Spatulas, Corkscrews & Suitcases

20 BEST CHRISTMAS DESSERTS: Most Popular Holiday Pies, Cheesecakes and Christmas Cookies Recipes

Christmas is finally here, so I thought I'd put together a list of my Top 20 Christmas dessert recipes. Homemade Apple Pie, Red Velvet Cheesecake, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Christmas Cookies, Chocolate French Silk Pie, Pumpkin Pie, New York Style Strawberry Cheesecake, Coconut Cake, and Cherry Cheesecake are definitely on my list this year. Not that I'm going to make them all this holiday, but I sure am craving them all! What are your favorite Christmas dessert recipes that you simply can't do without around the holidays?

Top 20 Christmas Desserts

Christmas Cookie Recipes - It seems you can never eat too many Christmas Cookies. Platters of festive Christmas cookies are already going to parties at schools, offices and cookie exchanges. Make a number of different Christmas Cookie recipes, eat some, and give the rest away!

Carrot Cake and Cupcakes Recipe - What would the holidays be without Carrot Cake or Carrot Cake Cupcakes? Ice this classic dessert with light and fluffy cream cheese frosting, and sprinkle with walnuts, or not! It's your holiday, enjoy it!

Coconut Cake with Coconut Buttercream Frosting - Snow white cake layers flavored with pure coconut extract and Coco Lopez, then frosted with pure white coconut frosting, and decorated with sweetened and toasted shredded coconut flakes. Very Christmasy!




Classic Pumpkin Pie - Everyone's favorite Thanksgiving pie, the Libby's Pumpkin Pie recipe is also great for Christmas too. Libby includes their recipe on the back of the can of pumpkin, but you can use any homemade Pumpkin Pie recipe made with canned pumpkin puree.

Homemade Apple Pie with Granny Smith Apples - Grandma's All-American dessert, the humble Apple Pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is everyone's favorite holiday pie - no matter what holiday it is.

Kentucky Derby Chocolate Pecan Pie - This easy pie has toasted pecans or walnuts, bourbon, classic pecan pie filling with brown sugar and butter, and gourmet chocolate chips in a flaky pie crust. The Kentucky Derby Chocolate Pecan Pie can be whipped up in no time, making this is great last minute race recipe.

Chocolate French Silk Pie - A sinfully rich chocolate pie piled with heaps of whipped cream. Make it in either a flaky pie crust, chocolate cookie crust, or graham cracker crust.

NY Style Strawberry Cheesecake - Who doesn't love Strawberry Cheesecake? This one is the creamiest and most decadent, especially on a graham cracker crust, and topped with the juiciest Christmas red strawberries.

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust - Pumpkin Cheesecake isn't just for Thanksgiving. Christmas is also the perfect time for this ultra creamy pumpkin cheesecake that sits on a spicy molasses cookie crust.

Cherry Cheesecake with Graham Cracker Crust - This dessert is a favorite cheesecake for Christmas, especially with ruby red Christmas canned cherry pie filling.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake - Uber-rich & creamy chocolate cheesecake, studded with chunks of Reese's PB cups, all sitting on an Oreo Cookie crust, rivals anything the Cheesecake Factory can dish out!

Red Velvet Cheesecake Recipe - Just like the Red Velvet Cheesecake Factory Recipe, this rich red and white layered New York Style Cheesecake and Red Velvet Cake is decorated with buttercream frosting, and would be striking on a Christmas buffet table.

Red Velvet Cupcakes Recipe - This dazzling Chocolate Red Velvet Cake is a total head-turner! With its bright red cake layers, and snow white frosting, this gorgeous cake will be the best dressed guest at this year's Christmas party!

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake - Extra rich cheesecake studded with mini chocolate chips, baked in a sweet Oreo Cookie crust. Who doesn't love chocolate chips, especially when it comes in the form of a cheesecake?

Easy Kahlua Tiramisu Recipe - Ladyfingers soaked in Kahlua, layered with sweet brandy whipped cream and cream cheese filling. This Easy Kahlua Tiramisu is dusted with cocoa for a delicious finale!

Best Ever Pie Crust Recipe - How To Make A Perfect Flaky Pie Crust for the Holidays
 

3 Easy Pie Crust Recipes - Oreo Cookie Crust, Graham Cracker Crust and Sweet Short Dough

Flaky Pie Crust Recipe by Sweety Pies

Soooooo... I was just a few Christmas Cookies short of a Happy Meal—I mean cookie platter. But there's tons of festive Christmas Cookie recipes under that cookie link, so I'm going to fudge it a little and call it 30 instead :-) Have a Very Merry Christmas!

RED, WHITE and BLUE DESSERT RECIPES: Patriotic 4th of July Desserts

Have a Star Spangled Banner holiday with these red, white and blue patriotic dessert recipes! Red, White and Blue Flag Cake; Fresh Strawberry and Blueberry Pie; Strawberry and Blueberry Shortcakes; Red, White and Blueberry Dessert Pizza; Red, White and Blueberry Cobbler; Red, White and Blue Fruit Salad. See a recurring theme? All but a few of these are my own tried-and-true recipes that I've posted over the years with Examiner and Suite101. My family enjoyed every last bite! Have a safe, happy and delicious 4th of July holiday!

Fresh Strawberry Pie Recipe: Big juicy strawberries chilled in homemade strawberry glaze, nestled in a graham cracker or vanilla cookie crust and topped with fresh whipped cream.

 

Red, White and Blue Flag Cake Recipe: What would the 4th of July be without a Red, White and Blue Flag Cake? Blueberry stars, strawberry stripes and sparklers set this Firecracker Cake off quite nicely!

 

 

Red, White and Blueberry Cobbler: Fresh Cherries, blueberries and raspberries found their way into a deep dish stoneware pie pan, sprinkled with some cinnamon and a bit of freshly grated lemon zest all topped with a buttery sweet cobbler dough and a dollop of whipped cream.

 

 

Red, White and Blue Dessert Pizza: Striking grilled pizza with raspberries, blueberries and pineapple all nestled in a sweet cheese topping on top of cinnamon dough. Perfect for a 4th of July cookout!

 

Red, White and Blue Strawberry Blueberry Tart: This strawberry tart is made with a sweet shortbread crust, filled with strawberry jam, fresh strawberries and blueberries. Top it all off with fresh whipped cream, or serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

 

 

Red White and Blue Fruit Salad Recipe: It doesn't have to be cake or pastry to qualify as dessert, so why not make it a healthy dessert with his patriotic fruit salad with the colors of the flag! Red strawberries and raspberries, almost white bananas and pineapple, and as blue as you can get blueberries make one beautiful fruit salad!

 

 

Red, White and Blueberry Cheesecake Recipe: Take this Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe and add blueberries to the topping along with the strawberries. Fresh tastes best, but canned strawberry and blueberry pie filling work just fine too.

 

 

Red Velvet Cake with Blueberries: Traditional Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting topped with fresh blueberries. Can't get much better than this!

 

 

Strawberry Cream Cake with Blueberries: Yellow cake filled and frosted with fresh whipped cream, strawberries and blueberries. Very refreshing and perfect for a summer party.

 

Strawberry & Blueberry Shortcakes: Take the traditional Strawberry Shortcake recipe, split some homemade Buttermilk Biscuits in half, sprinkle with fresh blueberries, and add plenty of whipped cream to these delightful berry shortcakes!

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Recipe: Fresh strawberry rhubarb pie recipe is a summer favorite. Classic fruit pie with sweet strawberries and tart rhubarb mixed with sugar and spices, and baked in a double crust. Add some blueberries or blackberries for the holiday!

Blueberry Pie Recipe Made with Fresh Blueberries: Plump blueberries picked fresh from the blueberry bush, mixed with sugar and a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg and baked in a flaky doubled crusted pie crust. Serve with a side of fresh raspberries or strawberries for a red, white and blue dessert!

Fresh Strawberry Muffins: Made with my favorite blueberry muffin recipe, these strawberry muffins are chock full of fresh strawberries and topped with brown sugar streusel for an easy summer picnic or brunch. Add fresh blueberries or blackberries to your muffin batter for a red, white and blue treat!

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE RECIPE with Molasses Cookie Crust: A Thanksgiving Favorite

The holidays are right around the corner, and this decadently rich Pumpkin Cheesecake will make a perfect addition to any Thanksgiving or Christmas buffet table. Not surprising, Pumpkin Cheesecake is one of the most requested Thanksgiving desserts.

This Pumpkin Cheesecake is m and is very similar to Junior's Pumpkin Mousse Cheesecake recipe. It has a sour cream topping that makes the cheesecake irresistible, but you can leave it off if you wish. You've probably been the victim of cracked cheesecakes or overbaked and dry cheesecakes once or twice in your baking life. Make sure to read "How to Make the Perfect Cheesecake" before turning your oven on!

Ingredients: Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe with a Molasses Cookie Crust

• 1/4 recipe of Soft Molasses Cookie dough
  
• 1 pound 8 ounces (three 8 ounces packages) cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 large eggs
• 1 3/4 cups pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
• 1 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk

Sour Cream Topping

• 1 pound (2 cups) sour cream
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

 

If you make the entire batch of Molasses Cookie Dough, you can scoop and bake the rest into the scrumptious Molasses Cookies you see below!

Directions: How to Make a Perfect Pumpkin Cheesecake

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Take a 9 inch springform pan apart, line the bottom plate with aluminum foil, then reassemble the pan. Pull the excess foil up and around the pan to prevent any batter from leaking into the oven. Spray sides and bottom with vegetable spray.
3. Make 1/4 batch of Soft Molasses Cookies Recipe. Or better yet, make the whole batch and bake cookies with the rest of the dough!
4. Pat the molasses cookie dough on the bottom only of the springform pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes for a soft cookie crust. Bake a few minutes longer for a crispier gingersnap crust. Remove from oven, set aside, and let cool while making the cheesecake batter.
5. Leave oven on 350 degrees. Place a pan of hot water in the bottom of the oven and close the door.
6. In a mixing bowl on medium speed, beat cream cheese until smooth ~ about 3 minutes. Scrape down sides half way through.
7. Add sugars and cornstarch and beat again, scraping a few times. The mixture should be smooth. Add eggs 1 at a time. Beat until creamy.
8. Fold the pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg into the mixture and beat again.
9. Slowly add the evaporated milk and beat only enough so there are no lumps and the filling is nice and fluffy. Scrape as needed.
10. Pour batter into prepared pan on top of previously baked molasses cookie crust, and bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes.
11. About 15 minutes before the pumpkin cheesecake is done, mix all sour cream topping ingredients (see below) until smooth and sugar is dissolved.
12. When cheesecake comes out of the oven, carefully pour sour cream batter on top of cheesecake. Immediately return cheesecake to oven, and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until set.
13. See the link above for further baking, cooling, serving and freezing instructions.
14. Makes one 9 inch cheesecake. Serves 14. Wrap and refrigerate any leftovers.

 

Photo: Saying grace before carving the turkey at Thanksgiving dinner in the home of Earle Landis in Neffsville, Pennsylvania, November 1942. Photo by Marjory Collins. Farm Security Administration. Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain

VEGAN Baking Recipes: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Baking

You don't have to be on a vegan diet to enjoy these vegan baking recipes. Vegan Red Velvet Cake and Cupcakes Recipe and Vegan Cheesecake are just a few of the delicious vegan recipes in this brand new cookbook.

Save $5.90 by pre-ordering from Amazon, and Barnes & Noble now for only $11.05.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Baking is due to hit the book store shelves on April 5th, and Amazon will send the books the day it's released. It's also available in the Kindle edition for $9.99.

I received my two author's copies in the mail last week from the publisher and have been totally excited ever since. I still can't believe I'm holding the book in my hands after 14 months. It seems like yesterday!

Order from Amazon here
Order from Borders here
Order from Barnes & Noble here

VEGAN PEANUT BUTTER PIE

Thanksgiving Desserts: Recipes for Pumpkin Cheesecake, Red Velvet Cupcakes and more

Thanksgiving 2010: Turkey Day is this Thursday, November 25th. Do you have your Thanksgiving dessert recipes planned yet? Will it be Homemade Apple Pie, Classic Pumpkin Pie recipe, or Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie? Or perhaps something you haven't tried yet, like The Cheesecake Factory Red Velvet Cheesecake recipe knock-off, or maybe get a head start on Christmas Cookies and serve up a platter of Pecan Butterballs, Peanut Butter Blossoms, and Shortbread Cookies. Whatever you have a craving for, there's something here for your Thanksgiving Desserts menu.

Best Thanksgiving Desserts

• Red Velvet Cheesecake Factory Recipe   
• Homemade Apple Pie Recipe With Fresh Apples   
• Chocolate French Silk Pie Recipe
• Classic Pumpkin Pie Recipe
• Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe with Gingersnap Crust  
• Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe
• Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie recipe with Roasted Pecans
• Kentucky Derby Pie Recipe
• Red Velvet Cupcakes with Craeam Cheese Frosting
• Shortbread Cookie Recipe Christmas Cookies
• Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies Recipe
• Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe
  
  

St. Patrick's Day Recipes For The Irish In All Of Us!

 

 
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

Rumor has it "There's a little Irish in all of us." Irish Soda Bread Recipe, Homemade Baileys Irish Cream, White Chocolate Baileys Irish Cream Cheesecake, Baileys Irish Cream Mousse Pie, and even a Healthy Irish Soda Bread Recipe will tempt you into kissing the Blarney Stone early. There's no need to wait until March 17th to celebrate St.Patty's Day. Do it now, and party all month!

I'm Irish, what can I say? We love to party and eat good food. The St. Patrick's Day recipes below are my own creations that we've made and eaten over many years in the bakery and at home. You don't have to be Irish to love their food. Any time of the year is a good time to be Irish! Enjoy the holiday early and often. St. Paddy would be proud!

 

 

St. Patrick's Day Recipes

• Irish Soda Bread - You can't celebrate St. Patrick's Day without a slice of traditional Irish Soda Bread. Have it for breakfast with a cup of Irish Breakfast Tea.
• Healthy Irish Soda Bread - Looking for a healthier Irish Soda Bread? This delicious bread is made with honey and King Arthur's Unbleached White Whole Wheat Flour. Add some raisins or get crazy with craisins, and have a slice with honey!
• White Chocolate Baileys Irish Cream Cheesecake - Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with an over-the-top, ultra-rich White Chocolate Baileys Irish Cream Cheesecake baked in an Oreo Cookie crust! Sounds simply decadent doesn't it?
• White Chocolate Irish Cream Mousse Pie - Whip up an easy Irish Cream Mousse Pie for St. Patrick's Day! Pile this fluffy Baileys mousse in a graham cracker or flaky pie crust and decorate it with white chocolate shavings.
• Homemade Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur - Making your own thick & creamy Irish Cream is easier than you think with this fool-proof recipe. Just throw all the ingredients together, whisk and chill. Serve it on the rocks for the ultimate St. Patty's Day drink!
• Make a Reuben Sandwich with Corned Beef Leftovers - What are you going to do when St. Paddy's Day is over, and you've got tons of corned beef leftovers? Make a sandwich! It's no wonder Grilled Reuben Sandwiches with swiss cheese & sauerkraut on rye with thousand island dressing and mustard is the top selling sandwich the day after St. Patty's Day!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY Cookies, Cupcake Recipes

 
  

Heart Shaped Valentine's Day Cakes, Valentine's Day Cookies, Red Desserts, Valentine Cupcakes and lots more to say "I LOVE YOU" on Valentine's Day! Red Velvet Cupcakes and New York Style Strawberry Cheesecake recipes are sure to win someone's heart this Valentine's Day.

Red Velvet Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting

Read my Valentine's Heart Shaped Cake story from last year. It'll give you an idea of how we made hundreds of these babies every Valentine's Day. Ahhhh, memories! 

 

 

 

How to Make Valentine's Day Heart Shaped Cakes  

 

 

 

Heart Shaped Cookies: Coconut Lime and Chocolate Madeleines

 

 

 

Cherry Meringue Cookies Recipe

  

Cherry Hershey's Kiss Cookies

 

 

 

Most Popular Red Valentine's Day Desserts

• Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe with Graham Craker Crust
• Cherry Cheesecake Recipe with Graham Cracker Crust
• White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake with Oreo Cookie Crust
• Fresh Strawberry Shortcake with Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits
• Strawberry Cream Cake with Cream Cheese Filling
• Red Velvet Cake & Cupcakes
• Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffeecake
• Strawberry Mousse Pie & Parfaits
• Cherry Pie made with Fresh Cherries
• Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Recipe
• Cherry Kisses Cookies with Hershey's Chocolate Kiss
• Soft Sugar Cookies with Valentine Sprinkles
• Chocolate Covered Strawberries
• Fresh Raspberry Pie Recipe
• Fresh Strawberry Pie Recipe
• Strawberry Daiquiri Frozen Pie
• Fresh Strawberry Tart with Shortbread Crust
• Heart Shaped Shortbread Cookies with Raspberry Jam
• Cherry Meringue Kiss Cookies
• Cherry Almond Scones

National Chocolate Cake Day 2010: Chocolate Cupcakes Hit the Spot Too

Have a slice of Chocolate Cake for National Chocolate Cake Day, January 27th! Chocolate Cupcakes, Texas Sheet Cake, Chocolate Truffle Cake, Devil's Food Cake Recipe with Chocolate Frosting, Hot Fudge Pudding Cake, Red Velvet Cake or Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake. There's more where those came from too! Make sure to pour a BIG glass of cold milk with these rich, moist cakes. You're gonna need it!

 

 

CHOCOLATE CAKE & CUPCAKE RECIPES

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake - ULTRA CREAMY, extra rich cheesecake loaded with mini chocolate chips, baked in a sweet Oreo Cookie crust.

 

Devil's Food Cake Recipe with Chocolate Frosting - Dark chocolate cake layers filled and frosted with chocolate fudge frosting. Decorate this moist Devil's food cake with chocolate curls, chopped walnuts or jimmies.

 

 

 

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake - Uber-rich & creamy chocolate cheesecake, studded with chunks of Reese's PB cups, all sitting on an Oreo Cookie crust, rivals anything the Cheesecake Factory can dish out! 

 

 

Red Velvet Cake Recipe - This dazzling cake is a real head-turner! With its bright red cake layers, and snow white frosting, this gorgeous cake will be the hit of the party!

 

 

Eclair Cake Recipe with Chocolate Frosting - This no-bake eclair cake layered with graham crackers, Cool Whip & vanilla pudding is frosted with homemade chocolate icing. Also called ice box cake, it's a perfect birthday cake or easy dessert!

 

 

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake Recipe - Looking for an ooey, gooey, over-the-top, orgasmic chocolate fudge pudding cake? Your dreams have been answered! This classic old-fashioned pudding cake is the one Grandma used to make! Serve it with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for the ultimate indulgence!

Chocolate Truffle Cake Recipe - Death-by-chocolate cake is similar to a flourless cake, baked in a graham cracker crust and decorated with mini Oreos. It's like eating a box of chocolate fudge truffles. Ice this Truffle Cake with the Chocolate Ganche found below! Warning: You will need TWO glasses of milk with this sinfully rich cake!

Texas Sheet Cake Recipe with Chocolate Frosting - Easy chocolate cake recipe with dark chocolate fudge icing and toasted pecans. Serves a crowd.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte - Here's Dorie's Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte is all its glory. Peanut butter mouse, studded with chopped peanuts, topped with an extra rich chocolate ganache (found above), all sitting on an Oreo Cookie crust. This was an awesome cake, one that I've made over and over again. You'll love it too!

Chocolate Chip Banana Cupcakes - Bananas and Chocolate - What a great combination, especially when topped with extra fluffy cream cheese frosting! Make a batch today for the kids. Heck, make them for yourself. You deserve a treat! Not quite a "chocolate" cake, these babies have enough chocolate chips in them to qualify!

Chocolate Chocolate Cupcakes - These chocolate cupcakes may be all dressed up for Hallopween, but don't let that fool you! This is a Tuesdays With Dorie special recipe. Did I say these chocolate cupcakes were good?

Mocha Cake Recipe with Chocolate Frosting - Quick & easy cupcakes with chocolate frosting, and mocha layer cake with dairy-free & egg-free cake recipes. Kid-friendly cupcake recipes they can decorate themselves!

Zucchini Bread with Chocolate Chips - Moist & flavorful Zucchini Nut Bread recipe loaded with chocolate chips, cinnamon and walnuts. Easy quick bread recipe can be baked in mini loaf pans or cupcakes with cream cheese frosting! Again, add enough chocolate chips in anything, and life is good!

White Chocolate Frosting Recipe - Melted white chocolate coating, blended with butter & cream cheese frosting. Decorate Red Velvet Cupcakes, Coconut Cake, Chocolate Cupcakes, or frost a cheesecake.

Chocolate Ganache Recipe - Every baker & cook needs to have a great dark Chocolate Ganache Recipe in their collection. Decorate cupcakes, eclairs, cakes, cheesecakes, cookies, muffins and brownies with this sinfully rich and silky smooth versatile ganache. Save some for hot fudge sundaes, and pour it over your ice cream!

NATIONAL CHEESECAKE DAY

 


Free & Half-Off Cheesecake
Looking for FREE Cheesecake at Eli's Cheesecake? How about HALF OFF from The Cheesecake Factory? Today, July 30th, is National Cheesecake Day!

Free Cheesecake: Eli's Cheesecake World - FREE Cheesecake? You heard me right! Eli's Cheesecake of Chicago is giving away free slices of  cheesecake from 9:30am – 2:00pm (one per person). Join Eli's National Cheesecake Day Celebration for a fun-filled day of acitvities!

Half Price Cheesecake: The Cheesecake Factory - The Cheesecake Factory says, "Celebrate our big day by dining-in and enjoying any of our 30 delicious cheesecakes for half price. We will also introduce our new flavor Stefanie’s Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake™."

 

Recipes: Make Your Own Cheesecake
If you can't take advantage of these awesome Cheesecake Factory specials, make your own! That's right, it's not too late, besides, the weekend is coming. Why have only one National Cheesecake Day? Why not a whole National Cheesecake Weekend? I'm am so totally up for that!

 

3 Easy Cheesecake Crust Recipes

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake


Baileys Irish Cream Cheesecake






Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake






NY Style Strawberry Cheesecake






Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe






White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Recipe






Junior's Brownie Swirl Cheesecake Recipe






Cherry Cheesecake with a Graham Cracker Crust






Chocolate Zebra Cheesecake with an Oreo Cookie Crust



Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe with Gingersnap Crust

Stefanie’s Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake™ photo used with written permission from The Cheesecake Factory.

4th of JULY DESSERT RECIPES

 

Patriotic Red, White & Blue Desserts
What are you doing for the 4th of July? Are you having a cookout, watching a 4th of July parade, going to a ballgame? We're going to a party on a BIG yacht! Bigger than ours, and oh so classy! Actually, our sailboat, even at 40 feet long, looks rather small and dinky compared to our friends ocean trawler. Lots of great food, good drinks and awesome friends!

Whatever you're doing this weekend, you're most likely gonna need some tasty desserts and salads. Maybe even some cocktails? It's a long weekend for most people, and that means more food and company than you'd anticipated. Here's a list of holiday recipes I've been working on for weeks. Some are Red, White & Blue recipes, all are perfect for cookouts, barbecues, picnics and parades. Mix and match according to the function. Add some sparklers and bottle rockets and make sure to have plenty of fun!

Red White & Blue Flag Cake - What would the 4th of July be without a Red, White & Blue Flag Cake? Blueberry stars, strawberry stripes and sparklers set this Firecracker Cake off quite nicely!

Fresh Blueberry Recipes - Blueberry Muffins, Fresh Blueberry Pie, Blueberry Buckle, Blueberry Smoothie, Blueberry Popsicles, Blueberry Pancakes, Blueberry Crisp, Red White & Blueberry Pizza, Lemon Blueberry Bread and much more!

Fresh Cherry Recipes - Summer dessert recipes scream for fresh cherries! Cherry Pie, Cherry Cheesecake, Cherry Cobbler, Cherry Chocolate Fudge Brownies, Cherry Clafouti, Cherry Almond Scones, Cherry Rhubarb Cobbler, Cherry Kisses, Peach & Cherry Galette, and many more.

Fresh Strawberry Pie Recipe - Big juicy strawberries chilled in homemade strawberry glaze, nestled in a graham cracker or vanilla cookie crust and topped with fresh whipped cream.

Red, White & Blue Desserts - Cakes, cupcakes, tarts, cobblers, shortcakes, trifles, ice cream cake, cheesecakes, berry pops and so much more!






Stampin' Mama Designs

This Red, White & Blue Flag Cake, Buttercream Frosting and photos, are from Erika at Stampin' Mama.com. Erika's cupcake toppers are a special design from GinaK Stamps. Complete instructions as well as links for stamps, cardstock, etc., can be found at Erika's blog, Stampin' Mama. Thanks Erika!