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    Lemon Cranberry Bars

    upclose stack of lemon cranberry bars

    Lemon cranberry bars are the best holiday treat! They have a blondie like texture and the tart lemon and cranberries are paired with a sweet white chocolate filling. So much easier than cookies or pie; you're going to love how easy they are to make!

    stack of holiday cookie bars

    Disclosure | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    As the holiday season approaches, it's time to start thinking about easy dessert recipes.

    So many of my Christmas cookie recipes take lots of steps; like coconut jam thumbprints, peanut butter Snickers Cookies or buttercream sugar cookies.

    I originally thought of this recipe as a cookie with white chocolate chips, but wanted you to have a quick and easy holiday recipe that you could use when time isn't on your side!

    why you will love these cranberry lemon squares

    • Holiday flavor ~ cranberries go perfectly with the holidays, whether it's Thanksgiving or Christmas. With the white chocolate filling, it's a nice balance of tart and sweet.
    • Easy ~ these cranberry lemon bars get layered in a baking pan and take about 15 minutes to put together.
    lemon cranberry bars on a serving platter

    ingredient notes

    Please scroll to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the full list of ingredients and baking directions.

    ingredients for lemon cranberry bars
    • Unsalted butter ~ melt using your preferred method.
    • Granulated sugar ~ adds sweetness.
    • Brown sugar ~ I use dark brown, but light brown also works.
    • Lemon zest ~ use the zest of one large lemon or two smaller lemons. This is my favorite zesting tool.
    • Egg ~ one large egg is needed.
    • Lemon juice ~ use the juice from the lemon. You will also use some fresh lemon juice in the lemon glaze.
    • Vanilla ~ for another flavor layer.
    • Baking soda and kosher salt ~ to add some lift to the dessert bars and also to balance the flavors.
    • All-purpose flour ~ for structure. For the best results, use a kitchen scale or the spoon and level method.
    • Cranberries ~ this recipe was tested with both fresh and frozen cranberries. Either works. Be sure your fresh cranberries are washed and fully dry before using. If using frozen cranberries, do not thaw them.
    • White chocolate ~ for the white chocolate layer, use white chocolate baking bars. You need 7 ounces, which is just shy of two 4 ounce bars.
    stack of white chocolate filled lemon cranberry bars

    how to make this easy holiday dessert

    Start by preheating the oven to 350°F and prepare an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.

    Then in a medium to large bowl, melt the butter. Add both sugars, lemon zest and whisk until fully incorporated.

    Add the egg, vanilla and lemon juice. Whisk until the mixture is combined and smooth.

    Sprinkle the baking soda and kosher salt over the mixture and stir well.

    melted butter, sugars and lemon zest in a bowl
    egg, vanilla and lemon juice added to mixing bowl
    wet ingredients whisked in a bowl

    Then add the flour and stir until the flour disappears.

    Now place half of the dough in the bottom of the prepared pan, then take half the cranberries and press them into the dough. If using frozen cranberries, do NOT thaw the cranberries first!

    Then lay the white chocolate bar over the top of the dough and top with the remaining cookie dough. {The dough is thick, start with the edges to seal the white chocolate in and do your best to smooth it over the top of the white chocolate in an even layer}.

    Again, take the remaining cranberries and press them into the dough.

    fresh cranberries over cookie dough in baking pan
    white chocolate filled lemon cranberry bars
    unbaked lemon cranberry bars

    Bake the lemon cranberry bars for 25-30 minutes, until the edges are set. The center may still be a little gooey, but it will firm up once the cookies cool.

    Allow to cool completely in the pan before adding the lemon glaze.

    baked lemon cranberry bars
    lemon glaze on baked bars

    what do cranberries taste like?

    Cranberries are tart and a little bitter. The lemon and white chocolate help to tame the cranberries and create an irresistible flavor combination.

    can I bake with fresh cranberries?

    Yes! Just give them a good rinse and let them dry before adding them to the cookie dough.

    You can bake this recipe with frozen cranberries; just don't thaw the berries before using them.

    bars on parchment paper with cranberries and lemon

    other variations of this blondies recipe

    If you want to swap the lemon for lime or orange juice, that works just fine! I actually have an orange and cranberry recipe coming in a couple weeks.

    You can also use raspberries or blackberries in place of the cranberries.

    can I make them ahead of time?

    Yes, the cranberry lemon bars can be baked a few days ahead of time. See below on how to store them.

    how to store

    Store cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days.

    The lemon cranberry bars also freeze well for up to three months; allow them to cool completely, then store in an airtight container.

    pile of lemon cranberry bars with fresh cranberries

    Remember to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram if you make these Lemon Cranberry Bars. It warms my heart to see you bring these recipes to life! Thank you for being here and happy baking!

    more easy holiday desserts

    • Sprinkle Cookies
    • Pecan Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
    • Shortbread Peppermint Bark
    • White Chocolate CranberryTart {no bake}
    • Orange Cranberry Sugar Cookie Bars

    If you make this recipe {or any recipe!} from two sugar bugs please come back and leave a review and a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating.  I read every comment, and I LOVE hearing from you!

    Yield: 16 bar cookies

    Lemon Cranberry Bars

    upclose stack of lemon cranberry bars

    Lemon cranberry bars are the best holiday treat! With a blondie texture; the tart lemon and cranberries have a sweet white chocolate filling.

    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Bake Time 30 minutes
    Total Time 45 minutes

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted (113g)
    • ½ cup granulated sugar (100g)
    • ⅓ cup brown sugar (67g)
    • 2 tablespoons lemon zest (loosely packed, from one large lemon)
    • 1 large egg
    • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (220g)
    • ¾ cup cranberries, fresh or frozen* (75g)
    • 7 ounces white chocolate bars, broken into large pieces (200g)

    lemon glaze

    • ¼ cup confectioners' sugar (30g)
    • 1 - 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
    • pinch of lemon zest (if desired)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
    2. In a medium to large bowl, melt the butter (½ cup/113g). Add both sugars (½ cup/100g granulated and ⅓ cup/67g brown), lemon zest (from one large lemon/about 2 loosely packed tablespoons) and whisk until fully incorporated.
    3. Add the egg (1 large), vanilla (2 teaspoons) and lemon juice (1 teaspoon). Whisk until the mixture is combined and smooth.
    4. Sprinkle the baking soda (1 teaspoon) and kosher salt (½ teaspoon) over the mixture and stir well. Then add the flour (1 ¾ cups/220g) and stir until the flour disappears.
    5. Place half of the dough in the bottom of the prepared pan, then take half the cranberries and press them into the dough. If using frozen cranberries, do NOT thaw the cranberries first! Then lay the white chocolate bar over the top of the dough and top with the remaining cookie dough. (The dough is thick, start with the edges to seal the white chocolate in and do your best to smooth it over the top of the white chocolate in an even layer). Again, take the remaining cranberries and press them into the dough.
    6. Bake the lemon cranberry bars for 25-30 minutes, until the edges are set. The center may still be a little gooey, but it will firm up once the cookies cool. Allow to cool completely in the pan before adding the lemon glaze.
    7. For the lemon glaze: add confectioners' sugar (¼ cup/30g) and pinch of lemon zest (if using) to a small bowl. Then add a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice and stir until a thick glaze is formed. Add lemon juice in ½ teaspoon amounts until the glaze is thick, but you can drizzle it over the bars. Use a spoon, fork or a small zip-top bag with the corner cut off to drizzle over the bars.
    8. Use the parchment to lift the cool bars out of the pan. Place on a cutting board and slice into your desired size bars.

    Notes

    Store cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days. The lemon cranberry bars also freeze well for up to three months; allow them to cool completely, then store in an airtight container. They can be frozen with the lemon glaze.

    *If using frozen cranberries, DO NOT thaw them first.

    If you only have salted butter, eliminate the kosher salt. If you only have table salt, start with half the amount and adjust as needed.

    I use dark brown sugar, but light brown also works.

    If using fresh cranberries, make sure to wash them and allow them to be completely dry before adding to the dough. Otherwise they will add too much moisture. You could substitute raspberries or blackberries.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    16

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 221Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 136mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 1gSugar: 19gProtein: 3g

    The nutrition information is an estimate only and may not be entirely accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please make my day and PIN to Pinterest and share a photo on Instagram ~ making sure to tag @twosugarbugs! THANK YOU!!

    © Tasia
    Cuisine: American / Category: Bars and Brownies

    Cookie Butter Cookies

    cookie butter cookies with fork crisscross marks

    Cookie butter cookies are quick and easy to make and are made without a mixer. They are soft and filled with biscoff flavor!

    pile of cookie butter cookies

    Disclosure | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Quick and easy cookie butter cookies are perfect for whenever a cookie craving hits! They are very similar to pb cookies made without flour, but this recipe is without nuts. Made without butter, these cookies are filled with biscoff flavor and are also dairy free.

    This cookie recipe is also perfect for your Christmas cookie baking, or for packing in lunchboxes or taking to a potluck.

    Other great cookie butter recipes for sharing are my biscoff caramel tart, cookie butter cheesecake, and cookie butter white chocolate bark {and both the cheesecake and bark are no bake}.

    why you will love this easy cookie recipe

    • Flavor ~ packed with cookie butter, which has flavors of cinnamon and ginger.
    • Easy ~ no mixer required! Just whisk the ingredients together in a bowl.
    • Fast ~ with no chill time, these cookies go straight into the oven, so from start to finish should take you about 20 minutes.
    • Small cookie size ~ most of my cookie recipes make large bakery style cookies. These cookie butter cookies are small like a "two bite" size.
    cookie butter cookies with a glass of milk

    ingredients needed

    Please scroll to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the full list of ingredients and baking directions.

    cookie butter cookie ingredients
    • Egg yolks ~ 2 large yolks are needed. You can make meringue cookies with the leftover egg whites.
    • Granulated sugar ~ used both in the cookies and for rolling the cookie in before baking. You can skip the step of rolling the cookies in sugar if you prefer.
    • Brown sugar ~ I use dark brown sugar, but light brown will also work fine.
    • Vanilla ~ pure vanilla extract for some extra flavor.
    • Cookie butter ~ I tested this recipe with Trader Joe's Speculoos Cookie Butter and Lotus Biscoff. My testers preferred the Trader Joe's flavor best, the Lotus Biscoff batch had stronger flavors of gingerbread and molasses. One batch was baked with half smooth and half crunchy and that works too!
    • Kosher salt {not shown} ~ just a touch to balance the sweetness.
    hand holding a cookie

    what is cookie butter flavor?

    Cookie butter has hints of gingersnaps, cinnamon and brown sugar and it is downright addicting!! It has a consistency like peanut butter, but is nut free. It's made with ground up speculoos cookies, which are a spiced cookie that originated in Europe. 

    Because cookie butter is made without nuts, it makes these cookies a nice alternative to pb cookies made without flour for those who have nut allergies.

    how to make these cookies without a mixer

    Start by preheating the oven to 350°F and prepare 2 sheet pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

    Then in a medium size bowl {these are my favorite glass bowls}, whisk together the egg yolks, brown sugar and granulated sugar. The mixture will be very thick at this point. Add the vanilla and kosher salt and whisk until smooth.

    Next fold in the cookie butter with a spatula until a thick cookie dough is formed.

    eggs and sugar mixed in a bowl
    cookie butter added to eggs and sugars
    cookie butter cookie dough in a bowl

    Then take 1 tablespoon of dough and roll it in a ball. Then roll the cookie dough in the additional granulated sugar {this step is optional, but adds a nice sparkle to the cookies}. Place on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about an inch apart.

    Now use a fork to press the dough down creating a crisscross pattern. Bake for 6-8 minutes, until the edges are set. You do NOT want to over bake them! Allow the cookies to rest on the pan for 5 minutes before moving to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

    rolled cookie dough on parchment paper
    unbaked cookies on a baking sheet

    Remember to pin this recipe to Pinterest! Use the button on the recipe card or the share buttons on the side or bottom of this page.

    video tutorial with step by step instructions

    are cookie butter cookies gluten free?

    No, while this easy recipe is made without flour; cookie butter itself is not gluten free. Biscoff and speculoos cookies are key ingredients in cookie butter and they are made with gluten.

    If you need gluten free cookie butter, I have a recipe for that! But I have not tested using that recipe in place of store bought cookie butter and I'm not 100% sure it would work.

    a pile of cookie butter cookies with a bowl of cookie butter

    what can you do with cookie butter?

    There is something so irresistible about the cinnamon and ginger spices in cookie butter! Here are some ideas ~

    • Make a cookie butter cake!
    • Spread cookie butter on bagels or toast.
    • Especially delicious on snickerdoodle banana bread!
    • Use it as a dip for apples or bananas.
    • Top your oatmeal with a scoop.
    • Mix it into ice cream, it would be so yummy in cinnamon ice cream!
    • Eat it with a spoon {I do this more than I should admit}!

    how to store

    Cookie butter cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days or frozen for up to 3 months.

    can I freeze the cookie dough and bake them later?

    I do not recommend that. These cookies do best when they go straight in the oven. If the dough sits around it tends to dry out and get crumbly.

    The baked cookie butter cookies freeze really well though! Just allow them to cool completely and them place in a zip-top bag or airtight container and place in the freezer.

    pile of cookie butter cookies on a baking sheet with glasses of milk

    Remember to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram if you make these Cookie Butter Cookies. It warms my heart to see you bring these recipes to life! Thank you for being here and happy baking!

    more cookie butter recipes to enjoy

    • Cookie Butter Bars
    • 3 Ingredient Biscoff Cookie Mousse
    • Cookie Butter Cake
    • Cookie Butter Brownies
    • Biscoff Cookie Butter Cupcakes
    • No Bake Gingerbread Cookie Butter Cookies
    • Biscoff Glazed Gingerbread Scones

    If you make this recipe {or any recipe!} from two sugar bugs please come back and leave a review and a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating.  I read every comment, and I LOVE hearing from you!

    Yield: 24 cookies

    Cookie Butter Cookies

    cookie butter cookies with fork crisscross marks

    Quick and easy cookie butter cookies are made without a mixer! Made without butter, this cookie recipe is filled with biscoff flavor and are dairy free.

    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Bake Time 8 minutes
    Total Time 23 minutes

    Ingredients

    • 2 large egg yolks
    • ⅓ cup brown sugar, packed (67g)
    • ¼ cup granulated sugar (50g)
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 cup cookie butter (240g)
    • ¼ cup granulated sugar* (50g) for rolling the cookies

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare 2 sheet pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
    2. In a medium size bowl, whisk together the egg yolks (2 large), brown sugar (⅓ cup/67g) and granulated sugar (¼ cup/50g). The mixture will be very thick. Add vanilla (1 teaspoon) and kosher salt (¼ teaspoon) and whisk until smooth.
    3. Fold in the cookie butter (1 cup/240g) until a thick cookie dough is formed.
    4. Take 1 tablespoon of dough and roll it in a ball. Then roll in the additional granulated sugar* (¼ cup/50g). Place on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about an inch apart. Use a fork to press the dough down creating a crisscross pattern.
    5. Bake for 6-8 minutes, until the edges are set. Allow the cookies to rest on the pan for 5 minutes before moving to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

    Notes

    *The cookies don't have to be rolled in additional sugar, but it adds a nice sparkle to them.

    The dough can feel a little crumbly when rolling into balls. Use the warmth of your hands, if needed, to get the dough balls to stick together.

    Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days or frozen for up to 3 months.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    24

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 101Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 49mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 0gSugar: 9gProtein: 1g

    The nutrition information is an estimate only and may not be entirely accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please make my day and PIN to Pinterest and share a photo on Instagram ~ making sure to tag @twosugarbugs! THANK YOU!!

    © Tasia
    Cuisine: American / Category: Cookies

    Pecan Pie {with Graham Cracker Crust}

    slice of pie on a plate with a fork

    The best pecan pie! This recipe combines a classic pecan pie with a quick and easy graham cracker crust. The homemade pie has a gooey, caramel-y pecan filling made with brown sugar and no corn syrup. Perfect for Thanksgiving or anytime you are craving pie for dessert.

    slice of pecan pie without corn syrup on a plate with a fork

    Disclosure | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Pecan pie is as traditional as pumpkin pie when it comes to dessert for Thanksgiving. It's decadent, sweet and nutty. This variation is tucked in an easy graham cracker crust that's thick and buttery {a lot like my pecan crackers}.

    White chocolate pecan pie has been my family's favorite for years, but this pecan pie with graham cracker crust is giving it a run for the money!

    why you will love this homemade pie

    • Quick and easy recipe ~ using a graham cracker crust makes this pecan pie a cinch to prepare!
    • Classic dessert ~ pecan pie is a Thanksgiving staple, but perfect for any time too.
    • Simple ingredients ~ only eight ingredients required and no corn syrup!

    ingredients you need

    Please scroll to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the full list of ingredients and baking directions.

    ingredients for graham cracker crust
    ingredients for pecan pie filling
    • Brown sugar ~ used in both the graham cracker crust and the pie filling. I use dark brown sugar, but light brown also works.
    • Melted butter ~ also used in both the crust and filling.
    • Vanilla ~ a pure vanilla extract adds the perfect flavor to this homemade pie.
    • Graham cracker crumbs ~ you can't have a graham cracker crust without them! I use Nabisco Honey Graham Crackers and crush them in my food processor.
    • Pecans ~ use raw pecan halves. I like to buy mine at Trader Joe's.
    • Large eggs ~ help to hold the filling together. The eggs need to be at room temperature. See the recipe card below if you need to bring them to room temperature quickly.
    • All-purpose flour ~ just one tablespoon helps to thicken the filling since we are making it without corn syrup.
    • Half and half ~ helps add richness and thickness to the pecan filling. You can substitute with heavy cream if you don't have half and half.
    slice of pecan pie with graham crust and whipped cream on top

    how to make the best pecan pie

    Start by preparing the homemade crust. Of course, if you really want to save time you could use a pre-made store bought crust, but with only 5 minutes of prep time this from scratch crust really can't be beat. And this one is SO much better than a pre-made crust!

    First crush the graham crackers into fine crumbs. You can use a food processor or place them in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin.

    Add the graham cracker crumbs and brown sugar to a bowl and mix to combine. Then stir in the melted butter and vanilla. The mixture will be thick and sand like.

    brown sugar and graham cracker crumbs in a bowl
    graham cracker crust mixed in a bowl

    Next pour the mixture into a non-greased 9-inch pie dish {I use my Emile Henry deep dish pan} and with medium pressure press the crumbs evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the dish. You don't want to pack the crumbs firmly or the crust will be too hard.

    Now spread the roughly chopped pecans evenly in the bottom of the prepared graham cracker crust and set aside.

    graham cracker crust in a pie pan
    pecans layered in the bottom of a pie pan

    In a medium to large bowl, whisk together the room temperature eggs, brown sugar, all-purpose flour, half and half, vanilla and a pinch of kosher salt.

    Once combined add the melted butter and whisk until smooth. Pour the mixture evenly over the pecans.

    pecan pie filling ingredients in a bowl with a whisk
    wet ingredients mixed in a bowl
    unbaked pecan pie with graham cracker crust

    Place a pie shield over the crust and bake for 40-50 minutes or until the center only slightly jiggles when moved. {I use folded aluminum foil for my fancy pie shield!} Remove the pie from the oven and allow to cool at least one hour before serving.

    baked pecan pie with a bowl of pecans and forks

    is pecan pie good with graham cracker crust?

    Yes! The graham cracker crust is a perfect compliment to the gooey, brown sugar pecan filling. It is thick, buttery and it's quick and easy to make!

    If you prefer a traditional pie crust I'd recommend either the crust from my frozen blueberry pie or my all butter pie crust.

    should you bake graham cracker crust before filling it?

    No, it is not needed with this pie recipe.

    If you are using this graham cracker crust for another pie or cheesecake, be sure to follow that recipe as often times a pre-bake is necessary.

    inside look of the gooey pecan pie filling in the pie pan

    can you use stale graham crackers for the crust?

    Yes, you could, but fresh graham crackers will give you the best tasting crust.

    how to serve this classic pie

    Pecan pie with a graham cracker crust can be served warm or at room temperature.

    The pie filling loses some of it's gooey texture when cold, but it is still delicious and decadent served cold.

    You can serve pecan pie as is or with a scoop of homemade whipped cream {this vanilla whipped cream is a perfect compliment}. Or go all out and serve it a la mode with your favorite ice cream {we love cinnamon ice cream with it!}

    If you want to dress up this classic dessert, you can also drizzle the top with some melted chocolate.

    how do you store pecan pie?

    Store covered at room temperature for 1-2 days or covered in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

    To freeze this graham cracker crust pie; wrap the cooled pie in a couple layers of plastic wrap and then place in a zip-top bag or air tight container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before serving.

    slices of pecan pie with graham cracker crust on plates

    Remember to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram if you make this Pecan Pie {with Graham Cracker Crust}. It warms my heart to see you bring these recipes to life! Thank you for being here and happy baking!

    more variations of pecan pie to try

    • White Chocolate Pecan Pie
    • Banana Pecan Bars
    • Coconut Pecan Tart

    If you make this recipe {or any recipe!} from two sugar bugs please come back and leave a review and a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating.  I read every comment, and I LOVE hearing from you!

    Yield: 10 slices

    Pecan Pie {with Graham Cracker Crust}

    slice of pie on a plate with a fork

    The best, classic pecan pie with a quick and easy graham cracker crust. It has a gooey, caramel and pecan filling made without corn syrup.

    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Bake Time 50 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

    Ingredients

    graham cracker crust

    • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (240g/about 16 full sheets)
    • ¼ cup brown sugar, packed (50g)
    • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted (113g)
    • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

    pecan pie filling

    • 2 cups raw pecan halves, roughly chopped (8oz/227g)
    • 2 large eggs, room temperature*
    • 1 cup brown sugar, packed (200g)
    • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
    • 2 tablespoons half and half** (30mL)
    • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • pinch of kosher salt
    • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted (113g)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
    2. For the graham cracker crust: start by crushing the graham crackers (240g/about 16 full sheets) into fine crumbs. You can use a food processor or place them in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
    3. Add the graham cracker crumbs and brown sugar (¼ cup/50g) to a bowl and mix to combine. Then stir in the melted butter (½ cup/113g) and vanilla (2 teaspoons). The mixture will be thick and sand like. If you have any large chunks of crackers, break those up.
    4. Pour the mixture into a non-greased 9-inch pie dish (I use a deep dish pan) and with medium pressure press the crumbs evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the dish. You don't want to pack the crumbs firmly or the crust will be too hard.
    5. For the pecan pie filling: spread the roughly chopped pecans evenly in the bottom of the prepared graham cracker crust and set aside.
    6. In a medium to large bowl, whisk together the room temperature eggs (2 large), brown sugar (1 cup/200g), all-purpose flour (1 tablespoon), half and half (2 tablespoons/30mL), vanilla (2 teaspoons) and a pinch of kosher salt. Once combined add the melted butter (½ cup/113g) and whisk until smooth. Pour the mixture evenly over the pecans.
    7. Place a pie shield over the crust and bake for 40-50 minutes or until the center only slightly jiggles when moved. Remove the pie from the oven and allow to cool at least one hour before serving.
    8. Serve warm or at room temperature. Eat it plain, topped with whipped cream or a la mode with your favorite ice cream.

    Notes

    I use Nabisco Honey Maid Graham Crackers, but the cinnamon flavor would be delicious here too. Different brands of graham crackers will vary slightly in size and texture.

    *The eggs need to be room temperature or they will solidify the melted butter when you add it. To quickly bring eggs to room temperature, place them in a bowl of warm tap water for 5-10 minutes.

    **Heavy cream can be substituted in place of the half and half.

    Cover and store any leftover pie at room temperature for 1-2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the baked pie for 1-2 months; wrap the cooled pie in a couple layers of plastic wrap and then place in a zip-top bag or air tight container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before serving.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    10

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 491Total Fat: 36gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 87mgSodium: 110mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 3gSugar: 28gProtein: 5g

    The nutrition information is an estimate only and may not be entirely accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please make my day and PIN to Pinterest and share a photo on Instagram ~ making sure to tag @twosugarbugs! THANK YOU!!

    © Tasia
    Cuisine: American / Category: Pies and Tarts

    Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies

    caramel chocolate chip cookies with sea salt on parchment paper

    These caramel chocolate chip cookies are soft, chewy and sprinkled with sea salt. An easy recipe made using melted butter. The cookies are stuffed with Werther's caramel pieces, chocolate chips and chocolate chunks. Oh, and did I mention it's also a no chill cookie recipe??!

    caramel chocolate chip cookies on parchment paper with a glass of milk

    Disclosure | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    I think it's safe to say that I love cookies! It's not just me, right?

    And given my love of caramels, I've created quite a few recipes using caramel. My favorite chocolate chip cookie is thick and soft with slightly crisp edges. So let's take that kind of cookie and stuff it with gooey, soft pieces of caramel and sprinkle it with sea salt to balance the sweetness.

    Y'all are busy and if you are like me, you don't always plan ahead. So I've been on this quest to produce quick cookie recipes. Recipes that use melted butter and a few that use cold ingredients; and no chill cookie recipes.

    But the taste isn't sacrificed. So if you want something bright, fun and sugar cookie like; try my sprinkle cookies or chocolate sprinkle cookies.

    Or go for red velvet sugar cookies, malted chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin cake cookies or white chocolate raspberry cookies. For cookie bars, try my shortbread caramel cookie bars.

    why you will love these chewy caramel cookies

    • Amazing taste ~ soft cookies stuffed with caramel, chocolate chips and chocolate chunks!
    • Easy recipe ~ uses melted butter, so no planning ahead!
    • No mixer required ~ two bowls, a whisk and a spatula are all that you need to make this bakery style cookie recipe.
    • No chill ~ these caramel cookies go straight into the oven after mixing.
    hand holding a broken open caramel chocolate chip cookie

    🍪ingredients you need

    Please scroll to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the full list of ingredients and baking directions.

    caramel chocolate chip cookies ingredients
    • Unsalted butter ~ you will use melted butter, so pull it out when you are ready to start.
    • Granulated sugar and brown sugar ~ I use dark brown sugar, but light works too.
    • Vinegar ~ helps the cookies to bake up soft and chewy. I've used both white vinegar and apple cider vinegar, so use what you have.
    • Vanilla ~ I prefer pure vanilla extract.
    • Egg ~ one large egg is needed.
    • Baking soda ~ also helps the cookie to bake up thick and chewy.
    • Kosher salt ~ if you only have table salt, use half the amount.
    • All-purpose flour ~ I use a kitchen scale for the most accurate measurement.
    • Bread flour ~ helps to add even more chewiness to the cookies. If you don't have bread flour, you can substitute with all-purpose flour.
    • Soft caramels ~ I recommend Werther's Soft Caramels. I also tested this recipe with Werther's Chewy Caramels. Both work, but the flavor and texture is much better with the soft caramels.
    • Chocolate chips ~ I went with semi-sweet chocolate chips. I like Ghirardelli, Guittard and Trader Joe's.
    • Chocolate chunks ~ chop a chocolate bar to get melty puddles of chocolate to pair up with the gooey caramel in the cookies. I used milk chocolate, but use your favorite.
    • Flaky sea salt ~ I highly recommend a sprinkle of sea salt over the cookies. It helps to balance the cookie and makes them even more irresistible. You can sprinkle the salt prior to baking them or right after they come out of the oven. I used these Murray River Pink Salt Flakes.
    caramel chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk

    🧑‍🍳how to make caramel chocolate chip cookies

    Start by preheating oven to 350°F and prepare two half sheet pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.

    Chop 8 of the Werther's soft caramels into 4-5 pieces each.  Then take the remaining two caramels and chop them into 12 pieces each - these small pieces will get pushed into the tops of the cookies prior to baking.

    Next add the semi-sweet chocolate chips and chopped caramels to the all-purpose flour and bread flour and stir to fully combine the flours and coat the caramels and chocolate chips with flour.

    chopped caramels and chocolate chips added to flour

    Then in a medium to large bowl, melt the butter.  Add both sugars and whisk until fully incorporated.

    Next add the egg, vanilla and vinegar and whisk until the mixture is combined and smooth.

    Sprinkle the baking soda and kosher salt over the mixture and stir well.  

    melted butter and granulate and brown sugar in a bowl
    egg and vanilla added to butter and sugars in a bowl
    baking soda and kosher salt added to wet ingredients

    Now add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just a few streaks of flour remain.  Fold in 1 ounce/28g of the chopped milk chocolate bar.  

    Use about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie {I like using a size 30 scoop} and place the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.  Take the reserved pieces of caramel and chocolate and press some into the tops of each cookie.  Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if desired.

    caramel chocolate chip cookie dough in a bowl
    unbaked caramel chocolate chip cookie on parchment paper

    Finally bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are set. Remove the caramel chocolate chip cookies from the oven and allow to cool on the pan for 2-3 minutes before moving to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

    If the caramel in the middle of the cookies has "spilled out", use a large biscuit cutter {this is the set I have} and scoot the caramel back into a round cookie shape. {see the video tutorial if you need a visual}.

    plate of caramel chocolate chip cookies

    which caramels are best for chocolate chip cookies?

    Werther's Caramels are my family's favorite store bought caramel, so that is what I used to test this caramel chocolate chip cookie recipe. My testers preferred the taste and texture of Werther's Soft Caramels the best.

    Caramels come in many different forms, from homemade to store bought. And some are better than others when it comes to putting them in cookies. If the caramel is too hard it won't melt inside the cookie giving you that gooey melted caramel in the middle, so go with something soft.

    tips for the best soft and chewy cookies

    • Don't over bake the cookies!!! If cookies are baked too long too much moisture can escape, which will result in a dry cookie. Much like brownies, it's always better to err on the side of slightly under baked than over done! Cookies are typically finished baking when the edges are set and the centers look slightly under done.
    • Use the correct amount of flour ~ I know I sound like a broken record, but a kitchen scale is really the best way to measure your ingredients. If you don't have a scale, fluff your flour with a spoon before spooning it into your measuring cup. The spoon and level method.
    • Store any uneaten cookies in the freezer. This will keep them the freshest.
    stack of cookies with a glass of milk

    storage notes and how to freeze

    Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days. 

    The baked cookies also freeze well for up to three months. Allow the cookies to cool completely, then place in an airtight container or zip top bag and freeze. The cookies will defrost at room temperature in 10-20 minutes. Freezing cookies is by far my favorite way to store cookies as it keeps them the freshest!

    You can also place the frozen cookies in a warm 300°F oven for 2-3 minutes {I use our Breville Countertop oven} and the caramel and chocolate will get all melty and gooey again.

    caramel chocolate chip cookie with a glass of milk

    Remember to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram if you make these Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies. It warms my heart to see you bring these recipes to life! Thank you for being here and happy baking!

    more cookie recipes using melted butter

    • Malted Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies
    • Butterscotch Pretzel Cookies

    If you make this recipe {or any recipe!} from two sugar bugs please come back and leave a review and a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating.  I read every comment, and I LOVE hearing from you!

    Yield: 16 cookies

    Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies

    caramel chocolate chip cookies with sea salt on parchment paper

    These caramel chocolate chip cookies are soft, chewy and sprinkled with sea salt. An easy {no chill} recipe made using melted butter and the cookies are stuffed with Werther's caramel pieces, chocolate chips and chocolate chunks.

    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Bake Time 12 minutes
    Total Time 22 minutes

    Ingredients

    • ⅓ cup Werther’s soft caramels (10 caramels/63g), chopped and divided
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour (125g)
    • ¾ cup bread flour (98g)
    • ½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips (90g)
    • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted (113g)
    • ½ cup dark brown sugar (100g)
    • ⅓ cup granulated sugar (67g)
    • 1 large egg
    • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon vinegar*
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 2 ounces milk chocolate bar, chopped (56g)
    • Flaky sea salt

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare two half sheet pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
    2. Chop 8 of the soft caramels into 4-5 pieces each.  Then take the remaining two caramels and chop them into 12 pieces each - these small pieces will get pushed into the tops of the cookies prior to baking.
    3. Next add the semi-sweet chocolate chips (½ cup/90g) and chopped soft caramels (8 Werther’s) to the all-purpose flour (1 cup/125g) and bread flour (¾ cups/98g) and stir to fully combine the flours and coat the caramels and chocolate chips with flour.
    4. In a medium to large bowl, melt the butter (½ cup/113g).  Add both sugars (½ cup/100g granulated and ⅓ cup/67g dark brown) and whisk until fully incorporated.
    5. Add the egg (1 large), vanilla (2 teaspoons) and vinegar*(1 teaspoon).  Whisk until the mixture is combined and smooth.
    6. Sprinkle the baking soda (1 teaspoon) and kosher salt (½ teaspoon) over the mixture and stir well.  
    7. Then add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just a few streaks of flour remain.  Fold in 1 ounce/28g of the chopped milk chocolate bar.  
    8. Use about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie (I like using a size 30 scoop) and place the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.  You should get about 16 cookies.  Take the reserved tiny pieces of caramel and chopped chocolate and press some pieces into the tops of each cookie.  Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if desired.
    9. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are set.  Allow the cookies to rest on the pan 2-3 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.  If the cookies haven’t flattened as much as you’d like, bang the pan on the counter once or twice and use a large round cutter to “scoot” the cookies into a perfectly round shape, if desired.

    Notes

    *I’ve tested the recipe with both white vinegar and apple cider vinegar, they work interchangeably.

    If you only have table salt, use half the amount.

    The caramel can melt and "spill" out of the cookies during baking. Use a round biscuit cutter to scoot the caramel and cookie back into a round shape. You can also use the edge of a spoon to do this. Use either of these methods immediately after cookies come out of the oven so they are still hot and moldable. 

    Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days.  The cookies also freeze well for up to three months.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    16

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 212Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 178mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 1gSugar: 18gProtein: 3g

    The nutrition information is an estimate only and may not be entirely accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please make my day and PIN to Pinterest and share a photo on Instagram ~ making sure to tag @twosugarbugs! THANK YOU!!

    © Tasia
    Cuisine: American / Category: Cookies

    Raspberry and White Chocolate Loaf Cake

    raspberry white chocolate loaf cake on a serving plate

    Take the classic pound cake to the next level with this easy raspberry white chocolate loaf cake. The cake is super moist thanks to the butter, oil and sour cream in the batter mixed with a raspberry filling. Top it with an easy white chocolate ganache icing for the best loaf cake!

    cut slice of cake with fresh raspberries on top

    Disclosure | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Raspberry and white chocolate is one of those flavor combos that was just meant for one another. The sweet combination gets me every time!

    This moist vanilla cake is swirled with a raspberry filling and is decorated with an easy white chocolate ganache icing.

    If you are looking for a white chocolate and raspberry layer cake; try my homemade raspberry cake.

    why you will love this loaf cake recipe

    • Easy ~ a simple cake batter gets swirled with raspberry jam.
    • Soft and moist ~ the crumb on this cake stays tender and moist for days.
    • Perfect for any occasion ~ whether for dessert, brunch or breakfast; this raspberry and white chocolate cake is sure to please. A slice would be perfect with a cup of tea or coffee for an afternoon {or midnight!} snack.
    raspberry white chocolate loaf cake on a serving plate

    ingredients needed

    Please scroll to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the full list of ingredients and baking directions.

    ingredients for raspberry white chocolate loaf cake
    • All-purpose flour ~ the amount of flour can make or break a cake. I prefer using a scale to measure the flour. If you don't have a food scale, fluff the flour and then spoon and level the flour into your measuring cup. I have not tested this cake with a gluten free 1 to 1 flour, but suspect it should work fine.
    • Baking powder ~ helps the cake to rise.
    • Kosher salt ~ helps to balance the flavors. If you only have table salt, start with half the amount.
    • Unsalted butter ~ you want the butter nice and soft. Pull the butter out of the refrigerator at least 2 hours prior to baking.
    • Granulated sugar ~ provides sweetness for the raspberry white chocolate loaf cake.
    • Oil ~ canola or vegetable oil can be used. Brings additional moisture to the cake.
    • Eggs ~ three large eggs needed. Pull the eggs out when you pull the butter out.
    • Vanilla ~ I prefer pure vanilla extract.
    • Almond extract ~ just a little to bring a little "something, something" to the cake. You can substitute the almond extract with an equal amount of vanilla if prefered.
    • Sour cream ~ brings lots of moisture to the loaf cake. Pull the sour cream out when you pull out the butter and eggs.
    • Raspberry jam ~ use your favorite brand. Pull the jam out with the butter, eggs and sour cream. This loaf cake would also be delicious with blackberry jam or strawberry jam in the middle. If you have homemade jam, that should work too!
    • White chocolate {not shown} ~ used for the white chocolate icing. A baking white chocolate bar will give you the best results.
    • Milk {not shown} ~ just a tiny bit for the icing.
    slices of raspberry white chocolate cake on plates with forks

    how to make raspberry white chocolate loaf cake

    Start by lining a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.  Then preheat the oven to 325°F.

    In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and kosher salt and set aside. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar. The butter and sugar will be combined, but not fully fluffy at this point.  {1st photo below}

    Scrape up and down the bowl then turn the mixer back on medium and slowly drizzle in the oil and beat another 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. {2nd photo below}

    Once the mixture is light and fluffy, scrape the bowl and add the eggs one at a time, letting each one incorporate before adding the next, about 15 seconds per egg.  Then scrape the bowl and add the sour cream, vanilla and almond extract and mix. 

    Add the dry ingredients in two additions on the lowest speed and mix until just a few streaks of flour remain.  Then use a spatula to finish mixing the flour in. {3rd photo below}

    butter and sugar mixed in a mixing bowl
    butter, sugar and oil creamed together in a mixing bowl
    raspberry white chocolate cake batter in a mixing bowl

    Now place about ½ cup of the batter into a small bowl, add the raspberry jam and stir to combine.

    raspberry jam and cake batter in a small bowl

    Then add a little over half of the plain batter into the prepared loaf pan. 

    Next layer the raspberry filling over the top followed by the remaining plain batter. 

    Then use an off-set spatula or knife to swirl the layers together. 

    a little over half the cake batter in the bottom of a loaf pan
    raspberry filling layered over cake batter
    raspberry white chocolate cake batter swirled together in the baking pan

    Finally bake for 55-75 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs.  Remove the cake from the oven and place on a wire cooling rack to cool for 15 minutes. Then use the parchment to remove the cake from the pan and allow to cool completely on a wire cooling rack.

    Remember to pin this recipe to Pinterest! Use the button on the recipe card or the share buttons on the side or bottom of this page.

    how to decorate a loaf cake

    We use a white chocolate ganache icing to decorate this cake and to give it the white chocolate flavor.

    The ganache comes together in just a few minutes.

    In a double boiler, melt together the white chocolate, milk and butter stirring just until smooth. Remove from the heat and allow it to cool slightly {about 1 minute or so}, then pour over the cake and allow it to set up.

    If desired, decorate the top with some fresh raspberries or crumble some freeze dried raspberries over the top {you can see how that looks in this ricotta pound cake recipe}.

    You can also just drizzle the icing back and forth over the top of the cake and let it drip down the sides. There is no right or wrong here!

    white chocolate ganache icing and fresh raspberries on top of cake

    I tested this raspberry and white chocolate loaf cake several times and didn't always put the white chocolate glaze on. The cake is so moist and flavorful even without it! Of course, you'd just have a raspberry loaf cake at that point.😉. So if you prefer a cake without frosting, that works too!

    what is the best size loaf pan?

    I tested this cake in a standard 9x5 loaf pan, a 10x5 loaf pan and {accidentally} in an 8.5x4.5 loaf pan. The cake does best in the 9x5 pan.

    If you go with a larger loaf pan, the baking time will decrease and the cake is shorter and flatter along the top.

    If you only have a small loaf pan, the cake will likely spill out over the sides during baking. {and it does create some lovely crunchy and addictive edges!}. I also recommend placing a sheet pan underneath the small pan to catch any dripping batter.

    raspberry white chocolate loaf cake with fresh raspberries on a serving tray

    baking tips

    • Line your loaf pan with parchment paper to make removing the cake from the pan easy peasy.
    • Room temperature ingredients blend together better and help to create a silky batter. I usually pull my butter out at least two hours before baking a cake. For this recipe you'll also want to pull out the eggs, sour cream and raspberry jam ahead too.
    • Once the raspberry white chocolate loaf cake has baked for 40 minutes, check to see how the top is browning. If desired, lightly tent a piece of foil over the top of the cake to keep it from over browning.
    • Loaf cakes take a long time to bake. This cake usually takes between 70 - 75 minutes in my oven. BUT remember, your oven is different from mine and baking times will vary. The cake is done when a toothpick comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached.
    • Allow the cake to cool in the loaf pan for 15 minutes, then use the parchment paper to remove the cake from the pan. Set the cake on a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
    • The cake should be cool before adding the white chocolate ganache icing.

    how to tell when a loaf cake is done

    I tend to be impatient and often pull a loaf cake a few minutes before it is fully baked, which can cause the center to sink. In my opinion, a slightly under baked cake is always better than one that is over baked.

    You can tell if a cake is fully baked with a few different methods ~

    • The top and sides of the cake should be lightly golden.
    • The edges of the cake should just slightly be pulling away from the sides of the pan.
    • A toothpick should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached.
    • The top of the cake should spring back when lightly pressed on.
    • You can check the internal temperature with an instant read thermometer; most cakes will be fully baked at 210°F.

    how to store

    The raspberry white chocolate loaf cake can be stored covered or in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    If stored in the refrigerator, I recommend letting the cake come to room temperature before serving.

    slice of raspberry white chocolate cake with raspberries on top

    Remember to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram if you make this Raspberry White Chocolate Loaf Cake. It warms my heart to see you bring these recipes to life! Thank you for being here and happy baking!

    more from scratch cake recipes to try

    • Homemade Raspberry Cake
    • Lemon White Chocolate Cake
    • Vanilla Snack Cake
    • Chocolate Malt Cake
    • Raspberry Opera Cake

    If you make this recipe {or any recipe!} from two sugar bugs please come back and leave a review and a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating.  I read every comment, and I LOVE hearing from you!

    Yield: 8-10 servings

    Raspberry and White Chocolate Loaf Cake

    raspberry white chocolate loaf cake on a serving plate

    The cake is super moist thanks to the butter, oil and sour cream in the batter mixed with a raspberry filling. Top it with an easy white chocolate ganache icing for the best loaf cake!

    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Bake Time 1 hour 15 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

    Ingredients

    raspberry loaf cake

    • 2 cups all-purpose flour (250g)
    • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature (113g)
    • ¼ cup canola oil (60mL)
    • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar (300g)
    • 3 large eggs, room temperature
    • ½ cup sour cream, room temperature (120g)
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon pure almond extract
    • ⅓ cup raspberry jam, room temperature (100g)

    white chocolate glaze

    • 5 ounces white chocolate, chopped small (142g)
    • 2 tablespoons milk (60mL)
    • 1 ½ tablespoons butter (21g)

    Instructions

    1. Start by lining a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.  Preheat the oven to 325°F.
    2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour (2 cups/250g), baking powder (1 ½ teaspoons) and kosher salt (½ teaspoon) and set aside.
    3. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter (½ cup/113g) and sugar (1 ½ cups/300g) on med-high (speed 6 on a KitchenAid) for 2 minutes.  The butter and sugar will be combined, but not fully fluffy at this point.  Scrape up and down the bowl then turn the mixer back on medium (speed 4) and slowly drizzle in the oil (¼ cup/60mL) and beat another 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
    4. Once the mixture is light and fluffy, scrape the bowl and add the eggs one at a time (3 large eggs) on medium (speed 4), letting each one incorporate before adding the next, about 15 seconds per egg.  Then scrape the bowl and add the sour cream (½ cup/120g), vanilla (1 teaspoon) and almond extract (½ teaspoon) and mix another minute on medium-low (speed 2).  The mixture may look slightly curdled after adding the sour cream, but don’t let it bother you.
    5. Add the dry ingredients in two additions on the lowest speed and mix until just a few streaks of flour remain.  Then use a spatula to finish mixing the flour in.
    6. Place ½ cup of the batter into a small bowl and add the raspberry jam (⅓ cup/100g) and stir to combine.
    7. Then add a little over half of the plain batter into the prepared loaf pan.  Next layer the raspberry batter over the top followed by the remaining plain batter.  Then use a knife to swirl the layers together.  Bake for 55-75 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs.  You can check the cake at 40 minutes into baking and tent with foil if the top is browning too quickly.  Remove the cake from the oven and place on a wire cooling rack to cool for 15 minutes. Then use the parchment to remove the cake from the pan and allow to cool completely on the wire cooling rack.
    8. To make the white chocolate glaze:  In a double boiler, melt together the white chocolate (5 ounces/142g), milk (2 tablespoons/60mL) and butter (1 ½ tablespoons/21g) stirring until smooth. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly (about 1-2 minutes), then pour over the cake and allow it to set up.

    Notes

    Vegetable or canola oil can be used.

    The almond extract can be substituted with an equal amount of vanilla.

    The cake can be stored covered or in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    10

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 506Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 194mgCarbohydrates: 66gFiber: 1gSugar: 44gProtein: 6g

    The nutrition information is an estimate only and may not be entirely accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please make my day and PIN to Pinterest and share a photo on Instagram ~ making sure to tag @twosugarbugs! THANK YOU!!

    © Tasia
    Cuisine: American / Category: Cakes and Cupcakes

    Apple Cider Cinnamon Rolls

    apple cider cinnamon rolls after they've been baked and glazed

    These apple cider cinnamon rolls are soft, fluffy and delicious! You'll love the quick and easy dough made without a stand mixer. Top this homemade cinnamon roll recipe with an apple cider glaze and you'll have the BEST fall breakfast or dessert!

    apple cider cinnamon rolls; baked and glazed

    Disclosure | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    With fall officially here, I'm going to try and accept and embrace it. These apple cider cinnamon rolls are a great place to start. Truth be told I've been baking Christmas cookies for the last several weeks!

    Many of you know I love a healthy breakfast, but sometimes an indulgent breakfast is fun too. Especially a recipe that can also double as dessert. These homemade cinnamon rolls are soft, tender and fully and filled with the warm flavors of apple cider, much like my apple snack cake.

    For a couple healthier fall inspired breakfast recipes you can try my snickerdoodle banana bread or apple cider banana bread.

    why you will love these apple cider cinnamon rolls

    • Super soft dough ~ the bread flour, apple cider and butter all create a super soft roll.
    • Fall cinnamon roll flavor ~ the apple cider brings all the warm and cozy fall spices to these homemade rolls.
    • A simple apple cider glaze ~ a little vanilla, cinnamon, confectioners' sugar and reduced apple cider come together for an easy icing.
    cinnamon roll on a plate with a bite missing

    🍎ingredient notes

    Please scroll to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the full list of ingredients and baking directions.

    ingredients for apple cider cinnamon rolls
    • Apple cider ~ for a little hint of apple flavor in the easy dough.
    • Brown sugar ~ brings a little sweetness and helps to activate the yeast. If you would rather use white sugar, that works too. Also used in the cinnamon roll filling. I use dark brown, but light brown also works.
    • Active dry yeast
    • Bread flour ~ adds moistness and softness to the finished rolls, if you have it I highly recommend using it. {King Arthur Bread Flour is what I use} I've also tested this recipe with all-purpose flour and it works fine. See notes in the recipe card for the correct amount.
    • Eggs ~ one large egg + one egg yolk.
    • Kosher salt ~ if you only have table salt start with half the amount.
    • Unsalted butter ~ butter gets melted for the yeast dough. You also need softened butter for the quick cinnamon roll filling. It works best if the butter for the filling is really soft.
    • Ground cinnamon {not shown} ~ for the filling and apple cider glaze.
    • Confectioners' sugar {not shown} ~ for the glaze.
    • Vanilla {not shown} ~ for the glaze.

    how to make cinnamon rolls without a stand mixer

    Start by warming the apple cider. {I use my ThemoWorks Thermapen to check the temperature}

    Then add the brown sugar, yeast and warm apple cider to a medium size bowl and give it a little stir.

    instant read thermometer checking apple cider temperature
    brown sugar, yeast and warm apple cider in a bowl

    Add the bread flour, egg and egg yolk, melted butter and kosher salt and mix with a spatula or wooden spoon until a soft and shaggy dough forms.

    flour, eggs and melted butter added to the yeast mixture
    shaggy apple cider cinnamon roll dough

    Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter and knead for about 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. The dough is very sticky to start and you may be tempted to add extra flour. Be patient; if you add too much flour the rolls will be dense instead of soft and fluffy. I often use a plastic bench scraper to help lift the dough off the counter if it wants to stick.

    You can also use a stand mixer to mix the dough; see my funfetti cinnamon roll recipe for instructions for that method.

    Grease the bowl you mixed the dough in {no need to wash it} and place the dough in the bowl, cover and let rise about 1 hour {I place it in the slightly warm toaster oven}, or until double in size. While the dough is rising, prepare the filling.

    Once the dough has doubled, remove it from the bowl and roll it into a rectangle on a lightly floured surface. I like the narrow side to be about 14 inches and the long side about 22-24 inches.

    Spread very soft room temperature butter over the apple cider cinnamon roll dough and then sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon filling evenly over the top.

    Now use a pastry wheel {or sharp knife} and cut the dough into 12 long strips. Then I individually roll each strip into each roll; I like how this creates even more swirls in the rolls. Alternately, you can roll and cut them like classic cinnamon rolls.

    cinnamon roll dough after it's been kneaded for ten minutes
    apple cider cinnamon roll dough after the first rise
    rolling each individual apple cider cinnamon roll

    Prepare a pie pan, 9x13 baking pan or 9 inch round by buttering it generously and put the cut rolls in it. Place the dough back in your warm spot and allow it to rise a second time, about 30 to 45 minutes until the rolls have risen and about doubled in size {if your kitchen is warm, it may not take this much time}. When the apple cider cinnamon rolls are close to the end of the second rise, preheat the oven to 350°F.

    apple cider cinnamon rolls in a pie pan
    cinnamon rolls after the second rise

    Bake for about 20-25 minutes, until the edges are lightly brown. If you want to check by temperature, the sweet rolls internal temperature should be 190°F.

    🌝can I start apple cider cinnamon rolls the night before?

    Yes! You can prepare the rolls up until the second rise, then loosely cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Pull the rolls out of the refrigerator when you start the coffee and preheat the oven, then bake. 

    baked cinnamon rolls with an apple cider glaze

    tips and tricks for soft, fluffy rolls

    • Use a thermometer to check the temperature of your warm apple cider. If the apple cider is too hot, it can kill the yeast. If it's too cold, it won't activate the yeast.
    • Don't add too much flour when kneading the dough! The dough is very sticky to start and you may be tempted to add extra flour. Be patient; if you add too much flour the rolls will be dense instead of soft and fluffy. I typically need less than 2 tablespoons of additional flour.
    • Create a warm environment for the cinnamon rolls to rise if your kitchen is cold like mine. I usually create a warm environment in our Breville Smart Oven. A regular oven also works. Preheat the oven to the lowest temperature setting {ideally less than 200°F, you really don't want it warmer than about 90°F in there}. Leave the oven on for 2-3 minutes, then turn off the oven, but leave the door closed. When the dough is ready to rise, place it in the barely warm oven.
    • Use very soft room temperature butter for the filling. Your finger should be able to press all the way through the butter without any resistance. This allows you to easily spread the butter over the dough without risking tearing the dough.

    how to store cinnamon rolls

    Store in an airtight container or tightly wrapped at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    The rolls can also be frozen. Freeze in an airtight container or wrapped tightly and in a zip top bag for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and rewarm following the instructions below.

    roll on a pink plate with a fork

    how to rewarm homemade cinnamon rolls

    Gently rewarm the apple cider cinnamon rolls by wrapping them with foil and warm them in a 300°F oven for 10-15 minutes. I usually glaze them initially when the rolls are warm. I rewarm with the glaze on and it works just fine!

    If you know you will be freezing or storing the cinnamon rolls before serving, I would wait to glaze them.

    cinnamon roll on a plate with a fork

    Remember to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram if you make these Apple Cider Cinnamon Rolls. It warms my heart to see you bring these recipes to life! Thank you for being here and happy baking!

    more fall inspired baking recipes

    • Apple Cider Sugar Cookies
    • Snickerdoodle Banana Bread
    • Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
    • Bourbon Apple Crisp
    • Pumpkin Caramel Spice Bars

    If you make this recipe {or any recipe!} from two sugar bugs please come back and leave a review and a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating.  I read every comment, and I LOVE hearing from you!

    Yield: 12 cinnamon rolls

    Apple Cider Cinnamon Rolls

    apple cider cinnamon rolls after they've been baked and glazed

    These apple cider cinnamon rolls are soft, fluffy and delicious! You'll love the quick and easy dough made without a stand mixer. Top this homemade cinnamon roll recipe with an apple cider glaze and you'll have the BEST fall breakfast or dessert!

    Prep Time 25 minutes
    Bake Time 20 minutes
    Rise Time 1 hour 45 minutes
    Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes

    Ingredients

    apple cider rolls

    • 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed (24g)
    • 2 teaspoons active dry yeast (8g)
    • ¾ cup warm apple cider, 100-110°F (180mL)
    • 3 cups bread flour* (390g)
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 large egg plus one large egg yolk
    • 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter (28g)

    cinnamon filling

    • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature (85g)
    • ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
    • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

    apple cider glaze

    • 1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar (180g)
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 2-4 tablespoons reduced apple cider** (30-60mL)
    • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

    Instructions

    1. I like to turn on my Breville toaster oven to 120°F while I am mixing and kneading the dough. Turn it off when it reaches temperature and keep the door closed. (This creates a warm environment for letting the dough rise). You can use a regular oven as well, turn it on at it's lowest temperature for 2-3 minutes, then turn it off.
    2. In a bowl add the brown sugar (2 tablespoons/24g), yeast (2 teaspoons/8g) and warm apple cider (¾ cup/180mL) and give it a little stir. Add the bread flour (3 cups/390g), egg and egg yolk, melted butter (2 tablespoons/28g) and kosher salt (1 teaspoon) and mix until a soft and shaggy dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter and knead for about 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. Add flour as necessary, but try to add as little as possible. (I typically use less than 2 tablespoons flour for kneading) You can also use a stand mixer to mix the dough; see my funfetti cinnamon roll recipe for that method.
    3. Grease the bowl you mixed the dough in (no need to wash it) and place the dough in the bowl, cover and let rise about 1 hour (I place it in the slightly warm toaster oven), or until double in size.
    4. While the dough is rising, prepare the filling. In a bowl combine the brown sugar (½ cup/100g) and ground cinnamon (2 tablespoons). Set aside.
    5. Grease a 9 inch round pan, pie plate or 9x13 pan.
    6. Remove the dough from the bowl and roll it into a rectangle on a lightly floured surface. I like the narrow side to be about 14 inches and the long side about 22-24 inches.
    7. Spread the soft butter (6 tablespoons/85g) over the dough, covering almost to the very edge. Then sprinkle the cinnamon and brown sugar evenly over the butter. I like to use a pastry wheel at this point and cut the dough into 12 long strips. Then I individually roll each strip into each roll; I like how this creates even more swirls in the rolls. Alternately you can tightly roll the dough up starting on the short side until you create a log. With a sharp knife {or using dental floss}, cut the log into 12 equal pieces and place them in the prepared pan.
    8. Place the dough back in your warm spot and allow it to rise a second time, about 30 to 45 minutes until the rolls have risen and about doubled in size (if your kitchen is warm, it may not take this much time). When the apple cider cinnamon rolls are close to the end of the second rise, preheat the oven to 350°F.
    9. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, until the edges are lightly brown. If you want to check by temperature, the sweet rolls internal temperature should be 190°F.
    10. When the rolls are done, remove the pan from the oven and place the pan on a wire cooling rack. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes while you prepare the glaze.
    11. In a small bowl, mix the confectioners’ sugar (1 ½ cups/180g) and ground cinnamon (1 teaspoon). Then add the reduced apple cider (2-4 tablespoons/30-60mL) and vanilla (½ teaspoon) and mix until smooth and combined.
    12. Spoon the glaze evenly over the warm rolls and enjoy!

    Notes

    Cover and store leftovers at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat gently in the oven until warm by wrapping tightly in aluminum foil and placing in a 300°F oven for 10-15 minutes. The apple cider cinnamon rolls can also be frozen for up to 2 months. Freeze in an airtight container or wrap tightly and place in a zip top bag.

    * I also tested this recipe with all-purpose flour. Either works, but I prefer the lighter/fluffier sweet roll with bread flour.

    **To create the reduced apple cider; place a ½ cup of apple cider in a small saucepan and bring to a low boil. Allow to simmer at a low boil for 10-15 minutes or until the cider is reduced by half.

    If you would like to make the rolls ahead of time: You can bake the rolls and allow them to cool (don't glaze them yet). Then cover them tightly and store at room temperature for up to one day. Gently rewarm them (tightly wrapped with foil and warmed at 300°F for 10-15 minutes). Then add the glaze and serve.

    You can also prepare the rolls up until the second rise, then loosely cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Pull the rolls out of the refrigerator when you start the coffee and preheat the oven, then bake.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    12

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 299Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 122mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 2gSugar: 21gProtein: 6g

    The nutrition information is an estimate only and may not be entirely accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please make my day and PIN to Pinterest and share a photo on Instagram ~ making sure to tag @twosugarbugs! THANK YOU!!

    © Tasia
    Cuisine: American / Category: Breakfast

    Candy Bar Cookies

    pile of candy bar cookies

    The ultimate candy bar cookies! Homemade cookies are always a treat, but making cookies with candy bars just makes them better!

    candy bar cookies with a bowl of m&m's and mini candy bars

    Disclosure | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    I'm still in denial that fall officially starts later this week. The arrival of fall means Halloween is also quickly approaching. If your house is like mine and starts to overflow with those mini Halloween candy bars; this recipe is perfect for you!

    I made a few changes to my family's favorite chocolate chippers and birthday cake cookies to create these soft, thick and chewy candy bar cookies. And not one of my recipe testers has complained about the results!

    If you are looking for other candy bar inspired recipes you should try my Almond Joy cupcakes, Twix cake, Butterfinger ice cream cake, Kit Kat cookies or Milky Way cake.

    why you will love these cookies with candy bars

    • Soft and chewy ~ thanks to an extra egg yolk and all brown sugar in this cookie recipe; the result is a super soft and tender cookie.
    • You make them your way ~ use your favorite candy bars to make this recipe unique to you. We like them best with Reese's {peanut butter cups and pieces}, Almond Joy, Twix, Butterfingers and Kinder Bueno or Kit Kat.
    • A delicious way to use up leftover Halloween candy!
    candy bar cookie dough balls

    Ingredient notes

    Please scroll to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the full list of ingredients and baking directions.

    candy bar cookies ingredients
    • All-purpose flour ~ a kitchen scale is the best way to measure your flour. If you don't have a scale, use the spoon and level method.
    • Baking soda ~ helps the cookies bake up thick and chewy.
    • Cornstarch ~ brings softness to the candy bar cookies.
    • Kosher salt ~ helps to balance the sweetness. If you only have table salt, start with half the amount.
    • Unsalted butter ~ the butter should be room temperature, which is colder than you think! 65°F is the temperature you should be aiming for. I use my Thermapen to quickly check the butter temperature.
    • Brown sugar ~ I prefer dark brown sugar, but light brown also works. Brown sugar should be packed into the measuring cup.
    • Eggs ~ one large egg, plus one large egg yolk are needed. I pull these out when I pull out the butter. Save the white to make a batch of meringue cookies.
    • Vanilla ~ pure vanilla extract is my favorite. I love Beyond Good's vanilla.
    • Mini candy bars ~ use up leftover Halloween candy! Large candy bars work just as well, use your favorites. I provide the amount needed in grams as candy bars can come in many different packaging sizes. If you don't have a scale, just add up the grams listed on the packages.
    • Flaky sea salt ~ for sprinkling over the baked cookies. I seriously don't know why we haven't been doing this to our cookies all along! The flaky sea salt is a perfect finishing touch.

    how to make easy halloween candy cookies

    First, in a medium size bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cornstarch and kosher salt. Set aside.

    Then cream the butter and brown sugar on medium high with a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or a hand mixer, until light and fluffy.

    Scrape down your bowl and add the large egg, egg yolk and vanilla. Mix until well combined. Scrape the bowl again.

    butter and brown sugar creamed in a mixing bowl
    egg and egg yolk creamed with butter and sugar

    Next, with the mixer on low, add the flour mixture in two additions and blend until just a little flour is still showing.

    Fold in the chopped candy bars with a spatula.

    when to stop mixing your cookies with just a little flour showing
    mini candy bars chopped and added to candy bar cookie dough

    Then using a cookie scoop {I like a size 30 scoop}, portion the cookies and place on a plate or baking pan. Top with a few extra pieces of candy bars, if desired. Chill at least one hour and up to 48 hours. If chilling longer than an hour or two, cover the cookie dough.

    candy bar cookie dough balls

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare baking sheets {I love these USA half sheet pans} with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Place cookie dough on prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.

    Bake 11-14 minutes, until edges are lightly browned. They will look slightly underdone in the centers. If desired, sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Allow to cool on the pan for 5 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

    cookies with candy bars on a cooling rack

    tips for the baking the best cookies

    • Follow the recipe ~ I develop recipes and test them multiple times, making lots of mistakes along the way. Once I am happy with a recipe, I test it a few more times to make sure it is consistent. Even one small change by you can change the outcome.
    • Hold some extra candy pieces aside to press on top of the cookies prior to baking to give them that bakery style look.
    • Chill the dough! Allowing the dough to chill for several hours will yield a thicker cookie. If you can't wait, chill the cookie dough for at least one hour.
    • If using candy with caramel in it, such as Snickers, Twix or Payday; try to keep those from being on the very bottom of the cookie. They will stick more to the baking pan if the caramel melts out on the bottom. I use a fish spatula {please tell me I'm not the only one!} as a cookie spatula, which definitely helps if caramel ends up on the bottoms.
    • Chocolate based candy bars work best in this cookie recipe. Try to steer clear of candies like Jolly Ranchers, Skittles or Starburst.
    • Use real butter, not margarine for the best tasting cookies.
    • Do not grease your cookie pans, which can make your cookies spread more. Use parchment paper or silicone baking mats instead.
    • Don't over bake the cookies! You want to remove the cookies from the oven when the edges are set and the middle is still a little soft.

    Remember to pin this recipe to Pinterest! Use the button on the recipe card or the share buttons on the side or bottom of this page.

    how to store

    Baked candy bar cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days.

    You can also freeze the baked cookies once they have completely cooled. This is by far my favorite way to store cookies! The cookies can go in a zip top bag or an airtight container; they will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months {often longer}.

    The cookie dough balls can also be frozen and baked off when you are craving a cookie or two.

    Once you have scooped the cookie dough into balls, chill them until firm. Then place in an airtight container or zip-top bag and place in the freezer. When ready to bake the cookies, place the dough balls on a baking sheet while the oven preheats then bake as directed.  I check them at the same time interval, but they may end up needing a minute or two more to bake.

    candy bar cookie with glasses of milk

    more options for leftover candy

    • Freeze it ~ unopened candy bars freeze really well!
    • Donate it ~ there are programs in the USA where you can donate unopened Halloween candy to men and women serving abroad in the military.
    • Bake more cookies!😉
    candy bar cookie with a bite missing

    Remember to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram if you make these Candy Bar Cookies. It warms my heart to see you bring these recipes to life! Thank you for being here and happy baking!

    more soft and chewy homemade cookie recipes

    • White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies
    • Espresso Brown Butter Toffee Cookies
    • Sprinkle Cookies
    • Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

    If you make this recipe {or any recipe!} from two sugar bugs please come back and leave a review and a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating.  I read every comment, and I LOVE hearing from you!

    Yield: 21-22 cookies

    Candy Bar Cookies

    pile of candy bar cookies

    The ultimate candy bar cookies! Homemade cookies are always a treat, but making cookies with candy bars just makes them better!

    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Bake Time 14 minutes
    Chill Time 1 hour
    Total Time 1 hour 29 minutes

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups all-purpose flour (250g)
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature (170g)
    • 1 cup dark brown sugar*, firmly packed (200g)
    • 1 large egg, room temperature
    • 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
    • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • 250g candy bars, chopped (save a little aside for topping the cookies)
    • Flaky sea salt

    Instructions

    1. In a medium size bowl, whisk flour (2 cups/250g), baking soda (1 teaspoon), cornstarch (2 teaspoons) and kosher salt (½ teaspoon). Set aside.
    2. Cream butter (¾ cup/170g) and brown sugar (1 cup/200g) on medium high (speed 6 on a KitchenAid) with a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or a hand mixer, until light and fluffy. About 3 minutes.
    3. Scrape down your bowl and add the large egg, egg yolk and vanilla (2 teaspoons). Mix until well combined on medium (speed 4 on a KitchenAid) for about 1 minute. Scrape the bowl again.
    4. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture in two additions and blend until just a little flour is still showing.
    5. Fold in the chopped candy bars with a spatula. Using a cookie scoop (approximately 2 tablespoons of dough), portion the cookies and place on a plate or baking pan. Top with a few extra pieces of candy bars, if desired.
    6. Chill at least one hour and up to 48 hours. If chilling longer than an hour or two, cover the cookie dough. The longer you chill the cookie dough, the thicker the cookies will be.
    7. Preheat oven to 350°F
    8. Prepare baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
    9. Place cookie dough on prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.
    10. Bake 11-14 minutes, until edges are lightly browned and set. They will look slightly underdone in the centers. If desired, sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Allow to cool on the pan for 5 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

    Notes

    *I prefer dark brown sugar, but light brown sugar also works.

    Chocolate based candy bars such as Twix, Almond Joy, Kit Kat, Snickers, Milky Way, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Reese's Pieces, Butterfingers, Kinder Bueno, M&M's work best. Avoid sugary candies like Skittles, Starburst, Jolly Ranchers and gummy bears.

    Baked candy bar cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days.

    You can also freeze the baked cookies once they have completely cooled. This is by far my favorite way to store cookies! The cookies can go in a zip top bag or an airtight container; they will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months (often longer).

    The cookie dough balls can also be frozen and baked off when you are craving a cookie or two.

    Once you have scooped the cookie dough into balls, chill them until firm. Then place in an airtight container or zip-top bag and place in the freezer. When ready to bake the cookies, place the dough balls on a baking sheet while the oven preheats then bake as directed.  I check them at the same time interval, but they may end up needing a minute or two more to bake.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    21

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 204Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 157mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 1gSugar: 15gProtein: 3g

    The nutrition information is an estimate only and may not be entirely accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please make my day and PIN to Pinterest and share a photo on Instagram ~ making sure to tag @twosugarbugs! THANK YOU!!

    © Tasia
    Cuisine: American / Category: Cookies

    Bourbon Apple Crisp

    bourbon apple crisp with vanilla ice cream and two spoons

    This quick and easy bourbon apple crisp is going to become one of your favorite dessert recipes. Made using brown sugar, a hint of bourbon and an oatmeal topping; this is a perfect fall dessert!

    bourbon apple crisp with ice cream and two spoons

    Disclosure | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    This bourbon apple crisp is a quick recipe that brings lots of big flavor to this dessert with very little work! The apple crisp is made with brown sugar, which creates a caramel like bourbon sauce once the crisp is baked in the oven.

    As much as I hate to admit it, fall is nipping on my heels. School has been back in session for two weeks now, the morning and evening air is cool and crisp and the hours of daylight are shortening quickly.

    Last year I welcomed fall with these delicious, no bake cookie butter bars, but this year I say we celebrate fall and apple season with this baked bourbon apple crisp!

    why you will love this quick and easy apple crisp

    • Easy ~ much easier than apple pie! This fruit crisp uses an oatmeal topping {or streusel} versus a flaky, buttery pie crust.
    • Quick ~ this bourbon apple crisp not only comes together quickly, it has a relatively short cooling period as well.
    • Simple ingredients ~ you likely have all the ingredients in your kitchen right now!
    • A {not so secret} ingredient ~ the addition of bourbon takes your crisp from good to I can't stop eating this dessert good! The bourbon is not overpowering or boozy, but instead compliments the apples and cinnamon beautifully.
    single serving of bourbon apple crisp with a spoon

    ingredients needed for the bourbon apple filling

    Please scroll to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the full list of ingredients and baking directions.

    apple crisp ingredients
    • Apples ~ see below for the best apples to use for baking. I used a combination of Granny Smith and Pink Lady for the apple crisp shown in this post.
    • Lemon juice ~ a little acidity to keep the apples from browning prior to being baked. You can squeeze a fresh lemon or use a quality lemon juice {this is the one I always have in my refrigerator}!
    • Bourbon ~ you don't need to use the good stuff here. I used Trader Joe's Kentucky Best. If you would rather skip the alcohol, substitute 2 tablespoons of orange juice.
    • Vanilla ~ helps to balance the sweet and pairs nicely with bourbon and cinnamon.
    • Brown sugar ~ I prefer dark brown sugar, but light brown will also work. My testers liked this apple crisp best without white sugar and with not too much brown sugar in the apple filling. See the recipe notes for if you like a sweeter dessert.
    • All-purpose flour ~ just a little to thicken the filling.
    • Cinnamon ~ ground cinnamon brings that classic apple crisp flavor.

    ingredients needed for the crisp oatmeal topping

    Please scroll to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the full list of ingredients and baking directions.

    crisp oatmeal topping ingredients
    • All-purpose flour ~ provides the base of the oatmeal topping.
    • Oats ~ use old fashioned rolled oats. I like to mix the oats in after forming the streusel, which helps the oats hold their shape during baking.
    • Kosher salt ~ just a pinch to balance the sweetness.
    • Cinnamon ~ more ground cinnamon for that classic taste.
    • Brown sugar ~ I again used dark brown sugar; I love the richness it brings to dessert recipes! Light brown sugar will work as well.
    • Unsalted butter ~ the butter should be cold and cut into small cubes.
    • Bourbon ~ just another splash to bring a little extra crispness to the crisp topping. You can leave the bourbon out of the oatmeal topping with no other adjustments needed.
    apple crisp with vanilla ice cream on top

    what kind of apples should I use for apple crisp?

    A firm apple is best for baking. I like a combination of sweet apples and tart apples for apple dessert recipes.

    The apple varieties I like best for baking: Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Braeburn, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, and Fuji.

    how to make this easy fruit crisp recipe

    Start by preheating the oven and buttering a deep pie plate {I use my Jefferson Street Ceramics pie plate}. You can also use a 9x9 baking pan or any deep baking dish.

    Then peel, core and slice the apples to about ¼ inch thick.

    peeled and sliced apples on a cutting board

    Next place the sliced apples into a bowl and toss with the lemon juice, bourbon and vanilla. {these are the glass bowls I use daily in my kitchen}

    Then add the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon and toss until evenly coated. Set aside while you make the crisp topping.

    sliced apples in a bowl
    apples with flour, cinnamon and brown sugar in a bowl
    apple filling in a bowl

    In another bowl, toss together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. I just use a fork.

    Then add the cold, cubed butter and use your {clean} fingers, a fork or pastry cutter to work the butter into the flour mixture until a crumbly mixture forms. The topping should hold together in clumps when squeezed.

    Now stir in the oats until combined.

    butter on top of sugar, flour and cinnamon
    crisp topping before oats are added
    bourbon apple crisp topping

    Finally evenly spread the apple filling in your baking dish and top with the oatmeal streusel and bake until the top is golden brown and the apple juices are bubbling around the edges.

    apple crisp filling in a pie pan
    unbaked bourbon apple crisp

    what is the difference between a crisp and a crumble?

    A fruit crisp and a crumble are both very similar apple desserts, but a crumble rarely uses oats in the topping.

    baked bourbon apple crisp

    bourbon apple crisp topping ideas

    You can serve this classic fall dessert plain, but this warm apple recipe is also incredible with ~

    • Vanilla ice cream
    • Cinnamon ice cream
    • Whiskey Vanilla Caramel Sauce
    • Homemade vanilla whipped cream

    should apple crisp be refrigerated?

    Yes, any leftovers should be covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    individual servings of apple crisp

    Remember to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram if you make this Bourbon Apple Crisp. It warms my heart to see you bring these recipes to life! Thank you for being here and happy baking!

    more apple dessert recipes

    • Apple Cider Sugar Cookies
    • Apple Spice Cake with Mascarpone Frosting
    • Cinnamon Apple Crostata
    • Apple Crisp Shortbread Bars
    • Apple Cider Banana Bread

    If you make this recipe {or any recipe!} from two sugar bugs please come back and leave a review and a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating.  I read every comment, and I LOVE hearing from you!

    Yield: serves 8

    Bourbon Apple Crisp

    bourbon apple crisp with vanilla ice cream and two spoons

    Bourbon apple crisp is made using brown sugar, a hint of bourbon and an oatmeal topping; this is a perfect fall dessert recipe!

    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Bake Time 45 minutes
    Cooling Time 30 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

    Ingredients

    Apple filling

    • 2 pounds apples*, peeled, cored and sliced into ¼ inch slices (907g)
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice (30mL)
    • 3 tablespoons bourbon (45mL)
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • ⅓ cup packed brown sugar** (67g)
    • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (16g)
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

    Crisp topping

    • ½ cup all-purpose flour (63g)
    • ½ cup packed brown sugar (100g)
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut in small cubes (84g)
    • ⅔ cup old fashioned rolled oats (50g)
    • 2 teaspoons bourbon

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and butter a deep 9-inch pie plate, a 9-inch square or round baking pan.  Set aside.
    2. Add the sliced apples (2 pounds/907g before slicing) to a large bowl and toss with the lemon juice (2 tablespoons/30mL), bourbon (3 tablespoons/45mL) and vanilla (1 teaspoon).  Then add the brown sugar** (⅓ cup/67g), flour (2 tablespoons/16g) and ground cinnamon (1 teaspoon) and mix until the apples are evenly coated with the other ingredients.
    3. In another bowl mix the flour (½ cup/63g), brown sugar (½ cup/100g), cinnamon (1 teaspoon) and kosher salt (¼ teaspoon) until combined.  Then add the cold and cubed butter and use your (clean) fingers, a fork or pastry cutter to cut the butter into the dry mixture until it becomes crumbly.  The topping will also hold together when you squeeze it.  Now stir in the oats and bourbon until fully combined.
    4. Next evenly spread the apple filling into the prepared baking dish.  Evenly sprinkle the oatmeal crisp topping over the apples and bake for 40-45 minutes or until the topping is golden and the apples are bubbling at the edges. (Check the bourbon apple crisp about 30 minutes into baking to make sure the top is not browning too quickly.  If needed, lightly tent with foil for the remainder of the baking time).
    5. Allow to cool for 25-30 minutes and then enjoy!  Eat plain or top with vanilla or cinnamon ice cream, whipped cream.

    Notes

    *2 pounds of apples is about 5 medium apples, it's fine if the weight is a little over.  The weight is provided before they have been peeled, cored and sliced.  I used a combination of Granny Smith and Pink Lady.

    **The brown sugar can be increased up to ½ cup if using apples that are more tart (such as all Granny Smith) or if you prefer a more sweet apple crisp.  Either dark brown or light brown sugar can be used.

    If you prefer to not use the bourbon, substitute the bourbon in the filling with 2 tablespoons/30mL orange juice and leave the bourbon out of the oatmeal topping.

    Any leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    8

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 284Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 49mgCarbohydrates: 47gFiber: 4gSugar: 30gProtein: 2g

    The nutrition information is an estimate only and may not be entirely accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please make my day and PIN to Pinterest and share a photo on Instagram ~ making sure to tag @twosugarbugs! THANK YOU!!

    © Tasia
    Cuisine: American / Category: Pies and Tarts

    Pop Tart Cookies

    hand holding pop tart cookies

    Pop tart cookies have that nostalgic flavor you love, but in cookie form! This easy recipe is a brown sugar cookie stuffed with a brown sugar cinnamon filling and frosted with a simple vanilla icing.

    hand holding pop tart cookies

    Disclosure | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Frosted brown sugar cinnamon pop tart cookies. In my opinion, it's really the best flavor of pop tarts! Now you can enjoy this nostalgic flavor in cookie form. A soft, buttery brown sugar cookie with a filling of brown sugar and cinnamon.

    This easy recipe is similar to my popular sprinkle cookies and chocolate sprinkle cookies in that the cookie dough is made without a mixer. A food processor makes the quick sugar cookie dough.

    why you will love this brown sugar cookie

    • Pop tart flavor in a bakery style cookie.
    • The cookies bake up large, thick and chewy.
    • The cookie dough uses cold ingredients.
    • A food processor does all the hard work.
    frosted pop tart cookies

    ingredients needed for these pop tart cookies

    Please scroll to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the full list of ingredients and baking directions.

    pop tart cookies ingredients
    • All-purpose flour ~ gives the pop tart cookies their stability. If you don't have a kitchen scale, use the spoon and level method.
    • Kosher salt ~ helps balance the sweetness of the cookies. If you only have table salt, start with half the amount.
    • Baking soda ~ helps the cookies to bake up nice and thick.
    • Unsalted butter ~ use cold butter and cut it into small cubes.
    • Cream cheese ~ use cold block cream cheese and also cut it into small cubes.
    • Brown sugar ~ for the wonderful brown sugar flavor! I like dark brown sugar best, but light brown sugar will also work here.
    • Confectioners' sugar ~ adds softness to the finished cookies.
    • Egg ~ helps to bind the cookie dough together. You need one large egg.
    • Vanilla ~ I always like pure vanilla extract best, but use what you have. I love this vanilla.
    • Cinnamon sugar filling ~ a mixture of brown sugar, all-purpose flour and cinnamon.
    • Vanilla frosting {not shown} ~ a mixture of confectioners' sugar, vanilla and milk. If you are not a frosting person these cookies are perfectly delicious without frosting too!
    • Coarse sugar ~ to give the finished cookies that iconic pop tart look. I use a Demerara sugar.
    pop tart cookies on a plate with a bite missing

    how to make these stuffed cookies

    To start, place flour, baking soda and salt in the bowl of your food processor {this is the updated version of my 24+ year old Cuisinart}.  Pulse a few times to blend.

    Add the COLD butter cubes and COLD cream cheese as well as the brown and confectioners’ sugars to the flour mixture.  Pulse until the mixture becomes sandy in texture.

    cream cheese and butter on top of sugars and flour in a food processor
    cookie ingredients resembling sand in a food processor

    Add the egg and vanilla and blend until the dough comes together. Chill the dough for 1-2 hours.  {I just chill it in the food processor bowl and don't cover it.}

    I have baked these cookies successfully without chilling the dough. If you want to go this route, just be prepared for the dough to be really sticky and have some patience while you stuff and seal the cookie back up.

    pop tart cookie dough in a food processor

    While the dough is chilling, mix the filling by combining the brown sugar, cinnamon and flour in a small bowl.

    Then preheat oven to 375°F and prepare baking pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. 

    Roll the dough into ¼ cup size balls {I use a size 16 scoop} and then use your {clean} thumb to press a wide indent into the dough.  Add 2-3 teaspoons of the brown sugar cinnamon filling to the indent, pressing it down into the hole you created.  The dough can be a little bit sticky and tricky to work with, especially if you choose not to chill it.

    Then use your fingers to seal the cookie dough around the filling.

    Please do not be tempted to stuff the pop tart cookies with extra filling as it makes it hard to close the cookie up.

    cookie dough with brown sugar in the middle
    cookie dough pinched together with the filling
    hand holding a stuffed and rolled cookie

    Now place the cookie on the prepared baking pan, spacing 1-2 inches apart.

    Use your fingers to lightly flatten the cookies to about ¼ inch tall. If you need to, sprinkle a tiny bit of the filling on top of the cookie to make it less sticky while you press it down. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are set.

    unbaked pop tart cookie on a parchment lined baking pan
    baked pop tart cookie on a baking sheet pan

    frosted pop tart cookies

    While the cookies are cooling, make the vanilla frosting. 

    Mix the confectioners’ sugar with vanilla and milk until a thick glaze forms.  You may need to add up to 1 additional tablespoon milk to get the icing thin enough to drizzle and spread over the top of each cookie.  Immediately sprinkle with coarse sugar.

    The vanilla frosting glaze makes just enough for a thin layer on each cookie. The cookies are a sweet cookie with the brown sugar and cinnamon filling and the icing. If you tend to like extra icing, go ahead and double the icing recipe.

    spoon drizzling vanilla frosting on a cookie

    can I use other flavors for the filling?

    Yes!! I actually tested the first batch with raspberry jam {my family's favorite jam flavor}. But we all agree that brown sugar cinnamon is the best flavor of pop tart, so that beat jam in the middle! Some other popular pop tart flavors that would be delicious ~

    • Strawberry
    • Cherry {if you want homemade pop tarts try this recipe}
    • Blueberry
    • Cookies and cream ~ I would smash Oreo cookies to crumbs and use them in place of the brown sugar cinnamon filling.

    can I make the cookies smaller?

    Yes! You can use a two tablespoon cookie scoop and create 20 smaller cookies. Instead of using a tablespoon to make the indent, use a teaspoon and reduce the filling amount in half. The bake time should be similar, but I would check them at the ten minute mark.

    hand grabbing a pop tart cookie

    how to store

    The pop tart cookies will stay fresh covered in an air tight container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days. 

    They also freeze well for up to 3 months; let the cookies and frosting cool and set completely before putting in an air tight container and freezing.

    frosted brown sugar cookies on a parchment lined baking pan

    Remember to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram if you make these Pop Tart Cookies. It warms my heart to see you bring these recipes to life! Thank you for being here and happy baking!

    more classic cookie recipes

    • Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies
    • Buttercream Sugar Cookies
    • Chocolate Chippers
    • Oatmeal Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Soft and Thick Snickerdoodle Cookies

    If you make this recipe {or any recipe!} from two sugar bugs please come back and leave a review and a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating.  I read every comment, and I LOVE hearing from you!

    Yield: 10 large cookies

    Pop Tart Cookies

    hand holding pop tart cookies

    Pop tart cookies have that nostalgic flavor you love, but in cookie form! This easy recipe is a brown sugar cookie stuffed with a brown sugar cinnamon filling and frosted with a simple vanilla icing.

    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Bake Time 12 minutes
    Chill Time 2 hours
    Total Time 2 hours 27 minutes

    Ingredients

    • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (281g)
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ cup unsalted butter, cubed (113g)
    • ½ cup cream cheese, cubed (4 ounces/114g)
    • ½ cup brown sugar, packed (100g)
    • ¾ cup confectioners’ sugar (90g)
    • 1 large egg
    • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

    Brown sugar cinnamon filling*

    • ¼ cup brown sugar (50g)
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1 tablespoon flour

    Vanilla icing**

    • ¾ cup confectioners’ sugar (90g)
    • ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1 tablespoon milk (15mL)
    • Coarse sugar, if desired

    Instructions

    1. Place flour (2¼ cups/281g), baking soda (1 teaspoon), and kosher salt (½ teaspoon) in the bowl of your food processor.  Pulse a few times to blend.
    2. Add the COLD butter cubes (½ cup/113g) and COLD cream cheese (½ cup/114g) as well as the brown (½ cup/100g) and confectioners’ sugars (¾ cup/90g) to the flour mixture.  Pulse until the mixture becomes sandy in texture.
    3. Add the egg (1 large) and vanilla (2 teaspoons) and blend until the dough comes together. 
    4. Chill the dough for 1-2 hours.  (I just chill it in the food processor bowl)
    5. While the dough is chilling, mix the filling by combining the brown sugar (¼ cup/50g), cinnamon (1 teaspoon) and flour (1 tablespoon) in a small bowl.
    6. Preheat oven to 375°F.  Prepare baking pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.  Set aside.
    7. Roll the dough into ¼ cup size balls (I use a size 16 scoop) and then use your (clean) thumb to press a wide indent into the dough.  Add 2-3 teaspoons of the brown sugar cinnamon filling to the indent, pressing it down into the hole you created.  The dough can be a little bit sticky.
    8. Then use your fingers to seal the cookie dough around the filling and place the cookie on the prepared baking pan, spacing 1-2 inches apart.  Use your fingers to lightly flatten the cookies to about ¼ inch tall.
    9. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are set.
    10. Allow to rest for 2 minutes on the baking pan.  Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
    11. While the cookies are cooling, make the glaze.  Mix confectioners’ sugar (¾ cup/90g) with vanilla (¼ teaspoon) and milk (1 tablespoon/15mL) until a thick glaze forms.  You may need to add up to 1 additional tablespoon milk to get the glaze thin enough to drizzle/spread over the top of each cookie.  Immediately sprinkle with coarse sugar.

    Notes

    *If you prefer a strawberry pop tart cookie, use strawberry jam. We also like raspberry and cherry jam as filling too.

    **The vanilla icing makes enough for a thin layer of icing on each cookie. If you like extra icing, double the icing recipe.

    If you would like to make smaller cookies; use about 2 tablespoons of cookie dough and use a teaspoon to create the indent. Use about 1 - 2 teaspoons of filling. The cookies may bake in closer to 10 minutes.

    Cookies will stay fresh covered in an air tight container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days.  They also freeze well for up to 3 months.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    10

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 356Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 239mgCarbohydrates: 53gFiber: 1gSugar: 31gProtein: 5g

    The nutrition information is an estimate only and may not be entirely accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please make my day and PIN to Pinterest and share a photo on Instagram ~ making sure to tag @twosugarbugs! THANK YOU!!

    © Tasia
    Cuisine: American / Category: Cookies

    Frozen Blueberry Pie

    slice of frozen blueberry pie on a plate with a fork

    Homemade frozen blueberry pie can be made year round with frozen blueberries. The filling is made from scratch and cooked on the stove prior to baking. This pie recipe is easy and the thick filling is not runny.

    slice of frozen blueberry pie on a plate with a fork

    Disclosure | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    This easy frozen blueberry pie is loaded with sweet frozen berries and tucked in a flaky butter crust. The filling sets up nice and thick and has a little something special with the addition of cardamom.

    Imagine surprising your Thanksgiving guests this year with the best blueberry pie, which also happens to be amazing with my homemade cinnamon ice cream!

    why you will love this homemade blueberry pie

    • Quick and easy ~ both the frozen blueberry pie filling and all-butter crust are simple to make.
    • Perfect any time of year ~ the recipe uses frozen blueberries, which means this pie is as perfect for summer as it is for the holiday season.
    • Sets up perfectly ~ we'll cook the filling on the stove, which means your blueberry pie will be juicy, but not runny.
    • Make ahead recipe ~ the blueberry pie filling and flaky pie crust can both be prepared ahead of time.
    frozen blueberry pie with a lattice top

    ingredients needed

    Please scroll to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the full list of ingredients and baking directions.

    ingredients for all butter pie dough
    frozen blueberry pie filling ingredients
    • All-purpose flour ~ brings structure to the pie dough.
    • Kosher salt ~ helps balance the sweet pie. If you only have table salt, use half the amount.
    • Granulated sugar ~ just a tablespoon to bring a little sweetness.
    • Apple cider vinegar ~ helps create a tender pie dough. You can leave it out.
    • Unsalted butter ~ brings richness to the crust and pie filling.
    • Water ~ used to moisten the crust and bind it together.
    • Frozen blueberries ~ the star of the show! I've tested this pie with both regular blueberries and wild blueberries and a mixture of both; any variation works. Frozen blueberries tend to be less expensive than fresh blueberries and are available year round.
    • Brown sugar ~ just a little to bring round out the sweetness of the frozen berries.
    • Lemon juice and zest ~ one medium to large lemon should yield both the juice and zest needed. I use this zester and this juicer.
    • Cardamom ~ just a little to bring a little something special to this pie recipe. If you don't have cardamom, you can substitute the amount with half cinnamon and half nutmeg.
    • Cornstarch ~ serves as the thickener for the blueberry filling. Dissolve the cornstarch in water before adding it to the filling.
    • Vanilla ~ adds richness and flavor to the blueberry pie filling.
    • Egg wash {not shown} ~ one egg plus one tablespoon milk or 1-2 tablespoons of milk or cream. I used cream for the pie in these photos. Sprinkle the egg wash with coarse sugar if you like.

    how to make the all-butter pie dough

    Start by cutting the butter into small cubes and return it to the refrigerator. 

    Then in a large bowl, mix the flour, granulated sugar, and kosher salt. 

    Now add the butter and toss until the flour is coating the butter.

    Then using your {clean} hands or a pastry cutter, work the butter into the flour until the butter is the size of small peas.  A few larger bits of butter remaining are okay too.

    butter chunks tossed in flour in a bowl
    butter worked into the flour mixture

    Then measure a half cup of ice cold water, add the apple cider vinegar to the water.  Drizzle the water mixture in 1 - 2 tablespoons at a time and toss the pie dough with a fork to combine.  Continue to slowly drizzle the water in until the dough forms larger clumps.  {stop drizzling in the water once this happens}

    Use your hands to bring the dough together, then divide in half and shape each half into a ball.  I use my kitchen scale to evenly divide.  Now tightly wrap each half of the pie dough on a piece of plastic wrap and press into a disk about 1 inch thick.  Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours and ideally up to 8 - 12 hours.

    pie dough in a bowl
    pie dough wrapped in plastic wrap

    how to make the frozen blueberry filling

    Start by mixing frozen blueberries, brown sugar, lemon juice, the zest of one lemon, cardamom and a pinch of salt in a large sauce pan.  Then dissolve the cornstarch in water and stir into the blueberry mixture.

    blueberries, brown sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice and cardamom in a sauce pan
    frozen blueberry filling ingredients mixed in a sauce pan

    Now place the sauce pan over medium heat and cook, stirring frequently until the mixture comes to a boil, about 6-8 minutes.  Allow to boil for 1 minute, stirring the whole minute as the mixture will start thickening.  Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla and unsalted butter. 

    Pour the mixture into a bowl and allow to cool to room temperature. Can be made the day before and stored {covered} in the refrigerator.  Remove the blueberry pie filling from the refrigerator an hour or two before putting the pie together so it can warm up.

    frozen blueberry pie filling with butter and vanilla added
    finished blueberry pie filling in a glass bowl

    assembling the berry pie

    Remove the pie crust from the refrigerator and allow to sit on the counter for 5-10 minutes before rolling out.  Flour your work surface and roll out the dough to roughly a 12 inch circle.  Fit the dough tightly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie pan.  {this is the Lodge pan I use}

    Refrigerate the bottom crust while you roll out the lattice.  Roll the second half of the pie crust into another 12 inch circle and cut desired size strips of pie crust {I like doing a mixture of larger strips and narrow strips.  For the look of this pie I made 6 large strips and 8 small strips}.  If the pie crust has gotten warm, pop it in the refrigerator for 5 to 10 minutes before proceeding. 

    Now spoon the blueberry pie filling into the bottom crust.  Create the lattice with the cut strips, then trim any long edges and crimp the border together.  Place the prepared pie in the refrigerator and preheat the oven to 425°F.  If needed, move the oven racks so you have space to place the pie in the lower third of the oven for baking.

    Finally, brush an egg wash or milk over the crust and sprinkle with some coarse sugar, if you like {you can also use granulated sugar}. Then bake.

    frozen blueberry filling in a pie dough lined pie plate
    lattice top on unbaked pie
    frozen blueberry pie with milk wash and coarse sugar

    can I use a pre-made crust?

    Yes, although it's hard to beat the tenderness and flakiness of a homemade pie crust! But if making pie dough from scratch isn't your thing, go ahead and use a store bought pie crust. You'll need a double crust.

    slice of pie on a plate

    do I have to use a lattice top?

    No, I know a lattice pie crust can be intimidating. If you prefer you can roll out the top pie dough to a 10-11 inch circle and place it over the top of the frozen blueberry pie. Then tuck the edges and crimp the edges as desired. Don't forget to cut some steam vents!

    I walk you through how I make a lattice top in my blackberry cherry pie post.

    My friend Kelli at Everyday Pie has a great tutorial on how to make a lattice pie crust.

    interior look at the blueberry pie filling

    tips for success with this pie recipe

    • Prepare the all-butter pie crust ahead of time. Letting the dough rest allows it to hydrate properly, which means it's easier to work with. I find 8-12 hours is an ideal rest time, but if you are pinched for time let it rest for 2 hours.
    • Keep the crust cold before it goes in the oven. This is why I have you prepare the pie and then refrigerate it while you preheat the oven.
    • Make sure the oven is fully at 425°F when you put the pie in. This initial high temperature helps the crust set.
    • Bake the blueberry pie in the lower third of the oven. This helps to bake the bottom crust without overly browning the top crust.
    • When you decrease the temperature of the oven, use pie shields to keep the edges of the crust from over browning while the frozen blueberry pie finishes baking. I have some super fancy shields that I made from aluminum foil! {you can see them here}
    • Allow the pie to cool completely, about 6-8 hours, so the filling can completely set up. If you don't mind messy slices, you can slice it while still warm.

    how to store

    Frozen blueberry pie {and all fruit pies} are best eaten within 2 days.

    A baked blueberry pie can be loosely covered and stored at room temperature for 1 day. It can also be covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    If you want to freeze the baked pie, let it cool completely. Then double wrap the pie and freeze for up to 2 months. Allow it to come to room temperature before serving. Although I personally don't do this; I can always taste that the pie has been frozen and don't find it nearly as enjoyable to eat.

    overhead look at slices of pie on plates

    Remember to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram if you make this Frozen Blueberry Pie. It warms my heart to see you bring these recipes to life! Thank you for being here and happy baking!

    more berry dessert recipes

    • Berry Crumble Bars
    • Blackberry Lemon Scones
    • Homemade Raspberry Cake
    • Blueberry Coffee Cake
    • White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies

    If you make this recipe {or any recipe!} from two sugar bugs please come back and leave a review and a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating.  I read every comment, and I LOVE hearing from you!

    Yield: 10-12 servings

    Frozen Blueberry Pie

    slice of frozen blueberry pie on a plate with a fork

    Homemade frozen blueberry pie can be made year round with frozen blueberries. The filling is made from scratch and cooked on the stove prior to baking. This pie recipe is easy and the thick filling is not runny.

    Prep Time 30 minutes
    Bake Time 45 minutes
    Cooling Time 8 hours
    Total Time 9 hours 15 minutes

    Ingredients

    All butter pie crust

    • 20 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut in small cubes (280g)
    • 3 cups all-purpose flour (375g)
    • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (13g)
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ cup ice cold water* (120mL)
    • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (15mL)

    blueberry pie filling

    • 5 cups frozen blueberries (700g)
    • ⅓ cup brown sugar, packed (67g)
    • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (30mL)
    • Zest of one lemon
    • Pinch of kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon cardamom
    • 3 tablespoons cornstarch (24g)
    • 2 tablespoons water (30mL)
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (14g)

    egg wash

    • 1 egg + 1 tablespoon milk (15mL) OR 1-2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
    • 1-2 tablespoons coarse sugar

    Instructions

    1. To make the pie crust:  start by cutting the butter (20 tablespoons/280g) into small cubes and return it to the refrigerator.  Then in a large bowl, mix the flour (3 cups/375g), granulated sugar (1 tablespoon/13g), and kosher salt (1 teaspoon).  Now add the butter and toss until the flour is coating the butter. Then using your (clean) hands or a pastry cutter, work the butter into the flour until the butter is the size of small peas.  A few larger bits of butter remaining are okay too.
    2. Then measure a half cup of ice cold water, add the apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon/15mL) to the water.  Drizzle the water mixture in 1 - 2 tablespoons at a time and toss the pie dough with a fork to combine.  Continue to slowly drizzle the water in until the dough forms larger clumps.  {stop drizzling in the water once this happens} Use your hands to bring the dough together, then divide in half and shape each half into a ball.  I use my kitchen scale to evenly divide.  Now tightly wrap each half of the pie dough on a piece of plastic wrap and press into a disk about 1 inch thick.  Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours and ideally up to 8-12 hours.
    3. To make the blueberry filling: in a large sauce pan mix frozen blueberries (5 cups/700g), brown sugar (⅓ cup/67g), lemon juice (2 tablespoons/30mL), the zest of one lemon, cardamom (½ teaspoon) and a pinch of salt.  Then dissolve the cornstarch (3 tablespoons/24g) in 2 tablespoons of water and stir into the blueberry mixture.
    4. Place the sauce pan over medium heat and cook, stirring frequently until the mixture comes to a boil, about 6-8 minutes.  Allow to boil for 1 minute, stirring the whole minute as the mixture will start thickening.  Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla (1 teaspoon) and unsalted butter (1 tablespoon/14g).  Pour the mixture into a bowl and allow to cool to room temperature. Can be made the day before and stored in the refrigerator.  Remove the blueberry pie filling from the refrigerator an hour or two before putting the pie together so it can warm up.
    5. To assemble the pie:  remove the pie crust from the refrigerator and allow to sit on the counter for 5-10 minutes before rolling out.  Flour your work surface and roll out the dough to roughly a 12 inch circle.  Fit the dough tightly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie pan.  Refrigerate while you roll out the lattice.  Roll the second half of the pie crust into another 12 inch circle and cut desired size strips of pie crust (I like doing a mixture of larger strips and narrow strips.  For the look of this pie I made 6 large strips and 8 small strips).  If the pie crust has gotten warm, pop it in the refrigerator for 5 to 10 minutes before proceeding.  Now spoon the blueberry pie filling into the bottom crust.  Create the lattice with the cut strips, then trim any long edges and crimp the border together.  Place the prepared pie in the refrigerator and preheat the oven to 425°F.  If needed, move the oven racks so you have space to place the pie in the lower third of the oven for baking.
    6. Once the oven is at temperature, remove the pie from the refrigerator and brush the pie crust with either an egg wash (1 egg plus 1 tablespoon milk) or milk or heavy cream.  Sprinkle with a coarse sugar and place the pie in the lower third of the oven.  Bake for 25 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 400°F and cover the edges of the pie with pie shield or aluminum foil.  Continue baking for another 20 minutes.  Then remove the pie from the oven and allow to cool completely (ideally 6-8 hours) before slicing.

    Notes

    *you may need another 2-3 tablespoons water to bring the dough together. Or you may need a little less than the half cup. Once the dough forms larger clumps and will hold together if squeezed, it has enough liquid.

    You can leave the apple cider vinegar out of the dough, but it helps to create a tender pie crust.

    Cardamom can be substituted with ¼ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg.

    The pie can be stored loosely covered at room temperature for 1 day or in the refrigerator for up to five days.  Pie tends to taste best at room temperature, so allow it to warm on the counter a bit before serving if you have stored it in the refrigerator.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    12

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 375Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 126mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 3gSugar: 12gProtein: 4g

    The nutrition information is an estimate only and may not be entirely accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please make my day and PIN to Pinterest and share a photo on Instagram ~ making sure to tag @twosugarbugs! THANK YOU!!

    © Tasia
    Cuisine: American / Category: Pies and Tarts
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    Hi, I'm Tasia, a self-taught baker and enthusiastic home cook with over 25 years experience in the kitchen! I'm here to inspire you to have fun while creating food from scratch. I make approachable and nostalgic recipes for busy bakers that you will want to make again and again. The recipes you find here will mostly be sweet and sometimes savory.

    More about me →

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