Easy Homemade Burger Buns

Beautiful golden brown hamburger buns that have delicious fresh flavor, and they make for the best diner style beef burger out there!

Plus they have so many other uses too, they aren't just for hamburgers. We love them for chicken salad sandwiches, garlic bread and cheese toast. They're great for turkey burgers, black bean burgers, pulled pork, or pulled chicken.

Or head in a more creative direction and repurpose leftovers into a French toast casserole, bread pudding, homemade croutons, or try trimming a thin layer off the top and bottom and turn them into a tasty grilled cheese.

This easy to make burger buns recipe is likely to become a family favorite! So good people will want to just slather them in butter and eat them like a jumbo roll!

Homemade Blueberry Muffins

I've had a different blueberry muffin that's been a favorite for years. But I decided I don't always have time for the blueberry crumble so I wanted to simplify and make a faster recipe.

So a few months ago I created these and we've been making them all summer long with the delicious sweet blueberries in season.

These easy blueberry muffins are fast to make, they don't require a mixer, and they're basically foolproof. And I should mention they are a generous sized muffin with towering domed muffin tops and beautiful golden brown edges. The best kind of muffins!

Perfect for a weekend breakfast, a celebratory brunch or they could even pass for a tempting birthday treat. They are  an excellent way to use up the blueberries in season!

Refreshing Blueberry Lemon Cake

This zest blueberry lemon cake is queen of cakes. It's one of our families favorite cakes and such an excellent way to use up those flavor concentrated, sweet summer blueberries.

With it's abundance of citrus, it's combination of exceptional flavors and it's naturally colorful, showstopping presentation it's practically certain to set a new standard for homemade cakes.

And of course it's one thousand times better than any store-bought lemon cake mix, don't just attempt to mix blueberries into one of those if you really want to impress.

Everyone will be savoring each delectable bite of this infinitely delicious homemade dessert!

Quick tip, I'd recommend that you plan on a generous slice per person because something this good is worthy of indulgence and celebration.

Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting

I’m a big fan of making cake recipes from scratch. While box mixes are convenient, you just can’t beat the taste of a dessert that is truly homemade. They’re just so much better!

Soft and amazingly tender, perfectly sweet, deliciously indulgent, this cake is everything you could want in a yellow cake and more. Plus it's easy to prepare!

Its tantalizing flavor will leave you convinced this homemade cake is the only way to go. No matter the occasion, this moist yellow cake recipe is always a crowd pleaser.

With its homestyle sweet vanilla flavor, paired with that sophisticated rich chocolate flavor atop, it is destined to impress. This cake proves that sometimes it's the simplest things that are the best!

What Is Honey Cake? 

The origins of honey cake recipes can be traced all the way back to ancient Egyptian and Roman cultures. In its first stages, the dessert is believed to have been made out of honey and mashed yeast or barley.

During the 12th century, it was developed into a dessert similar to what we make today thanks to bakers in Italy. Soon, it was adopted by the Jewish culture and quickly became a custom surrounding the study of the Torah. 

Over time, the cake has been incorporated into a wide variety of cultures across the globe and can be found in many different variations. In fact, it is the dessert that spurred the creation of gingerbread. However, no matter how it is made, honey cake always comes together with a simple, spiced batter that is naturally sweetened. 

Soft, sweet, and incredibly tender, it’s one dessert that truly stands the test of time and remains a favorite in many homes, including our own! 

What Are Blondies? 

A truly mouthwatering dessert, blondies are often confused with brownies and are even sometimes called blondie brownies. To be clear, blondies and brownies are not the same things, but they do have similar ingredients. 

Both desserts are made with a base of sugar, butter, eggs, and flour. However, blondies do not contain cocoa powder, which is a key contributor to any good brownie recipe. Instead, the star of the show in blondie recipes is browned butter which is made with butter and brown sugar.  

As a result, blondies have a rich, indulgent flavor and a soft, slightly chewy texture. They’re typically baked into bars and often contain a variety of different mix-ins. You’ll find white chocolate chips and walnuts in this easy blondie recipe.

No matter how you prepare and serve them, blondies are truly a unique dessert that is perfect for every occasion from holiday parties to afternoon snacks. 

Blondie Recipe Ingredients

• All-purpose flour: I use unbleached flour although bleached would be fine. I haven’t tested this recipe with gluten-free flour, but it should work with a 1:1 alternative. Please let us know how it turns out if you do. 

• Salt: Regular table salt works well here. 

• Baking soda: There's just a hint of this used in the recipe for a denser bar, similar to a brownie. You can increase to 1/2 tsp for a fluffier blondie.

• Unsalted butter: I recommend using unsalted butter to avoid overpowering the flavor but salted can be used as long as you reduce the amount of extra salt included. 

• Light brown sugar: This is used to create browned butter, creating the distinct, decadent flavor blondies are known for having. 

• Eggs: These help provide structure to the recipe, allowing the bars to hold their shape. I haven’t tested these blondies with any vegan substitutes. I’m not sure how well it would work since most of them tend to require a lot of liquid. 

• Vanilla extract: Use pure vanilla extract and not imitation varieties. 

• White chocolate chips: Include whatever brand you like best.
• Walnuts: Although optional, these provide a nice crunch to offset the delicate texture of the blondie bars.

How To Make The Best Blondie Recipe

1. Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9x13 baking dish, arrange parchment paper on top and butter the paper liberally before setting the dish aside. 
2. Whisk dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt until smooth. 
3. Brown butter: Place the butter in a microwave-safe bowl, and melt it in the microwave. Set it aside to slightly cool. Then, stir in the brown sugar. 
4. Mix wet ingredients: Add the eggs and vanilla to the bowl with the butter sugar mixture. Break the yolks with a spoon, and stir just until the ingredients are combined. 
5. Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gently pour the flour mixture into the bowl of wet ingredients, and stir just until they’re smooth. 
6. Fold in extras: Mix the white chocolate chips and walnuts into the blondies batter, distributing them evenly. 
7. Bake: Spread the batter evenly in the prepared baking dish, and bake until a toothpick can be inserted into the center and comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes.
8. Serve: Set your white chocolate chip blondies aside to cool before slicing and serving. 

Possible Variations

• Use semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips if preferred.  
• Replace the walnuts with chopped hazelnuts, pecans, or almonds. 
• Sprinkle in pieces of a candy bar. 
• Add butterscotch or toffee chips. 
• Top with colorful sprinkles before baking.

Helpful Tips 

• Avoid over-mixing: For the best blondies recipe, it’s imperative that you mix the ingredients just until they are smooth and no streaks remain. Continuing to stir will overwork the gluten in the flour causing the blondies to become tough and dense once baked. 

• Keep an eye on the oven: Blondies are a bit temperamental, and every oven bakes differently. Given that we want the center to still be slightly gooey, it can be difficult to judge when blondies are done baking. For the best taste and texture, remove them from the oven as soon as the top looks set, and insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, they’re done. If it’s coated with batter, pop the baking dish back in the oven for a few extra minutes. 

• Cool completely: It can be tempting to dig in right away, but it’s important to allow enough time for the blondies to cool and set completely so they don’t fall apart. 

How long do white chocolate chip blondies last?

• Transfer cooled white chocolate chip blondies to an airtight container. 
• Store them at room temperature for up to 3 days.  

Should you refrigerate blondies? 

It’s not necessary to keep them fresh, but refrigerating leftover blondies can help extend their shelf-life, allowing them to last for up to 1 week. 

Can I freeze them? 

• Yes, kept in a freezer-safe container, blondies can be frozen for up to 3 months. 
• I like to slice the bars and wrap them individually or place a piece of parchment paper between them to prevent them from sticking together before transferring them to a sealable bag or container. 
• To eat, let frozen blondies thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, enjoy them cold, set them out to come to room temperature, or warm them up for a few seconds in the microwave. 

More Crowd-Pleasing Dessert Bar Recipes To Try

• Nanaimo Bars

• Sugar Cookie Bars 

• Peanut Butter Bars

• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars 

• Banana Bars with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting 

• Carmelitas 

These recipes are inspired by my ever so popular edible cookie dough recipes (without raw eggs or flour), check them out here!

Homemade Cookie Cakes

When I set out to create this recipe I was originally just going to go with the classic chocolate chip cake. But of course I couldn't stop there because who doesn't love multiple options?

The chocolate chip version is chewy and buttery and tastes just like a classic chocolate chip cookie with a chocolate frosting upgrade swirling around the edges.

If you are a chocolate fan the double chocolate cookie cake is for you. It's made with rich Dutch cocoa, has a tempting fudgy texture and it's not just made with a chocolate base. It's also dotted with chocolate chips and finished with a decadent chocolate frosting.

And if you are a chewy and sweet sugar cookie fan and love sprinkles the funfetti sugar cookie cake is the one you'll love.

These are such a fun change from the classic fluffy cake for a birthday and people of all ages will enjoy them, because who doesn't love cookies?

What are Cowboy Cookies?

We are all familiar with the classic chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, sugar cookies and snickerdoodles but what exactly are cowboy cookies?

They are a cookie similar to oatmeal cookies as they include oats but what makes them unique is that they also include additions of shredded coconut, chocolate chips, pecans and cinnamon.

Some say they were created and attained their name in being a a good pack along cookie that held up well in a saddlebag, while others believe they originated in Texas and are named after the cowboys.

People of all ages love these cookies and they are a welcome change from the traditional cookies with one main flavor. These are tempting blend of so many cookies in one!

What's not to love about these highly textural cookies? It's a decadent cookie brimming to the max with all the best things!

Crispy Onion Rings

When the craving for onion rings strikes sometimes you just don't want to leave the comfort of home to get them. Or perhaps you have a hungry crowd to feed and want to impress with this crave-worthy appetizer or side dish.

Luckily making onion rings at home is easier than you may think and once you learn the method it's a breeze from then on out.

You follow a simple breading process to coat the onion rings, then deep fry in hot oil in batches until beautifully golden brown and crisp. You'll just need a little patience to work in batches.

From there serve with your favorite sauces. Excellent choices are fry sauce, ketchup, ranch dressing, or bbq sauce. Then just prepare for them to disappear as quickly as you put them out!

Note that I've shared other options to cook them if you'd prefer not to deep fry. You can bake in the oven or cook in an air fryer as well.

With any of the three options though you'll end with something completely delicious!

What is Chicken Cordon Bleu?

Cordon Bleu is a dish with Swiss origin that is a derivative of schnitzel.

Chicken cordon bleu specifically is made of chicken that has been pounded thin, layered with ham slices, and topped with Swiss cheese. They layers are rolled snug or folded over, after which it's breaded with flour, egg and dried breadcrumbs. And to cook it's and either pan fried or baked.

In the United States it was a dish that was very popular between the 60's and 70's. In my experience as a kid growing up in the 90's I commonly remember chicken cordon bleu casserole which was a simplified version (which wasn't quite as good, but mimicked the same flavors).

You can serve it whole (note in this recipe though you'll only get four servings if doing so), or you can slice and layer them on a platter domino style. I prefer the later as you'll get more servings and presentation is eye catching with those pretty swirls.

And the creamy honey mustard sauce, which I believe is a staple to the dish, should be poured over each individual servings right before it's served (so the breading doesn't get soft, because that crispy crunch is a crowning finish!).

This dish is perfect for entertaining or for the holidays. It may be a little bit of extra effort but very well worth it!