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Soft M&M Cookies (Soft and Thick) + Video

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These are the ultimate soft M&M cookies. Jumbo-sized, loaded with M&M candies, soft and thick. Use your favorite seasonal candies; we used red, white, and blue!

Looking for more red, white, and blue desserts? Try our red, white, and blue mini fruit pizzas, our patriotic berry trifle, or our red, white, and blue Oreo truffles!

soft M&M cookies

Watch our step-by-step video!

ultimate soft M&M cookies on cookie sheet

Soft M&M Cookies (Red, White, and Blue)

Thick, jumbo, gooey, and loaded with chocolate candy. I've finally perfected the perfect M&M cookie and am thrilled to share! My soft M&M cookies are the size of two cookies. I like purchasing seasonal M&Ms so when I saw the patriotic pack I knew I needed to pick it up for some 4th of July cookies.

Note: If you want a crispier cookie (that also works great for making ice cream sandwiches) try my bakery-style M&M cookies.

M&M cookies piled up

This recipe makes 2 dozen jumbo cookies, perfect to share with friends. They are delicious warm or at room temperature, although I think I prefer them served warm with a glass of cold milk. You can easily reheat the cookies for a few seconds in the microwave!

cookie broken in half and stacked

Soft M&M Cookies Ingredients

  • Butter: I always bake with salted butter, but you can use unsalted butter if you'd like. I use softened butter (which can still be slightly chilled) for this recipe.
  • Sugar: I use a combination of brown sugar and white sugar (with a bigger ratio of brown sugar).
  • Eggs: You'll need 2 eggs to add enough moisture to this big batch of cookie dough.
  • Vanilla Extract: For flavoring. Try our homemade vanilla extract!
  • Baking Soda, Baking Powder, and Kosher Salt: For leavening and flavor. You can use regular table salt if you'd like, but I use kosher salt for my baking and cooking.
  • All-Purpose Flour: I use bread and all-purpose flour interchangeably and don't typically notice a difference. So use what you have on hand.
  • M&Ms: I used 2 (10 oz.) bags, but if you don't plan on adding extra candy to the tops of the cookies you can get away with 1 (10 oz.) bag which is a little over 1 ½ cups of candy.

hand holding a red, white and blue M&M cookie

Tips for Making Large M&M Cookies

  1. Use lots of M&Ms. Not only do I mix the candy into the dough, but I also save extra candy to add before and after baking, making sure the cookie is evenly covered with colored M&Ms. Some bakers suggest chopping the M&Ms up before adding them to the cookie dough, but I don't like doing that. I pour them in whole and mix them with my kitchenmaid. This will break up some of them but leaves most of them intact.
  2. Cook at 375 degrees. The higher heat will cook the outside quickly, preventing the cookie from spreading too much.
  3. Let cookies stand on cookie sheets to cool for at least 10 minutes. Instead of quickly removing the cookies after baking, let them sit on the cookie sheets for 10 minutes to allow the soft centers to finish baking.
  4. Bake cookies on LIGHT baking sheets. These bake more evenly than dark cookie sheets.

ultimate M&M cookies on cookie sheet

How To Make Soft M&M Cookies

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Cream softened butter and sugars using an electric hand or stand mixer.
  3. Mix in eggs and vanilla.
  4. Add dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
  5. Stir in M&Ms.
  6. Scoop cookies in ¼ cup portions onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets. I bake 6 cookies on a sheet.
  7. Bake the cookies for 9-12 minutes*. Let cookies stand on a baking sheet for 10 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack.

*9-10 minutes for a SLIGHTLY underdone cookie, 11-12 minutes for a soft cookie with browned bottoms.

M&M cookies cooling on cookie rack

 

hand holding 3 M&M cookies

Ultimate Soft M&M Cookies Recipe

(printable version)

M&M Cookies piled on top of each other
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Ultimate Soft M&M Cookies

These are the ultimate M&M cookies. Jumbo-sized, loaded with M&M candies, soft and thick. Use your favorite seasonal candy colors!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword bakery style, jumbo, M&M, M&M cookies, red, white, and blue, soft
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
cooling 10 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 260kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cup butter softened
  • 1 ½ cups brown sugar packed
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs chilled eggs are fine
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2-3 cups M&M candies (1 ½-2 cups for dough and 1 cup to add to the top of the cookies)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Cream softened butter and sugars using an electric hand or stand mixer.
  • Mix in eggs and vanilla thoroughly.
  • Add dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
  • Stir in M&Ms.
  • Scoop cookies in ¼ cup portions onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets. I typically bake 6 cookies on each baking sheet.
    Note: if you have a medium cookie scoop (2 tablespoon sized) you can scoop two cookie dough balls and then roll them together for a large ¼ cup-sized ball.
  • Bake the cookies for 9-12 minutes*. Let cookies stand on a baking sheet for 10-15 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack.
    Note: *Bake cookie for 9-10 minutes for a SLIGHTLY underdone cookie, and 11-12 minutes for a soft cookie with light brown bottoms.

Video

Notes

Store cookies in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days. Cookies freeze and reheat well. 

Tips for Making Large M&M Cookies

  1. Use lots of M&Ms. Not only do I mix the candy into the dough, but I also save extra candy to add before and after baking, making sure the cookie is evenly covered with colored M&Ms. Some bakers suggest chopping the M&Ms up before adding them to the cookie dough, but I don't like doing that. I pour them in whole and mix them with my kitchenmaid. This will break up some of them but leaves most of them intact. 
  2. Cook at 375 degrees. The higher heat will cook the outside quickly, preventing the cookie from spreading too much.
  3. Let cookies stand on cookie sheets to cool for at least 10 minutes. Instead of quickly removing the cookies after baking, let them sit on the cookie sheets for 10 minutes to allow the soft centers to finish baking.
  4. Bake cookies on LIGHT baking sheets. These bake more evenly than dark cookie sheets.

Nutrition

Calories: 260kcal

 

Jumbo Bakery Style Blueberry Muffins (+ Video)

By Leave a Comment

Jumbo bakery-style blueberry muffins loaded with fresh blueberries. Golden on the top and soft inside. They are delicious and easy to make! This recipe makes 6 GIANT blueberry muffins. Spread with butter and drizzle with honey!

jumbo bakery-style blueberry muffins

Watch our STEP-BY-STEP video!

jumbo bakery-style blueberry muffins

 

Jumbo Bakery Style Blueberry Muffins

4 jumbo blueberry muffins and one muffin cut in half

Weighing over 7 ounces each, these muffins are huge! Golden on the top and bursting with sweet and tart blueberry flavor. One recipe makes 6 jumbo blueberry muffins. I've only ever made these with fresh blueberries, but you can also make them with frozen blueberries. Here are a few tips for baking with frozen blueberries.

 

buttered muffin cut in half

3 More Muffin Recipes You Might Like!

Blueberry Banana Muffins

Peanut Butter Muffins

Apple Cider Muffins

Jumbo Blueberry Muffins Ingredients

jumbo muffin cut in half and on a white plate

These blueberry muffins are made with basic ingredients that you probably already have on hand.

muffin batter in bowl and in muffin pan

  • Flour: I use all-purpose flour, but combining all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour is delicious too.
  • Baking powder and salt: for flavor and leavening.
  • White Sugar: Use white granulated sugar for a sweet muffin.
  • Oil (vegetable or canola oil): Oil creates a soft texture.
  • Butter: I always bake with salted butter, but you can use unsalted. Butter adds a rich flavor.
  • Eggs: Eggs are used for moisture and structure in baking recipes.
  • Milk + Lemon Juice: I don't generally have buttermilk on hand, so I use milk and lemon juice, but you can also use buttermilk.
  • Sour Cream: The addition of sour cream creates a moist muffin. Plain yogurt can be used as well.

jumbo blueberry muffins in muffin tin

5 Tips for Making Jumbo Muffins

  1. Fill the muffin pan to the dry top. If you want that classic muffin top look, filling the muffin cups ⅔ won't cut it. This recipe makes the perfect amount of batter to fill six jumbo muffin cups to the top.
  2. Grease the muffin pan, LIBERALLY! Don't skimp. Brush with butter or shortening or spray with nonstick cooking spray. The nonstick spray is my preferred method. Spray the inside of each cup and cover the top of the pan.
  3. Use a jumbo muffin pan. This is essential! This is the pan that I have. I've used it for years, and it's an excellent pan. If you'd like to make standard-sized muffins, you can follow this recipe (made with or without the streusel topping).
  4. Reduce the baking temp. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Bake the muffins at 400 degrees for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375 degrees for 25 minutes. The higher baking temp creates enough life for the muffin top then the reduced heat evenly cooks the center of the muffins. I typically only do this when making jumbo muffins, but you can use this technique for all muffin recipes.
  5. Wrap the baked and cooled jumbo muffins individually in plastic wrap to keep the muffins fresh for up to 5 days! They’ll be even softer on day 2. 

jumbo blueberry muffins

Bakery Style Jumbo Blueberry Muffins Recipe

jumbo blueberry muffins
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Jumbo Bakery Style Blueberry Muffins

Jumbo bakery-style blueberry muffins loaded with fresh blueberries. Golden on the top and soft inside. They are delicious and easy to make!
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword bakery style, blueberry muffins, fresh, giant, jumbo
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6 muffins
Calories 650kcal

Equipment

  • jumbo muffin pan

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ cup softened butter
  • 1 ¼ cups white sugar
  • ⅓ cup oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • ⅔ cup milk
  • 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • ⅓ cup sour cream
  • 1 ½ cups fresh blueberries

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease or spray a jumbo muffin pan with nonstick spray. Spray the cups and the top of the pan liberally.
  • Whisk flour, baking powder and salt together in a mixing bowl.
  • In a separate bowl cream butter and sugar. Add oil and eggs and mix.
  • Combine milk and lemon juice in a small bowl. Add milk to wet ingredients and mix.
    Mix in sour cream.
  • Add flour mixture to wet ingredients and stir by hand just until combined (DO NOT overmix).
    Fold in blueberries.
  • Divide batter evenly and scoop into the jumbo muffin pan (makes 6 muffins).
    Bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
    Reduce oven temp to 375 degrees and bake an additional 25-28 minutes. Muffins will be golden on the top and if you insert a toothpick it should come out clean.
  • Allow muffins to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack. To remove the muffins from the pan, use a butter knife to loosen the edges. Muffins should release easily if the pan was properly prepared.

Video

Notes

Wrap the baked and cooled jumbo muffins individually in plastic wrap to keep the muffins fresh for up to 5 days! They’ll be even softer on day 2. 

Nutrition

Calories: 650kcal

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream (+ Video)

By 9 Comments

Homemade strawberry ice cream using simple ingredients and sun-ripened strawberries for a fresh strawberry flavor. So delicious, so creamy and so good! 

Don’t have an ice cream maker? You might like our no-churn ice cream recipes: chocolate-covered toasted coconut, bubble gum, or cake batter!

homemade strawberry ice creamWatch our step-by-step video!

It’s strawberry season here in Virginia so we’ve been busy making delicious recipes with our freshly picked berries! Mac’s favorite ice cream is strawberry, and homemade strawberry ice cream always tastes amazing. The fresh strawberry ice cream tastes like fresh strawberries and cream---exactly what it's made from!

loaf pan full of strawberry ice cream

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

(scroll down for the full recipe)

ice cream maker

We received an older version of this ice cream maker as a wedding gift 19 years ago and it still works like a charm. It’s one of those things we wouldn’t have purchased as newlyweds but were so glad to have. It’s been so fun making homemade ice cream throughout the years. I highly recommend investing in one—you’ll love it! You can make so many different ice creams in it (no churn, chilled custard, and sorbet varieties). Just process it in the ice cream maker according to the instruction manual.

white bowl with two scoops of strawberry ice cream

Fresh or Frozen Strawberries for Ice Cream

The amount of strawberries and texture is completely up to you! I generally add 1 ½ cups - 2 cups of mashed or blended strawberries. You'll get the most flavor by sprinkling the mashed berries with sugar and lemon juice and letting it sit at room temperature until nice and juicy (30-60 minutes).

You can also use frozen strawberries if you'd like. Let them thaw then chop and blend as directed in the recipe.

scoops of strawberry ice cream in container

Ingredients

  • strawberries: blended
  • lemon juice
  • heavy cream
  • sugar
  • milk: whole milk works best, but 2% can be used as well
  • vanilla extract*

*(our homemade vanilla made from vodka and vanilla beans is the best, and I've heard that a small amount of vodka/alcohol makes ice cream even creamier because it prevents the ice cream from freezing HARD. I only use a teaspoon so I'm not sure if it makes a huge difference or not.).

ice cream cone with two scoops of strawberry ice cream

How to Make Strawberry Ice Cream

  1. Mash strawberries with a potato masher in a large bowl (or pulse in a blender) and sprinkle ¼ cup sugar over them. Add lemon juice. Stir. Let stand for 30-60 minutes.
  2. Mix whipping cream, remaining sugar, and milk together.
  3. Add vanilla and strawberries.
  4. Pour mixture into ice cream maker. Process the ice cream as directed in the manufacturer’s instructions.
  5. When ice cream is the consistency of frozen yogurt, remove it and spoon it into a loaf pan or glass dish. For my machine, this takes about 20 minutes.
  6. Enjoy ice cream right away (soft serve consistency) or freeze for 3-4 hours for scoopable ice cream.

scoop of strawberry ice cream in ice cream scoop

3 More NO-BAKE Strawberry Recipes

bowl of homemade strawberry ice cream

 

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe

bowl of homemade strawberry ice cream
Print Pin
4.15 from 7 votes

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

Homemade strawberry ice cream using simple ingredients and sun ripened strawberries. So delicious, so creamy and so good!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword fresh, strawberry
Prep Time 20 minutes
Freeze 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 350kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups mashed/blended strawberries
  • 1 cup sugar divided
  • 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1 cups whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

  • Blend strawberries and sprinkle ¼ cup sugar over them. Add lemon juice. Stir. Let stand for 30-60 minutes or until nice and juicy.
  • Combine heavy whipping cream, milk, remaining sugar, vanilla, and blended strawberries.
    Pour the mixture into the freezer bowl of an ice cream maker, and freeze according to the manufacturer's directions.
  • Enjoy right away as soft serve ice cream or transfer mixture to a freezer dish and freeze for 3-4 hours for scoopable ice cream.

Video

Notes

Store leftover ice cream in a freezer-safe container with a lid.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcal

Lemon Rice Krispies Treats (Video)

By Leave a Comment

Sweet and tangy lemon Rice Krispies treats are a fun twist on a classic treat. They are loaded with lemon cookies and lots of mini marshmallows.

If you like Rice Krispies treats, you'll love our giant Bake Sale Rice Krispies, Fruity Pebbles treats, and Fluffernutter Rice Krispies Treats!

 

lemon rice krispies treats

Watch our step-by-step video!

hand picking up a lemon Rice Krispies treat

Lemon Rice Krispies Treats

You'll love this tangy lemon version if you're looking for a new twist on traditional Rice Krispies treats! Flavored with lemon extract and crunchy lemon sandwich cookies, these are gooey, chewy, and delicious! Lemon is one of my favorite flavorings. I love lemon curd, lemon cookies, and lemon hand pies---these are right up there on the tangy treats list. So good!

Hand holding two Rice Krispies treats

Lemon Flavored Rice Krispies Ingredients

(scroll to the end for a printable version) 

  • Marshmallows: You can use regular-sized marshmallows or mini marshmallows. I think that mini marshmallows melt down quicker and are easier to measure, so I usually use that. Either way, you'll need 20 ounces. Sixteen ounces for the marshmallow mixture and 4 ounces reserved to stir into the mixture later.
  • Butter: Butter melts down and mixes with the melted marshmallows making them even more gooey.
  • Lemon Extract: Just a teaspoon is all you need (you can add an extra teaspoon if you'd like) to add a hint of tangy lemon flavoring.
  • Crispy Rice Cereal: Typically, I use 6 cups of cereal for making Scotcheroos and Rice Krispies treats, but since we're adding 2 cups of mix-ins, I lowered the amount of cereal to 5 cups.
  • Lemon Oreo Cookies: Grab a dozen lemon sandwich cookies (any brand) and chop them up small. These will be mixed into the gooey marshmallow mixture and add great texture and flavor to the recipe.

lemon Rice Krispies treats cut into squares

How To Make Rice Krispies Treats

Divide the mini marshmallows into two portions: 16 ounces and 4 ounces. Set the 4-ounce portion to the side. 

Place the 16-ounce portion into a large microwave-safe bowl. Add butter and lemon extract and heat for 60 seconds in the microwave. Heat in additional 30-second intervals, stirring in between intervals until melted and smooth.

Stir in cereal, chopped lemon sandwich cookies (Oreos), and the 4-ounce portion of mini marshmallows.

stacked lemon Rice Krispies treats

Press mixture into a 9x13" baking dish that has been butter or sprayed with nonstick spray. You can also line it with parchment paper instead if you'd like. Coat your hands with nonstick spray or butter to prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands while pressing it into the pan.

Allow Rice Krispies to cool for 30 minutes, then cut into squares.

Cover the treats with plastic or store lemon Rice Krispies treats in an airtight container. Rice Krispies treats will stay fresh for up to 3 days.

Lemon Rice Krispies Treats Recipe

lemon Rice Krispies treats cut into squares

stacked lemon Rice Krispies treats
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Lemon Rice Krispies Treats

Sweet and tangy lemon Rice Krispies treats are a fun twist on a classic treat. Loaded with lemon cookies and lots of mini marshmallows.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword gooey, lemon, lemon oreo, lemon rice krispies treats
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Cooling 30 minutes
Servings 16 squares
Calories 209kcal

Ingredients

  • 20 oz. mini marshmallows divided
  • 4 Tbsp. butter
  • 1 teaspoon lemon extract
  • 5 cups crispy rice cereal
  • 2 cups lemon Oreo cookies chopped (about 12 cookies)

Instructions

  • Line a 9x13" baking dish with parchment paper or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Place 16 ounces of marshmallows, butter and lemon extract in a large microwaveable bowl.
    Heat in the microwave for 60 seconds. Stir. Heat in additional 30 second increments, stirring in between, until melted and smooth.
  • Stir in cereal, chopped cookies and remaining 4 ounces of mini marshmallows.
  • Press mixture into prepared baking dish. Spray your hands with non stick cooking spray or grease with a small amount of butter to prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands.
    Allow lemon Rice Krispies treats to cool for 30 minutes then cut into squares.

Video

Notes

Stove top directions: heat butter, marshmallows, and lemon extract in a large pot on medium low heat and stir until melted and smooth. Stir in cereal, cookies, and remaining mini marshmallows using a wooden spoon. Prepare the rest the same as above.

Nutrition

Calories: 209kcal

Reese's Puffs Minis Bars (+ Video)

By Leave a Comment

Reese's Puffs Minis bars are delicious and easy to make. If you like Scotcheroos, you'll love these bite-sized bars. These bars are made with Reese's Puffs Minis cereal, peanut butter, and chocolate. 

If you like no-bake cereal bars, you'll love our Chex Scotcheroos, our No-Bake Peanut Butter Blossoms, and our Scotcheroo Haystacks.

Reese's Puffs Minis Bars

Watch our step-by-step video!

3 mini peanut butter cereal bars stacked

Crispy, chewy cereal bars loaded with peanut butter, chocolate and topped with melted chocolate chips and peanut butter chips.

Reese's Puffs Minis Bars

You can make these bars with Rice Krispies cereal or Reese's Puffs cereal, but if your local grocery store carries Reese's Puffs Minis, I highly recommend grabbing a box! My husband saw these, along with a few other varieties of minis, and thought I might like to try them. He was right.

bowl of Reese's Puffs Minis cereal

The cereal is SO tiny and perfect for making cereal bars. I knew I wanted to try making a version of my favorite treat, Scotcheroos. I used peanut butter chips instead of butterscotch chips, and the result was so chocolatey, peanut buttery, and delicious.

platter of stacked reese's puffs bars

Reese's Cereal Bars Ingredients

(Scroll to the end of the post for a step-by-step recipe card)

  • Corn Syrup: you'll need 1 cup. I haven't tried making these with honey, syrup, or any substitute, so I don't know how they would be. I always make mine with corn syrup.
  • Sugar: most scotcheroo recipes call for a least a cup of sugar. My grandma calls for less, and it works great! ⅓ cup is all you need for this recipe.
  • Peanut Butter: 1 cup of creamy or crunchy peanut butter.
  • Reese's Puffs Minis cereal: 6 cups of cereal are used in this recipe. If you can't find the puffs minis, you can use regular puffs.
  • Semisweet chocolate chips: you can use milk chocolate chips if you'd like, but the semisweet cuts some sweetness out. Trust me; these are VERY sweet already. You'll need 1 cup of chocolate chips.
  • Peanut butter chips: You'll also need 1 cup of peanut butter chips.

hand holding mini reese's bar

How To Make Reese's Puffs Bars

Combine peanut butter, sugar, and corn syrup in a large microwave-safe bowl (can also heat over the stove on low-medium heat) for 60-90 seconds. Stir. It does not need to simmer or boil; it just needs to heat up enough for the mixture to be creamy and smooth.

Add cereal and stir.

Press the mixture into a greased 9x13" baking dish or a baking dish lined with parchment paper.

Melt chocolate chips and peanut butter chips in a double boiler or microwave. I usually use my microwave and heat the chocolate chips and peanut butter chips for 30 seconds, then I stir and heat them for an additional 15-20 seconds. Every microwave is different; my advice is to go low and slow—short intervals, stirring until smooth and creamy. DO NOT OVERHEAT CHOCOLATE.

knife cutting reese's bars into squares

Spread melted chocolate mixture over a pan of cereal bars. Allow the chocolate to set up completely before cutting the bars into 48 small squares. You can place the pan in the refrigerator to speed up the process.

hand holding reese's peanut butter puffs cereal

Store cereal bars in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Bars will start out crispy and soften slightly on the second day. 

bowl of Reese's puffs minis bars

Reese's Puffs Minis Bars

3 mini peanut butter cereal bars stacked
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Reese's Puffs Minis Bars

Reese's Puffs Minis bars are delicious and easy to make. These bars are made with Reese's Puffs Minis cereal, peanut butter, and chocolate. 
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword cereal bars, minis, reese's puffs, reeses, scotcheroos
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
chill/cooling 30 minutes
Total Time 34 minutes
Servings 48 bars
Calories 190kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup corn syrup
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • 6 cups Reese's Puffs Minis (or Reese's Puffs cereal)
  • 1 11 oz. bag semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 11 oz. bag peanut butter chips

Instructions

  • Combine peanut butter, sugar, and corn syrup in a large microwave-safe bowl (can also heat over the stove on low-medium heat) for 60-90 seconds. Stir. It does not need to simmer or boil; it just needs to heat up enough for the mixture to be creamy and smooth.
  • Add cereal and stir.
  • Press the mixture into a greased 9x13" baking dish or a baking dish lined with parchment paper.
  • Melt chocolate chips and peanut butter chips in a double boiler or microwave. I usually use my microwave and heat the chocolate chips and peanut butter chips for 30 seconds, then I stir and heat them for an additional 15-20 seconds.
    Every microwave is different; my advice is to go low and slow—short intervals, stirring until smooth and creamy. DO NOT OVERHEAT CHOCOLATE.
  • Spread melted chocolate mixture over a pan of cereal bars. Allow the chocolate to set up completely before cutting the bars into 48 small squares. You can place the pan in the refrigerator to speed up the process.

Video

Notes

Store cereal bars in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Bars will start out crispy and soften slightly on the second day. 

Nutrition

Calories: 190kcal

 

DIY Tiki Torch Planter (Table or Stand) + Video

By Leave a Comment

Create ambiance at summer BBQs with a DIY tiki torch planter. Use on a table or place in a plant stand. Easy to make and burns bright!

You might also like our tiered terracotta planter, our gelatin birdseed feeders, or our $1 soda bottle sprinkler.

diy tiki torch planter

Watch our step by step video!

We were invited over to our friend's house for a BBQ and I noticed that my friend, Anne, had a bunch of tiki torch planters burning around the outdoor sitting area. They worked great and added a nice glow. As I admired the ambiance and lack of mosquitos I couldn't help but notice the 6 mosquito bites on my ankle that were still healing from sitting on my patio furniture last weekend.

Citronella oil isn't known for being a super effective mosquito repellant, but it doesn't attract mosquitos either. Bugs aren't big fans of flames in general so not only do these planters add ambiance to summer BBQs, but according to Mosquito Max, Tiki torches may be effective in the immediate vicinity of the flame, as they work to ward off mosquitoes with the scent from the candle or oil. 

We were on our friend's porch for 2 hours and didn't have a single bug bite. Effective or not, I decided to make a few for my yard too.

white planter in plant stand and tiki lantern

 

Tiki Torch Planter

I made a trip to the store and found everything that I needed to make 3 tiki planters for my yard. These DIY tiki torch planters can be used on a table or placed in plant stands around your patio. Now, I'm calling these planters because they are placed inside of a PLANTER POT. You can create a giant one with a tall torch and add actual plants if you want, but these ones are designed to sit off to the side of a gathering on a plant stand or on a table.

two torch planters in backyard

Why not just burn the little lantern on its own? Why go to the effort to place it in a planter?

I like the added weight and surface area that the planters provide (keeps them just a bit farther away from little hands on a table) and by setting the small tabletop torch in a larger planter it can be placed in a plant stand and strategically positioned around the patio too.

DIY Tiki Torch Planter Supplies

I'll link to the supplies that I used. You can find most of them on Amazon or locally at Target or Walmart.

glass tiki lantern and lid

Small tabletop tiki torch

I purchased this one at Target for under $6. I liked that it was glass and was mounted on a small platform. This made it easy to keep level in the planter. You can find all sorts of small torch lanterns like these, but I liked the look of the glass ones the best. The torches come with a wick and cap. The cap is used for putting out the flame when you are done burning the torch.

Walmart has an inexpensive tabletop torch as well.

glass tiki torch filled with citronella oil

CLEAN-BURNING Tiki Citronella Fuel

Not only does this fuel smell nice while filling the lanterns, but it also burns clean with minimal smoke and soot.  The 64 oz. bottle that I have will fill 5 lanterns. You can find the citronella tiki fuel on Amazon or at Target.

white ceramic planter

Planter for Tiki Torch

You'll need an 8" or 12" planter. I use this planter in my home for houseplants and have it in both sizes. I used the 8" size because that's what Anne used and it worked well. A 12" planter would give you even more surface area to keep little hands out of reach, but also would require more glass gems and stones to fill up. I needed a couple more planters so I stopped by Walmart. They are normally $10, but were on sale online for $5.50 if you did an order pick-up.

3 rocks inside white planter

Stones or Sand

This part is optional, but a great way to minimize how many bags of gems to buy. I used a few river rocks to fill in the bottom of the planter. Sand would be a great option too.

four bags of clear glass rocks

Decorative Glass Gems

You can find these for under $1 at Walmart. You'll need about 5 bags per 8" planter.

diy tiki torch planter on black plant stand

Plant Stand

A stand isn't necessary if you plan to put one of these on an outdoor bar or table, but raising these off of the ground is a good idea if placing them around the patio. I love this stand from Walmart that holds the planter nice and snug.

white planter with glass rocks and glass tiki torch

How To Make a Tabletop Tiki Torch

diy tiki torch collage

diy tiki torch planter on black plant stand
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5 from 1 vote

DIY Tiki Torch Planter

Create ambiance at summer BBQs with a DIY tiki torch planter. Use on a table or place in a plant stand. Easy to make and burns bright!
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 1 planter
Cost under $20

Equipment

  • lighter

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Fill tiki lantern with clean burning citronella fuel. Leave ½" headspace. Wipe up any drips.
    Screw on the tiki lid and make sure that the wick doesn't stick out more than ½" from the top.
    glass tiki torch filled with citronella oil
  • Fill the bottom of the planter with a few stones or sand (optional). If you don't have rocks you can buy a couple of extra bags of glass gems.
    3 rocks inside white planter
  • Place the tiki lantern inside the planter.
    hand placing tiki torch inside planter
  • Fill the remaining space with decorative glass gems or small pebbles.
    tiki torch inside white planter with glass rocks
  • If using it on a table you're all set! If you'd like to place these around your yard you can set them on a plant stand.
    white planter with glass rocks and glass tiki torch
  • Light the torch and burn as long as you'd like. Use the snuffing cap to put out the flame when not in use. Refill as needed. See safety tips below.
    diy tiki torch planter on black plant stand

Video

Notes

Use With Caution
  • Never burn the tiki torch planter indoors. Always burn outside with proper ventilation and fresh air.
  • Never leave an open flame unattended.
  • If using a funnel to refill fuel, use a designated funnel that won't be used for anything else. Wipe up any drips before lighting the flame.
  • Always snuff flame out with the snuffer cap included with the torch lantern.
  • Do not burn near anything flammable such as beach towels, napkins, tablecloths, etc.
  • Do not fill the planter with anything flammable or with items that will melt. Rocks, glass gems, and sand are good options.
 
 
 

Ways to Repel Mosquitos

Want to keep mosquitos at bay in your yard? Here are some tips!

  1. Get rid of standing water. Mosquitos are attracted to standing water and will turn it into a breeding ground so avoid having unused planters full of rainwater in the corner of your yard.
  2. Apply sunscreen before insect repellant and always allow the sunscreen to soak in for 20 minutes before applying bug spray. This will give you the best potency for both products.
  3. DEET. Everyone hates DEET, but it really is the best chemical for keeping mosquitos at bay. Look for bug sprays with DEET.
  4. Don't just spray your skin. I've found that spraying my pants and socks can help keep mosquitos from biting under clothing.
  5. Stay inside at dusk and dawn when mosquitos are most active.
  6. Plant basil, lavender, or catnip as a natural mosquito repellant for your yard.

Use Tiki Torch Planters With Caution

I am NOT responsible for any mishaps that may happen if you replicate this project.

  • Never burn the tiki torch planter indoors. Always burn outside with proper ventilation and fresh air.
  • Never leave an open flame unattended.
  • If using a funnel to refill fuel, use a designated funnel that won't be used for anything else. Wipe up any drips before lighting the flame.
  • Always snuff flame out with the snuffer cap included with the torch lantern.
  • Do not burn near anything flammable such as beach towels, napkins, tablecloths, etc.
  • Do not fill the planter with anything flammable or with items that will melt. Rocks, glass gems, and sand are good options.

Mini Cherry Cheesecakes are Perfect for Parties!

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Individual-sized mini cherry cheesecakes made in a jumbo muffin tin. Each batch makes eight individual cheesecakes that are soft, delicious, and ready to top with cherry pie filling.

You might also like our lemon curd mini cheesecakes, our scotcheroo bites, or our red, white, and blue fruit pizza cookies!

mini cherry cheesecake on plate

Mini Cheesecakes with Cherry Preserves

The mini cherry cheesecakes turned out amazing and are the perfect individual-sized portion! One recipe makes eight individual-sized cheesecakes (using a jumbo muffin pan)! However, you can easily make muffin-sized cheesecakes instead of jumbo. Just use 1 T. of graham cracker crust mixture and one-half the amount of filling. It will make 16 muffin-sized mini cheesecakes.

Mini Cheesecake Ingredients

Cheesecake Crust

  • Graham cracker crumbs: you can graham crackers or purchase graham cracker crumbs in the baking aisle.
  • Sugar: sugar is mixed with the graham cracker crumbs to add sweetness.
  • Butter: melted butter binds the sugar and graham cracker crumbs.

Cheesecake Filling

  • Cream Cheese: I've made cheesecake with reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel) and original. Both work well.
  • Sour Cream: sour cream helps create a creamy texture.
  • Sugar: sugar adds sweetness to the cheesecake filling.
  • Eggs: eggs give cheesecake its rich and creamy texture.
  • Vanilla: a bit of extract for flavoring.

Individual sized mini cherry cheesecakes made in a jumbo muffin tin. Each batch makes 8 individual cheesecakes that are soft, delicious and ready to top with cherry pie filling.

How To Make Cheesecake In Muffin Cups

(scroll to the end of the post for an easy-to-follow printable version)

Add melted butter and sugar to graham cracker crumbs and mix until it resembles wet sand.

Scoop 2 tablespoons of crust mixture into eight muffin liners.

hand pressing glass into muffin tin

Pat down with a cup or glass so that it is level. Bake at 325 degrees for 6 minutes. Cool.

Combine cream cheese, sugar, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Beat until smooth.

Scoop into muffin liners, filling halfway.

Bake for 28-30 minutes. Tops should look set but still jiggle slightly when you lift the pan.  Cool completely.

Spoon cherry pie filling, lemon curd, or drizzle chocolate over each cooled cheesecake. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

Individual sized mini cherry cheesecakes made in a jumbo muffin tin. Each batch makes 8 individual cheesecakes that are soft, delicious and ready to top with cherry pie filling.
My family likes cherry pie filling and lemon curd on top of the cheesecakes.

Mini Cherry Cheesecakes Recipe

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Mini Cherry Cheesecakes

Individual sized mini cherry cheesecakes made in a jumbo muffin tin. Each batch makes 8 individual cheesecakes that are soft, delicious and ready to top with cherry pie filling.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword cheesecake, cherry, muffin
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 28 minutes
Total Time 38 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 393kcal

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crust:

  • 1 ½ cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter melted

Homemade Cheesecake Filling:

  • 2 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Add melted butter and sugar to graham cracker crumbs and mix until it resembles wet sand.
  • Scoop 2 tablespoons of crust mixture into 8 muffin liners.
  • Pat down with a cup or glass so that it is level. Bake at 325 degrees for 6 minutes. Cool.
  • Combine cream cheese, sugar, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
  • Scoop into muffin liners, filling halfway.
  • Bake for 28-30 minutes. Tops should look set, but still jiggle slightly when you lift the pan. Cool completely.
  • Spoon cherry pie filling, lemon curd, or drizzle chocolate over each cooled cheesecake. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

You can easily make muffin sized cheesecakes instead of jumbo. Just use 1 T. of graham cracker crust mixture and one half the amount of filling. It will make 16 muffin sized mini cheesecakes.

Nutrition

Calories: 393kcal

How do you know when THE Cheesecake is done baking?

To check for doneness, take the pan out and gently give it a shake. The edges should look set, but the center should still be slightly jiggly. It'll set as it cools.

How Long Can You Store Cheesecake In the Refrigerator?

These mini cheesecakes will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

Note: I am using a JUMBO muffin tin, not a regular one. For regular muffin-sized cheesecakes, reduce the time to about 20 minutes.

For more delicious dessert recipes, feel free to check out our Easy Dessert board on Pinterest!

How to Organize Your Pantry Without Spending Any Money

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How to organize your pantry without spending any money. No need to spend $200 on matching baskets and acrylic containers! I'll show you how I organized my pantry with items that I already had.

You might also like our IKEA built-in wall of storage (one of my most popular posts) or our kitchen sink organization ideas.

how to organize your pantry

I can't live with clutter. I just can't! Every night after the kids go to bed I do a quick 10 minute straighten up of the downstairs. If I try to relax and watch a movie with a cluttered house I am constantly getting distracted and end up making a mental check list of things I need to do instead of watching the movie. I have issues.

organizing pantry in kitchen

But behind my cupboard and pantry doors I have a deep dark secret...

pantry organization BEFORE photo

Pantry organization. I do a great job organizing it, but keeping it that way? Not so much. I blame it on excess packaging and my rush to get groceries put away without taking the time to REALLY put them away.

So today I got busy and organized my pantry. AGAIN. I go through and do this every few months. It really doesn't take long to get it looking in ship shape again. And I haven't ever purchased any fancy bins or baskets. Everything you see here is something that I already owned and repurposed to use in my pantry. This isn't a dig on beautiful pantries that are decked out with gorgeous wallpaper, baskets, and matching jars. I love seeing photos of pantries like this. They inspire me to make my home a pretty place as well, on a budget that works for our family! So keep pinning those photos and use them as a stepping-off point when you decide how to organize your pantry on a budget!

Hopefully, the photo above doesn't give you cause to lose all faith in my organizing abilities. If it has, you might want to check out these posts before continuing on. To boost my image back up, haha!

3 More Organizing Ideas for Your Home

Small Bedroom Storage for Kids Rooms

Walk in Closet Turned into Toddler Bedroom

How to Clean and Organize Under Your Kitchen Sink

How to Organize Your Pantry Without Spending Any Money

It's as easy as 1-2-3.

Step 1: Pull everything out.

Don't try to move things around on the shelves and organize shelf by shelf. You'll end up spending more time doing it this way. Another bonus of pulling everything out is that you are able to check the expiration dates on everything before putting it back in. Give the shelves a good wipe down and vacuum the floors. If you have drawers in your pantry, vacuum or wipe out any crumbs.

Step 2: Downsize

Most boxes of food purchased from Sam's Club and Costco only had a few items left, yet the box was still taking up just as much room as it did when it was full. Break down those boxes. Stack the cans inside on the pantry shelves, put the granola bars into a snack basket with similar items, and put bags of crackers and chips together in baskets.

pile of boxes from pantry to be recycled

 

Once you consolidate those boxes you will instantly have so much more space.

Step 3: Put Similar Items Together

Go through your house and find boxes, baskets, glass jars, and clear canisters Use them to store snacks and open bags of chips. Mix and match and rearrange your food storage containers until you find a configuration that works! This is the key step in organizing your pantry without spending any money. I LOVE all of the acrylic storage bins and storage containers available for purchase at Home Goods and have been tempted to revamp my pantry using them. I may do that someday, but for now, it isn’t a priority, and the bins and baskets that I have serve a purpose so I can save my money for other things.

 

how to organize your pantry AFTER photos

Put all of the cereal boxes together (you can use cereal containers for this as well), put baking ingredients together on their own shelf, make an area for snacks for school lunches for easy prep, and fresh items like onions, garlic, and potatoes together so that they don’t get lost. Trust me, nothing is worse than finding an old bag of potatoes in your pantry. Nasty.

Keep canned goods, sauces, rice,and boxes and packages of pasta together. Store chip bags in baskets or lined up front to back on a shelf.

More Inexpensive Pantry Organization Ideas

  • If you don't have a spice rack you can store spices in a lazy Susan or baskets.
  • If you have a few command hooks feel free to add them to any empty space to hold plastic grocery bags, aprons, or anything!
  • If you have a label maker you can add labels to your baskets. If you don't have one, print out labels on card stock paper!

finished photo on how to organize your pantry

And that is how to organize your pantry without spending any money. It just takes a bit of time! You can use these steps to organize under the sink or any cabinet shelves.  You won't find a photo of this pantry on Instagram, that's for sure, but everything is neat and tidy and I can walk inside! See how much more room was created by downsizing those cardboard boxes? It's amazing.

Now I don't mind putting groceries away because I have room to store everything! It is easy to find where things are and where things should go and it makes dinner prep easy too!  Let's see how long it lasts!

how to clean your home with a house full of kids

Cleaning House: an Overview

Two years ago Sarah, from Clover Lane, guest posted on here about keeping up with her house and 6 children. I still refer to her tips on how to de-clutter a home. Such great ideas!

$1 Soda Bottle Sprinkler For Summer Fun

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What can you make with a 2-liter soda bottle and some tape? Why, the best soda bottle sprinkler around, that's what!

You might also like our birdseed feeders, our backyard bingo game, or our tie-dyed scrunchies!

soda bottle sprinkler on lawn

Check Out Our Video!

What do you do when you are living in an RV for 2 months in the summer with 5 kids while moving across the country? You get creative! The kids enjoyed a lot of time outside playing in the trees, going on walks around the lake, playing on scooters, and doing sidewalk chalk, but a heat wave rolled in and temps were hitting upwards of 108.

girl running through sprinkler

My husband got creative and made the kids a homemade soda bottle sprinkler out of a 2-liter soda bottle and some duct tape. It was, literally, a 5-minute project.

empty bottle, duct tape, drill

Soda Bottle Sprinkler Supplies

The supplies are basic!

  • 2-Liter soda bottle, rinsed.
  • Duct tape
  • Drill and small drill bit: if you do not own a drill you can pole holes into the bottle with something small and sharp. Fill the bottle with water first to give it more stability before poking holes into it. Note: if using a drill, no need to fill it with water first.

soda bottle sprinkler on grass

If using the hose for other things you'll need to attach the sprinkler with fresh duct tape each time you use the sprinkler. I still can't believe how well this worked, look at that water flow!

Homemade Soda Bottle Sprinkler TUTORIAL

soda bottle sprinkler
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$1 Soda Bottle Sprinkler

What can you make with a 2-liter soda bottle and some tape? Why, the best soda bottle sprinkler around, that's what!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Cost $1

Equipment

  • hand drill with small drill bit
  • garden hose

Ingredients

  • 2- liter soda bottle
  • Duct tape

Instructions

  • Gather supplies.
    empty bottle, duct tape, drill
  • Rinse out the soda bottle and drill holes with a small drill bit. We kind of eye-balled it and went in rows along the top.
    There is no need to drill holes where the bottle will be set against the ground, and too many holes would decrease water pressure.
    drilling holes into bottle
  • Make sure your bottle opening is dry. Use a piece of duct tape to attach the bottle to your garden hose.
  • Add a bit of water to give it some weight so that it doesn’t flip over when you turn up the hose.
    bottle filled with water hooked up to hose
  • Place sprinkler on the ground and crank up the hose!
    kids running through sprinkler

Video

kids running through sprinkler

Have you made your own homemade sprinklers before? My husband and the kids made PVC sprinklers years ago. They were inexpensive, too, but this soda bottle one was definitely the quickest sprinkler we've ever put together.

Inexpensive Summer Activities for Kids

30+ Summer Activities for Kids

A collection of summer activities, crafts, and treats to make with the kids this summer!  Homemade bubbles, soaps, ice cream treats, games, and more!

Sidewalk Chalk Rockets

A science experiment, crowd pleaser, and boredom buster all in one! Sidewalk paint rockets! We made an entire rainbow of them and had fun setting them off and decorating the sidewalk in the backyard. The kids had friends over and everyone got involved with the mess!

Gelatin Birdseed Feeders

Birdseed feeders are easy for kids to make and require only a few ingredients! Hang them in a tree and take notes on the types of birds who come along to snack on them!

A version of this post was shared on the Little Passports site years ago when I did freelance work for them. This post was originally shared in 2017.