2 times and the dough becomes less stretchy. You DO NOT have to do this, BUT it does make the rolls more fluffy and soft. Put the dough back in the bowl to rise for another hour. So, the total rise time is two hours with the optional stretch and fold after one hour.

        Filling

        • Spray the 9x13 pan (or large round pan) with cooking spray and set aside.
        • After the dough has risen for the two hours, put it on a floured surface and roll it out into a 12 x 18 inch rectangle. [If the dough is ever resistant, let it rest for 10 minutes. Don't overwork the dough trying to roll it out. It should roll out easily.]
        • Brush 2 tablespoons of very soft butter on to the dough with a pastry or silicone brush. You want to use very soft but not melted butter. Think of the butter as the glue that will hold the lemon sugar mixture to the dough. You can also use your fingers or a knife to spread the butter.
        • Mix the white sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest in a small bowl until combined.
        • Sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly over the dough and lightly press it in.
        • Set aside ⅓ cup of raspberries for frosting and sprinkle rest of raspberries evenly over sugar mixture. I like to tear the raspberries first to spread them out.
        • Starting with the long side, roll the dough into a tight log.
        • Cut the dough into 9-12 pieces. I use 9 pieces for a large round pan or 12 pieces for a 9x13 pan.
        • Add the cut sweet rolls into your sprayed pan of choice, cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and let rise for one hour. [For overnight rolls, cover and place directly in to the refrigerator. Remove next day and let sit on the counter for one hour to get to room temperature prior to baking.]

        Baking

        • Preheat oven to 350 ℉.
        • Bake the sweet rolls uncovered for 27-32 minutes. Check them at 27 minutes. [If you made overnight rolls, they could take longer if they were colder to start with.] They will be lightly golden brown on top.
        • When you remove the sweet rolls from the oven, start making the frosting.

        Frosting

        • Put the softened cream cheese and softened butter in to a mixing bowl and mix with the whisk attachment until thoroughly combined and fluffy.
        • Add the powdered sugar, mashed raspberries, lemon juice and salt to the mixing bowl and mix until light and fluffy. It will only take a few minutes.
        • When the sweet rolls are still hot, spread a very thin layer of frosting on every part of the outer layer of the sweet rolls. It will melt, and that's perfect. It softens the outer layer of the lightly browned rolls.
        • Once the sweet rolls have cooled for at least 20 minutes, spread the rest of the frosting on the rolls. If you are not serving them warm, wait until they have completely cooled to frost them.

        Notes

        *The dried lemon peel is optional. It just makes the dough more lemony. 

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        Keyword Lemon Raspberry Sweet Rolls
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        Top view of lemon raspberry sweet roll on plate with pan of sweet rolls in the background

        Chocolate Sweet Rolls with Espresso Frosting

        by Leave a Comment

        Chocolate sweet rolls with espresso frosting are perfect for whenever you're craving a cinnamon roll and chocolate at the same time. They truly are the best of both words. And the espresso frosting is the perfect finishing touch that will take your chocolate sweet rolls to the next level.

        Chocolate sweet roll with espresso frosting on plate with pan of chocolate sweet rolls in background

        I've become the cinnamon roll lady. If the family is having brunch, I'm assigned to bring cinnamon rolls. Honestly, my homemade cinnamon rolls are my very favorite sweet roll, and they are easy enough to make. But, sometimes, I crave something just a bit different than the classic cinnamon rolls. The first time I brought these chocolate sweet rolls to a family gathering, I also brought my classic cinnamon rolls as I was worried about a rebellion. But, it turned out, I had worried for nothing. Everyone loved these chocolate sweet rolls with espresso frosting! Now I get requests for these too!

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        Dough and filling ingredients

        Ingredients for dough and filling for Chocolate Sweet Rolls
        • All purpose flour
        • White sugar
        • Brown sugar
        • Whole milk
        • Salted butter
        • Eggs
        • Cocoa powder
        • Cinnamon
        • Active dry yeast
        • Salt

        See recipe card for quantities

        Frosting ingredients

        Ingredients to make espresso frosting
        • Cream cheese
        • Salted butter
        • Powdered Sugar
        • Espresso powder
        • Vanilla
        • Salt

        Variations

        There are so many different types of sweet rolls. A few of my other favorites are:

        • Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
        • Lemon Raspberry Rolls
        • Vegan substitutions - For the eggs, you can substitute homemade flax eggs or use an egg replacer like Bob Mill's. [For three flax eggs, mix three tablespoon of flaxseed meal and nine tablespoons of water and let sit for 10 minutes]. For the butter, use your favorite plant based butter. My current favorite is Miyoko's Plant Milk Butter, but it's not always easy to find. Most grocery stores now carry some version of plant based butter like Earth Balance or Country Crock. For the milk, substitute your favorite plant based milk. I recommend oat milk for a neutral milk when baking. For the heavy cream, you can substitute plant based heavy cream (Trader Joe's is the best I've tried so far), or use a little less of a plant based milk. And, of course, use vegan sugar.

        Equipment

        It is easiest to use a stand mixer or hand held mixer to make these sweet rolls.

        Storage

        Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days or in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. To warm up the chocolate sweet rolls on day 2 or thereafter, just microwave them for 15-20 seconds. Not long, just enough to warm them up!

        Next Level Tips

        • Use a high-quality cocoa powder. My all time favorite cocoa powder is the Valrhona brand unsweetened cocoa powder. It's simply the best! It is sold on Amazon, but it can be pricey. Another place to buy it is from the Whole Foods bulk section. I know, I know. But also, not everything at Whole Foods is super expensive. In fact, it's cheaper than Amazon, and the great thing about bulk sections is that you can buy as small of quantity as you want. However, if you order through Whole Foods via Amazon, then you'll currently need to buy a minimum of ¼ pound. Plenty for this recipe and future recipes!
        • Espresso powder. Buying ready made espresso powder is expensive and not necessary. I use the espresso powder straight out of my espresso machine. Yes, I'm one of those people who bought an espresso machine to save on coffee. I love it, and it's saved a ton of money. If you have a coffee grinder, you can grind some beans into the finest powder. You can even use a fine instant coffee. Starbucks brand single instant coffee packets are usually a fine grind. Yes, you have permission to raid your camping stash if need be!
        • Always weigh your flour and use the equivalent weight for the brand you are using. If you don't have a kitchen scale or don't want to weigh your flour, then use the fluff and scoop method. Fluff the flour in the container, and then lightly scoop the flour in to the measuring cup.
        Close up of chocolate sweet rolls in pan

        FAQ

        Why salted butter?

        Please see my post on Salted vs. Unsalted Butter.

        How do I cut the sweet roll log into individual sweet rolls?

        There are three popular methods for cutting the log into the sweet rolls: the serrated (or very sharp knife) method, the dental floss method and the pizza cutter method.

        The serrated knife or very sharp knife method. Use a serrated knife or a very sharp knife to cut the log into rolls.

        The dental floss method. Break off a long string of (non-flavored!) dental floss and slide the floss underneath the log roll where you want to make a cut. Make sure the log is in the center of the string of floss and bring the two sides of floss together to meet each other. Then put the floss pieces into the opposite hands, cross the floss over each other across the top of the roll and pull each side until it cuts through the log. Repeat for each roll.

        The pizza cutter method. Use a pizza cutter and make 9-12 individual cuts. Roll each strip up separately. This method can be messy, so you'll need to make an extra effort to roll the rolls tightly.

        Can I make these ahead of time?

        Absolutely! To make these ahead of time, follow the instructions up through the Filling Instructions #7. Immediately after cutting the sweet rolls and placing them in the pan, cover the pan and place it in the refrigerator. The following day, take out the pan and let it sit covered on the counter to come to room temperature, approximately one hour. Remove the cover and continue with the baking instructions.

        45 degree overhead view of a partial baking pan of chocolate sweet rolls with espresso frosting

        Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

        Chocolate sweet roll with espresso frosting on plate

        Chocolate Sweet Rolls with Espresso Frosting

        Tracy @ Next Level Baker
        Chocolate sweet rolls combine a light, fluffy dough with a gooey chocolatey filling and are topped with an espresso frosting that adds a layer of flavor while complimenting the chocolate. They are a yummy and unique addition to a special breakfast or brunch.
        Print Recipe Pin Recipe
        Prep Time 30 minutes
        Cook Time 30 minutes
        Rise time 3 hours
        Total Time 4 hours
        Course Breakfast
        Cuisine American
        Servings 12

        Equipment

        • 1 Stand mixer or hand mixer

        Ingredients
          

        Dough

        • ¾ cup whole milk
        • 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
        • ¼ cup white sugar
        • 8 tablespoons salted butter room temperature
        • 3 eggs room temperature
        • 4½ cups all purpose flour (4 ½ cups = 540 grams)
        • 1 teaspoon salt (add ⅛ teaspoon extra if using unsalted butter)

        Filling

        • 2 tablespoons butter very soft
        • ½ cup brown sugar
        • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
        • 1 teaspoon cinnamon optional

        Frosting

        • 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
        • 2 tablespoons salted butter room temperature
        • 2 cups powdered sugar
        • 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
        • 1½ teaspoons espresso powder
        • 1 teaspoon vanilla
        • ¼ teaspoon salt

        Instructions
         

        Dough

        • Take out the butter and eggs to bring them to room temperature.
        • Heat the milk in microwave until warm 105℉ - 110℉. [It's best to use a kitchen thermometer if you have one.] Add the warm milk, yeast and a little of the white sugar to the mixer bowl. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
        • Add the flour and salt to a small bowl and set aside.
        • Add the rest of the sugar, the softened butter and the eggs to the mixing bowl. Mix on low speed until the eggs are incorporated. The butter will not incorporate at this stage, which is normal.
        • Add the flour and salt mixture to the mixing bowl in three to four different stages. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl after each addition and then mix on a low speed until the flour has been incorporated. Repeat until all flour has been added.
        • After the flour has been incorporated, switch to the dough hook and knead on low speed for 5 minutes.
        • Spray a large bowl (or reuse the mixing bowl) with cooking spray. The dough is sticky and that's normal. Let the dough rise in a covered bowl for a total of two hours. After one hour, knead the dough using the stretch and fold method. If you're familiar with this method, do it in the bowl. If this is your first time, take the dough out of the bowl and set on a floured surface. Take a hold of a large piece of dough at the 12 position, stretch it away from your body, and then fold it back toward the middle of the dough ball. Rotate the ball ⅛ to ¼ of a turn and repeat the stretch out and fold back motions. Keep repeating until you have gone around 2 times and the dough becomes less stretchy. You DO NOT have to do this, BUT it does make the rolls more fluffy and soft. Put the dough back in the bowl to rise for another hour. So, the total rise time is two hours with the optional stretch and fold after one hour.

        Filling

        • Spray the 9x13 pan (or large round pan) with cooking spray and set aside.
        • After the dough has risen for the two hours, put it on a floured surface and roll it out into a 12 x 18 inch rectangle. [If the dough is ever resistant, let it rest for 10 minutes. Don't overwork the dough trying to roll it out. It should roll out easily.]
        • Brush 2 tablespoons of very soft butter on to the dough with a pastry or silicone brush. You want to use very soft but not melted butter. Think of the butter as the glue that will hold the brown sugar chocolate mixture to the dough. You can also use your fingers or a knife to spread the butter.
        • Mix the brown sugar, cocoa powder and cinnamon together in a small bowl until the cocoa powder and cinnamon are incorporated into the brown sugar.
        • Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture evenly over the dough and lightly press it in.
        • Starting with the long side, roll the dough into a tight log.
        • Cut the dough into 9-12 pieces. I use 9 pieces for a large round pan or 12 pieces for a 9x13 pan. Use your favorite cutting method. If you aren't sure how to cut the roll, see my FAQ section for different cutting methods.
        • Add the cut sweet rolls into your sprayed pan of choice, cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and let rise for one hour. [For overnight rolls, cover and place directly in to the refrigerator. Remove next day and let sit on the counter for one hour to get to room temperature prior to baking.]

        Baking

        • Preheat oven to 350 ℉.
        • Bake the sweet rolls uncovered for 27-32 minutes. Check them at 27 minutes. [If you made overnight rolls, they could take longer if they were colder to start with.] They will be lightly golden brown on top.
        • When you remove the sweet rolls from the oven, start making the frosting.

        Frosting

        • Put the softened cream cheese and softened butter in to a mixing bowl and mix until thoroughly combined and fluffy.
        • Combine espresso powder with heavy cream in small bowl so that some of the espresso powder dissolves.
        • Add the powdered sugar, heavy whipping cream and espresso mixture, salt and vanilla to the mixing bowl and mix until light and fluffy. It takes less than two minutes.
        • When the sweet rolls are still hot, spread a very thin layer of frosting on every part of the outer layer of the sweet rolls. It will melt, and that's perfect. It softens the outer layer of the lightly browned rolls.
        • Once the sweet rolls have cooled for at least 20 minutes, spread the rest of the frosting on the rolls. If you are not serving them warm, wait until they have completely cooled to frost them.

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        Keyword Chocolate Sweet Rolls, Chocolate Sweet Rolls with Espresso Frosting
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        Close up view of a chocolate sweet roll with espresso frosting

        Homemade Lemon Curd

        by 2 Comments

        Homemade lemon curd is a rich, creamy spread that perfectly balances sweetness with citrusy tanginess. It's simple yet decadent. And it's the perfect bright addition to scones, cookies, pancakes, cheesecakes and any sweet treat.

        Close up view of jar of lemon curd

        Yes, you could buy lemon curd in the store, but it's one of those foods where there is simply no comparison between store-bought and homemade. Homemade lemon curd takes lemon curd to a whole nother level. It's extra bright, extra tangy, extra lemony and the perfect lemon addition to your baked goods or brunch table. It''s the 's a great recipe for when your neighbor drops off a bunch of lemons. And it's super easy.

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        Ingredients

        Ingredients to make lemon curd: lemons, eggs, sugar and butter

        See recipe card for quantities.

        Variations

        This recipe works well with other citrusy fruits too, not just lemons!

        Equipment

        You'll need a double boiler (or a regular pan) and a whisk. Some people say they get a metallic taste when they use a stainless steel pan or whisk. I've never experiences this and I've certainly used stainless steel pans and whisks. But, to be safe, use a non-metal pan and whisk to avoid an unintended chemical reaction between the acid in the lemons and the metals.

        Lemon curd on scones with raspberries sprinkled around on a plate

        Storage

        Store the homemade lemon curd in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10-14 days.

        Next Level Tips

        • Use fresh picked lemons for lemon curd that's simply out of this world! I make homemade lemon curd whenever my neighbors have fresh lemons. If it's not the right time of year for fresh lemons or you don't have access to them, the next best option would be organic lemons.
        • For a brighter colored lemon curd, use organic or fresh eggs as the yolks are darker in color.
        • Use a non-metal pan and whisk to avoid an unintentional reaction between the acid in the lemons and the metals.

        FAQ

        Do I have to use a double boiler?

        No, just make sure to heat on medium low to low and whisk continually to avoid any egg cooking on the sides of the pan.

        Close up view of jar of lemon curd

        Homemade Lemon Curd

        Tracy @ Next Level Baker
        Homemade lemon curd is sweet and tangy, and also rich and creamy. It's the perfect combination to elevate and brighten your favorite baked goods and brunch table.
        5 from 1 vote
        Print Recipe Pin Recipe
        Prep Time 5 minutes
        Cook Time 10 minutes
        Cooling Time 1 hour 30 minutes
        Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
        Course Dessert
        Cuisine American

        Ingredients
          

        • ½ cup lemon juice fresh squeezed
        • ½ cup white sugar
        • 4 egg yolks
        • 4 tablespoons salted butter cubed and softened

        Instructions
         

        • Remove the butter from refrigerator, cut into cubes and allow it to warm up. Separate the yolks from the eggs and set aside.
        • Use a non-metal double boiler on high, add water in bottom pan up to one inch lower than the top pan and bring water to a boil. [Alternatively, use a regular pan on medium low heat.]
        • Add the lemon juice, white sugar and egg yolks to the top pan of the double boiler (or a regular pan on medium low heat).
        • Whisk together with a silicone whisk until combined. Whisk occasionally as the curd starts to heat and continually once it heats up. If the mixture starts to foam, turn the heat down. Make sure to get the sides of the pan with the whisk so that the egg does not cook on the edges.
        • Cook and whisk continually until the lemon curd has thickened to the consistency of runny pudding or hollandaise sauce. It will take 7-10 minutes.
        • Remove from heat and stir in butter. Whisk until all butter has melted and combined.
        • Strain the lemon curd through a strainer into a storage or serving jar.
        • Cool to room temperature and then place in the refridgerator for one hour. The lemon curd will continue to thicken as it cools.

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        Photo from above of jar of lemon curd

        Peppernut Cookies (Pfeffernusse or Pepernoten)

        by Leave a Comment

        Peppernut cookies are small spiced cookies that are traditional holiday cookies originating from Northern Europe. In the Netherlands, they are called Pepernoten. And in Germany, they are called Pfeffernusse. The Engligh translation is Peppernuts.

        Close up photo of Dutch wooden shoe filled with peppernut cookies, spiced gum drop candies and gold coins

        When I was growing up, I loved when my dad made my great grandmother's peppernut (or pfeffernusse) cookies during the holiday season. They were always my very favorite holiday cookie. I loved the small size and the spicy flavor, and they were oh so addicting...I usually ate them by the handful.

        I knew they were from my family's German side, but that's about all I knew growing up. So fast forward many, many years to my first year living in the Netherlands. I was completely in shock when I walked in to a grocery store during my first November, and there were peppernut cookies everywhere! Rather, pepernoten as they called them. Displays and displays of them! All different kinds too! Pepernotens covered in chocolate and others covered in powdered sugar. I truly couldn't have been more shocked.

        Close up photo of Dutch wooden shoe filled with peppernut cookies, spiced gum drop candies and gold coins with

        Pepernoten Cookies

        I was even more shocked to realize this little pepernoten cookie played such a big part in the Dutch holiday traditions. When Sinterklaas arrives by boat from Spain each year, his helpers threw pepernoten in to the crowds of people that lined the canals and streets. Also, the Dutch give presents to their children from Sinterklaas on December 5th not at Christmas. In the town where we lived, it was customary for parents to give a sack filled with their children's gifts to a neighbor. The neighbor would come over, open the door, throw candies and pepernoten to distract the kids while they dropped a bag of gifts from Sinterklaas. And when Sinterklaas left to go back to Spain, he left little candies, fruit and pepenoten in the kids' shoes that they left at the door. Many grocery stores also allowed kids to leave a shoe there, and they would fill it with pepernoten, little candies and treats. I loved learning and experiencing different types of traditions while we lived in the Netherlands. And I loved how this little cookie brought my young life and current life full circle.

        Bowl of cookies with Pepernoten written on back of bowl and photo of Sinterklaas
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        Ingredients

        Ingredients for peppernut cookies
        • All purpose flour
        • White sugar
        • Salted butter
        • Dark molasses
        • Ground nuts (optional)
        • Cinnamon
        • Ground ginger
        • Ground cloves
        • Baking soda

        See recipe card for quantities.

        • Nuts - my family almost always made peppernut cookies with actual nuts. Usually ground pecans, as those were my dad's favorite. But sometimes, he used walnuts or a combination of both. Not all peppernut, pfeffernusse or pepernoten recipes have ground nuts. Different regional recipes vary. And some people have come to believe that the nut in the cookie name refers to the shape of the cookie and not the use of actual nuts. Our family version always had nuts, but they are optional.
        • Pepper - despite the name, not all peppernut, pfeffernusse or pepernoten recipes use black or white pepper either. Some modern interpretations of this cookie add a small amount of black or white pepper. However, traditionally, pepper was not included in the cookies. The spices in the cookies do create a deep, spicy flavor though. If you want to add pepper, I would suggest ¼ teaspoon of white pepper or ¾ teaspoon of black pepper.
        Bowl of Peppernut cookies with spice drop candies in background

        Storage

        Store the peppernut cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 weeks. These cookies also freeze well.

        Next Level Tips

        • These make a fabulous, nostalgic holiday treat for friends and family with a Dutch or German heritage, especially as these cookies are not easily found in stores outside of Europe.

        FAQ

        What type of molasses should I use?

        This recipe originally calls for dark molasses. I've used all different kinds. My favorite is the Grandma's Original Molasses in the glass jar with yellow accents. Probably because it's the one that is most commonly found in regular grocery stores over the years. You can also use a very dark blackstrap molasses. Blackstrap molasses is considered a healthier molasses, but it's also more bitter. I would only recommend blackstrap molasses only if you've tried it before and know you like it.

        Do I have to include the nuts?

        No, you can skip the nuts if there's an allergy or you simply don't have or like them.

        How do I roll the dough into logs?

        Take a handful of dough and shape it into a ball-ish shape just so there ar no rough edges. Then start to flatten the ball into to a log (approximately ¾ to 1 inch in thickness) by rolling it back and forth underneath the palm of your hand against the counter or any flat surface. Repeat until all dough is used. They don't have to be perfect. Place the logs on a cookie sheet and cover. Chill for a minimum of two hours up to overnight. Peppernut cookies rolled out in logs

        Why dissolve baking soda in water?

        This recipe is quite old and the cookies are very small. Baking soda was often dissolved in a little water to make sure it was evenly distributed throughout the cookies.

        Close up photo of Dutch wooden shoe filled with peppernut cookies, spiced gum drop candies and gold coins with additional shoe to the right

        Peppernut Cookies (Pfeffernusse or Pepernoten)

        Tracy @ Next Level Baker
        Peppernut cookies are small bites of spiced cookie bliss. They are the quintessential holiday cookie for those with a Dutch or German heritage.
        Print Recipe Pin Recipe
        Prep Time 30 minutes
        Cook Time 1 hour
        Chill Time 2 hours
        Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
        Course Dessert
        Cuisine American, Dutch, German

        Ingredients
          

        • 1 cup butter softened
        • 1 cup sugar
        • 1 cup dark molasses
        • 2 teaspooons cinnamon
        • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
        • 2 teaspoons ground cloves
        • 2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in a little water
        • 1 cup nut meats (ex. finely chopped pecans or walnuts)
        • 5 cups all purpose flour

        Instructions
         

        • Ground 1 cup of pecans (or nut of choice) into small nut meat pieces.
        • Mix the butter, sugar and molasses together in the stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, until combined.
        • Dissolve the baking soda in a small amount of water. Add the cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, dissolved baking soda and nut meats to the mixer and mix until combined.
        • Add the flour to the mixer one cup at a time. Mix until fully combined and then an additional 60 seconds.
        • Roll the dough into ¾ - 1 inch thick cigar shaped logs. Place the logs on baking sheets, cover and chill for a minimum of 2 hours up to overnight.
        • Take the logs out of refrigerator as needed. The logs made need to be lightly reshaped if they settled in the refrigerator. The logs warm up very quickly, so only take a few out of the refrigerator at a time and only handle as necessary. Slice off ¼ inch pieces.
        • Preheat oven to 350℉. It is not necessary to use cooking spray or parchment paper. As there is a lot of butter in the recipe, these cookies do not stick.
        • Place cookies on cookie sheet at least one inch apart. One half cookie sheet will usually hold approximately 48 cookies (six rows of eight cookies).
        • Bake at 350℉ for 7-8 minutes. For a softer cookie, remove from the oven before bottoms are browned. For a harder cookie, bake one minute longer. As this recipe makes hundreds of small cookies, it's best to do a test batch. Allow them to cool before touching or tasting as they do firm up as they cool. They cool quickly.

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        Keyword Pepernoten, Peppernut Cookies, Pfeffernusse
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        Close up photo of Dutch wooden shoe filled with pepernoten cookies, spiced gum drop candies and gold coins with additional shoe in background