Crisp-edged, crunchy cookies with an intense but perfectly balanced vanilla flavor make up these homemade vanilla cookies. These bite-size cookies go way beyond putting traditional ‘Nilla Wafers to shame, they’re a whole new ballgame.

Homemade Vanilla Wafers

I could not be more ecstatic over these vanilla wafer cookies: the crunch, the flavor, the everything. They are utterly wonderful. While I was working on the recipe for Banana Pudding Ice Cream, I became low-key obsessed with homemade vanilla wafers. (I’m happy to tell you that ice cream is fantastic with both homemade AND store-bought cookies, so feel free to go either route with that one.)

I made these cookies so many times that I lost count while working on this recipe. In the end, I am thrilled with them. So very, very happy. I never would’ve chosen a vanilla cookie as a favorite cookie before making these vanilla wafer cookies, but now? They’re a top 5 for me.

These cookies have proven completely irresistible to every single person who has tasted them, and we all wind up going back for “just one more” all day long.

I find it amusing that I adapted this recipe from a Swan’s Down recipe using their cake flour. But in the end, I preferred the vanilla wafers when I re-tested them with a slightly lowered amount of plain old all-purpose flour. If you prefer a chewier cookie, the cake flour delivers that. My goal was a crispy cookie, most similar to the original Vanilla Wafers, and the all-purpose flour delivers that.

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How to Freeze Peaches

Don’t let juicy, sun-ripened peaches go bad! This guide on how to freeze peaches shows the easiest way to keep their sweet flavor locked in for smoothies, cobblers, and favorite peach recipes all year.

No messy boiling water or syrup needed – just slice, freeze on a baking sheet, and stash in freezer bags. It’s quick, clean, and keeps freezer burn away.

Tired of Mushy Frozen Peaches with Zero Flavor?

A lot of guides focus on home food preservation using liquid like heavy syrup or white grape juice, but those methods can leave your peaches soggy and overly sweet. This simple freezing method skips the mess and keeps your slices firm, flavorful, and freezer-ready. No syrup, no fuss, just pure peach goodness!

My Freezer is Never Without a Stash of Peaches

I grew up completely surrounded by canning, freezing, and preserving. My mom is an incredible gardener, and we spent hours snapping beans and stuffing jars full of peaches. These days I don’t can as much, but my freezer is never without a stash of peaches. I use them for cobblers, smoothies, or tossing into a hot pan with butter and brown sugar – instant summer dessert on a weeknight!

What to Use Peaches For

Frozen peaches bring fresh, juicy flavor to everything from quick desserts to slow weekend bakes. They’re just right for Peaches ‘n Cream Crumble Bars, The Best Peaches and Cream Pie, or our cozy Dutch Oven Peach Crisp.

What You Need to Freeze Peaches

You only need a few simple tools to freeze peaches with all that sweet, juicy flavor intact. No syrup or canning gear required – just freezer basics and fresh fruit.

• Ripe Peaches: Go for freestone peaches if you can – they’re easier to slice and pit than clingstone varieties.
• Peeler or Paring Knife: Skip blanching and peel by hand with a great peeler.
• Pot & Ice Water (Optional): Needed only if you choose to blanch.
• Baking Sheet: For flash-freezing slices in a single layer so they don’t stick together.
• Freezer Bags or Containers: Store your frozen peaches and press out as much air as possible to avoid freezer burn – our foodsaver is a must-have!<

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’m picking up a giant delivery of peaches today and I’m giddy with peach-loving excitement. Peach jam, bourbon peach sauce, southern peach cobbler, peach crunch, peach caprese salads, everything PEACH is on the menu this week, and I’m in near-heaven over it. 

Welcome to your earworm for today – gonna eat a lot of peaches… 

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK:  Summer meals and cold pasta salads go together like peanut butter and jelly. Whether you’re eating it at a park, serving it at a barbecue or potluck, or just making it ahead of time and stashing it in the fridge for easy lunches, this vegetable-laden bowtie pasta salad always satisfies.

Tender chicken, salsa, green chile, and black beans are simmered together in the crock-pot and then scooped into warm tortillas to create the easiest, tastiest, salsa chicken tacos and burritos.

Baked potatoes are the ultimate in comfort food, and this summery twist on a loaded baked potato salad is an awesome variation on the classic potatoes. With fluffy potatoes, sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon, and chives, there is a whole lot of flavor in every awesome bite.

Ranch dressing meets my undying love for dill pickles in this recipe for dill pickle ranch dressing. Drizzled over a salad or served as a dip for just about anything, this disappears within a few days of making it every time I stir a batch together.

This simple romaine salad was inspired on a whim when I looked in the nearly empty fridge and found little more than some lettuce in the produce drawer. Fortunately, it turns out that with little more than a head of romaine, a drizzle of oil and vinegar, and a sprinkling of salt and pepper, you can put together a company-worthy salad.

Tender pasta and the “holy trinity” of bell peppers, celery, and onion, along with a creamy Cajun dressing, make this Cajun pasta salad irresistible. Pair this flavorful pasta salad

Citrus Grilled Chicken Marinade Recipe

This Citrus Grilled Chicken Marinade recipe makes a juicy, flavorful dinner that tastes like the golden hour on a warm summer evening. Fresh orange juice, garlic, tarragon, and a touch of Dijon mustard come together for such a simple blend of summer flavor!

Marinade for Chicken that Actually Works!

Have you ever felt like a marinade looks and smells amazing but totally disappears once you cook the meat?

This easy healthy citrus grilled chicken recipe marinade is your answer to bold flavor with minimal fuss. It’s juicy, tender, and just looks fancy enough to make a weeknight feel special, even though you barely lifted a finger.

Healthy BBQ Dish that ISN’T a Burger

This is our go-to recipe for summer cookouts when burgers feel a little too expected. The bright citrus, fresh tarragon, and smoky char make this marinated chicken a total crowd-pleaser. With just 10 minutes of prep time and totally make-ahead friendly, it’s your weeknight dinner hero.

This chicken marinade is great served with 5 Minute Grilled Peach Caprese Salad, Lemon Orzo, or Strawberry Cucumber Salad!

Ingredients for Citrus Grilled Chicken Marinade

This easy marinade keeps things simple, using citrus, herbs, and garlic to add fresh, vibrant flavor to any cut of chicken. Low in calories, low in sodium, and lean protein, it’s a great option if you’re trying to eat lighter or stick to a healthy routine!

• Chicken Breasts: High protein and easy to buy. Chicken thighs work too!
• Dijon Mustard: Adds zip and helps the marinade stick.
• Orange Juice: Try lemon juice or lime for an even tangier twist.
• Orange Zest: Boosts citrus flavor and adds freshness.
• Olive Oil: Keeps the chicken moist and helps the marinade work its way in.
• Fresh Tarragon: A soft, slightly sweet herb with a hint of anise – perfect with citrus. (Swap with fresh thyme or basil if needed.)
• Sugar: Balances the acidity.
• Garlic Cloves: For that essential savory punch.
• Salt: Enhances flavor and keeps the chicken juicy.

How to Make Citrus Grilled Chicken 

This easy marinade delivers juicy, flavorful grilled chi

Indulgent, rich caramel ice cream studded with buttery bits of crunchy, chocolate covered toffee make this Heath Bar ice cream an ice cream to remember.

Heath Bar Ice Cream

When making this ice cream, I like to use miniature Heath bars. There’s a little bit more chocolate coating this way, providing a more chocolate and toffee flavor in every bite. You’ll need at least a dozen of the mini bars, though you can certainly use more or less if you’d like. If you want to tip the balance in favor of the toffee over the chocolate, you can use full-size bars.

If you prefer to slice the bars into pieces, you’ll want them to be room temperature for easier cutting. However, if you would simply like to crush and crumble them? The candy will break more easily when frozen first. Pop the bars in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before breaking them for best results.

The most popular question I get is whether it’s possible to make ice cream without a machine. The answer is YES. You can make ice cream without a machine. Find the full directions here!

This Heath ice cream is a good reason on its own for me to go buy a bunch of Heath bars. But if you have a stash of Heath bars to use up, we’ve got you covered.

Heath Bar Cookies start with a chocolate chip cookie dough base, but in addition to those melting semi-sweet morsels, these rich buttery cookies contain the toffee-tastic magic of Heath bars.

Buttery crunchy toffee and candy bar pieces are layered with cool whip atop a dessert so deliriously rich, this Heath Bar Cake should carry a warning label.

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