Sweet and Salty Rolo Pretzel Bites Topped with M&Ms!

These Sweet and Salty Rolo Pretzel Bites with M&Ms are the ultimate 3-ingredient holiday treat—simple, delicious, and perfect for any celebration! Their perfect combination of crispy pretzels, gooey caramel, and chocolatey goodness makes an ideal snack, dessert, or even a thoughtful holiday gift. So simple and impossible to resist, they’re a crowd-pleaser for any occasion! Plus they’re so easy! The hardest part is preheating the oven!

I tried these cute little Christmas Rolo Pretzel Bites with M&Ms years ago, and I absolutely fell in love with them. Good heavens, they taste amazing, and they are addicting!

The Best Christmas Treat for Kids to Make

This is one of those things that you must teach your kids to make. It is so simple that you don’t have to worry about messes or problems and it is a great chance for them to invite friends over or do a little service by delivering them to people that might need a pick-me-up.

Ding-Dong Ditching

Did your family ever ding-dong ditch when you were a kid? Ours did, and let me tell you—it was the best! There’s nothing quite like the thrill of sneaking up to a neighbor’s house, leaving a little surprise, and running away giggling before they catch you. It’s such a fun way to spread a little cheer!

1. Pick a favorite treat (these Rolo Pretzel Bites are perfect!) or a small gift—Redbox codes for a movie night are always a hit.
2. Package it up all cute and festive.
3. Load the kids in the car and head to your lucky recipient’s house.
4. Let the kids dash up, drop the gift on the doorstep, ring the bell, and RUN!

The laughter, the excitement, and the secret joy of doing something kind—it’s a memory-maker for sure. Plus, it’s a sneaky way to get kids thinking about others and how a simple gesture can make someone’s day!

Rolo Pretzel Ingredients

Rolo pretzels at my house look like this:

• Square pretzels (or mini regulars are fine too but squares hold up better)
• Rolos (I just love that gooey caramel!)
• M&Ms- we usually buy red and green or pink, white and red for holidays.

How to Make Rolo Pretzel Bites with M&Ms

1. Preheat the oven: Set your oven to a low temperature.
2. Prep the pretzels: Line a large cookie sheet with square pretzels. Add as many as you’d like to make.
3. Add the Rolos: Place one unwrapped Rolo on top of each pretzel, then carefully transfer the tray to the oven to avoid knocking off the chocolates.
4. Melt and top: Once the Rolos are shiny and slightly softened, remove the tray from the oven and gently press an M&M into the top of each pretzel.
5. Cool and store: Let the pretzels cool completely before storing them in an airtight container.

Creative Variations

• Switch up the chocolate: Try swapping Rolos for Hershey’s Kisses or Reese’s Peanut 

The BEST Slow Cooker Ham Recipe [+Video]

Free up your oven by cooking your ham in the slow cooker! This slow cooker ham recipe includes a fabulous glaze and is perfect for Christmas, Easter or an easy Sunday dinner!

Every year I have the exact same issue, trying to prepare a holiday meal with one oven. I adore homemade rolls, perfectly cooked sides and a big, fat, juicy ham, so I don’t want to skip any of those recipes. The only problem is there just isn’t room to make everything and have it all hot and ready at the same time. Oven space is at a premium, people! So this year I am going to teach you how to make ham in a slow cooker.

I really don’t know why I didn’t do this earlier. And I have to beg you for just a moment to give this recipe a try. This recipe is super easy! All you do is prepare the ham like normal but then stick it in a slow cooker for 4 hours. That’s it! Juicy, tender ham ready to go and you’ve had your oven free the whole time!

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Ham

This is a crockpot ham recipe and only uses a few ingredients for the glaze. Here is your shopping list:

• Crushed Pineapple: adds flavor and texture to the glaze
• Spiral Ham: Look for a 7-10 pound bone-in ham. If you’re feeding a smaller crowd, this recipe easily can be made with a 4lb boneless spiral ham as well, just half the sauce.
• Brown Sugar: adds richness and sweetness
• Honey: adds natural sweetness
• Dijon Mustard: adds flavor
• Sure Gel: My favorite thickener! It’s so easy to use and you can’t taste it at all!
• Ham Dipping Sauces: These are totally optional but we don’t eat ham without them!

The measurements and details for all the ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make Glazed Ham in the Slow Cooker

Crockpot recipes should be simple, otherwise, what is the point?! This spiral cut ham recipe is as easy as it gets! It’s as easy as combining all the ingredients for the pineapple glaze and letting the slow cooker do its thing! Here are the steps:

1. Prep: Add half of the pineapple and pineapple juice to the slow cooker and then add the ham.
2. Combine: Add the brown sugar, honey and mustard to a small bowl and mix to combine. Rub the mixture all over the ham.
3. Cook: Add the rest of the pineapple and juice around the sides of the ham and cook on low for 4-5 hours (or on high for 2-3 hours). Make sure the lid is on securely!
4. Make Glaze: When the ham is done, remove it from the crockpot. Pour all the pineapple and juice into a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Once it’s boiling, whis

Sharing some ideas for healthy Christmas side dishes if you’re planning for the festivities!

Hi friends! How are you? I hope you had a wonderful weekend! We had our Fighter Group Christmas party, I taught a barre class, and saw Wicked for the third time. I will probably see it at least once more in theaters – I think the Pilot needs to see it! The girls and I also started the holiday baking party and made peppermint bark and peanut butter blossoms.

I’m starting to plan our our holiday menus and was trying to brainstorm side dish ideas. Of course, my favorite part of the holidays is being with family, but the delicious food comes in 2nd 😉 The main dishes always take center stage, along with the desserts, but the side dishes are an easy way to add some color and nourishment. I like side dishes that are simple to prepare or can be made in advance, and these options check all the boxes!

Here’s our holiday menu for this year:

Brunch:

Nana’s egg casserole

Cinnamon rolls

Breakfast potatoes

Fruit salad

Coffee, mimosas, desserts

Dinner:

Giant cheese board

Caviar tray

Beef tenderloin with horseradish sauce

Mashed sweet potatoes

Green salad

Roasted balsamic veggies

Smoked turkey

Mulled wine and champagne

Dessert tray – Christmas cookies, yule log

*Worth noting here that we get our meat from ButcherBox (<— this link gets you free ground beef for life!) and I order the yule log from a local gf bakery

BEST Rocky Road Fudge Recipe

Rocky Road Fudge is a classic for the holiday season and you wont be able to stop eating it! Outrageously delicious, super easy and only 4 ingredients needed! Your family will love it!

December is such a busy time with getting ready for Christmas, attending parties, ending the school semester, packing to leave town, purchasing and making gifts… the list goes on. So for those of you who are crazy busy or just want something delish, this Rocky Road Fudge is for you!  It takes less then 10 minutes to whip up.

With just 4 ingredients and a microwave, how much easier do things get?! Seriously, I think the hardest part is waiting for the fudge to set up… and keeping my kiddos from eating the rest of the bag of marshmallows. You get all the flavors of your favorite ice cream but in fudge form!

Ingredients for Rocky Road Fudge

With just 4 ingredients, you’ll have the tastiest rocky road fudge! All these ingredients can also be bought several weeks ahead of time. Here is what you will need…

• Chocolate Chips: We prefer semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you can use milk chocolate chips if you prefer.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: We always use Eagle Brand. It’s just best!
• Mini Marshmallows: just one 10oz bag will get the job done
• Walnuts: roughly chopped

The measurements of each ingredient can be found by scrolling down to the recipe card below.

How to Make Rocky Road Fudge

This might be the easiest fudge recipe you’ve ever seen! And the extra bonus is that it’s a no bake dessert. You don’t even need a double boiler or a candy thermometer. I don’t know about you, but quick and simple is exactly what I need around the holidays! Here are the basic steps:

1. Prep: Line a 9×9 inch pan with foil and grease lightly with butter.
2. Microwave: Place chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 1 minute. Stir and then microwave in 15 second increments until chocolate is melted and smooth.
3. Fold: Add the marshmallows and nuts and fold into the chocolate mixture.
4. Refrigerate: Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
5. Serve: Slice into squares and serve.

The complete recipe is available in the recipe card at the end of this post. You can save or print the recipe from there.

Can I Double this Recipe to a 9×13 Pan?

Yes! If you are making fudge for a crowd or to give to neighbors for Christmas, then definitely double the recipe in a 9×13 baking pan.

What Nuts Can You Substitute for Walnuts in Recipes?

If you are looking for a substitute for walnuts, there are several nuts that will work just fine. Black walnuts or other nuts such as pecans, cashews, almonds or p

Gingerbread Loaf [+Video]

Master the art of baking a delicious gingerbread loaf full of the flavors of the holiday season with this easy quick bread recipe. Moist, flavorful, and sure to be a hit at any holiday gathering!

For the last 10 years, I’ve worked on a gingerbread loaf recipe, and I’ve hated all of them. This recipe is the first that’s actually moist and dense while still full of flavor and bounce. It is pure gingerbread heaven!

And I am an expert on gingerbread heaven, believe it or not! Have you tried our soft and chewy gingerbread man cookie recipe? That, my friends, is gingerbread heaven, and this molasses quick bread is like those gingerbread cookies but in loaf form. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, dessert or snack!

Ingredients for the Perfect Gingerbread Loaf

Here is a quick overview of all the ingredients you will need to make this rich gingerbread loa cakef. It is the perfect mix of those bold holiday spices in a moist delicious bread.

• Dry Ingredients: All-Purpose Flour, Baking Soda, Nutmeg, Ground Ginger, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Cloves, Allspice and Salt
• Wet Ingredients: Sugar, Brown Sugar, Vegetable Oil, Apple Butter, Molasses, Vanilla Extract, Eggs and Buttermilk
• Powdered Sugar: gives it a beautiful festive snowy appearance

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe at the end of the post.

How to Make a Gingerbread Loaf

We are going to follow the typical baking steps for making a quick bread recipe. Dry ingredients, wet ingredients, combine and bake! Here are those steps a little more detail:

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a bread loaf pan.
2. Whisk: Combine all the dry ingredients together and whisk to combine.
3. Cream: Add the sugars, oil and apple butter to a large bowl and cream together until well combined. Then add the molasses and vanilla and mix well. Finally add the eggs one at a time, mixing until incorporated each time.
4. Combine: Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients mixture and stir until a few flour streaks remain.
5. Fold: Fold in the buttermilk.
6. Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared bread pan and bake for 50-60 minutes.
7. Cool: Once baked, let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes then remove from the pan and cool completely on a wire cooling rack.
8. Dust: Sprinkle powdered sugar over the top once it has cooled completely.

The entire recipe can be found in the recipe card down below so keep scrolling for all the details. You can also print or save the recipe there.