An oatmeal cream pie (also spelled oatmeal "creme" pies) are an old fashioned cookie that's been around for decades and for good reason. We know of the iconic Little Debbie version (I ate far too many as a kid) but now I much prefer them without all the self stabilizing additives, artificial flavors and added color. And of course made with fresh butter instead of various oils is better.

These homemade oatmeal cream pies are a family favorite which makes sense because they are basically an upgraded oatmeal cookie with a frosting filling. They are easy to make and the flavors never disappoint!

With each cookie you get a welcome blend of chewy textures, crisp golden brown edges a soft center (as it should be), with oat-y flavors and highlights warm winter spices and hints of deep molasses. Then for the filling it's a buttery, creamy, frosting type filling, with its sweetness balanced by a small addition of cream cheese (I preferred this option to using cream with the butter and sugar when taste testing).

It's a memorable treat that will always satisfy those homemade cookie cravings. Enjoy them together with family or friends, and serve them with a chilled glass of milk, or warm apple cider during the colder months.

If you love traditional pumpkin cookies and cinnamon spiced snickerdoodles then these pumpkin snickerdoodles are must try cookie for you! It's a seasonal spin on a classic.

They have just enough pumpkin to have a noticeable flavor while keeping the texture soft but not overly cakey. The butter lends rich moisture, and the spice blend makes them exceptionally delicious.

Then the cream of tartar, which is a classic addition of to most snickerdoodles, adds a nice faint tang to the cookie to highlight them.

These cookies are simple to make and they'll seem to disappear right before your eyes. So much to love in every bite!

Brownie bites are the perfect treat to make for parties or just for a quick baking project for when the chocolate cravings strike.

You'll love not only their chocolate decadence but also their ease of preparation, and they only require a handful of simple ingredients. Plus no mixer is required and they bake up quickly. No waiting 40+ minutes for a full size pan of brownies!

Of course you can opt to serve them plain on their own, but my personal favorite is to upgrade them with a sweet cream cheese frosting finish. It's a crowning highlight that is reminiscent of that cookies and cream flavor pairing.

These are fun to decorate various ways with sprinkles festive to a specific holiday or celebration (see the Halloween version below topped with pumpkin candy decorations), or top with a Hershey's candy cane kiss during the Christmas season and a peppermint frosting. A fun summer option is to finish them off with a raspberry.

Lots of options for these fun tempting little treats!

Easy Delicious Homemade Pancake Syrup

I got this recipe from my sister and we've been making it for probably two decades so I'm not sure what has taken me so long to share it. But better late than never.

It's incredibly easy to make and most everyone in our extended family prefers it to maple syrup.

Wondering how to use it? It's a great maple syrup substitute over a variety of breakfast items. We love it over buttermilk pancakes, French toast, Belgian waffles, crepes, and it even makes a delicious bread pudding or cake topping.

You can have it ready in under 15 minutes! Plus it's adaptable to other flavors.

It makes a delicious coconut syrup or almond syrup using coconut extract or almond extract in place of vanilla extract. Or you can add 1 tsp ground cinnamon along with the vanilla for cinnamon flavored syrup.

Make it this weekend paired with your favorite comforting breakfast. Just be warned once everyone tries it it may likely become a requested staple topping for nearly every breakfast!

Like this Winter version? Also try my go-to classic fruit salad recipe filled with summer fruit.

Winter Fruit Salad Recipe

Typically we think of fruit salads as a summer side dish but there's still an abundance of fruit in season during winter so why not take advantage of that and make a healthy winter fruit salad?

I first shared this recipe eight years ago and we've made it several times each year since. It's so good it almost passes as a tempting dessert!

This is a great dish to add to a holiday menu because there are often lots of heavy sides served but this is a light, refreshing and nutritious option to help balance those out a bit.

You'll find this inviting fruit salad is so easy to make and it adds so much festive natural color to your table.

Just keep in mind the most important thing about a fruit salad is the quality of the fruit. You want the fruit to have a sweet ripe flavor and firm enough texture that it won't get mushy.

From there the honey and lemon will just balance and highlight all of it's natural, fresh fruity goodness.

Favorite M&M Cookie Recipe

These are my favorite cookie from childhood that always satisfies those cookie cravings!

They can be made with regular-sized M&M's or mini M&M's, milk chocolate or dark chocolate flavor, and the great part is that you can use any color. It's fun to switch the M&M's out with different colors to complement the latest holiday.

You'll love that they're perfectly sweet, deliciously buttery, generously sized, and have the perfect texture. Truly a highlight of any celebration or weekend!

This is a cookie that checks all the boxes. Temptingly tasty, fun, and festive. Plus, they're easy to make!

What's not to love?

Refreshing Blueberry Yogurt Parfaits

These simple yogurt parfaits are the perfect way to start any day. They are fresh and fruity, sweet and tangy, and you'll love the hints of spice in the granola.

And who can resist all that pretty layering?

There's a nice blend of textural contrast in them between the juicy sauce and blueberries, the thick and creamy yogurt, and the crisp granola. It's a highlight of a parfait.

Try them soon while sweet summer blueberries are in season!

The Best Pink Drink Recipe!

My kids' latest obsession this year is Starbucks pink drink. And I love it too, but not the price tag. So naturally I set out to make it at home, and after several different attempts, we've come up with a homemade pink drink we like even better than the Starbucks version! Copycat recipes for the win!

It's ready in minutes and is truly one of the most refreshing things to enjoy on a hot day.

You only need a handful of ingredients, and you'll love that they are things you can always keep on hand for when those cravings strike for Starbucks strawberry treats.

Try this and you'll see that it's definitely a staple summer recipe that people of all ages will love!

Fluffy Homemade Marshmallows

Making marshmallows from scratch is actually much easier than you may think, with a rather simple and straightforward method. It just requires a few handy kitchen tools to make them right (such as a candy thermometer and a high speed stand mixer).

They truly are the best marshmallows you’ll ever eat (we've already made 5 batches for the holidays)! And they don’t require any fancy ingredients just some candy staples.

For a streamlined process just be sure to have everything measured and tools ready before you begin to make things easier (such as lining and greasing the pan because this sticky mixture likes to begin to set quickly). Also read over the entire recipe before you start (as should be done with any recipe).

These also make for a delicious Christmas gift, paired with a jar of this homemade hot chocolate mix of course! The two combined makes the tastiest cup of hot cocoa ever!

Classic Ginger Molasses Cookies

So what's the difference between molasses cookies and gingersnaps? While both have similar flavors molasses cookies are soft, moist and chewy while gingersnaps are crisp, snappier and drier. Personally I prefer the first because of those tempting textural attributes.

These are a popular Christmas cookie that has stood the test of time and for good reason. They are a great tradition with their festive spiced flavors, a pretty sparkly finish, plus they are fun and easy to make.

These old fashioned treats have a very robust, inviting flavor that you'll crave time and time again! Truly a holiday staple.