Turtle Cheesecake Pudding Cookies

I posted this recipe when I guest posted at Sugar Bee Crafts.  I am a frequent reader of Mandy's blog.  I always come to her party on Tuesdays and I love to see what she has to wear during her What I Wore Wednesday posts, and of course she always posts the greatest craft ideas! I thought I would re-post the recipe here in case you did not get a chance to see it.  

One of my favorite ways to get ready for Christmas and the Christmas season is by baking Christmas cookies.  I am a big cookie fan, so anytime of the year where I can bake and get a lot of cookies is great.  I usually bake at least 10 dozen cookies and I like to make an assorted variety of cookies as well.  I think cookies make a great gift to give and I usually give co-workers and friends a big bucket of cookies.  

While I love making all different types of cookies, these Turtle Cheesecake Pudding Cookies have been one of my favorite types of cookies that I have ever made.  These cookies are incredibly moist and delicious.  The cheesecake pudding not only adds a hint of cheesecake flavor to the cookie but also makes the cookie very moist.  With every bite, you get an amazingly moist cookie along with chocolate, caramel, and pecans.  What could be better!! They also stayed moist for days, which is good when you are sending cookies or giving them as a gift.  I hope that you add this great cookie to your Christmas baking list! Enjoy!!!

Turtle Cheesecake Pudding Cookies

(Pudding cookie recipe adapted from Chef In Training)

3/4 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 box (3.4 ounces) instant cheesecake pudding, dry

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 1/4 cups flour

1 package (8 ounces) Mini Rolos, chopped in half

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1.   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  

2.  In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and brown sugar together.  Add the cheesecake pudding mix and beat until incorporated.  

3.  Beat in the eggs and vanilla until combined.  

4.  In a small bowl combine the flour and baking soda.  Slowly add this mixture to the wet ingredients until all ingredients are well incorporated.

5.  Stir in the Mini Rolos and pecans until they are all mixed into the dough.

6.  Roll the dough into rounded teaspoonfuls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown.  

Makes about 1.5-2 dozen cookies

*Alyssa*

 Linked to these parties

Cherry Pie with Almond Crumb Topping & Giveaway

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Mrs. Smith's for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

When I think of dessert at the holidays, pies are always the first thing that comes to mind.  The only thing I don't like about pies is the time it takes to make them.  If you have ever read my blog before, you know I love making things that are semi-homemade, using store made products, but that taste like they are homemade.

When Mrs. Smith's asked me to try thier new Signature Deep Dish Pies, I knew I had to try them.  Mrs. Smith's Signature Deep Dish pies are deep dish pies that use real butter and have more fruit in them.  These pies come with icing packets that accentuate the flavors of the pies.  My favorite part about these pies is that you can customize them and add your own twist to the pies.

These pies were so delicious, I really liked that I could create my own version of the frozen pies.  They tasted  and looked like homemade.  I love the idea that you can buy a pie that is similar to what you could make.  When I made the Signature Deep Dish Dutch Apple Pie, I added miniature Snickers and Toffee Bits on top and then drizzled the pie with the provided caramel sauce.  This was so delicious and a great addition to the apple pie.
  

My favorite of the Mrs. Smith's Signature Deep Dish pies was the Cherrry Pie with Butter Fudge Sauce.  I always love the taste of cherries and chocolate together.  It reminds me of chocolate covered cherries and the holidays.

To make the Cherry Pie even better I decided to add an Almond Crumb Topping. I added the topping right on top of the crust to make this a cherry crumble pie.  Then I drizzled the Butter Fudge Sauce on top of each slice and topped with whipped cream.

Yum, this looked and tasted homemade.  I brought this pie to my in-laws for Thanksgiving dessert and everyone loved it!  I loved the combination of the buttery, flaky crust with the almond crumb topping.  This is a great way to spice up your Mrs. Smith's pie!

Make sure you visit Mrs. Smith's on Facebook and on Pinterest.  Check out the retailers where you can buy Mrs. Smith's Siganture Deep Dish pies.

Also the makers of Mrs. Smith's Deep Dish Signature pies provided me with a $50 Williams-Sonoma Gift Card and a coupon for a free Mrs. Smith's Deep Dish Signature pie.  This is so exciting! This is great for the holidays, a Gift Card for Williams-Sonoma and a pie for your holiday dinner.  The winner will be able to customize thier pie and have a gift to add to their kitchen!

Please enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter. To enter please leave a comment telling which of the 4 Mrs. Smith's Signature Deep Dish Pies that you would try and what you would buy with the $50 Williams-Sonoma Gift Card if you won.  The giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cherry Pie with Almond Crumb Topping
Mrs. Smith's Signature Deep Dish Cherry Pie
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/3 cup oats
1/3 cup flour
6 tablespoons butter, cold and cut into pieces
Whipped cream (optional)

1.  Combine the brown sugar, almonds, oats, and flour in a medium sized bowl.  Add in the butter using your hands until all the butter is combined with the almond mixture.  Refrigerate the crumb topping for 10-15 minutes before putting on top of the pie.
2.  Get the pie ready to bake according to the directions and make sure to cut slits in the top of the pie.  Once the slits are cut, add the crumb mixture on top of the pie.  Cook the pie according to the package directions.  Serve with the Butter Fudge Sauce and Whipped Cream.

Showcase Your Talent Thursday #35

Welcome to 

Showcase Your Talent Thursday!!

I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving!! Did anyone do any Black Friday shopping? I couldn't bring myself to go out on Thursday night, but I went out early Friday morning and got some Christmas presents for Aaron.  I also ordered an early Christmas present for myself, a DSLR camera.  I can't wait till it arrives, it should be sometime this week!  

 Thanks to everyone that linked up last week!  I can't wait to see everything that you have to share this week!!  I'm getting excited to see all the great holiday projects!

Most Viewed Link:



Mini No-Bake Cheesecakes by Mandy's Recipe Box.  I love that these cheesecakes are mini and I also really like the fact that they are no-bake.  They look delicious!


My Favorites:



Stained Glass Cookies by Sugar Kissed.  These are so pretty, what a great idea! I think these would be great for the holidays.




BBQ Chicken Bacon Pasta Bake by Love Bakes Good Cakes.  This looks great, I have to add it to my list of dinners to try!




Peanut Butter Fudge Pie Cookies by Hoopla Palooza.  This is such a great idea and they are so cute! This is a great idea for a snack!




Cinnamon Mocha Mix by Silver Boxes.  I love the idea of giving drink mixes as gifts for the holidays.  This is a great gift idea!

Thanks for linking up and feel free to grab a button if you were featured.

Copy and Paste Code
<a href="http://whatscookinglove.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x344/Aly199/FeaturedButton-1.jpg" alt="What's cooking, love?" /></a>

Link up as many of your recipes, crafts, tutorials, ideas, projects, or fun posts as you would like to share.

Please do not link up any etsy shops, giveaways, or advertisements.

Link up to your post and not your main blog.

Make sure to visit some of the other links and most of all HAVE FUN!!!

Please feel free to take a button and post it somewhere on your blog

Mini Reese's Peanut Butter Pies

I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I had a great Thanksgiving and long weekend.  I went shopping on Black Friday and got a lot of things for my son for Christmas.  I also bought myself an early Christmas present, a DSLR camera! I'm really excited about it and it should be arriving early this week.  

One of my favorite foods of the holiday season are pies.  Especially Peanut Butter Pie, which is my absolute favorite and the only type of pie my husband will eat.  There are sometimes when I have cravings for pie, but I don't want to eat a whole pie by myself.  These Mini Peanut Butter Pies are perfect for an individual serving of pie whenever you want pie but don't need the whole thing.  

These are also great for the holidays.  I like the idea of letting each person have their own individual pie.  These pies are so delicious and I love the addition of the Reese's to the peanut butter pie.  I can't wait to make these again!

Mini Reese's Peanut Butter Pies

(Makes 6 mini pies)

Mini Graham Cracker Pie Crusts (the ones I bought had 6 in a package)

1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk

4 ounces cream cheese

1/4 cup peanut butter

1/8 cup powdered sugar

1/2 tub of Cool Whip (4 ounces), thawed

10 miniature Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, chopped

Optional Toppings

Cool Whip

3 miniature Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, chopped

Chocolate Syrup

1.  In a large bowl combine the cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, peanut butter, and powdered sugar.  Beat on medium until the mixture is smooth and fully combined. 

2.  Gently fold in the Cool Whip until fully combined. Then gently add the 10 chopped miniature Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.  Evenly split up the mixture between the 6 graham cracker crusts.    

3.  Refrigerate for an hour or until ready to serve.  Add the extra chopped miniature peanut butter cups on top.  Then add a dollop of whipped cream and drizzle chocolate syrup on top of the pies to serve.  

*Alyssa*

Linked to these parties

Showcase Your Talent Thursday #34

Welcome to 

Showcase Your Talent Thursday!!

I hope that everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving tomorrow!! My favorite part of the meal is the desserts, so I will be baking about 4 different desserts tonight and tomorrow morning.  This year we are going to my in-laws and will be spending Thanksgiving with my husband's family. 

After dinner, we will be going over to my parents' house for dessert.  A few years ago my mom invited a few of her friends and their families over for dessert and it has turned into a big yearly Thanksgiving dessert party.  Every family brings a dessert and everyone spends the evening together, its really nice.  

 Thanks to everyone that linked up last week!  I can't wait to see everything that you have to share this week!!  

Most Viewed Link:




Biscuits, Sausage & Gravy Casserole by The Tasty Fork.  This breakfast casserole looks really good.  This would be a great idea to serve at a brunch!


My Favorites:



Butterscotch Gingerbread Cookies by Lemons For Lulu.  I would have never thought to combine Butterscotch and Gingerbread, these cookies look delicious!




A Magical Christmas Scene by Salt Tree.  Wow this is so pretty!  What a great Christmas decoration!




Trader Joe's Cookie Butter Truffles by Pint Sized Baker.  Yum, I love cookie butter.  I definitely need to try these!




Pie Fries by Your Homebased Mom.  This is such a great and delicious way to use up any leftover pie dough!

Thanks for linking up and feel free to grab a button if you were featured.

Copy and Paste Code
<a href="http://whatscookinglove.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x344/Aly199/FeaturedButton-1.jpg" alt="What's cooking, love?" /></a>

Link up as many of your recipes, crafts, tutorials, ideas, projects, or fun posts as you would like to share.

Please do not link up any etsy shops, giveaways, or advertisements.

Link up to your post and not your main blog.

Make sure to visit some of the other links and most of all HAVE FUN!!!

Please feel free to take a button and post it somewhere on your blog

Cheesy Spinach and Artichoke Dip

One of the great thing about the holidays is all of the parties and family gatherings.  I love all the time I get to spend with family and friends over the holidays.  I also really like watching football during the holiday parties.   Every party needs a good appetizer and this Cheesy Spinach and Artichoke Dip is perfect for any holiday party or football party.

This dip was so delicious and is my favorite version of Spinach and Artichoke Dip.  I really like the Parmesan Cheese and Mozzarella Cheese that are added to the dip. I think the cheese gives the dip great flavor! These are really good served with tortilla chips.  I hope that you make this for your holiday party or next gathering!

Cheesy Spinach and Artichoke Dip

(Recipe adapted from Kraft)

1 can (14 ounces) artichoke hearts, drained and finely chopped
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Mix all of the ingredients except 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese until combined.  Then spoon the mixture into a 9 inch pie plate.

3.  Bake for 20 minutes or until heated through.  Once done take out and sprinkle the extra 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese on top of the dip.  Put back in the oven until the cheese is melted.

Serve with tortilla chips, potato chips, or crackers.

*Alyssa*

Linked to these parties 

Guest Posting at Sugar Bee Crafts

I am guest posting today at  Sugar Bee Crafts.  

I love Mandy's blog, especially her great craft ideas and her What I Wore Wednesday posts. 

I am posting about Turtle Cheesecake Pudding Cookies.  These cookies were so delicious and so moist!  I really love the Rolos and pecans inside the cookies!

Please head over to Sugar Bee Crafts and check them out!

Cake Batter Cheesecakes

This week I have been celebrating my 1 year blog anniversary.  Earlier in the week I made Cookies n' Cream Funfetti Cookies to celebrate!  Today I decided to make Cake Batter Cheesecakes.  My favorite thing about these cheesecakes is that they are in individual servings so you can have only one if you want.  Believe me though, you are not going to want to have just one!

These cheesecakes were amazing!! I couldn't stop eating them.  The cheesecakes had yellow cake mix in them to give a great cake flavor.  There is also rainbow jimmies in the cheesecakes and the cheesecakes sat on a graham cracker crust.  These are a great treat for any party.  I hope that you make them for your next celebration or gathering!

Cake Batter Cheesecakes

Graham Cracker Crust

6 graham crackers, crushed

3 tablespoons butter, melted.  

1.  Line a muffin tin with liners.  

 2.  Mix together the crushed graham crackers and melted butter to create a crust and evenly spread the crust in 9 muffin tins and press into the bottom of the muffin tin.  

Cheesecake

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

3 tablespoons yellow cake mix

1 tablespoon rainbow jimmies

1.  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

2.  In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.  Stir in the egg, vanilla, yellow cake mix, and rainbow jimmies until combined. 

3.  Evenly spoon the batter over the graham cracker crusts.  

4.  Bake the cheesecakes for 15 minutes or until they are set.  

5.  When done cooling, sprinkle additional rainbow jimmies on top of the cheesecakes. Refrigerate until ready to serve. 

This makes about 9 mini cheesecakes.

Check out some other great cheesecakes recipes:

* Individual Oreo Turtle Cheesecakes

* Mini Pumpkin Oreo Toffee Cheesecakes

*Alyssa*

Linked to these parties 

Showcase Your Talent Thursday #33

Welcome to 

Showcase Your Talent Thursday!!

I hope that everyone is having a great week!  I am so excited that Thanksgiving is next week! I can't believe all the Christmas recipes and crafts that I am already seeing on blogs.  It is making me so excited for the holidays!

 Thanks to everyone that linked up last week!  I can't wait to see everything that you have to share this week!!  

Most Viewed Link:



Caramel Apple Doughnuts by Someone Else's Genius.  These donuts look so good, they would be great in the morning with a cup of coffee.

My Favorites:




Crockpot Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup by Semi Homemade Mom.   I love having soup when the weather gets cold.  This soup looks fantastic!




Caramel Rolls by Five Little Chefs. These look amazing.  Yum!! This would be great for breakfast on Christmas morning!




Warm Broccoli Cheese Dip by Polish the Stars.  This dip looks delicious.  This would be great for a Christmas party or to eat while watching a football game.




DIY Leg Warmers by allons-y kimberly.  This is such a great idea for using an old sweater.  Plus they look really cute with boots!

Thanks for linking up and feel free to grab a button if you were featured.

Copy and Paste Code
<a href="http://whatscookinglove.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x344/Aly199/FeaturedButton-1.jpg" alt="What's cooking, love?" /></a>

Link up as many of your recipes, crafts, tutorials, ideas, projects, or fun posts as you would like to share.

Please do not link up any etsy shops, giveaways, or advertisements.

Link up to your post and not your main blog.

Make sure to visit some of the other links and most of all HAVE FUN!!!

Please feel free to take a button and post it somewhere on your blog

Cookies 'n Cream Funfetti Cookies

I know that I said that I had some anniversary posts coming up and I'm sorry that I have not posted this earlier.  I planned on posting last Friday as we were going away for the weekend, but I never got a chance.  We went to go visit my 90 year old grandmother and my relatives and last night we went to my cousin's wedding. It was a really good weekend.  

These are great cookies for a celebration!! I made these in celebration of my 1 year blog anniversary! I have had so much fun blogging over the last year.  I can't wait for all the fun recipes and posts to come! Whenever  most people think of a dessert associated with birthdays or anniversaries, they think of cake.  While I love cake, I love cookies even more, so I decided to make some cake cookies to celebrate!

These cookies are easy to make and taste really good. I love the combination of the Funfetti cake mix with the white chocolate chips and Oreos.  These would be great for a birthday party, anniversary party, or just because.  I hope that you enjoy these tasty cookies!

Cookies n' Cream Funfetti Cookies

1 box Funfetti cake mix

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

6 Oreos, broken into pieces

1/3 cup white chocolate chips

1.  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

2.  In a large bowl, stir the cake mix, vegetable oil, and eggs with a spoon until dough forms.  Then mix in the Oreos and white chocolate chips.  

3.  Roll the dough into rounded teaspoonfuls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake for 9-11 minutes or until the cookies are set.  


*Alyssa*

Linked to these parties