S'mores Coconut Cream Pie

A favorite classic pie & a popular summertime treat come together perfectly in this no-bake S'mores Coconut Cream Pie...

Post updated 5/23/18- This no-bake S'mores Coconut Cream Pie deserved some updated photos. I did leave one of the originals down below just so you all can see for yourself why this recipe so desperately needed a little face lift. ;)

Woo-hoo!  It is Pi Day!  

Okay, okay.... I will admit it.  I am NOT a math geek.  If there were not actual PIE involved in this day, I wouldn't be anywhere near as excited.  

If you say the word PIE, then I am there!  So when Dorothy from Crazy for Crust announced her annual Pi Day Pie Party I had to RSVP, right? ;)

Originally I was thinking I would like to make some kind of S'mores pie.  Then I started thinking about how much I adore coconut cream pie.  But why should I have to choose??  

I shouldn't! This S'mores Coconut Cream Pie was my compromise :)

Chocolate Covered Raisin No-Bake Cookies

Is it just me or does it always seem to be a challenge to find an after school snack that both the kiddos and the parents can agree on?  Or how about when the little ones beg for a sweet treat in their lunch boxes?

They would prefer to pack sugar filled cookies and candy. Or snack on chips while sitting down to do their homework after school.  But we parents cringe at the very thought.

Well, I have come up with perfect sweet snacking solution that is both mom/dad and kid-approved- Chocolate Covered Raisin No-Bake Cookies! :)

Now before you blast me for making no-bake cookies, know that I was able to greatly reduce the sugar in these thanks to some help from California Raisins.   Most no-bake cookie recipes I have seen have at least two cups of sugar in them!

Two cups, folks.

By adding naturally sweet California Raisins- both whole & pureed, I was able to cut the sugar needed for these delicious no-bake cookies by over half! :)

California Raisins have zero fat, no cholesterol and no added sugar. Plus, raisins offer 9% of your daily fiber and potassium, and 6% of your daily iron (per quarter cup serving).

They are the perfectly portable & healthy on-the-go snack and the perfect addition to these satisfying & tasty Chocolate Covered Raisin No-Bake Cookies...

Strawberry Cannoli Tiramisu

Sweet summer strawberries & two classic Italian desserts come together perfectly in this no-bake Strawberry Cannoli Tiramisu...

Now that summertime is pretty much in full swing, I am ready to break out all the no-bake recipes. I try to avoid turning on my stove top or oven as much as possible in the summer months. 

I mean, 80+ degree temps + a hot kitchen = no bueno, am I right? So from late June right on through the end of August, we are grilling, slow cooking, and no baking every chance we get. 

While I definitely have a pretty deep arsenal of slow cooker recipes & grilling favorites, I have realized that I really need to step up my no-bake desserts game on the blog. 

Inspired by the sweet summer strawberries that are just now starting to come into season around here & a two of my favorite Italian desserts, I came up with this easy to make Strawberry Cannoli Tiramisu. And the best part? It is 100% no-bake, folks! :)

Chocolate Peppermint No-Bake Cookies

A classic cookie gets a minty makeover perfect for the holidays in these Chocolate Peppermint No-Bake Cookies...

This shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias , Inc. and Quaker. All opinions are mine alone.

If there is one thing I can count on each and every holiday season, it will be my teenage son's love for anything and everything chocolate and peppermint.  This has been going on for years now... you know, back when he was actually much shorter than me. ;) 

So each and every holiday season, I strive to create a new chocolaty, minty sweet treat that I just know that he will love. 

But this year I took it just a tiny step further and added his favorite flavor combo to one of his all-time favorite cookies- no-bakes!

And after making these, I kind of had to step back and scratch my head and wonder why this was the first time I had ever thought to make Chocolate Peppermint No-Bake cookies...

As soon as I had the idea for this recipe churning in my head, I headed out to my local Target to pick up a package of Quaker Quick Oats...

Snickers Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats

A classic no-bake treat gets jazzed up with the addition of creamy peanut butter, Snickers, & honey roasted peanuts in these Snickers Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats...

Okay, let's have a little confession time here, folks- how many of you all purposely buy extra bags of candy for Halloween just to make sure you have enough to make some tasty treats with? (Raises hand.) Or maybe you are the one who waits until November 1st, and then picks up a few bags while they are on clearance. (Also guilty on that charge.) 

I mean, there is just something about having hoards of extra trick or treat candy on hand that makes me want to get into the kitchen and whip up a few goodies. If you find yourself with some extra Snickers on hand after those porch lights go off this weekend, then you will definitely want to make sure that these Snickers Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats happen.

The classic rice krispies treats recipe gets jazzed with up with the addition of creamy peanut butter, Snickers, and honey roasted peanuts making it a quick and delicious no-bake treat...

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Krispies Treats

A classic no-bake treat get a festive twist perfect for the holidays in these Peppermint Hot Chocolate Krispies Treats...

Okay, so I first posted this recipe WAY back in the day. Like in December of 2012. And I have finally decided 4 years later that it was about time that this little gem got some shiny new photos before Christmas. ;) 

Honestly, this post was far overdue for a little photography face lift. I had meant to do it last December (and the December before that), but you know... the holidays caught up with me and I ran out of time. But this year? I made the time, you all. 

The new photos definitely do these festive Rice Krispies treats justice! Not that the old ones were too terribly bad (you can take a peek at one of the original photos from my 2012 post below). 

But I am glad that I finally gave this recipe post a snazzy new update just in time for Christmas this week. Because we all need to have at least one quick & festive sweet treat recipe up our sleeve for that last-minute holiday party or get-together. Am I right, folks? ;)

Pumpkin Chai Tiramisu

Combining the flavors of a creamy pumpkin latte & warm chai spices, this no-bake Pumpkin Chai Tiramisu is a must-make dessert for fall...

In case you all haven't noticed it already, I have been on a little bit of a chai spice kick the past week. ;) 

I updated a long-time reader favorite, my Overnight Pumpkin Pie Chai French Toast, with pretty new pics. And I posted a delicious and creamy Chai Tea & Pear Oatmeal recipe to the blog last Friday. I mean, when it comes to chai spices, 'tis the season! 

The toasty flavors in warm chai spices not only make me think of cozy fall recipes, but this mix of comforting spices is something I can incorporate into my holiday baking and cooking right on through to Christmas. 

That is why I decided to whip up my own DIY Chai Spice Mix last fall. I always have a jar of it in my pantry ready to go for my holiday baking, or to mix into my oatmeal or a warm cup of hot cocoa. 

No-Bake Cinnamon Tiramisu

A traditional Italian dessert gets a tasty cinnamon spiced twist perfect for fall in this No-Bake Cinnamon Tiramisu...

This post first appeared over at Real Housemoms where I’m a contributor.

I am a self-proclaimed tiramisu addict, and I have no shame in admitting that, folks. ;) There is just something about that creamy mixture of mascarpone cheese, rich coffee, & delicate ladyfingers that I just can't resist. While I can always go for a slice of good ole traditional tiramisu, I often find myself playing around with the flavors in my homemade versions. Since fall has finally arrived, I thought why not try my hand at a warm & cozy cinnamon spiced version?

I left out the cocoa powder entirely in this no-bake version and replaced with it layers of sweet cinnamon flavor. The coffee that the ladyfingers are soaked with has been steeped with a whole cinnamon stick. Then ground cinnamon is whipped into the creamy filling. And for good measure, each slice is served with a little sprinkle of cinnamon over top. The perfect dessert for the cinnamon & tiramisu lover alike!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cracker Bars

You only need 4 simple ingredients to make these no-bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cracker Bars...

I don't normally post new recipes on the weekends, but this weekend is the exception. Because today would have been my friend Joan's (aka, Chocolate, Chocolate and More) 50th birthday. 

Some of you all may remember me talking about Joan last October shortly after she died. Though I didn't know Joan well and only had the opportunity to meet her in person once, she had such a huge impact on who I am as a food blogger. 

And I think the same can be said for pretty much every single food blogger who was lucky enough to have known her. She freely shared her knowledge of the blogging business and social media world with all of us. She believed that we should build each other up, & not always be in competition with one another. 

She taught many of us that we are worth far more than we give ourselves credit for sometimes. And she was a sweet soul who didn't see you in terms of follower numbers or page views, but rather as a kindred spirit who also loved sharing delicious recipes & their love for chocolate with others as much as she did.

So, today myself and other bloggers from across our food blogging community are celebrating Joan's life and honoring her memory in the best way that we know how- by sharing some of her time tested & amazing recipes with you all. And let me just say that browsing through Joan's extensive list of recipes & trying to choose just one to share today was no easy task, folks. ;) 

But I finally ended up zeroing in on her Chocolate Peanut Butter Cracker Bars. I mean, can you blame me? Just look at these scrumptious bars! 

Pumpkin Biscoff Mousse Pie

This Pumpkin Biscoff Mousse Pie is not your typical Thanksgiving pumpkin pie! So rich and creamy and decadent... your guests will think you spent all day making this no-bake pie!

In just two days, we will all be pining for that big Thanksgiving dinner, salivating over the smell of the turkey roasting, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, and counting down the minutes until we can all congregate around the table, give thanks, and dig in.

Then after a delicious, belt-loosening dinner, we will relegate ourselves to couches and arm chairs, watch a little football, and take a breather until Thanksgiving dessert is served.

Wait... dessert! Have you forgotten that you are in charge of a dessert or maybe had just resolved to picking up a pie or two at the grocery store because time is running out?

No-Bake Cannoli Cheesecake Shortcake

Looking for an elegant, yet fuss-free dessert perfect for ringing in the new year? Then you are going to love this recipe for No-Bake Cannoli Cheesecake Shortcake... 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Save-A-Lot. The opinions and text are all mine.

When it comes to New Year's Eve, my family and I like to keep it low key, fuss free, yet still fun and festive each year. We usually stay home to ring in the new year with a little bubbly (sparkling wine for my husband & I and sparkling grape cider for the kiddos), lots of tasty appetizers, and a classy dessert. 

We may not be painting the town at some swanky party when the clock strikes midnight, but we still like to do something special at home as a family to celebrate the beginning of a new year.

This December 31st my family and I will be indulging in these easy to make No-Bake Cannoli Cheesecake Shortcakes. And to make them even more fun, I plan on setting up a toppings bar so everyone can garnish their shortcakes with their favorite fruits and candies... :)

15 Easter Bunny Approved Desserts

From no-bake creations to easy treats the kids can help with to bunny shaped confections, you are sure to find the perfect sweet treat for Easter in these 15 Easter Bunny Approved Desserts...

Spring has finally arrived here in my part of the world, and we are starting to gear up for Easter. The youngest already has her Easter dress picked out. The kiddos' Easter baskets are starting to come together (yes, even the 18 year old gets a visit from the Easter Bunny each year). The daffodils are blooming, the world is turning green, and I am ready to whip up some of my favorite springtime treats. 

I think that Easter & spring just brings out something whimsical and fun in my baking and recipe creations. From pretty pastels to classic Peeps and malted milk eggs, Easter has to be one of my favorite holidays (other than Christmas... and maybe Thanksgiving ;) ) to bake for. 

This year, I hopped around to a few of my favorite food blogs to find some new Easter dessert recipe inspiration for this year. And boy did I find some fun ones, you all! I would like to think that the Easter Bunny would personally approve of each and every one of these. 

From no-bake creations to easy treats the kids can help with to bunny shaped confections, you are sure to find the perfect sweet treat for Easter in these 15 Easter Bunny Approved Desserts...

Peanut Butter Chocolate Mousse Pie {A Recipe Makeover}

Creamy, cool layers of chocolate and peanut butter mousse are nestled in a graham cracker crust in this easy to make, no-bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Mousse Pie...

Whenever a long holiday weekend approaches, I tend to have two thoughts- 1. Yay! A long weekend! (Not that a stay-at-home/work-at-home mama really ever gets a 3 day weekend, but that is besides the point. ;) ) and then 2. BBQ's & get-togethers!  

I really do love this time of the year. The end of the school year is almost here. The days have started getting longer. And I get into full-on outdoor entertaining mode. 

I want to host all the parties and cookouts and get-togethers! And since I seem to be hosting a little something almost every weekend of the summer, I like to keep a few go-to, tried & true recipes in my back pocket for the summer season. 

This no-bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Mousse Pie happens to be my most requested of these recipes. :)