This Date Nut Roll brings me directly back to my childhood. I remember watching my grandpa roll this on the kitchen counter every holiday when we visited.

Crushed graham crackers, marshmallows, dates, pecans, and a splash of cream: none of these ingredients are remarkable on their own, but when combined they become something special.

Date Nut Roll

I can’t recall another occasion for which my grandpa ever worked in the kitchen. However, making the Date Nut Roll was his domain every Christmas. He passed away when I was just ten years old and I hadn’t thought of his Date Nut Roll in years.

When I found this recipe last year and made it for the first time as an adult, it was like I was standing in my grandparents’ kitchen once again.

Some food memories stick with us more than others, and I am so glad I have this one to pass on to my boys.

Date Nut Roll Recipe

1. Place the graham cracker crumbs, marshmallows, dates, and pecans in a mixing bowl and toss to coat everything in the crumbs.
2. Slowly add the cream, a couple of tablespoons at a time, stirring to combine. Add liquid just until the mixture is wet enough to hold together when you press it with a spoon.
3. Spread two large sheets of parchment or wax paper on the counter and divide the mixture on top of them. Press it into a log with your hands and sprinkle lightly with the remaining crumbs to coat all around.
4. Roll it tightly in the paper, smoothing the shape as you go. Twist the ends tightly and chill until firm, at least 2-6 hours. Slice into pieces with a very sharp knife. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

I’m all about easy no-bake treats for some of my holiday treat-making. As much as I love cookies and fancier holiday desserts, sometimes it’s just plain fun to pull together a whole bunch of delicious treats in very little time.

With just a few of these options, you can have platters of Christmas goodies at your fingertips to deliver to friends or share at a party.

I’m not exaggerating when I say this Peanut Butter Fudge is one of the best fudges I’ve ever tasted. Rich, creamy, over-the-top fudge that is so easy to make, you might laugh.

No-Bake Cookies have met their match with these Chocolate Peanut Butter Coconut Bites. It doesn’t get much easier than just stirring everything together and pouring it into a pan.

Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Ritz Cookies are the sweet, salty, chocolatey snack you need in your life. With zero baking required and just three ingredients–chocolate, Ritz crackers, and peanut butter–they’re a perfect last-minute addition to your holiday cookie tray or party menu.

Pumpkin Mousse is creamy, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth perfection and it is my family’s favorite pumpkin dessert. Every year, when I make it, another die-hard pumpkin-hater falls prey to its awesomeness.

Pumpkin Mousse

A co-worker gave me this recipe, more years ago than I feel like counting. I took one bite of the mousse she brought to the office and I was smitten.

Creamy, light and full of real pumpkin flavor lightly spiced by nutmeg and cinnamon had me convinced I needed to make this recipe right away. 

My husband liked the pumpkin mousse just as much, maybe even more. He has consistently chosen this as his dessert of choice every holiday season since then.

Nothing makes him happier, during the season of holiday baking than knowing I am going to make pumpkin mousse for dessert.

When I was getting ready to make this mousse for the first time, as a very young newlywed who had grown up with cool whip and instant pudding style desserts, I’d never bought a carton of heavy cream before in my life, let alone whipped it into peaks.

However, this mousse was a turning point. I discovered then, that quality ingredients can produce results at home that trump anything a restaurant could possibly serve.

Making pumpkin mousse was, in many ways, the dessert that pushed me to start baking and cooking more outside my comfort zone I’m so very glad I did!

This recipe starts by dissolving gelatin in a small amount of dark rum. The rum adds a rich deep flavor that I believe is what helps this pumpkin mousse stand out from the crowd.

Pumpkin Mousse Recipe

After mixing together pumpkin puree, eggs, sugar, spices, and vanilla, the gelatin mixture is added. Beat the heavy cream into stiff peaks then gently fold it into the pumpkin-gelatin mixture.

I’ve chilled this mousse both in individual ramekins and in a giant bowl for serving. Whichever way you c

You only need a handful of ingredients to make these chewy, chocolate and peanut butter filled Peanut Butter Cookie Cups!

Inspired by everyone’s favorite old-fashioned peanut butter cookies, these very simple to make four-ingredient peanut butter cookies are a kid and adult favorite whether you choose to make them with or without the added chocolate.

Peanut Butter Cookie Cups

Made in a mini muffin tin, the small peanut butter cups are the perfect size to hold a peanut butter cup. Press the chocolates into the warm cookies right out of the oven.

I recommend having all the chocolates unwrapped and ready to go when you pull the cookie cups from the oven. Set them on top and press them into the cookies with the back of a spoon to avoid getting chocolate all over your fingers.

The chocolate will melt and then firm up again if the house is cool. When making these in the summer, I like to tuck them into the fridge for an hour or so to speed up the process.

If you choose to make these cookies without the peanut butter cups, the larger cookie cups will sink a bit (you want this to happen!) and create a rich, gooey perfect base for a peanut butter cookie ice cream sundae.

Seriously, what’s not to love about a warm gooey peanut butter cookie, topped with cold ice cream, drizzled with hot fudge or chocolate sauce??

Four Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Seriously, you only need four ingredients to make these cookies.

• creamy peanut butter
• eggs
• light brown sugar
• baking powder

Made in a regular size muffin tin, this recipe will make 6 cookie cups that are the perfect siz

Ripe strawberries, bananas, and chunks of fudge brownies are layered into a Brownie Trifle with vanilla pudding and whipped cream.

Brownie Trifle

I love using these Double Chocolate Brownies for these trifles, but any of these brownie recipes will work great in a brownie trifle.

Homemade Vanilla Pudding, instant pudding from a handy box, or store-bought puddings will all work nicely in this recipe.

Trifles are so versatile, the possibilities are endless here. You can switch up the flavor of pudding, swap in different fruits, drizzle the trifles with chocolate syrup or caramel sauce.

Brownie Trifle Ingredients

• sliced strawberries
• sliced bananas
• brownie chunks
• vanilla pudding: homemade, from a box, or store-bought
• whipped cream

Don’t feel like whipping fresh cream? (I do promise it’s EASY.) Feel free to swap in a store-bought whipped cream or cool whip for an even easier option.

Brownie Trifle Recipe

1. Combine the cream and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl. Beat on high speed just until the cream is whipped and fluffy. Be careful not to overmix the whipped cream. Set aside.
2. Layer half of the pudding, whipped cream, bananas, and berries in a large serving dish or individual bowls.
3. Sprinkle half of the chopped brownies on top and then repeat the layers.
4. Serve immediately or refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving.

Homemade Vanilla Pudding is a classic dessert that simply doesn’t get the love that it deserves. So, often we reach for chocolate or caramel or peanut butter to satisfy a sweet craving, but I’ve come to appreciate the awesomeness of a great vanilla dessert.

Vanilla does not equal boring, my friends.

Vanilla Pudding

This is an old-fashioned Betty Crocker recipe that I tried years ago straight out of the red and white checkered cookbook that I was gifted when I first married. You just can’t go wrong with the classics.

Pudding is such a simple dessert and I grew up making pudding with the handy boxes of instant pudding that you can buy at every grocery store. Just add milk and you’ll have a tasty dessert waiting in the fridge.

That said, homemade pudding? It’s a whole new ballgame these days. There is nothing store-bought that compares to it.

And I’m happy as can be to tell you that it takes just a few minutes to stir up a pan of homemade pudding and it’s every bit as tasty when served warm or cold. If you’re in a hurry? There’s no mandatory chill time while it firms up.

So, technically? Homemade can be faster AND tastier than a box of “instant” pudding!

Pudding Ingredients

• sugar
• cornstarch
• kosher salt
• milk
• egg yolks
• butter
• vanilla extract

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