Carmelitas are dessert bars that have a buttery brown sugar oat crust, a melty chocolate and rich caramel center, and a crumbly oat topping. Dessert perfection!

I love switching up desserts — don’t get me wrong, chocolate chip cookies and brownies are amazing, but sometimes your sweet tooth needs something new. These carmelita bars are everything you love about cookies and candy rolled into one irresistible bite.

The top and bottom layers are soft, golden oatmeal cookie goodness, sandwiching a gooey caramel-chocolate center that melts together beautifully. One bite, and you’ll understand why these bars never last long at our house!

Why You’ll Love These Carmelita Bars

Gooey, melty, and a little bit of crispy in each bite. The combination of textures is totally divine!

Super easy to make. Even taking into account the different layers it’s pretty much just as easy as could be which is perfect for when you want a little something sweet but you aren’t up for a huge kitchen project.

No mixer needed. All you need is a large mixing bowl and a wooden spoon.

These are always a huge crowd pleasers. I’ve never taken home leftovers when I’ve taken them to any kind of event.

Now this is dangerous, but you probably have all the ingredients in your pantry right now, so get baking!

Ingredients Needed for Carmelitas

The good news just keeps on comin’! Most of the ingredients for carmelita bars are pantry-friendly ingredients that you’ll already have at home. Here is what you will need:

• Flour: Gives structure to the oat layers so they hold the gooey filling together.
• Old-Fashioned Oats: Add chewy texture and that classic oatmeal cookie flavor we love in carmelitas.
• Cinnamon: Adds warmth and depth, enhancing the caramel and chocolate flavors.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and makes the caramel and chocolate flavors pop.
• Baking Soda: Helps the oat mixture bake up light and slightly crisp instead of dense.
• Brown Sugar: Adds rich caramel flavor and moisture, giving the crust that buttery chew.
• Butter: Binds the oat mixture together and creates that golden, crisp, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Caramel Squares: Melt into that gooey, rich caramel center that defines carmelitas. You’ll want 37 pieces of the individually wrapped caramels, no more, no less.
• Evaporated Milk: Thins the caramel just enough so it’s pourable and soft when baked.
• Heavy Cream: Adds extra richness and keeps the caramel ultra-smooth and creamy.
• Chocolate Chips: We prefer a combination of milk chocolate chips and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Milk chocolate brings creamy, sweet chocolate flavor that pairs perfectly with caramel. The semi-sweet chocolate adds balance and depth — just enough b

When it comes to dinners that are lightning fast but still feel luxurious, Pesto Salmon is the way to go. Topped with a homemade parsley pesto with crunchy pine nuts, this dinner takes just 20 minutes from start to finish!

Pesto Salmon

The magic of this pesto salmon is in the contrast between the rich, buttery salmon and the incredible nutty pesto spread on top. This pesto hits above its weight class, with the earthy flavors of parsley, the toasted pine nuts, and hints of parmesan and garlic. It’s one of those dishes where texture, aroma, and taste are all balanced in harmony.

I love pesto, though I don’t cook with it all that often. Mainly this is because I really enjoy getting to make my own. Some days, I can’t afford the time. But, with this baked salmon, you have time for both. Parsley pesto is a little milder than basil pesto, and that’s what I chose to use here. You can use whichever you prefer.

Pesto Salmon Recipe

I’ve cooked fish with variations of this pesto and pine nut topping quite often for my boys. They love it. And, so do I. So, if you’re looking to make this recipe yours, there are also a few ways I like to change it up from time to time.

• Mince up a tsp of cilantro or arugula to add a subtle citrusy or peppery flavor to the topping.
• Add in some chili flakes for gentle heat. You can also drizzle some hot sauce before serving, but you’ll want to be careful to make sure the flavors are a good match.
• Sprinkle the salmon filets with some crushed toasted pistachios. This adds some gorgeous visuals and will bring out the crunch big time.

If you do adapt the recipe, be sure to tell me what you changed and how it turned out. I look forward to hearing from you!

Looking for a quick and easy Christmas neighbor gift? This snowman soup comes together in minutes and is a fun and festive way to spread holiday cheer. Just add hot water to this vanilla milk mix and you have a creamy, comforting warm drink for those cold winter nights!

Plus, check out our step-by-step video tutorial! It’s so easy and only 4 ingredients! Basically just dump everything in a bowl and whisk to combine, then package up the powder mix to share with friends and neighbors with instructions for how to make it. We have included an adorable printable in the recipe card with the instructions!

Now this might be a little grim, but picture jolly ol’ Frosty or Olaf getting too close to the warm fire or accidentally finding themselves in San Diego in the winter and melting into a puddle of sweet and delicious goodness. Snowman soup!

It tastes like the vanilla steamer from Starbucks with a hint of cinnamon and it is a family favorite! It’s a great alternative to hot chocolate or wassail for a warm holiday beverage.

Ingredients for Snowman Soup

You’re just 4 ingredients away, well 5 I guess if you count water, from the most delicious warm holiday beverage! Here is what you will…

• Powdered Milk: Acts as the creamy base, giving body and richness when mixed with hot water or milk. It replaces fresh milk for shelf-stability and convenience.
• Instant Vanilla Creamer: Adds extra creaminess and a hint of vanilla flavor, enhancing the sweetness and smooth feel of the drink.
• Sugar: Sweetens the mix and balances the richness of the milk. It ensures the flavors are cozy and comforting rather than flat or bitter.
• Cinnamon: Adds warmth and a subtle spice that pairs beautifully with the sweet, creamy vanilla. It gives the mix depth and a little seasonal flair.

A single batch of this recipe makes about 24 servings, so you can scale up or down depending on your needs!

How to Make Snowman Soup

There’s not really much to this recipe which is why it’s such a great neighbor gift for the busy holidays.

1. Pour all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl and whisk until everything is combined.
2. Divide into smaller jars to give to neighbors or store in an airtight container in a dry place for your family.
3. Print the cute instructions and attach it to the small jars for the cutest holiday neighbor gifts.

Combine 1/3 of the cinnamon vanilla milk mixture with 1 cup of hot water and stir to combine.

The complete instructions can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

This Parsley Pesto delivers so many of the things I love about traditional basil pesto, but with a slightly more subtle flavor profile. It’s creamy, herby goodness with hints of Parmesan and garlic, and just the right amount of nutty texture.

Parsley Pesto

I really like parsley pesto because it invites a little curiosity. This pesto uses all the other ingredients you’d expect: olive oil, finely grated cheese, and minced pine nuts and garlic. But the parsley adds an unexpected twist. And, I like that the flavor of parsley is a little less in your face, compared to basil.

Most people don’t realize that you can make pesto with other herbs. But, you totally can (and in my opinion, should) try each of your favorite herbs in a pesto sauce. Maybe you’ll find one you like better, too!

Parsley Pesto Recipe

Traditional Italian pesto is ground by hand in a mortar and pestle (pesto comes from the word pestare, “to crush”). But, you can also use a food processor to speed the mixture along, like I did for this parsley pesto recipe. Look at us, just breaking ALL the rules!

If you’re using a food processor like me, be careful not to overmix the ingredients. You should only have to pulse it a few times to chop the ingredients. Pulsing the ingredients while you pour the olive oil is intended to incorporate the oil throughout. Not to make a smooth paste. You want a slightly coarse texture to remain at the end.

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This Simple Chocolate Cake from a box mix is the secret to the most moist chocolate cake at home! Made with simple ingredients like, sour cream, extra eggs and instant pudding it absolutely will become the best chocolate cake from a box you’ve ever had… possibly the best cake you’ve ever had!

Learn how to doctor up a chocolate cake mix by reading further! I’ll show you all of the tips and step-by-step photos to teach you how to bake this doctored chocolate cake mix recipe!

Easy Chocolate Box Cake Recipe

This easy chocolate cake is made for anyone from a beginning baker up to an absolute expert! Which is why it has become so popular on Pinterest and Instagram, just like our Peanut Butter Monster Cookies.

Why We Love This Recipe!

I love that this moist chocolate cake recipe starts off with a Devil Food’s or Fudge cake mix! When life is busy and you want a special dessert but aren’t a cake baker, this recipe is for you! We love that it’s doctored up with some chocolate pudding and sour cream to give it an amazing texture and taste.

Cake mixes already include the flour, some sugar, salt and leavening agents like baking soda and/or baking powder. By using a cake mix for your dry ingredients, just eliminate the steps of measuring out all those ingredients. Total time saver!

Ingredients For a Doctored Cake Mix

For the Cake

• Cake Mix: A 15.25 oz. Duncan Hines devil’s food cake mix seems to work best. You can use any mix you’d like though. The base that provides flour, sugar, cocoa powder, leavening, and stabilizers. It gives structure and the initial chocolate flavor. 
• Jello Instant Chocolate Pudding: Use the 3.4 ounce size. Adds extra cocoa