Desserts

Ingredients:

• 2 pre-made pie crusts (one for the bottom and one for the top)

• 6-7 medium-sized apples (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

• 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (for sprinkling)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Place one of the pie crusts into a 9-inch pie dish and set aside.

2. Peel, core, and slice the apples into thin, even slices. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and lemon juice. Toss everything together until the apples are evenly coated.

3. Pour the apple mixture into the prepared pie crust in the pie dish. Dot the top of the apples with small pieces of butter.

4. Place the second pie crust over the apple filling. You can leave it as a full crust or create a lattice pattern by cutting strips of dough and weaving them over the top. Trim off any excess dough and crimp the edges to seal the pie.

5. Brush the top crust with beaten egg wash and sprinkle with granulated sugar, which adds a nice golden color and a touch of sweetness.

6. Place the pie on a baking sheet to catch any drips and bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly. If the edges of the crust start to brown too quickly, you can cover them with aluminum foil.

7. Once baked, remove the pie from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours. This will allow the filling to set before slicing.

8. Serve the apple pie warm or at room temperature. You can enjoy it as is or serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for extra deliciousness.

Enjoy your homemade apple pie!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 cup packed brown sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 2 cups chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk chocolate)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.

5. Fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.

6. Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. You can also use a cookie scoop to ensure even-sized cookies.

7. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. The centers may still appear slightly soft, but they will firm up as they cool.

8. Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

9. Repeat the baking process with the remaining cookie dough until it is all used.

10. Once completely cooled, store the chocolate chip cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They can be enjoyed for several days, if they last that long!

Feel free to customize your cookies by adding nuts, shredded coconut, or even a sprinkle of sea salt on top before baking. Enjoy your homemade chocolate chip cookies!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter

• 2 cups granulated sugar

• 4 large eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.

2. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. Stir in the granulated sugar until well combined.

3. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

5. If desired, fold in the chocolate chips and chopped nuts, or you can reserve some to sprinkle on top.

6. Pour the brownie batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula.

7. If you reserved some chocolate chips and nuts, sprinkle them on top of the batter.

8. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Be careful not to overbake, as you want the brownies to be fudgy.

9. Once baked, remove the brownies from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.

10. Once cooled, cut the brownies into squares and serve.

These brownies are delicious on their own, or you can serve them with a scoop of ice cream, a drizzle of chocolate sauce, or a dusting of powdered sugar. Enjoy your homemade brownies!

Ingredients:

For the crust:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 3 ounces cream cheese, softened

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the filling:

• 1 cup chopped pecans

• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

• 1 large egg

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, softened butter, cream cheese, and salt. Mix until the dough comes together and forms a ball. You can use a mixer or mix by hand.

3. Divide the dough into 24 equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball. Place each ball into the cup of a mini muffin tin. Use your fingers or a tart tamper to press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of each cup, forming a small crust.

4. In a separate bowl, prepare the filling. Mix together the chopped pecans, brown sugar, melted butter, egg, vanilla extract, and salt until well combined.

5. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the filling mixture into each prepared crust, filling them almost to the top.

6. Bake the pecan tassies in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is set.

7. Remove the tassies from the oven and let them cool in the muffin tin for a few minutes. Then, carefully remove them from the tin and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

8. Once cooled, you can serve the pecan tassies immediately or store them in an airtight container. They can be enjoyed at room temperature or slightly warmed.

Pecan tassies make a delightful addition to dessert trays or a sweet treat for any occasion. Enjoy!