Tag: #Pies

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60 Best Valentine’s Day Desserts

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

I can’t help it: I love Valentine’s Day. (No, not because my name is in the holiday!) It’s the perfect time to tell someone—platonically or romantically—how much they mean to you. Showing love looks a little different to everyone, but for me, it means baking Valentine’s Day desserts. The fastest way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, right? That’s what all those Marry Me recipes are for!

If you’re also the “cooking is my love language” type, here are the perfect Valentine’s Day desserts for the holiday. Of course, there’s no shortage of chocolate desserts, like truffles and confections, mousses, cookies and chocolate lava cake. But there are also other romantic desserts, such as white chocolate raspberry cake, red velvet cookies, cheesecake-stuffed strawberries, decadently layered trifles and heart-shaped desserts galore. Many of these can feed a crowd (perfect for a Galentine’s Day party!), but more are desserts for two.

Whether you’ve booked a table or you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day at home, end your romantic dinner with one of these sweet desserts. (By the way, anyone manifesting for something special to happen should try Ina Garten’s engagement chicken—it worked for Meghan Markle and Emily Blunt!)

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45 Sweet Potato Recipes to Make All Year Long

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

When I moved to Texas, I was introduced to new-to-me foods, like sun tea, chess pie and sweet potatoes. Though I had loved the easy potato recipes my mom whipped up, I quickly realized sweet potatoes were not the same. I watched friends load them up with butter, brown sugar and even marshmallows, finding room for sweet potato recipes at every meal. Although it took a few attempts, I came to love sweet potatoes too, and now I always have some at home for making baked goods, sides and hearty dinners.

This collection features the naturally sweet, nutrient-dense spuds in a variety of recipes, from skillet breakfasts and quick satisfying lunches to easy sides, dinners and sweet treats. If marshmallows and sweet potatoes aren’t for you, there are plenty of savory sweet potato recipes with beans, herbs, cheese and spices. Or, you can embrace the root vegetable’s sugary edge with recipes for sweet potato desserts, including cookies, pies and cakes.

When shopping for sweet potatoes, look for ones that are firm with taut, unbroken skin. And don’t be confused by signage at the market: Sweet potatoes are different from yams, but many places still use the words interchangeably. If it has a thin, mostly smooth skin, it’s a sweet potato. Whether you already know how you love to eat sweet potatoes or you are looking for new flavor combinations, you’ll find inspiration here for sweet potato dishes to enjoy year-round.

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18 Vintage Pies From Grandma’s Recipe Box

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Have a hankering for an old-fashioned pie just like Grandma used to make? Well, you’re in luck! Allrecipes community members have shared plenty of tried-and-true pie recipes from their grandmas’ kitchens through the years—and we’ve rounded up the very best ones right here. Whether you’re looking for a classic custard idea or a fruity favorite, you’ll find a new family tradition in this collection of grandmother-approved pie recipes.

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40 Pear Dessert Recipes Full of Warm Spices and Sweet Flavor

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Pears are one of fall’s quiet baking heroes. With their mild sweetness, firm texture and floral aroma, they soak up warm spices and syrups in a way only a few fruits can. These pear dessert recipes transform the humble fruit into something that tastes and smells like the season.

You’ll find pear recipes for baking that layer with cinnamon, nutmeg or ginger, each one showing how well this fruit pairs with spice and adds texture. There are gingersnap pear pies, fall cakes that stay moist for days and poached pears that feel like velvet on a spoon. For something deeper, simmer them in red wine and cranberry reduction or bake them into a golden pear tarte Tatin, where the fruit melts into the caramel beneath crisp pastry.

Once you’ve baked with pears, it’s hard to imagine a fall menu without them. These easy pear desserts pair naturally with cozy fall dinners, cheese boards, potluck casseroles and fall harvest salads. To get the best texture, start with Bosc or Anjou pears that are shy of ripe; they hold their shape while drawing in every last bit of flavor. And if a few over-ripen on the counter, turn them into a fragrant batch of pear jam that brings a touch of fall to toast, thumbprint cookies and pastries all year long.

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41 Cozy Winter Dessert Recipes to Warm You Up

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

When the temperature drops and snow covers the sidewalk, there’s nothing quite like winter dessert recipes to warm your soul. Whether you’re grabbing a spoon for bread pudding or slicing into a fruity crumble, these popular dessert recipes will make you forget about the cold outside.

If you’re new to baking, don’t worry—many of these treats can be made with pantry staples and minimal effort. Other recipes let you take your time, filling the house with the dreamy aromas of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and vanilla.

Ready to bake? Pull out your mixing bowl, preheat your oven (or grab your slow cooker) and gather your friends or family. With so many different ways to keep cozy, you’re bound to find a dessert (or two) that fits your mood. Once you taste how comforting these desserts are, winter might just become your sweetest season yet.

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25 Diabetic-Friendly Christmas Desserts

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Having diabetes can make the holiday season feel more frantic than festive, especially when searching for diabetic Christmas desserts that people actually want to eat. As a dietitian, let me let you in on a little secret: you can enjoy delicious, easy Christmas desserts and treats, even if you’re working hard to manage your blood sugars. While traditional desserts can lead to blood glucose spikes, these diabetic-friendly Christmas treats have all the flavor and fun you need, with a lot less sugar.

From apple desserts to peppermint cookies and eggnog mousse, these blood sugar-friendly sweets are the perfect sweet addition to your diabetic-friendly Christmas recipes. So you don’t have to sacrifice flavor for health, I’ve rounded up the best diabetic Christmas desserts that balance sweetness with nutrition, so you can feel good about your macros while joining in on the holiday fun.

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52 Christmas Candy Recipes for a Sweet Holiday

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Christmastime gives you loads to look forward to: decorating the tree, making snow angels, listening to your favorite holiday songs on repeat and breaking out those once-a-year Christmas candy recipes. While we love gooey cinnamon rolls before opening gifts and Christmas cookies with a mug of hot cocoa, there’s nothing like biting into a rich fudge square or snapping off a piece of crunchy, nutty brittle.

This roundup has festive candy treats for all skill levels, whether you have experience cooking sugar for chewy caramels or want a simpler melt-and-mix style candy. You’ll find the holiday flavors you crave around Christmas, like peppermint, cinnamon, eggnog and chocolate. You can also use this holiday season to iron out common chocolate truffle mistakes or teach yourself to make your favorite copycat candy bars for gifts.

Making these homemade Christmas sweets can be a fun activity to do with your friends and family. Spend time creating and decorating the treats together, and then set out supplies for these creative food gift wrapping ideas to package them into delicious and memorable presents!

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24 Christmas Cheesecake Recipes for the Nice List

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Christmas cheesecake recipes bring together everything that makes holiday dessert baking feel magical: decadently creamy textures, nostalgic flavors and festive twists that will shine on any table. This collection has all that and more, spanning from timeless classics like traditional cheesecake and chocolate swirl to more seasonal specialties like peppermint and bourbon pecan. These festive cheesecake recipes are top-tier in taste and visual appeal, so you can wow your guests all season long.

To make preparation simpler during the busy holiday season, many of these holiday cheesecake recipes provide guidance for make-ahead steps, freezing and long-lasting storage, ensuring each dessert stays creamy and fresh. Adaptations are easy to incorporate: Swap in gluten-free graham crackers or cookies for a gluten-free dessert, use a sugar alternative or change up the toppings to what you have on hand. These ingredient swaps work seamlessly with these recipes, so you can rest assured that you’ll be serving up a sweet slice that works for your family and friends. For a thoughtful finishing touch, try serving your seasonal cheesecake desserts with an espresso, a cup of tea or a festive holiday cocktail.

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64 Easy Christmas Desserts to Make This Year

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

From no-bake fudge and truffles to spiced cakes and chewy cookies, these easy Christmas desserts make enjoying sweet treats simple and stress-free all season long.

For many years, my next-door neighbor gifted my family a beautiful, homemade Yule log cake to enjoy on Christmas—meringue mushrooms and all! It was extra-special to me because, in my chaotic house, we relied on easy Christmas desserts that could be made in a flash. But I’m not complaining. As this collection shows, quick Christmas treats are just as festive, beautiful and delicious as more labor-intensive ones. Christmas dinner is great, but no-fuss holiday desserts are the real stars of the day.

We compiled simple Christmas dessert recipes that can be prepped in 20 minutes or less and are full of seasonal flavors. There are rich, chocolaty treats that taste like hot cocoa, red and white swirled minty bites, and pretty Bundts that practically decorate themselves. If the oven is full, try a no-bake treat, like fudge or truffles. And, of course, we include Christmas cookies, from jammy thumbprints to sugary snowballs and buttery shortbread. All that’s left is to make a batch of homemade eggnog and enjoy the holiday.

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34 Best Christmas Pie Recipes for a Sweet Holiday Season

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

On Christmas, after indulging in all the Christmas ham and side dishes that can fit on your plate, there’s always a bit more room for dessert. And while Christmas cookies, cakes and homemade candy tend to get all the glory, there’s nothing better than Christmas dessert pies.

These festive Christmas pie recipes include classics like chocolate cream and cranberry pie, plus new favorites like candy cane and eggnog. There’s plenty of variety, whether you’re choosing between an all-butter crust or a crumb crust, a no-bake ice cream pie or a double-crusted slab pie, or a fruit pie or a custard-filled one.

If you need to make any of these holiday pie recipes dietary-friendly, we have gluten-free pie crust and vegan pie crust recipes to help alter as needed. Of course, serve your hot pies with a scoop of the best vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream, and save salted caramel sauce or hot fudge for the cold pies. Go ahead and set up that second dessert table, you’re going to need it!

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