Category: Uncategorized

Rich, creamy rice pudding is delicious warm or cold, and lightly spiced with just a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg. It’s the coziest, most comforting dessert of all! We love it with plump golden raisins!

It’s so easy to make homemade rice pudding and a great way to use up leftover rice as well! If you love pudding-type desserts, be sure not to miss our Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding, Coconut Bread Pudding, and Pistachio Pudding Salad!

Homemade Rice Pudding

This old-fashioned dessert is a classic that is the ultimate in creamy comfort in a bowl. Serve it warm, and it’s perfect for cold winter nights. You can also chill it in the fridge for a wonderful warm weather treat! You’ll love having this recipe in your back pocket for when you’re craving something creamy and sweet.

I like to add just a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg to flavor the rice pudding, but I’m not heavy-handed with the spices since it could easily overpower the classic flavors of this dessert. More cinnamon and nutmeg can be sprinkled over the top of each serving as a garnish, if desired. No matter how you choose to serve it, one thing is for sure- this rice pudding will be a hit with the whole family! And if you love homemade pudding as much as I do, try this vanilla or chocolate pudding next!

Ingredients Needed

Rice pudding is one of my go-to desserts when my family is craving something sweet. It’s so easy to make and I usually have all of the ingredients on hand. You can leave the raisins out if you’re not into them. But there is something wonderful about the bursts of sweet plump golden raisins in the creamy rice pudding that I love, despite not being a huge raisin fan otherwise.

Cooked Rice: I used white, medium-grain rice. See my tips below on how to quickly cook some if you don’t already have some on hand!Milk: I recommend using whole milk to make your rice pudding extra creamy.Sugar: Just regular granulated sugar works great to sweeten up the pudding.Salt: A pinch is all you need to boost the overall flavor of your rice pudding.Beaten Egg: This gets beaten into the pudding mixture to add creaminess and a smooth texture.Butter: You can’t go wrong with butter! This adds the best rich flavor.Vanilla Extract: For the best flavor, I recommend using pure vanilla extract if you have it! Vanilla bean paste works, too, if you want a stronger vanilla flavor.Spices: I used ground cinnamon and nutmeg for a hint of spiced flavor.Sweetened Whipped Cream: (Optional) If you want extra creamy rice pudding, you can mix this in once it’s done.Golden Raisins: (Optional) I love adding these as a garnish!

How to Make Rice Pudding

Cooked medium-grain rice is simmered with milk and sugar, then egg yolks are tempered with some of the hot liquid and added back in to thicken things up and make the pudding extra creamy and rich. You’ll never go back to store-bought!

Add Ingredients to Saucepan: Combine the cooked rice with 1 ½ cups of the milk, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir for about 15 minutes, until the mixture starts to thicken slightly and become creamy. Add Egg and Spices: In a separate bowl, whisk the egg with the remaining milk. Gradually whisk 1 cup of the hot rice and milk into the egg mixture to temper the egg. Add the tempered egg to the rice mixture, stirring to combine. Stir in the raisins if using, as well as cinnamon and nutmeg.Cook and Thicken: Continue to cook for another 2 minutes stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla.Serve and Enjoy: Serve warm, at room temperature, or chill and serve cold. For an extra creamy version, mix 1 cup of sweetened whipped cream into the chilled rice pudding.

Homemade Chicken Potstickers are an amazing appetizer or light meal filled with ground chicken, shredded carrots, green cabbage, and other flavorful ingredients. They are easy to make at home and are SO much better than store-bought!

I absolutely love Asian inspired appetizers! There is something so amazing about the flavor combinations of sweet and savory that have me coming back for seconds and thirds. If you are like me, you are going to love these Shrimp Spring Rolls, these flavorful Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps and this unique and delicious Wonton Soup.

Homemade Chicken Potstickers

Takeout will be the last thing you think of after cooking up these chicken potstickers! These are so easy to make and taste SO dang good. Chicken potstickers are filled with ground chicken, shredded carrots, and green cabbage. You can add other ingredients like garlic and ginger to ramp up the flavor. Simply add a small scoop to a dumpling wrapper and fold it in half, pinch off the sides, then cook in a skillet. It is that simple and easy!

Potstickers are known to be a delicious appetizer at most Asian restaurants, but sometimes I like serving them as a meal, especially along with this super yummy potsticker sauce. It also goes great with a side of ham fried rice and a delicious Asian edamame ramen salad. If you are eating it as an appetizer, the perfect main course is slow cooker mongolian beef or my family’s favorite slow cooker cashew chicken.

Ingredients

Don’t let the number of ingredients scare you away! These are simple ingredients that come together quickly and easily. Chicken potsticker filling makes these potstickers tender on the inside with a crispy outside when fried in vegetable oil. These are sure to please everyone in your family!

Ground Chicken: This can either be from a can or already made chicken and shredded.Carrots: Shredded with a grater or purchase them already shredded.Green Cabbage: Shred with a knife or a grater.Garlic Cloves: Peel and mince the garlic cloves.Green Onions: Chop up as finely as you prefer.Hoisin Sauce: This is a thick and flavorful sauce. Sesame Oil: Enhances Chinese flavoring and adds to the mixture.Egg: Binds the mixture togetherVegetable Oil: Used for frying.Dumpling Wrappers: These can be homemade or store-bought.Soy Sauce for Dipping: I love a simple soy dipping sauce, or you can make the potsticker sauce I mentioned earlier!

Chicken Potsticker Recipe

Chicken potstickers are so easy to make! After you make them you will never buy them frozen again. The best part is you can actually freeze your homemade ones for later, and you will be so glad you did.

Mix Filling: In a medium bowl combine ground chicken, carrots, green cabbage, garlic, green onions, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, and egg. Mix until incorporated. Heat the vegetable oil to medium in a large saucepan.Make Potstickers: Lay the dumpling wrapper on a solid surface. Add a heaping teaspoon of the chicken mixture to the center. Wet the outside edges and fold the dumpling together and seal tightly.Cook: Place the dumplings in the skillet and cook on each side for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Serve with soy sauce or your favorite Asian dipping sauce

Chocolate crinkle cookies are classic chocolate cookies with a decadent chewy texture. The crinkle top on these rich fudgy cookies has a sweet sugar coating making them everyone’s favorite holiday cookie!

Chocolate is definitely my flavor of choice. If you love chocolate treats as I do, you will love these chocolate crinkle cookies. And you’ll definitely want to try some of my favorite chocolate recipes. This death by chocolate cheesecake is incredible and my chocolate pie is always requested at the holidays! And this fudge is an absolute must for sharing with friends and family.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These incredible cookies remind me of a fudgy brownie. I just love the contrast between the dark chocolate cookies and the snowy white crust of powdered sugar on these chocolate crinkle cookies. The signature crinkle on top makes these cookies look like snow-capped mountains. A perfect dessert for a white winter holiday.

Christmas time is the best time for delicious holiday treats, and these chocolate crinkle cookies are always a hit! I love bringing these cookies to Christmas parties or to a cookie exchange. Some of my other favorite cookies to bring to cookie exchanges are cream cheese snickerdoodles, Italian Christmas cookies, or these easy no-bake cookies. You will love them!

Ingredients Needed For the Best Chocolate Cookie

These easy chocolate crinkle cookies are deliciously sweet and easy to make! You will be very familiar with the ingredients and have most of them on hand. This cookie recipe is enhanced with browned butter. It gives it a more complex flavor and takes this recipe from good to great! They are so amazing! The flavor and chewy texture are out of this world.

Cookies

Butter: This recipe uses browned butter to enhance the chocolate flavor even further.Sugars: Granulated and brown sugar are used in this recipe. I love the combination of both!Cream Cheese: Gives the best texture! I can’t wait for you to take a bite!Egg: The egg binds the ingredients together.Vanilla Extract: Vanilla always enhances the flavor!Flour: All-purpose flour is used in this recipe.Cocoa powder: Unsweetened or dutch-processed cocoa work great in this recipe.Salt: Just a little bit of salt because it enhances the flavor.Baking Soda and Baking Powder: The combination of these creates the perfect spread and crinkle.

Sugar Coating

Granulated Sugar: This first layer of sweetness is the secret.Powdered Sugar: Gives it that snow-capped look!

Chocolate Crinkle Cookie Recipe

Grab your kiddos and make these fun chocolate crinkle cookies for the holidays or any time of year! It’s also a favorite because this recipe is easy to follow and comes together quickly. Brown butter is truly the secret ingredient. It makes this recipe shine because it brings a toffee note that compliments the chocolate flavor. Follow the instructions below for how to make these cookies.

Cookies

Brown the Butter: To brown the butter, heat in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Once the butter melts, it will start getting foamy. Once the foam subsides, you’ll see clear bubbles. Continue cooking and stirring constantly because it keeps the butter from burning. Cool the Butter: Once the butter smells nutty and turns a caramel color, then turn off the heat. This process will take about 7-9 minutes. Allow the browned butter to cool to room temperature before using. It is very important to let it cool.Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit then line a baking sheet with parchment paper.Mix the Egg, Sugar, and Cream Cheese: In a large mixing bowl or a stand mixer bowl, add the egg, sugar, and cream cheese. Beat until light in color and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add Browned Butter and Vanilla: Add the cooled brown butter and vanilla extract. Continue beating until light and fluffy for an additional 2 minutes.Combine Dry Ingredients: In another mixing bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.Add Dry Ingredients to Wet Ingredients: Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients then mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.Shape the Dough: Scoop the dough then roll it into a ball with your hands. Place the rolled balls aside until you’re ready to roll in sugar. No need to refrigerate the dough.

Sugar Coating

Roll the Dough in the Sugar Coatings: Add granulated and powdered sugar in two separate bowls. When ready to bake, roll the cookie dough in granulated sugar first, then in powdered sugar. Place them on the prepared pan about 2 inches apart. Bake: Bake for 11-12 minutes. Cool and Enjoy: Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Allow the cookies to cool before removing them from the pan. Cool for 5-10 minutes and place them on the wire rack to cool completely.

This amazing Rotel Dip is the easiest and most delectable dip for any occasion! Perfectly spiced hamburger, creamy cheese, and full flavored Rotel tomatoes combine in this quick appetizer that everyone will love.

Everyone loves a fabulous dip, there’s just something about taking crackers, veggies, or chips and dipping them into something creamy, cheesy, and full of flavor. For more dips try this Insanely Delicious Hot Crab Dip, everyone’s favorite Loaded Creamy Ranch Dip, or this quick and easy 5 Minute Million Dollar Dip. 

Rotel Dip Recipe

This dip couldn’t be any easier or faster. When you need a fast dip with tons of flavor, this is the winner! Rotel is canned tomatoes with green chilies, which adds just a touch of spice.  I use taco seasoning to create more of that Mexican flare, but you can make this dish your own. It is SO creamy and delicious, I can’t stop myself from eating it! And the fact that it’s so easy to make means you can whip this up whenever you need to.

Make this for your next party, I promise your guests will love it! I have made this so many times, and it seriously never gets old. There’s just something perfect about creamy cheese, warm spices, and a pop of flavor from fresh veggies. It’s even perfect on a charcuterie board or served with your homemade air fryer tortilla chips. Any way you serve it, I guarantee your guests are going to love it!

Ingredients

With only 4 ingredients this couldn’t be easier! All the ingredients can be found at your local grocery store. You can switch up this recipe in so many different ways, you are going to love all of the combinations! You can find the exact measurements below in the recipe card.

Hamburger: I like to use lean ground beef.Taco Seasoning: I love my homemade Taco Seasoning, but you can also use store-bought.Rotel Tomatoes: This is diced canned tomatoes with green chilies. Do not drain the can, you want all of those juices!Velveeta Cheese: Velveeta is processed cheese. I know it’s not for everyone, which is why I have a substitution down below.

How to Make Rotel Dip

This dip is made all in the same pot, which is why it’s so easy to make and clean up. I’m in love with quick and easy crowd pleasing dishes! Done in no time and served warm, you’ll be the hero of appetizers.

Crumble: In a medium-sized skillet gook the ground beef, crumbling as it cooks. Cook till no longer pink. Drain the excess grease.Add:  Add in the taco seasoning, tomatoes, and cheese. Stir till melted. Remember not to drain the tomatoes, you’ll want the juices to help keep it the right consistency.Serve: Pour dip into desired serving dish and serve warm.

This Horseradish Sauce is creamy and full of flavor. The horseradish is strong and spicy, and paired with sour cream and other unique flavors, this sauce takes any dish to the next level!

I grew up as a meat and potatoes kind of girl. It was always one of my favoite meals. That’s probably why I love this horseradish sauce so much. It’s perfect on a juicy steak (try this easy air fryer steak recipe), on top of a prime rib, or with cube steaks!

Horseradish Cream Sauce

This horseradish sauce is so easy to make, there’s no reason not to have it along with your next steak dinner! Horseradish has a really nice spice to it, and paired with these other ingredients the flavor adds a whole new layer to whatever you put it on. I’ve made it when I’ve had guests over, and they all agreed that it was the game changer for the evening.

I also love how you can put this sauce on so many different kinds of meat. I’ve tried it over a juicy tomahawk steak and it was amazing. It also goes great with a grilled steak or it can even dress up a skirt steak. Horseradish sauce it usually served over beef, but once you try it I think you’ll want to eat it on everything! This creamy horseradish sauce recipe is really great on chicken, a big prime rib roast, and then even a roast beef sandwich.

Ingredients

The quality of ingredients will really make the difference in this horseradish sauce. The best part about this sauce is it’s really simple ingredients that you probably already have! If you love spicy and sweet, you are going to really like this sauce. You can buy horseradish at your local grovery store. It is most likely in the condiment aisle or near the dips. You can find exact measurments below in the recipe card.

Sour Cream: Sour cream is the perfect base for this sauce. It is tangy with a little sweetness, which helps cut down on the spicy flavors of the horseradish.Horseradish: You are looking for prepared horseradish, which is a paste usually in a jar. It has a few other ingredients like vinegar, but the main thing in it is horseradish. Crushed Garlic: I really like getting little bites of garlic in the sauce, so I like to use crushed garlic.Worcestershire Sauce: This sauce is the BEST thing to combine with horseradish. It is salty, savory, spicy, and sweet all at the same thing. It is amazing, you are going to love it!White Vinegar: This vinegar is going to help keep the sauce good for longer, but it also adds a depth of flavor that kind of reminds me of a pickle. It’s the perfect thing to brighten this sauce up.Kosher Salt: A high quality salt will make all the difference!Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper has more flavor and adds a little spice.

Horseradish Sauce Recipe

Once you have all of your ingredients together, this horseradish sauce comes together so quickly. You will want to let it sit in the fridge for a few hours to really let those flavors combine. Make sure that you plan ahead and make your sauce at least two hours before you plan on serving it!

Add Ingredients: In a medium bowl, add the sour cream, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and crushed garlic cloves.Whisk: Then whisk to combine until smooth.Stir: Stir in the salt and pepper.Chill: Then cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours for the flavors to develop.Season: Season to taste with additional salt and pepper before serving. Then garnish with chopped chives.

Turn leftover pie crust into perfect buttery and flakey pie crust cookies. Roll and shape using fun cookie cutters then simply sprinkle with sweet cinnamon and sugar. 

We LOVE pie at our house and we have so many favorite flavors that we make year-round. I always use my Grandma’s pie crust recipe. My kids love this strawberry pie in the Springtime, and this chocolate pie for the holidays.

What Are Pie Crust Cookies?

No more throwing away the extra pie crust that you have left over! Simply roll the dough out and bake it into airy and tender cookies that melt in your mouth. The buttery flakey cookies are sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. I also love to drizzle warm cookies with a sweet glaze. You won’t be able to stop eating them!

Cookies are my love language! I could eat any cookie, any flavor, any time of day. Making cookies to share with my family and friends is one of my favorite things to do. I have some go-to recipes that never disappoint. Try my amazing cream cheese snickerdoodles, these easy no-bake cookies, or my classic chocolate chip cookies.

Ingredients For Easy Cookies

These simple pie crust cookies are the easiest cookies you will ever make! Four simple ingredients, that’s all it takes. All you need is the store-bought crust then you’re all set. You can definitely make your own pie crust from scratch, but using the scraps from leftover pie dough is a win-win! It makes a lot, so be prepared to eat them all. You will love how fast and easily these cookies come together.

Pie Crust: Leftover pie crust makes this easy, but you can use any pie crust recipe if you make your own.Butter: Melted butter adds a more delicious buttery flavor.Sugar: Sugar to add sweetness because plain pie crust is pretty bland.Cinnamon: Cinnamon adds yummy flavor!

Pie Crust Cookies Recipe

Grab your kiddos and make these fun pie crust cookies for the holidays or any time of year! This recipe is easy to follow and comes together quickly. Follow my easy instructions below for how to make these cookies. They are so adorable and delicious!

Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.Roll Out the Pie Crust: Lightly sprinkle flour on the counter then roll out the pie crust until it’s about ¼ inch thick.Cut Shapes: Cut shapes out of the dough using cookie cutters, but you can also use a knife to cut if needed. Place Cookies on the Prepared Pan: Place them on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat Steps: Continue to gather the leftover crust, roll it together into a ball, then roll it out onto a floured surface again to cut more shapes. Repeat this process until you have no dough left.Brush With Butter: Using a pastry brush, brush the melted butter across the top of the pie crust shapes. Sprinkle With Cinnamon and Sugar: In a small bowl mix together the sugar and cinnamon then sprinkle it evenly across the buttered shapes.Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes, until cookies are a light golden brown. Bake time varies with the size of your cookies.

This Brown Gravy is quick and easy with no drippings needed! It’s made with beef broth and bullion, giving it a rich deep flavor and it’s ready in under 10 minutes. It’s the perfect addition to any protein or on top of a mountain of mashed potatoes.

I love meat and potatoes for dinner. I grew up in that part of the country where that was a common meal, and I really do just love it! This gravy goes so perfectly on top of juicy and tender pot roast, a pile of mashed potatoes, or meatloaf!

Brown Gravy Recipe

This brown gravy recipe will be your new favorite! This gravy is made with beef stock and thickened with a roux of butter and flour. I have a quick tip below in the tip box for making this recipe gluten free. This gravy is easier than my popular turkey gravy because you don’t need any pan drippings! This is so quick and easy to whip up, and it’s perfect over a Mississippi pork roast.

I make this for Christmas dinner almost every year, and it goes great on everything! You are going to love it on top of your Thanksgiving turkey. One of the reasons I love this recipe so much is because it’s ready in under 10 minutes. It’s so fast and easy, and everyone always compliments the flavor. It’s even great over french fries and really any protein.

Ingredients

What I love about this brown gravy is that you don’t need to cook meat first! You don’t need any drippings, you can just use broth and bullion and it tastes just as good! I’ve whipped up this quick and easy homemade brown gravy a number of times and everyone always loves it. You can find the measurements below in the recipe card.

Flour: Flour is what thickens the gravy. You will make a roux with butter to start the gravy.Butter: Butter is added to flour to make a roux. Roux helps to make the gravy soft, silky, and the right consistency.Beef Broth: Beef broth adds flavor and depth to the gravy. It also adds nutrients! You could add chicken broth or vegetable stock if you have that on hand. It will change the flavor but it will still be amazing!Beef Boullion: I used beef bouillon to enhance the beef flavor.Worcestershire Sauce: This sauce has great flavor and a lot of umami. It will really get your mouth watering and add so much flavor to the gravy.Garlic Powder: Garlic powder is a nice savory ingredient that will add flavor to the gravy.Onion Powder: Onion powder is sweet and savory and helps to bring out all the delicious flavors.Salt & Pepper: This is to taste, it will bring out the flavors in the gravy.

How to Make Brown Gravy

Brown gravy is a must-have recipe in the kitchen. It can liven up any dish and is perfect for your favorite meat and potato dinner. It’s ready in under 10 minutes and it really does add a depth of flavor to every dish. It is a great recipe to make with your kids too! My whole family is in love with this gravy, I know yours will love it too.

Make Roux: Add the butter to a medium sized saucepan and heat over medium heat. Once the butter melts, add the flour. Whisk until the mixture thickens and forms a roux.Add Broth: Pour in the beef broth while continuing to whisk. Add salt and pepper and let it simmer for a few more minutes until it thickens to your preference. Add Flavor: Add the beef bouillon, Worchestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder. Whisk the ingredients together until combined.Simmer: While continuing to whisk, bring the mixture to a low boil then reduce the heat to a simmer. Allow the gravy to simmer for a few minutes until the mixture thickens.Season: Season with salt and pepper to taste.Enjoy: Serve warm and enjoy!

Ham and Cheese Quiche is a classic combination that is sure to make this quiche a new family favorite! Easy to put together, this dish is perfect for brunch, breakfast, or even dinner!

I love a delicious and savory breakfast dish! It kicks off the days and fills me right up! You must try this simple and easy Overnight Breakfast Casserole, this delicious Breakfast Casserole, or these classic Sunny Side Up Eggs!

Ham and Cheese Quiche Recipe

I absolutely love to make quiches. They are so easy to put together, and you can customize them with any fillings that you want. This one is especially delicious because you use classic ingredients like cheese and ham, which means… Even your kids will go crazy over it!

This ham and cheese quiche is so simple and easy because you can use premade dough for the crust. So all you have to do is put it in the pan, whip up the filling, and let it bake! It’s a great recipe to make ahead of time too. Bake it with some cinnamon rolls and muffins, and you can have yourself a delicious brunch!

Ingredients in Ham and Cheese Quiche

The ingredients in this ham and cheese quiche are simple and easy; you probably already have most of them ready to go in your kitchen! Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

Pie Crust: You can just grab a store-bought pie crust and keep it in your fridge until you are ready to go! Eggs: I always use large eggs when I cook. Half and Half: You can easily make this at home with this recipe or use whole or 2 percent milk instead. Salt and Pepper: These will enhance all ingredients’ flavors. Onion Powder: This adds some delicious flavor without being overpowering. Cooked Ham: You can buy cubed, cooked ham at your local grocery store to save some time! Mexican Blend Cheese: I always like to shred my cheese from the block so that it melts into my quiche better. Green Onion: You can add this to the quiche mix or use it as a garnish on top.

How to Make Ham and Cheese Quiche

This easy quiche recipe only takes about 10 minutes of prep time. The rest of the time is spent cooking in the oven! It’s so easy and delicious; it’s a great meal for the entire family!

Prep: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Roll out the pie crust and shape it into a 9-inch pie dish. Set aside.Whisk: In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and onion powder.Add Cheese: Whisk in 1 cup of shredded cheese.Assemble: To assemble the quiche, place the cubed ham on top of the pie crust to fill the bottom of the pan.Pour: Pour the egg mixture over the chopped ham.Sprinkle and Garnish: Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup shredded cheese over the egg mixture. Garnish with diced green onion.Bake: Carefully place the pie in the preheated oven. Bake for 45 minutes or until the ham and cheese quiche is cooked through.Let it Sit: Remove from the oven and allow the quiche to sit for 5 minutes before enjoying it!

SaveSave

These eggnog cookies are soft, chewy, and beautifully flavored with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. They are going to become fast favorites with their heavenly eggnog glaze!

Eggnog cookies are the perfect addition to your holiday cookie repertoire. You’ll have to try my traditional Italian Christmas cookies, snow kiss cookies, and of course my homemade Danish butter cookies, for sweet treats all season long.

Eggnog Cookies Recipe

When eggnog shows up on the grocery store shelves you know the holidays have arrived! Eggnog’s distinct taste and creaminess is delectable. I know some people don’t like eggnog but once they try one of these cookies they’ll be a believer. The eggnog flavor is very subtle and wonderfully balanced with the cinnamon and nutmeg. The cookies themselves are so soft and the glaze on top is divine! My thighs will be thankful that I gave some of these away, but geez it was a hard thing to do!

Super easy to make, these cookies are delicious with a tender crumb and a soft and chewy center. The eggnog glaze gives the cookies that extra special look as well as another delicate kick of eggnog flavor. Even my husband who hates eggnog loved these cookies. The taste just screams Christmas. Grab a mug of peppermint hot chocolate, cozy up on the couch, and eat these to your heart’s content. You’ll thank me later.

Eggnog Cookie Ingredients

Eggnog is readily available from November through December and sometimes even into January. These cookies only use half a cup of eggnog so there will be plenty leftover to drink! You can even use the leftovers in these eggnog meltaways or glazed eggnog pound cake. So good!! Note: all measurements can be found below in the recipe card.

Flour: All-purpose flour works great here! Make sure you measure out your flour to keep your cookies from turning out dry.Baking Powder: Makes your eggnog cookies rise properly in the oven.Nutmeg: A classic holiday spice!Cinnamon: Adds a nice complimentary taste to the nutmeg.White Sugar: Regular granulated sugar will give your cookies the perfect sweetness.Butter: You’ll want your butter to be softened but not melted. This way, it will mix into the cookie dough more easily.Eggnog: You can use light or full-fat eggnog.Vanilla: Adds a nice mellow flavor. Replace with eggnog extract for extra flavor.Egg Yolks: Yes you read that right, just the yolks.

Eggnog Glaze

Powdered Sugar: Sift your powdered sugar to reduce lumps.Eggnog: Add slowly to the powdered sugar to get the perfect smooth consistency.

Let’s Make Eggnog Cookies!

These eggnog cookies are so quick and easy to make! Adding eggnog drizzle and sprinkling them with a touch of nutmeg gives them that elegant look, besides a touch of extra flavor. These are going to be a new family favorite. If you haven’t figured out a dessert for Christmas dinner, these cookies are the perfect choice!

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Set aside.Butter Mixture: Cream sugar and butter together in mixing bowl.Mix Wet Ingredients: Add eggnog, vanilla, and egg yolks.  Beat at medium speed with a mixer until smooth.Combine: Add the flour mixture and beat at low speed until combined.  Do not over-mix.Add to Baking Sheet: Use a cookie scoop or spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet and sprinkle the cookies with nutmeg.Bake: Bake 15-18 minutes (mine took 17) until the edges are lightly brown.Prepare Glaze: While the cookies are in the oven make the glaze by combining the powdered sugar with 3 tablespoons of eggnog.Add Glaze and Serve: Drizzle the glaze over your cookies and devour!

This classic Italian Charcuterie board is the perfect blend of savory and sweet. Loaded with nuts, dried fruit, cured meats, and a Caprese salad, this charcuterie board is perfect for your next get-together!

Charcuterie boards are the perfect thing to make for any party or special day! It is full of hearty meats and cheeses that keep guests satisfied and the conversation flowing. I am in love with all of the different kinds of boards you can put together, like this adorable Halloween Hocus Pocus board, or this perfect for Christmas wreath-shaped charcuterie board. This simple charcuterie board is a great place to start if you are putting together your first one!

Italian Charcuterie Board

The first time I had a charcuterie board was at a nice restaurant and I didn’t even know how to pronounce it. I thought it was too fancy for me to make at home, and forgot all about it. Then I went to a friends party and there was a charcuterie board! It looked so cute and was full of things I couldn’t wait to dive into. I realized how easy they really were to make at home and have been hooked ever since! I’ve even gotten into veggie boards and dessert boards because honestly things just look so yummy on a board!

This Italian charcuterie board definitely lives up to it’s name. It has a cute little Caprese salad on it, and plenty of cured meats and yummy cheeses. I’ve included all of the steps you need to get started, as well as some ideas of what fruits, nuts, meats, and cheeses to use! The great thing about charcuterie boards, though, is that you can really put whatever you want on it! So feel free to swap out any of the items below.

Let’s Start with Caprese Salad

What is a Caprese salad? Only the best salad ever! It’s just mozzarella, tomato, fresh basil, and balsamic glaze. It is seriously the best salad out there and the perfect way to start your Italian charcuterie board. You could do it front and center, or you can put it off to the side like I did. It was one of the things we ate first so I put it off to the side for that reason. I knew it would disappear fast!

TomatoFresh Sliced MozzarellaFresh BasilBalsamic Glaze

Adding Olives to Italian Charcuterie

You know if it’s an Italian charcuterie board, you HAVE to have some olives on there! I like to get olives that are in jars rather than cans because the ones in the jars actually stay good longer. I prefer Kalamata and green olives, but you could choose whatever you like best. If you don’t like olives, artichokes are a great substitute!

Kalamata OlivesGreen Olives

Meats and Cheeses

This is one of the most important elements on your Italian charcuterie board. You have to have some yummy cured meats and flavorful cheeses. Salami is a cured and aged sausage that has lots of seasoning to it, which means it’s full of flavor. I also love Prosciutto because it’s really fatty and cut really thinly. You could use coppa or ham! It’s a different taste and texture than the salami and it makes for a great mix of flavors. The cheese can be slices, cubes, or creamy. It’s great to have a salty option, like pecorino. It’s a hard cheese that has so much flavor! You could try any cheese you like, and then maybe pick up a cheese you’ve never tried before like burrata. You could also stick to the basics like parmesan or cheddar.

Meats

Black Pepper SalamiSpicy Calabrese Dry SalamiProsciutto di Parma

Cheeses

Pecorino RomanoGorgonzola Mountain

Fruits and Nuts

I like to call this the miscellaneous section! This is the part where you can really have fun with putting things on your Italian charcuterie board. I like to include nuts because I know my family will eat them. I also add crackers and crostini because they go great with cheese and meat. And then don’t forget to add some fresh and dried fruits! These are a nice break from all of the salty and savory items on your board. I love grapes, dried apricots, dried mangos, and raisins. You can really add whatever you want here because it’s your board!

Fruits

Dried ApricotsDried MangoGrapes

Nuts and Crackers

AlmondsVariety of CrackersCrostini

Putting Your Italian Charcuterie Board Together

Now it’s time to put everything on the board! This is the fun part because you really get to think about what would look nice together and how you want people to pick things up. I like to put things I know will definitely get eaten on the outside, and then people can work their way to the center. You will want to put things that can roll around in a bowl, like olives or loose grapes. Then you can even make a few salami roses to make your board look fancy. Just have fun with it, and as long as you like the things on the platter you will love eating it!

Make Caprese: On a large charcuterie board place the Caprese along the side of the board. Drizzle with balsamic glaze.Add Bowls and Olives: Place your small bowls with the olives. Then arrange your meats on the board.Add Cheese and Fruit: Add in the cheese and dried fruit.Fill in Gaps: Fill the rest of the board in with crackers, and then nuts.