Breyers Apple Pie A La Mode

In partnership with the folks at Lunchbox, I am sharing this recipe for a holiday dessert classic- Apple Pie A La Mode. All opinions expressed below are my own.

When it comes to holiday baking and hosting guests for the holidays, you can just never go wrong by serving the classics. From hot cocoa with marshmallows to frosted sugar cookies to classic apple pie, the holiday classics are always sure to please and to disappear quickly. 

Homemade apple pie happens to be the most requested dessert in my home no matter what time of the year it may be.  For this holiday season, I am taking the classic apple pie and kicking it up just a notch by using my Toasted Pecan Pie Crust Mix for this and then topping it with a creamy, decadent surprise- Breyers® Gelato Indulgences in Vanilla Caramel... :)

Apple Pie French Toast for One

This perfectly portioned for one Apple Pie French Toast takes just a handful ingredients and a few minutes to make in your microwave...

Okay, you all. I have another apple pie inspired recipe for you guys today! And yes, I am well aware that I just shared my Easy Apple Pie Trail Mix recipe with you all last week. ;) But you see, I have apple pie on the brain lately. 

I am totally craving the combo of sweet apples with cinnamon and sugar, but I am not quite ready to dive into full-on pie baking mode yet. Mostly because it still feels like summer here. Like in the 80's with some humidity. I definitely have no desire to kick on the oven and bake when I am still have to have the AC on pretty much all hours of the day. Where is the crisp fall weather at already?? Because I am SO ready for jeans and flannels, okay? 

Until the temperatures drop and it actually starts to feel like fall around here, I will satisfy my apple pie cravings without heating up the kitchen with this easy to make Apple Pie French Toast for One. This perfectly portioned for one french toast in a mug takes just a handful ingredients and a few minutes to make in your microwave...

Hot Buttered Rum Apple Pie

My Hot Buttered Rum Apple Pie takes the traditional homemade apple pie to a whole other level with a rich, buttery rum sauce baked right in & drizzled over the top...

This month's Spiked! Recipe Challenge is all about Spiced Rum!  (For those of you not familiar with Spiked!, it happens every other month and contestants are given a libation that they must cook or bake with.)

I was thinking the other day how it would be nice to make hot buttered rums and serve them with a homemade apple pie for the holidays.  Then when I started thinking about this month's challenge, and I thought why not combine the two?? 

Now, that is not to say that I will not still be enjoying a nice warm mug of hot buttered rum with a slice of this pie... ;)

Apple Pie Cream Cheese Waffle Pockets

These quick and easy to make Apple Pie Cream Cheese Waffle Pockets are stuffed with cream cheese & your favorite apple pie filling...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Pillsbury. 

 The opinions and text are all mine.

Who else is excited that turkey day is almost here?? I have to say I really look forward to Thanksgiving each and every year- especially since I started hosting our family's Thanksgiving dinner almost 4 years ago. 

Now, it isn't a huge production. 

Usually I am only hosting about 8 total for the big dinner, but this year our Thanksgiving dinner table is going to be even more intimate. It will just be my husband and I and the two kiddos since my parents and my sister and her husband are heading to my sister's in-laws for the day. 

At first, I was a little bummed. I mean, I really love hosting this big dinner each November. But then the thought of a smaller dinner with just the husband and the kids grew on me. 

Less pressure (who cares if the house isn't 100% spotless?), more flexible (dinner doesn't have to be ready right at 1:00), and it even leaves a little more time to enjoy a little tradition I started last Thanksgiving with my daughter- making an easy yet special breakfast together for everyone to enjoy while watching the Thanksgiving parade on television.

Last year, my daughter and I made these Turkey Shaped Cinnamon Rolls. Except I cheated a little and used our favorite refrigerated Pillsbury Sweet Rolls® instead of the cinnamon roll dough from scratch. 

With a turkey in the oven and four side dishes waiting to made, there was no way I was making homemade cinnamon rolls that morning too! ;) 

Easy Apple Pie Trail Mix

Whip up this fall inspired Easy Apple Pie Trail Mix in just minutes with only 4 simple ingredients...

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Post Consumer Brands. 

All opinions are entirely my own.

Between cross country practices and meets, a preschooler who is always "starving" the second she gets home from school, and my son & I's more frequent weekend hikes, I am always trying to come up with tasty & satisfying snacks that are also perfect for my on-the-go family. 






Lately, we have really been into trail mixes. I can throw a few scoops of trail mix into plastic baggies for quick snacks for my son to munch on during meets or to toss into my backpack before a Sunday hike. 






Recently I discovered Malt-O-Meal® bagged cereals (like my family's new favorites- Cinnamon Toasters, S'Mores, & Golden Puffs) at my local Food Lion, and the wheels began to turn. Crunchy, delicious cereals make the perfect base for homemade trail mixes. 

And with 34 family-favorite flavors available to choose from, just think of all the trail mix possibilities, folks! ;)

Apple Biscoff Crumb Pie

 Tender apples, cinnamon, & gooey cookie butter come together perfectly in a flaky crust with a crunchy oat topping in this Apple Biscoff Crumb Pie...

Post updated 10/25/19- This crowd-pleasing Apple Biscoff Crumb 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. ;)

Okay, okay... I obviously need an intervention.  

Hello, I am Carrie and I am a cookie butter addict.

There. I said it. 

Need proof?  Remember when I dedicated an entire week on the blog just to cookie butter? ;) Yeah... there was that.

And I am not going to lie.  I have been pining away for fall because I KNOW that Biscoff (also known as cookie butter under some labels) is the perfect complimentary flavor to just about all of the popular fall flavors.

Pumpkin?  Heck yeah! (And yes, there will be recipes coming to the blog soon marrying our favorite orange gourd with our favorite non-peanut butter spread.)

Apples?  Of course!  

Triple Spice Pumpkin Buttermilk Pie

This perfectly spiced & tangy Triple Spice Pumpkin Buttermilk Pie is about to replace your traditional pumpkin pie...

My friends at RawSpiceBar provided me with a complimentary one year subscription and are also providing an additional subscription as a giveaway prize. I was not compensated for this post in any other way.  As always, all opinions expressed below are my own. 

Alright, you all. I am ready to go all-out Thanksgiving on you guys this week. We are just a little over two weeks away from the big turkey day, and it is time to start planning out that dinner menu. 

But wait... that's not all, folks! ;) If you scroll down towards the end of this post, you will find links to 24 more delicious recipes that are perfect for your Thanksgiving table. 

Okay, so let's get back to this pie. In my July RawSpiceBar subscription packet, I received an amazing Triple Ice Cream Spices blend. It was intended to be added to a homemade strawberry ice cream, but I sort of tucked it away because I knew its blend of cinnamon, cardamom, and star anise would be perfect for fall desserts. 

The Simple Goodness of Homemade Apple Pie

Is there anything much better than a homemade apple pie?  I mean, come on. Is there?  There is not much else in my book.  Homemade apple pies remind of watching my mother as a child make pie crust from scratch.  She was a more lovely crust crimper than I though.  ;)  I like to call my pie style "rustic".  
My mother used to take whatever pie crust was left over after making an apple or blackberry pie, roll it out, sprinkle it with sugar and cinnamon, and then slice it into strips.  She would then roll up the cinnamon scented strips like little cinnamon rolls and bake them up in a pie pan.  About 10 minutes later, we had a little appetizer before having a slice of pie.  (By the way, I do this with my left over pie crust too. ;) )

We got these beauties at the local farmers market last weekend.  They were just begging to be transformed into a beautiful pie.

I decided to try a new pie crust recipe that I had pinned weeks ago.  I mean it is called Never Fail Pie Crust.  You can't screw it up, right? ;) (Click here for the recipe from the Made blog.) I find something therapeutic in rolling the dough out.  

Baby girl even helped out in the pie making. :)

I kept the filling simple- about 7-8 medium sized apples, 1 cup of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, a few dashes of nutmeg, a couple tablespoons of flour, and a few squeezes of lemon juice.  

The pie was simple, absolute homemade perfection.  

My husband said that we pretty much have to buy apples at the farmers market every weekend now just so we can have more pie.  ;) This pie didn't last us for very long.  In fact, half of it was gone in the first evening.  In all fairness, my mother came over for dinner and she had a slice, and I gave her two slices to take home to my dad and my sister.  

Another habit I inherited from my mother- pie for breakfast the next morning.  

Best. Breakfast. Ever.

What is a recipe that you make that always stirs up a little nostalgia for you? :)

20 Slices of Pie for July {A Summer Pies Recipe Round-Up}

Sadly, Pies in July Week is coming to a close here on the blog.  But you know I couldn't leave you all without a round-up post of some delicious pie recipes perfect for summer from some of my favorite food bloggers.  Whether they be bubbling over with summer fruit, cool & creamy, or fabulous frozen treats, I found the best of all pie worlds for you and gathered them all in one post.  ;) 

Enjoy!

SIX Summer Fruity Pies...

Salted Caramel Apple Pie from Sally's Baking Addiction

Strawberry Lattice Top Pie from Love in the Kitchen

Peach Blueberry Crumble Inside Pie from Sweet Twist of Blogging

Mango Lime Tart from White Lights on Wednesday

August Pie from Food Babbles

Classic Cherry Pie from True Blue Baking

Three Fun Frozen Pies...

Seven Layer Ice Cream Pie from Crazy for Crust

Triple Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream Pie from Wine & Glue

Strawberry Margarita Frozen Pie from What's Cooking, Love?

Four Pies to Satisfy Your Chocolate Cravings...

Peanut Butter Chocolate Mousse Pie from Frugal Foodie Mama

Chocolate Cream Pie from Cooking With Curls

Chocolate Salted Caramel Pie from Sweet Twist of Blogging

Banana Split Brownie Pie from Inside BruCrew Life

Seven Cool & Creamy Pies...

Salted Caramel Banana Cream Pie from A Little Claireification

Key Lime Cake Pop Pie from Pint Sized Baker

S'mores Coconut Cream Pie from Frugal Foodie Mama

No-Bake Mint Chocolate Chip Pie from My Kitchen is My Playground

Pineapple Cream Pie from {I Love} My Disorganized Life

Key Lime Pie from Persnickety Plates

Pina Colada Icebox Pie from Kitchen Meets Girl 

And in case you missed all the fabulous Pies in July recipes from earlier this week...

The Ultimate Vanilla Lovers Pudding Pie

Coconut Cream Pie {A Guest Recipe From White Lights on Wednesday}

Frozen Pumpkin Latte Pie

Peach Cherry Pies in Jars {A Guest Recipe from Love in the Kitchen}

Cookies & Cream Ice Cream Pie {A Guest Recipe from Busy Mom's Helper}

I hope you all have enjoyed Pies in July Week on the blog! :) I know it has been a lot of fun for me.  The Pies in July Week giveaway ended last night and I will be announcing the winner of it VERY soon, so stay tuned! 

And make sure you check out and follow my Pies in July Pinterest board for all of these pie recipes plus DOZENS more! :)

What was YOUR favorite pie recipe shared on the blog this week? :)

Take a Sneak Peek at My Thanksgiving Dinner Spread...

This coming Thanksgiving will be the first one in years in which I will be hosting dinner.  For the past 9 years, I have lived out of state every year except for just one.  My son and I have always came home to my parents' house for Thanksgiving dinner.  But this year we are back living in our hometown, and I eagerly volunteered to host Thanksgiving dinner for my parents and my sister.  I love being the hostess.  I love being in charge of the menu, and the decor, and having everyone over at my home.  And, hey... I figured my mother has earned a break by now, right? ;)

Needless to say, I have been planning the menu for Thanksgiving dinner now for weeks...

And now with just a couple of days until the big day, I have our dinner menu finalized.

After much debate, I finally decided that I would just do a compound butter rub under the skin and on top of the skin for the turkey. I had considered doing a brine, but realized I did not have the room in my refrigerator for a 14 pound turkey in a gallon sized bucket...

The "Perfect Turkey" Compound Butter from American Food

I will be making a quick gravy with a butter and flour roux, some of my homemade chicken broth, and drippings from the turkey pan.

My mother is making and bringing a couple of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner favorites- her homemade mashed potatoes and her clover yeast rolls.  I really cannot express how excited I am for those rolls.  She hasn't made them in YEARS, and I have fond memories of them from my childhood.  They are typically pretty time consuming to make, but since I am hosting dinner this year she has the time to make them.  (Yippee!)

We will, of course, have sweet potatoes on the table.  In an effort to free up the oven a bit, I am actually making this year's sweet potato casserole in the Crock Pot.  I am thinking though of foregoing the pecan topping on this one for a marshmallow topping.  I would just transfer the casserole to an oven safe dish, top with mini marshmallows, and set it under the broiler for a few minutes. (Anyone know if the removable dish in the Crock Pot is oven safe? ;) )

Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole from I Wash...You Dry

Here are the rest of the sides that made the cut...

Creamy Corn Casserole from The Ease of Freeze

I plan on baking this the night before & heating it in the oven while the turkey is resting.

Parsleyed Green Beans from Better Homes & Gardens

Also making an appearance per the exclusive request of my son, will be Stove Top Turkey stuffing.   He specially requested nothing fancy, just the stuff from the box. ;)

In lieu of the traditional canned cranberry sauce, I will be serving Apple-Cranberry Jam from Food in Jars.  I canned a couple of jars of this yumminess a few weeks back, and it ended up gelling to about the same consistency as a canned cranberry sauce.  

And now the best part!  Dessert, right??  :)  We will have three pies on the menu.  My sister is making and bringing a pecan pie.  I will be making a homemade apple pie.  I made and froze apple pie filling a few weeks ago, so all I need to do is defrost a bag of it and make my from scratch pie crust (get my absolute favorite pie crust recipe below).  This pie will also be sitting pretty on my dessert table...

Apple-Butter Pumpkin Pie from Recipes.com

For both of my homemade pies, I will be using the recipe below for my pie crust.  This recipe makes enough for two double crust pies, and it is delicious and flaky- the perfect pie crust.

Never Fail Pie Crust from made

I am going to whip up a homemade cinnamon vanilla whipped cream to top our slices of pie with.  Just heavy cream, sugar, a few drops of vanilla, and a couple of dashes of cinnamon all whipped up until thick and creamy. 

Are you hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year?  What will be on your Thanksgiving Dinner Spread? :)

Want to see all the recipes I pinned while I was planning my Thanksgiving spread? Come check out my Planning the Thanksgiving Spread Board on Pinterest.