Category: easy

Ultimate Antipasto Platter

An antipasto platter is ideal for entertaining! Pile a board with Italian antipasti like cheeses, cured meats, olives, marinated vegetables,…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

An antipasto platter is ideal for entertaining! Pile a board with Italian antipasti like cheeses, cured meats, olives, marinated vegetables, and more. 

Antipasto Platter

Entertaining and not sure where to start? Try an Antipasto Platter! This board of Italian appetizers is an explosion of colors and flavors, and it’s almost guaranteed to be the centerpiece of any party. Add traditional antipasti like cheese, meats, marinated vegetables, olives, crackers, breads, and more to a platter and serve with small plates to let your guests get to snacking. You can make homemade components, or grab a bunch of items from your local deli counter or olive bar. Here’s how to put together this beautiful tray!

What is an antipasto platter?

An antipasto is the first course of an Italian meal: a starter or appetizer. Antipasto is the singular, and antipasti is the plural for more than one dish. Traditional antipasti you might enjoy in Italy include cured meats like prosciutto and salami, cheeses, olives, marinated vegetables, pepperoncini, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, and more.

An antipasto platter is a tray layered with Italian antipasti (cured meats, cheeses, marinated vegetables, and so forth). Similar to a cheeseboard, it’s an easy appetizer to whip up for entertaining because it’s more about arranging items than cooking them.

Antipasto platter

Ingredients in an antipasto platter

The ingredients you’ll use for an antipasto platter can vary greatly based on your tastes and what’s available to you! Check your local grocery store deli counter or olive bar for ideas. Some groceries have whole displays dedicated to marinated vegetables and olives, which is where we stocked up on many of the items for this platter. You can also make a few components homemade (which we recommend!). Here are some ideas for an antipasto platter:

  • Marinated mozzarella: It’s fast and easy to make homemade Marinated Mozzarella Balls, but you can also find them purchased
  • Marinated mushrooms: These Marinated Mushrooms have incredible flavor
  • Olives
  • Aged cheeses
  • Jarred marinated artichoke hearts
  • Jarred roasted peppers or pepperoncini
  • Other marinated items from a grocery olive bar or deli counter
  • Cured meats (prosciutto, salami, chorizo, sopressata, bresaola, etc)
  • Cherry tomatoes or other fresh vegetables
  • Crackers
  • Italian breadsticks
  • Focaccia bread slices
Antipasto platter

Tips for styling the platter

It’s one thing to assemble all the ingredients for an antipasto platter: it’s yet another to style it into an attractive platter! Here are a few tips for making a beautiful board, similar to styling a killer cheeseboard.

  1. Place the largest ingredients on the board first, then fill in with smaller ingredients. In this case, it’s small bowls of olives and marinated vegetables. Make sure the bowls aren’t too large so they don’t crowd the board.
  2. Fill in the remainder of the space on the board with piles of marinated vegetables, crackers, breads and other items. Arrange the ingredients with variation in color and shape in mind. Start with the largest ingredients and gradually fill in the smaller items.
  3. Add garnishes like herbs or flowers. Once the board is mostly complete, tuck in a few sprigs of fresh herbs to complete the tray. Serve with small plates, forks and toothpicks if desired.
Antipasto platter

How long can an antipasto platter sit out?

Making your antipasto platter in advance? If you’re making this for a party, here are a few serving tips to make prep a breeze:

  • A cheese board can sit out for up to 2 hours at room temperature. This source suggests a 2 hour maximum for cheese.
  • Make the board up to 24 hours in advance, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate. This makes party prep easy! Allow it to come to room temperature 30 minutes before serving.
Antipasto platter

More appetizer ideas

Looking for entertaining ideas? Here are a few more fun appetizer ideas:

This antipasto platter recipe is…

Vegetarian. For gluten-free, use gluten-free crackers or omit.

 

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Antipasto Platter

Ultimate Antipasto Platter

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Description

An antipasto platter is ideal for entertaining! Pile a board with Italian antipasti like cheeses, cured meats, olives, marinated vegetables, and more. 

Ingredients

  • 1 recipe Marinated Mozzarella Balls (or purchased)
  • 1 cup Marinated Mushrooms (or purchased)
  • 1 cup mixed olives
  • 2 blocks aged cheese
  • 1 cup jarred marinated artichoke hearts or roasted peppers (or other marinated items from a grocery olive bar or deli counter)
  • 2 types cured meats (prosciutto, salami, chorizo, sopressata, bresaola, etc)
  • 1 handful cherry tomatoes
  • 2 handfuls crackers
  • 1 handful Italian breadsticks
  • Optional other items: focaccia bread slices, roasted nuts, jarred pepperoncini, etc

Instructions

  1. If using homemade, make the Marinated Mozzarella Balls and/or Marinated Mushrooms.
  2. Prepare the other ingredients as necessary: cut the cheese or meats, and place the olives and nuts in small bowls.
  3. Place the ingredients onto a large board. Place the bowls of items first, then fill in with cheese slices, meats, marinated veggies, crackers and breadsticks. Once the board is mostly complete, tuck in a few sprigs of fresh herbs to complete the tray (like rosemary or thyme sprigs).
  4. Serve immediately, with small plates, forks and toothpicks if desired. The antipasto platter can sit out for up to 2 hours at room temperature. Make the board up to 24 hours in advance, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate: allow to come to room temperature 30 minutes before serving.

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Creamy Celery Soup

This easy celery soup recipe comes out lusciously creamy! Its fresh flavor and bright green color make a splash at…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This easy celery soup recipe comes out lusciously creamy! Its fresh flavor and bright green color make a splash at any table.

Celery soup

Here’s a soup that surprised us with its robust flavor and electric green color: this Celery Soup recipe! The name might sound humble, but this soup is anything but. It’s lusciously savory and creamy, with the herby, fresh flavor of celery and parsley contrasting with homey potatoes and rich cream. From first tentative sip off the spoon, we were sold! This short list of ingredients makes magic: perfect for a first course soup or a cozy lunch soup with grilled cheese.

Ingredients in celery soup

This celery soup recipe is simple to put together, yet tastes much greater than the sum of its parts. In fact, we were surprised by how satisfying it is. It’s not a cream of celery soup: in fact, it only uses 2 tablespoons of cream to achieve a luscious, rich texture. Here’s what you’ll need to put this soup together:

  • Butter
  • Celery
  • Yellow onion
  • Garlic
  • Yellow potatoes
  • Vegetable broth
  • Dried dill
  • Parsley
  • Heavy cream
  • Salt
Celery soup recipe

Tips for the process

This celery soup is made like most pureed soup recipes: sauté the aromatic vegetables, add the remaining ingredients and simmer, then puree in a blender until smooth. Here are a few pointers:

  • Use a standard blender, not an immersion blender. Usually we like the method of placing an immersion blender (aka stick blender) right into a pot of soup and blending away. However, with this soup the stick blender simply doesn’t get it nearly creamy enough. Transfer it carefully to a standard blender, using a 2 cup glass measuring cup, taking care because the soup is very hot.
  • Don’t be tempted to light up on cream. Stirring in heavy cream at the end gives just the right rich body to this soup. Don’t be tempted to use milk: while it works, it’s not nearly as satisfying.

Ways to serve this celery soup recipe

Like any pureed soup, this celery soup recipe is not a meal on its own. It doesn’t have much protein, which is essential for making a filling meal. However, it’s great as a first course or paired with a few other items to make it a meal.

Celery soup

More celery recipes

There’s so much to do with this versatile vegetable! Celery can be underrated, but we’re big fans of its fresh, herby flavor. Here are a few more ideas for ways to use celery in recipes:

This celery soup recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, use a dairy-free cream.

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Celery soup

Celery Soup

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4
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Description

This easy celery soup recipe comes out lusciously creamy! Its fresh flavor and bright green color make a splash at any table.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter (or olive oil)
  • 8 large celery ribs, thinly sliced (2 pounds or 4 cups sliced)
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped 
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 2 medium yellow potatoes, peeled and small diced (14 ounces)
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon dried dill
  • ½ cup Italian parsley leaves, loosely packed, plus more for garnish
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream, plus more to garnish
  • Celery leaves, for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion, celery and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes until the onions are transparent.
  2. Add the chopped potato, vegetable broth, and kosher salt and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
  3. Carefully transfer the hot soup to a blender using a ladle. Add the dill and parsley and blend until creamy and pureed. Add the heavy cream and pulse to combine. Serve warm, garnished with celery leaves, more chopped parsley, and a drizzle of cream.
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Celery soup, celery soup recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Hasselback Potatoes

This Hasselback potatoes recipe makes baked potatoes with a fan of thin, crispy slices. It’s a side dish to impress!…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This Hasselback potatoes recipe makes baked potatoes with a fan of thin, crispy slices. It’s a side dish to impress!

Hasselback Potatoes

Here’s a side dish that impresses every time: Hasselback Potatoes! This popular way to prepare the ubiquitous spud tastes just as good as it looks. Slice a whole potato into thin strips, then bake until the slices separate and form crispy, roasted slices. It’s a whole new way to love a potato! It takes a little effort to prepare, but it’s absolutely worth it for a stunning side dish. Here’s how to make this fun and tasty potato recipe!

Ingredients for Hasselback potatoes

Hasselback potatoes are baked potatoes cut into fans of thin strips, connected at the bottom. Once the potatoes bake, the slices become crispy and separate. Why are they called Hasselback potatoes? The dish was popularized in the 1950’s by a restaurant in Stockholm, Sweden called Hasselbacken. However, there are some earlier references to the dish (like in a 1929 cookbook) that indicate it may have originated elsewhere. Whatever the case, we owe this concept to the Swedes!

While it takes a bit of time to cut Hasselback potatoes, the ingredients are simple. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:

  • Medium russet potatoes (12 to 13-ounces each)
  • Olive oil
  • Salt
  • Butter
  • Garlic
  • Italian seasoning
  • Parsley or chives, for garnish
Hasselback Potatoes

Types of potatoes

We chose russet potatoes for this Hasselback potatoes recipe. This variety is also called a starchy potato, the type you’d use for a classic baked potato or mashed potatoes. We used potatoes that were 12 to 13 ounces each, which is medium large. However, you can use other varieties and sizes with this technique as well.

Yukon gold or red potatoes work too! These are called waxy potatoes, and are often used for roasting, fries, and so forth. They hold their shape more when baked or roasted. You may need to adjust the roasting time if you use other varieties of potato: and especially if they are smaller than those specified in the recipe!

Hasselback Potatoes recipe

How to cut Hasselback potatoes

Here’s the big question: how do you cut Hasselback potatoes? These lovely thin slices look like they were made with a special cutting device: and there actually is such a thing! If you make Hasselback potatoes often, you might want to invest in the special potato cutter. If not, all you need are a pair of chopsticks or a similar item: pencils, wooden spoons, etc. Here’s what to do:

  • Place two chopsticks along the sides of a potato. These will act as guides to prevent cutting all the way through.
  • Slice the potato into 1/8th-inch slices, being careful not to go all the way through to the bottom using the guides.
  • Pay special attention to the ends of the potatoes that need a shallow cut: the guides won’t help here! Repeat for each potato. 

A few notes on bake time

This Hasselback potatoes recipe indicates to bake the potatoes for 1 hour and 15 minutes total, removing them from the oven once after 1 hour to brush with olive oil again and add salt. Here are a few notes on baking:

  • Adjust the bake time if you have smaller potatoes or use a different variety. The main thing you’re looking for is for the potato to be fully tender and cooked through, with crispy slices that have started to separate.
  • Add more oil and salt once the slices are separated. The initial bake time of 1 hour should work for most 12 ounce potatoes. But if your potatoes are smaller, check them at 45 minutes or so.
  • Bake again, then brush with garlic butter. We found the best way to infuse flavor into Hasselback potatoes is to end with garlic butter and flaky salt so they taste beautifully flavorful. It’s hard to get into all the cracks and crevaces, so seasoning at the end is important.
Hasselback Potatoes

Topping ideas

Want to add more toppings to these Hasselback potatoes? They taste incredible as is with the garlic butter, making them ideal for dinner parties or for a Thanksgiving side dish. Or, you can add more toppings as you like. Here are a few tasty ideas:

  • Grated Parmesan cheese (add in the last 10 minutes)
  • Sour cream
  • Sliced green onions
  • Cheddar cheese (add in the last 10 to 15 minutes)
  • Bacon
  • Chimichurri sauce
  • Ranch dressing

What do you plan to top these potatoes with? Let us know in the comments below.

Hasselback Potatoes

More potato recipes

Potatoes are one of the most popular vegetables when it comes to side dishes! Here are some more favorite potato recipes for your inspiration:

This Hasselback potatoes recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan and dairy-free, use vegan butter.

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Hasselback Potatoes

Hasselback Potatoes

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6
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Description

This Hasselback potatoes recipe makes baked potatoes with a fan of thin, crispy slices. It’s a side dish to impress!

Ingredients

  • 6 medium russet potatoes (12 to 13-ounces each)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter (or vegan butter)
  • 1 garlic clove, grated
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Flaky sea salt, for garnishing
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley or chives, for garnishing
  • Other toppings, as desired (sour cream, cheese, green onions, bacon, etc)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
  2. Wash and dry the potatoes.
  3. Place two chopsticks* along the sides of a potato: these will act as guides to prevent cutting all the way through. Slice a potato into 1/8th-inch slices, being careful not to go all the way through to the bottom using the guides. Pay special attention to the ends of the potatoes that need a shallow cut: the guides won’t help here! Repeat for each potato. 
  4. Place the potatoes on a parchment or aluminum-foil lined baking sheet. Brush with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
  5. Bake for 60 minutes, until the potato slices are starting to separate. Remove the tray from the oven and brush it with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Evenly sprinkle with the ¾ teaspoon kosher salt.
  6. Return the potatoes to the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes (or less for smaller potatoes), until crispy, lightly browned, and easily pierced with a paring knife. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the garlic and Italian seasoning and remove from the heat.
  7. When the potatoes are done, remove them from the oven and brush with the melted seasoned butter, making sure to evenly distribute the seasonings that sink to the bottom. Gently fan the potatoes with one hand while sprinkling a bit of flaky sea salt over the potatoes. Garnish with parsley or chives and serve immediately.

Notes

*Don’t have chopsticks? You can use any similar-shaped items: pencils, wooden spoons, spatulas, etc.

  • Category: Side dish
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Vegetables
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Hasselback potatoes, hasselback potato recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Crisp Apple Salad

This easy apple salad recipe is a delight, starring crisp fruit, greens, cheese crumbles, and a zingy maple vinaigrette. Got…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This easy apple salad recipe is a delight, starring crisp fruit, greens, cheese crumbles, and a zingy maple vinaigrette.

Apple Salad

Got an apple? Here’s a simple way to turn it into a beautiful side dish: this stunning Apple Salad recipe! If we could eat one salad for the rest of time, this one is it. Crisp tart apple slices pair with pops of pomegranate seeds, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy, cinnamon spiced pecans. Toss them all over fresh greens with a zingy maple and apple cider vinegar dressing, and it’s truly salad perfection. Here’s our best ever apple salad recipe, ideal for weeknights, dinner parties, Thanksgiving, and more.

Ingredients in this apple salad recipe

This apple salad recipe is all about minimal ingredients with maximum impact. It’s fancy enough for entertaining, yet simple enough to pair with an easy weeknight meal. The flavors make it a great fall salad or winter salad (ideal for Thanksgiving or Christmas), but it works in any season. Here’s what you’ll need for this tasty green salad:

Apple Salad

Best types of apples for a salad

What are the best types of apples for an apple salad? A crisp tart apple variety is best here. You’ll want an apple that has a lovely crunch when you bite into it, and a bit of tartness in the flavor profile makes for the best pop. Here are our top apple varieties for a salad:

  • Pink Lady: our favorite apple, hands down! The flavor is intensely sweet tart and it has a lovely, bright red color
  • Granny Smith: it has a great tart flavor! We suggest mixing this with another red apple, like a Pink Lady or Honeycrisp
  • Honeycrisp: a bit sweeter and juicier than Pink Lady, but still a great option
  • Jonathon or Jonagold: these are apples you can pick at an orchard; they’ve got a nice sweet tart flavor as well

There are lots of other great apple varieties: let us know your favorites in the comments below.

Apple Salad recipe

Candied pecans add big flavor

What makes this apple salad stand out? All the elements contribute, but the candied pecans really add a kick of sweet, cinnamon-spiced goodness. Here are a few notes on candied pecans and a few substitutions:

  • Candied pecans take just 35 minutes and make a large batch that’s easy to store. It’s absolutely worth the time to make a batch that works for salads for weeks or months.
  • Store at room temp 2 weeks or frozen 3 months. These nuts stay perfectly crisp and delicious for the entire storage time.
  • Alternatively, try purchased candied pecans or make toasted pecans. Don’t want to make your own? You can find them at the store, or simply make toasted pecans! Toasting nuts on the stovetop brings out their unique flavor.
  • Or, try candied walnuts or any other nut you like. Candied walnuts are another great choice! Or try the salad with pistachios, almonds, or hazelnuts: it’s just as tasty!
Apple Salad

Apple salad variations: dressing, mix-ins and more

There are many ways to vary this apple salad recipe: as noted above with the nuts. But you can try it with different dressing options and other mix-ins. Here are a few ideas for alterative dressings and mix-ins:

Apple Salad

More salad recipes

This apple salad is a favorite green salad recipe of ours that works for holidays just as well as a laid-back weeknight. But there are so many more riffs on this concept! Here are a few more of our favorite tasty salads:

Looking for more with apples? Go to our top Apple Recipes.

This crisp apple salad recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan and dairy free, omit the cheese (and for vegan, use toasted nuts).

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Crisp Apple Salad

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Description

This easy apple salad recipe is a delight, starring crisp fruit, greens, cheese crumbles, and a zingy maple vinaigrette.

Ingredients

For the salad

For the maple vinaigrette dressing (use 6 tablespoons)

  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider or white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • Fresh ground black pepper (optional)

Instructions

  1. If using, prepare the candied pecans in advance (or use purchased).
  2. Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk the maple syrup, vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. Whisk in the olive oil 1 tablespoon at a time until a creamy dressing forms. (If desired, make in advance and refrigerate up to 2 weeks; bring to room temperature prior to serving).
  3. Thinly slice the apple.
  4. Place the greens on a large platter or individual plates. Top with apple slices, candied pecans, goat cheese or feta crumbles, and pomegranate seeds or dried cranberries. Top with about 6 tablespoons of the dressing (or more as desired) and serve immediately. (To make ahead, keep all components separate with fresh ingredients and dressing refrigerated. Toss the apples with lemon juice to prevent browning. Bring dressing to room temperature and add all ingredients together directly before serving.)

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Apple Dumplings (Grandma’s Recipe)

This apple dumplings recipe is truly the best! Tender, cinnamon-spiced apples are baked in a flaky pastry crust. Want to…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This apple dumplings recipe is truly the best! Tender, cinnamon-spiced apples are baked in a flaky pastry crust.

Apple Dumplings

Want to make dumplings? Have we got the recipe for you. Introducing…Grandma’s Old Fashioned apple dumplings recipe! Yes, this really is Grandma’s recipe: we worked with Alex’s mom to adapt her famous fall favorite for your home kitchen. Tender, cozy-spiced apples are baked up in a flaky pasty crust with a spiced brown sugar syrup. The result is a revelation: there’s a reason Grandma is famous for these! Here’s what you need to know to make the very best apple dumplings.

About this apple dumplings recipe

Apple dumplings are a dessert of apples that are baked or boiled wrapped in pastry crust. They originated in England in the early 1700’s, then later spread to America where they become popular. Each cook has their own way of making an apple dumpling. A common method is to core apples, place sugar and cinnamon inside, wrap them in pastry crust, and bake in a spiced sugar syrup.

This apple dumplings recipe is truly Grandma’s famous recipe: Alex’s mom makes these dumplings every fall in huge batches and sells them to the surrounding farm community. People come from far and wide to get ahold of them! So we were excited to work with her to share the secret family recipe! Here we’ve adapted her original recipe for 26 dumplings to make a pan of 6.

Apple Dumplings

How to make apple dumplings: an overview

Here’s the basic outline of what you’re getting yourself into with this apple dumplings recipe. The process takes about 2 ½ hours total. This recipe makes a pan of 6 dumplings; you can multiply it as desired. You can refrigerate or freeze leftovers. Here’s an outline of what you’ll have to do (jump to the recipe for full details):

Mix the pastry dough15 minutes active
Rest30 minutes to 1 hour, hands off
Make the apple filling~30 minutes active (during rest time)
Assemble the dumplings20 to 30 minutes active
Bake the dumplings1 hour

Best apples to use

This apple dumplings recipe works with many different types of apples. Because it’s a rustic family recipe, Alex’s mom has made it with just about every variety from any tree in the surrounding area. This is a great recipe for apples from apple picking, and it works with most types of purchased apples. However, here are a few things to note:

  • Crisp tart apple varieties work best. They hold their texture inside the pastry crust, and a tart finish makes for the best flavor (in our opinion). Varieties we like are Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, and Jonathon or Jonagold.
  • Soft apple varieties are harder to work with. Stay away from apple varieties like Gala or Red Delicious, which can fall apart when you’re working with them.
Apple Dumplings recipe

How to cut apples for apple dumplings

The only part of this apple dumpling recipe that requires a little technique? Peeling, coring and slicing the apples. An apple peeler-corer-slicer is the quickest and easiest way to accomplish this. There are many manual versions of this tool, and also a type that connects to a stand mixer (which we used here).

You can also peel and cut the apples manually with a vegetable peeler and knife. The trick to cutting the apples is to cut around and pull out the core, then cutting the apples into 1/8th inch slices width wise. See the photos below! We tried it both ways and it worked with either. The machine makes it look very professional, but you won’t notice in the finished dumpling.

Apple Dumplings
Apple preparation methods: peeler-corer-slicer vs vegetable peeler and knife (background). Either works!

How to form apple dumplings

The other tricky part of apple dumplings: how to form them! Here are a few tips:

  • Fill: Take the apple and place spiced sugar and a small pat of butter inside the hole where the core was.
  • Roll: Roll out the dough to a circle about 8 inches in diameter and place the apple on top.
  • Fold: Fold up the sides to wrap the apple in pastry. Gently press the top to seal. This apple dumplings recipe is very rustic, so don’t worry if it doesn’t look perfect. See the photos below!
Apple Dumplings
Apple Dumplings recipe

Multiply the recipe as desired

This apple dumplings recipe is adapted from Grandma’s original recipe that makes 26 dumplings: intended for giving away, selling, or freezing the leftovers. The recipe below makes 6 dumplings, but you can double, triple, or quadruple it as needed to make 12, 18, or 24 dumplings.

Storage info for apple dumplings

Got leftover apple dumplings or using them to give away? These dumplings are delicious cold, room temperature, or warm. (We actually loved eating leftover refrigerated dumplings cold!) Here’s what to know about dumpling storage:

  • Refrigerate dumplings for up to 1 week. To reheat, place in a 250 degree oven for about 20 to 30 minutes until warmed through.
  • Freeze dumplings for up to 6 months. Place the dumplings in a freezer safe container, wrap it in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and then plastic wrap again. Per Grandma, this should last for up to 1 year (though we suggest 6 months to be on the safe side). Reheat frozen dumplings in a 250 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes until warmed through. Or, you can microwave them!

Dietary notes

This apple dumplings recipe is vegetarian. But it can easily be made vegan by using vegan butter! This type of butter works well as a substitute in vegan pastry crusts and desserts. For gluten-free, you can certainly try 1-for-1 gluten-free flour, but we haven’t tested this swap.

Serving apple dumplings

Last up: serving apple dumplings! This recipe is perfect for a fall dessert or winter dessert, great for Thanksgiving, Christmas or other family gatherings. These little balls of goodness are so tasty, you don’t need any toppings. However, serving with a bit of vanilla ice cream takes it to the next level. Or, you can add other toppings! Here are some ideas:

More apple desserts

The fall and winter are perfect for tasty treats with apples! Here are a few more apple desserts you’ll love:

This apple dumplings recipe is…

Vegetarian. For vegan, use vegan butter.

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Apple dumplings

Apple Dumplings (Grandma’s Recipe!)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 dumplings
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Description

This apple dumplings recipe is truly the best! Tender, cinnamon-spiced apples are baked in a flaky pastry crust.

Ingredients

Crust

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter*
  • ½ cup milk

Filling

  • 6 medium crisp tart apples 
  • 6 tablespoons granulated sugar 
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon ginger
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Syrup

  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup water
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, and baking powder. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or fork until a pebbly texture forms (with butter chunks about the size of peas). Add the milk and stir to combine, adding more milk by the tablespoon until the dough comes together (we usually add about 2 more tablespoons). Divide the dough into 6 equal balls (about 100 g each). Place in a covered container and refrigerate the dough for 30 to 60 minutes. 
  2. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
  3. Peel the apples, then cut out the cores with a knife. Slice the apples into 1/8th thick rings width-wise, so the apple can stack after being cut (see the photos above). You can do this with an apple peeler-corer-slicer, or by hand. Check to make sure there are no extra seeds left inside the apple slices. 
  4. In a small bowl, mix the filling ingredients: granulated sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger. Cut the 3-tablespoon piece of butter into 6 small stick shapes that fit inside the hole in the center of the apple. 
  5. Remove the dough from the fridge. Roll out one piece of dough wide enough to cover the apple when folded, about 8 inches in diameter. Place an apple in the center. Place 1 butter pat and 1 tablespoon of spiced sugar into the center of the apple. Wrap the dough up and around the apple from each side. Pinch the top gently to seal. Repeat for each dumpling, placing the finished dumplings in an ungreased 9 x 13” pan. 
  6. Bake the dumplings for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, make the syrup: bring the brown sugar, water, cinnamon and butter to a boil, stirring often, then remove from the heat. 
  7. After the first 15 minutes of bake time, spoon a few tablespoons of the syrup over each dumpling, using about half of the syrup. Bake for another 30 minutes, then spoon the remaining syrup over the dumplings. Bake for a final 15 minutes (to make a total of 1 hour bake time). Remove from the oven and allow to cool a few minutes before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Notes

*For vegan, substitute vegan butter, which works well as a substitute in pastry crusts and desserts. 

  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Apple dumplings, apple dumpling recipe, apple dumpling, apple dumplings recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Easy Cabbage Soup

This cabbage soup recipe is easy with big, bold flavor! Cozy up to a bowl of this veggie-packed healthy soup.…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This cabbage soup recipe is easy with big, bold flavor! Cozy up to a bowl of this veggie-packed healthy soup.

Cabbage soup

Looking for a flavor-packed healthy soup? Try this easy Cabbage Soup recipe! Confession: we adore cabbage. It’s really not the sexiest of vegetables, is it? (Brussels sprouts and cauliflower have a much better image!) But though it’s humble, cabbage makes incredibly satisfying dishes dressed up as sauteed cabbage or coleslaw. Here it makes a hearty, satisfying soup, packed with veggies that swim in a savory-spiced broth of fire roasted tomatoes. Ready to cozy up to a bowl?

Ingredients in cabbage soup

This cabbage soup recipe is hearty and healthy, featuring white beans, loads of veggies, and a super flavorful broth. It’s a great way to use up green cabbage, and makes a warm bowl for cozying up to during soup season. While we’re 100% passionate about cabbage soup, we don’t recommend it as part of the cabbage soup diet: a fat diet that encourages unsustainable weight loss. Eat this cabbage soup simply because it’s delicious and nutrient-packed! Here’s what you’ll need for this cabbage soup recipe:

  • Butter or olive oil
  • Yellow onion
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Garlic
  • Green cabbage
  • Canned white beans
  • Fire roasted tomatoes
  • Vegetable broth
  • Sugar
  • Salt
Cabbage soup recipe

Use fire roasted tomatoes if possible

The best way to pack flavor into the broth of this cabbage soup recipe? Fire roasted tomatoes make the best flavor. This type of tomato is roasted over an open flame before canning, which makes a sweet and smoky flavor right out of the can.

Can’t find fire roasted tomatoes? Substitute the best quality crushed tomatoes you can find. If you’d like, you can mimic the flavor by adding an extra 1 teaspoon sugar and ½ teaspoon smoked paprika to the broth.

Cabbage soup

How to cut cabbage

The one part of this cabbage soup recipe that requires a little technique? Shredding the cabbage! A large head of cabbage can be tricky to cut into thin shreds. But we’ve got a trick that makes quick work of it. Here’s how to cut cabbage:

  1. Slice off the root: Remove any outer layers of the cabbage that seem tough or are not fresh, and discard them. With a large chef’s knife, slice off the root of the cabbage.
  2. Quarter it: Slice the cabbage in half through the stem. Then cut it into quarters.
  3. Slice out the root: Remove the root by cutting it out with two diagonal slices.
  4. Slice crosswise: Thinly slice the cabbage in the short direction, using a circular motion with the knife.

What to serve with cabbage soup

This cabbage soup recipe is a hearty soup that can work as a meal in itself. However, you’ll probably want to pair it with a salad or sandwich for a filling meal. Here are some ideas for what to serve with cabbage soup:

Cabbage soup recipe

More cabbage recipes

Got a big head of green cabbage and not sure what to do with it? Cabbage is a healthy cruciferous vegetable that’s very versatile for using in the kitchen. Here are a few cabbage recipes to try:

This cabbage soup recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

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Cabbage soup

Easy Cabbage Soup

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4
Print Recipe

Description

This cabbage soup recipe is easy with big, bold flavor! Cozy up to a bowl of this veggie-packed healthy soup.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, small diced
  • 2 medium carrots, small diced
  • 2 celery ribs, small diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons each garlic powder and dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon each dried oregano and dried thyme
  • 1/2 medium green cabbage, shredded (6 to 7 cups)
  • 15-ounce can white beans 
  • 28-ounce can crushed fire roasted tomatoes* (or best quality crushed tomatoes)
  • 1 quart vegetable broth
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • Chopped Italian parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the butter or olive oil over medium high heat. Add the onion, carrot and celery, and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 8 to 10 minutes, until the celery is tender and the vegetables have released their juices.
  2. Add the garlic, garlic powder, basil, oregano, and thyme and cook for 1 minute. Add the cabbage, white beans, crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, salt, and sugar. Bring to a simmer and simmer 10 to 15 minutes until the cabbage is tender. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley.

Notes

*Can’t find fire roasted tomatoes? Substitute the best quality crushed tomatoes you can find. If you’d like, add an extra 1 teaspoon sugar and ½ teaspoon smoked paprika to the broth.

  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Cabbage soup, cabbage soup recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

12 Thanksgiving Salad Recipes

These top Thanksgiving salad recipes are full of big flavor and seasonal produce! They’ll wow everyone around the table. When…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

These top Thanksgiving salad recipes are full of big flavor and seasonal produce! They’ll wow everyone around the table.

Thanksgiving salad

When it comes to Thanksgiving sides, the star doesn’t have to be the gravy, stuffing or mashed potatoes. These days, another category is king: the Thanksgiving salad! That’s right, the salad can be one of the more delicious things on your plate on this massive food holiday. Because here’s the thing: it’s bright, colorful, vibrant and textured, with sweet tart, savory and tangy ingredients that are the ideal contrast to those mushy brown entrees and sides.

Here are our top Thanksgiving salad recipes that highlight the produce of the season. From apples to pears, sweet potatoes to squash, and pomegranate to beets: there’s something every eater will be excited about.

And now…our top Thanksgiving salad recipes!

Crisp Apple Salad

One of the best Thanksgiving salads: this Crisp Apple Salad! Crisp tart apple slices pair with pops of pomegranate seeds, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy, cinnamon-spiced pecans. Toss them all over fresh greens with a zingy maple and apple cider vinegar dressing, and it’s truly salad perfection. 

Sweet Potato Salad

This sweet potato salad is ideal for Thanksgiving! Make roasted sweet potatoes, then toss with baby arugula, cranberries, pumpkin seeds and a little crumbled goat cheese or feta. Honey Mustard or Balsamic Dressing give it a tangy pop. The savory, sweet, tangy, creamy and crunchy contrasts will wow everyone!

Pear Salad with Pecans

Here’s a dreamy Thanksgiving salad if there ever was one: this brilliant Pear Salad! It’s a study in contrasts: fresh, juicy pear against funky gorgonzola cheese; bright pomegranate against savory shallot. Throw in some toasted pecans and cover it in tangy poppy seed dressing, and well: it’s absolutely irresistible. 

Apple, Goat Cheese & Balsamic Salad

Here's an easy Thanksgiving salad that comes together quickly, but my does it deliver on flavor! The crunch of the apples, creamy goat cheese, and fluffy arugula are the ideal pair for the tangy sweet dressing. Your guests won't be able to stop eating this one! 

Brussels Sprout Salad

One of the best Thanksgiving sides of them all: a Brussels Sprout salad! The raw greens of this popular veggie aren’t bitter at all: they’re sweet and feathery, with irresistibly tasty flavor. Combine them with a sweet and tangy Djion mustard dressing, apples, and dried cherries, and they’re pretty darn perfect.

Delicata Squash Salad

Looking for a stunning Thanksgiving salad? Enter: delicata squash salad! This is no ordinary green side salad. It stars our favorite squash: the delicata, which is brilliantly sweet and has edible skin (no peeling necessary!). Roast up that squash in just 20 minutes, and in the meantime prep those refreshing pomegranate seeds, crunchy pistachios, and tangy honey mustard dressing. 

Perfect Pomegranate Salad

One of our top favorite Thanksgiving salads? Pomegranate salad! Crunchy pomegranate seeds make a beautiful confetti over the top of leafy greens. Add tart green apple slices, toasted pecans, and goat cheese or feta crumbles, and it’s a true symphony of flavor! Top it with creamy apple cider vinegar dressing or pomegranate vinaigrette. 

Beet Salad with Balsamic Dressing

This delicious beet salad has all the right elements: baby greens, creamy goat cheese and a tangy balsamic beet dressing. Basically, it’s salad perfection! It works with roasted beets or if the oven's not free, try Instant Pot Beets.

Fennel Orange Salad

Here's an elegant salad we never tire of: fennel orange salad! It features beautiful juicy oranges, with their vibrant color and citrusy flavor. Add to that a famous pairing: sliced raw fennel, which adds a subtle licorice essence. Throw it over greens with a few garnishes, top with a zingy homemade citrus vinaigrette, and wow! It's stunning.

Hearty Farro Salad

Here’s a unique Thanksgiving salad: this Hearty Farro Salad! Farro is an ancient grain with a chewy texture and nutty flavor that’s burst on the scene in the past few years. This one is our ultimate, pairing the whole grain with earthy mushrooms, feathery arugula, savory pops of cheese, and a zingy vinaigrette (omit the tomatoes for the Thanksgiving version).

Apple Manchego Salad

This apple manchego salad is made simply of apples and Manchego cheese cut into matchsticks, with a bit of olive oil and some sliced chives. Nothing pretentious — just pure ingredients combined in a simple way to make each shine. The way the apples and cheese are cut makes it hard to distinguish between the two – making it all the more fun to guess what will be part of each bite!

Arugula Beet Salad

Here’s a Thanksgiving salad idea that’s flavorful and versatile: arugula beet salad! It features jewel-toned roasted beets with baby arugula, all covered in a zingy citrus vinaigrette. Add thin-sliced shallots and toasted walnuts, and it tastes sophisticated with minimal effort. 

More Thanksgiving resources

Here are all our Thanksgiving resources to help you plan for the holiday. Whether it’s mains, sides, appetizers, or desserts: we’ve got you covered! Here are a few lists of recipes:

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Apple Salad

12 Thanksgiving Salads: Apple Salad & More!

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews
  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4
Print Recipe

Description

This easy apple salad recipe is a delight, starring crisp fruit, greens, cheese crumbles, and a zingy maple vinaigrette.

Ingredients

For the salad

For the maple vinaigrette dressing (use 6 tablespoons)

  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider or white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • Fresh ground black pepper (optional)

Instructions

  1. If using, prepare the candied pecans in advance (or use purchased).
  2. Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk the maple syrup, vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. Whisk in the olive oil 1 tablespoon at a time until a creamy dressing forms. (If desired, make in advance and refrigerate up to 2 weeks; bring to room temperature prior to serving).
  3. Thinly slice the apple.
  4. Place the greens on a large platter or individual plates. Top with apple slices, candied pecans, goat cheese or feta crumbles, and pomegranate seeds or dried cranberries. Top with about 6 tablespoons of the dressing (or more as desired) and serve immediately. (To make ahead, keep all components separate with fresh ingredients and dressing refrigerated. Toss the apples with lemon juice to prevent browning. Bring dressing to room temperature and add all ingredients together directly before serving.)
  • Category: Side dish
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: Salad
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Thanksgiving salad, Thanksgiving salad recipes

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Pumpkin French Toast

The best fall breakfast? Try this pumpkin French toast! It’s fluffy and sweet, scented with warm spices and drizzled with…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

The best fall breakfast? Try this pumpkin French toast! It’s fluffy and sweet, scented with warm spices and drizzled with maple syrup.

Pumpkin French Toast

Craving a special fall breakfast or brunch? Look no further than Pumpkin French Toast! Coat slices of hearty bread in pumpkin puree and warm spices, then fry them until golden on a sizzling skillet. Top with a drizzle of pure maple syrup, and each forkful is heavenly: fluffy, sweet, and perfectly spiced! Try it for Halloween or Thanksgiving entertaining, or any fall day that needs a bright spot.

Ingredients for pumpkin French toast

Pumpkin French toast is ideal for cozy mornings, and it takes just minutes to put together! The pumpkin puree adds an even fluffier texture to this popular breakfast, making each bite irresistibly tender. Combining cinnamon and pumpkin spice spice makes just the right warm-spiced flavor (yes, you’ll need both!). Here’s what you’ll need to whip up this recipe:

  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Pumpkin puree
  • Sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice
  • Salt
  • Bread: Italian or French loaf, sourdough, challah, or brioche loaf
  • Butter, for cooking
Pumpkin French Toast

Tips for the bread

We found in our research on the best French toast recipe: the type of bread can make or break a French toast recipe. In our opinion, a slice of flimsy store-bought sandwich bread loaf just doesn’t compare to artisan-style bread. Here are a few of the best types of bread to use for pumpkin French toast:

  • Sourdough bread: Sourdough bread has a naturally firm texture and a slight tang to the flavor. It’s our top choice!
  • Italian or French loaf: Look for an artisan loaf with a firm crust and sturdy texture (grocery stores label them differently). If you like, you can also use a French baguette.
  • Artisan bread: Or, use any style of artisan bread in the bakery section. We recommend avoiding very seedy whole-grain breads for this recipe because their flavor is too strong.
  • Challah or brioche: Egg-based breads like challah and brioche make a fluffy, custardy texture to the French toast.
Pumpkin French Toast

Pumpkin pie spice substitute

Pumpkin pie spice is a nice shortcut for the warming spices in pumpkin pie. You’ll notice this recipe also uses cinnamon, which ups the cozy factor even more (yes, use both!). If you don’t have pie spice, substitute another 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon cloves and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg. Don’t have cloves or nutmeg? You can use varying amounts or swap in allspice.

How to avoid mushy bread

The best way to have sturdy pieces of pumpkin French toast? Use a great bread. Purchased sandwich bread has a flimsy structure and can become mushy when it’s soaked in the egg mixture. Here’s what to know about avoiding mushy bread here:

  • Use a bread with texture like a sourdough or Italian or French artisan loaf.
  • Consider using stale bread or bread that is a few days old, which soaks up the egg mixture more. (This isn’t necessary with sturdier breads like sourdough.)
  • If you’re using a purchased sandwich bread with a flimsy texture, consider lightly toasting it in the oven or toaster it before soaking.
Pumpkin French Toast

Toppings for pumpkin French toast

Once your pumpkin French toast is fried into golden perfection, it’s time to talk toppings! We think it’s perfect with pure maple syrup and a pat of butter. But you can get even fancier if you like? Here are some fun fall-centric toppings:

How do you plan to serve your pumpkin French toast? Let us know in the comments below!

More pumpkin recipes

When it’s the season, we’ve got our pumpkin recipes at the ready! Here are a few you’ll love:

This pumpkin French toast recipe is…

Vegetarian.

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Pumpkin French Toast

Pumpkin French Toast

Print Recipe

Description

The best fall breakfast? Try this pumpkin French toast! It’s fluffy and sweet, scented with warm spices and drizzled with maple syrup.

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs
  • ½ cup milk (whole or 2%*)
  • ½ cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 10 slices bread from Italian or French loaf, sourdough, challah, or brioche loaf (cut 3/4” thick)**
  • 2 tablespoons butter, for cooking

Instructions

  1. In a wide shallow bowl or container, whisk together eggs, milk, pumpkin puree, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and kosher salt.
  2. Preheat a griddle over medium heat and melt 1 tablespoon butter. Soak each side of 4 slices of bread in the egg mixture until it becomes saturated (about 10 to 15 seconds per side for an artisan or sourdough bread**). Place the bread on the hot skillet and cook 2 to 3 minutes per side, until browned.
  3. Repeat with the remaining butter and 4 slices bread. Serve immediately with maple syrup and a dusting of powdered sugar.

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Perfect Pumpkin Bars

This really is the best moist, spiced pumpkin bars recipe with cream cheese frosting! Impress everyone with this fall classic.…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This really is the best moist, spiced pumpkin bars recipe with cream cheese frosting! Impress everyone with this fall classic.

Pumpkin Bars

What’s one of the best pumpkin desserts? It’s a tough call, but we think it’s these Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting! The bars are perfectly moist and cakey, with just the right warm-spiced interior from cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. They’re topped off with a lusciously creamy layer of cream cheese frosting that gives a tangy lift to each bite. This recipe makes a big sheet pan, ideal for fall gatherings and entertaining. We could not stop eating these (and had to gift them to neighbors, who also raved!).

Why to try this pumpkin bars recipe

This pumpkin bars recipe is ideal for any fall occasion: Thanksgiving, Halloween, dinner parties, or to pass out to neighbors to spread fall cheer. Here’s why this recipe stands out:

  • It’s moist and cakey, but not like cake: you can still eat it with your fingers.
  • It’s perfectly spiced. It’s got a hefty 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spices and ½ tablespoon cinnamon: make sure to use both for the perfect flavor!
  • It makes a big sheet pan. Trust us, you’ll find ways to use or gift up the leftovers.
  • The cream cheese frosting is to-die-for. It adds just the right gooey tang: and it’s right the right amount (not too much, not too little).
Pumpkin Bars recipe

Tips for making pumpkin bars

There isn’t too much baking technique involved in this pumpkin bars recipe: it’s simply a matter of mixing the dry ingredients, the wet ingredients, combining them and baking! But here are a few notes on the overall process:

  • Use a 10 x 15-inch jelly roll pan. This is a non-negotiable! It gets just the right height so they work as bars, not fluffy cake.
  • Bake until a toothpick comes out clean. It should take 25 to 30 minutes. Make sure not to overbake, or the bars will not be as moist.
  • Allow to cool fully before frosting. Otherwise, the frosting will melt when you apply it. If you want to go right into frosting after its cool, set out the cream cheese and butter on the counter in advance (see below).
Pumpkin Bars

For the cream cheese frosting

These pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting are nothing without that sweet, creamy layer of goodness on top. If you’ve never made cream cheese frosting, it’s fairly simple but requires a few quick tricks:

  • Allow the butter and cream cheese to come to room temperature for 1 hour. You can also try tricks to soften them (like a few seconds in the microwave), but that risks melting them and destroying the texture. If you’re planning to frost the bars right away, you may want to set out the butter and cream cheese while you’re in the middle of
  • Sift the powdered sugar. This helps to eliminate any lumps in the frosting when you mix it.
  • If desired, make the frosting in advance. You can save it for up to 1 week; just set it out at room temperature for about 30 minutes before icing the bars.
Pumpkin Bars with cream cheese frosting

Store pumpkin bars refrigerated

The last thing to know about these pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting? They’re best stored refrigerated! While you can store them at room temperature, the frosting holds up best in the fridge. Store the bars refrigerated for up to 5 days.

Pumpkin Bars

More pumpkin recipes

In the fall, it’s all about that cozy orange squash. Here are a few more pumpkin recipes and pumpkin desserts you’ll love:

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Pumpkin Bars

Perfect Pumpkin Bars

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 24 bars
Print Recipe

Description

Here’s the best moist, spiced pumpkin bars recipe with cream cheese frosting! Impress everyone with this fall classic.

Ingredients

For the pumpkin bars

  • 2 cups [280 g] all-purpose flour
  • ½ tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
  • ¾ cup neutral oil

For the cream cheese frosting

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
  • 2 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 10 x 15-inch jelly roll pan.
  2. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, baking powder and kosher salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, then whisk in the brown sugar, granulated sugar, pumpkin puree, and oil. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and stir with a spatula until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and use a spatula to smooth it into an even layer. 
  3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool for 30 minutes, then refrigerate about 15 minutes until it comes to room temperature. (Or allow to cool and refrigerate it, then frost before serving.) 
  4. Meanwhile, make the cream cheese frosting: Let the butter and cream cheese sit on the counter for 1 hour to come to room temperature. Use a fine mesh sieve to sift the powdered sugar into a bowl. Beat the butter and cream cheese with a stand mixer or hand mixer on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes until completely smooth, scraping once. Reduce the speed to low, then add the vanilla. Slowly add the powdered sugar until it comes together into a thick icing. Use immediately or refrigerate until using (stores refrigerated for up to 1 week; allow to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes and stir before using). 
  5. Spread the frosting on top of the bars. If desired, dust with cinnamon. Serve immediately or store refrigerated. Stores refrigerated for up to 5 days. Freeze the completely cooled unfrosted bars tightly wrapped for up to 3 months. 
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Fall
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Pumpkin bars, pumpkin bars recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Classic Baked Apples

This baked apples recipe is an easy, cozy fall dessert! Stuff the fruit with oats, spices, and brown sugar and…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This baked apples recipe is an easy, cozy fall dessert! Stuff the fruit with oats, spices, and brown sugar and bake until tender.

Baked Apples

Got a craving for a cozy fall dessert? Try this Baked Apples recipe! It’s like a short-cut apple crumble, but lighter, easier and tastier. Stuff the sweet tart fruit with oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger and allspice, then bake until sweet and tender. The tart tang of the apple against the spiced crumbles is a bit of a revelation! It’s especially good with a bit of vanilla ice cream, but it tastes just as good solo. You’ll be surprised at how the simple ingredients make a big flavor impact (we were!).

Ingredients in this baked apples recipe

Baked apples are whole apples that are stuffed with a crumble-style filling and baked until tender. The concept takes all the flavors of an apple crisp or apple crumble, but focuses on the apple instead: making it a lighter, healthier spin on the classic dessert.

It’s hard to get a baked apples recipe just right, because it needs to be just sweet enough and the apples must be fully tender. In fact, we tried a baked apples recipe years ago and it came out bland and crunchy (which made us almost swear the idea off altogether). Luckily, we tried again this year with some apples picked at a local orchard and it turned out perfectly. Here’s what you’ll need for baked apples:

  • Crisp-tart cooking apples (see below)
  • Old Fashioned rolled oats
  • All purpose flour
  • Pecans
  • Brown sugar
  • Butter
  • Cinnamon, ginger, and allspice
  • Salt
Baked apples recipe

Types of apples for baked apples

This baked apples recipe is best with a specific type of cooking apple: use any firm, crisp sweet tart apple variety. A firm, crisp texture is crucial for baking, otherwise the fruit becomes mushy and grainy. A sweet tart apple has the best flavor because the acidity makes the flavor pop. Here are a few of the varieties that shine here:

  • Pink Lady
  • Honeycrisp
  • Golden Delicious
  • Granny Smith
  • Jonathon or Jonagold
  • Ida Red

For the photos, we used a variety we got at an orchard: simply taste test and see if the texture is crisp and the flavor is medium tart. There are lots of other great varieties of apples for baking: ask your grocer or at your apple orchard for what they recommend. Types to avoid? Pass on varieties like Gala, Fuji or Red Delicious: the flavor and texture don’t hold up here.

How to hollow out the apples

The other most important part of baked apples? Hollowing out the apple cavity. Here are a few tips to follow when cutting the apples to prepare them for baking:

  • Use a paring knife to cut a funnel shape. Start from the top of the apple and end about 2/3 of the way down the fruit. See the photo!
  • Remove and discard the seeds and core. Pull out the core, seeds and extra flesh. You don’t want too much extra flesh or it will take longer to cook the apples.
Baked apples

Making sure the baked apples are cooked

The most crucial part of a baked apples recipe? Making sure the apples are cooked through. The cook time will depend on the size and type of apples, and how much you’ve hollowed out the apples when removing the cores (see the photo above). Here are a few tips for baking:

  • Test by sliding in a pairing knife to the thickest point. It should slide in easily with no give. If not, bake a few minutes longer.
  • Resist the urge to overbake. Overbaking can make for mushy apples, though it all depends on the apple variety. Use your best judgement! The overall bake time should be approximately 45 minutes, but again: it depends on the size and type of apples.
Baked Apples recipe

How to serve baked apples

Once your baked apples are nice and tender, you can enjoy them right away! You’ll want to serve the apples with a knife and fork, so you can cut bites off of the whole apple. (It won’t be tender enough to eat with just a fork.) They’re delicious plain, but we like them with a little vanilla ice cream on the side. Here are a few serving suggestions:

Baked Apples

More apples recipes

This baked apples recipe is perfect as an easy, cozy fall dessert or winter dessert! Here are a few more apple recipes you’ll love:

This baked apples recipe is…

Vegetarian. For vegan, substitute vegan butter. For gluten-free, use almond flour.

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Baked Apples

Classic Baked Apples

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 6
Print Recipe

Description

This baked apples recipe is an easy, cozy fall dessert! Stuff the fruit with oats, spices, and brown sugar and bake until tender.

Ingredients

  • 6 medium crisp-tart cooking apples (like Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious,
    Granny Smith, Jonathon or Jonagold, Ida Red, etc*)
  • ½ cup Old Fashioned rolled oats
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • ¼ cup chopped pecans
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • 4 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Maple syrup, for serving
  • Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Bring water to boil in a tea kettle.
  2. Remove the core of each apple with a paring knife: cut a funnel shape from top of the apple to about 2/3 of the way down. Remove and discard the seeds and core.
  3. In a medium bowl, stir together the rolled oats, flour, pecans, brown sugar, and melted butter. Spoon the filling into the apples.
  4. Place the apples in a small baking dish. Cover the bottom of the dish with about 1/4” of the boiling water.
  5. Bake for 25 minutes, then cover loosely with foil. Bake 15 to 20 minutes until tender when pierced with a knife, but not mushy (or more, if necessary).
  6. Drizzle each apple with maple syrup, and if desired serve with vanilla ice cream. Serve with a knife and fork. 

Notes

*The best varieties for this recipe are sweet tart in flavor with a crisp texture.

  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Dessert
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Baked apples, baked apples recipe, baked apple recipe, baked apple

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.