Strawberry Pie Bites

Strawberry Pie Bites
Ingredients
For the pie bites

• 1 tube refrigerated crescent roll dough
• 4 Tablespoons Challenge butter, melted
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 cup strawberries, sliced (about 4 strawberries)

For the glaze

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 Tablespoon milk

Directions
For the pie bites

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside
2. Remove crescent roll dough from tube; separate each of the triangles and lay flat on baking sheet
3. Brush each triangle of dough with butter; combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle teaspoon of mixture onto each triangle
4. Lay several strawberry slices at the wide end of each piece of dough and carefully roll it up like you would do for a regular crescent roll
5. Brush remaining butter on top of each crescent roll and sprinkle remaining cinnamon and sugar on top
6. Bake for about 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown

For the icing

1. Add milk to powdered sugar and stir until combined; mixture should be thick but runny enough to drizzle
2. Drizzle icing over pie bites and serve once icing hardens

This is a sponsored post by Challenge butter, but the text and opinions are all mine. Thank you for supporting brands that make Kylee's Kitchen possible!

Cinnamon Candied Pecans

I love walking through the mall during the holiday season because the whole place smells like cinnamon candied nuts. It is the most difficult treat to resist.because you can seriously smell those guys a mile away! When I was growing up my mom would occasionally splurge and get us a serving of nuts - they were always so warm and sugary. Mall nuts will always be one of my favorite treats!

My parents' neighbor, Patty, also makes these nuts to give out as treats during the holidays. I thought that was such a great gift idea, so last year I decided to make candied nuts as well!

There are a wide variety of recipes for candied nuts, but after some experimentation I settled on this one because it is the easiest and it is delicious (good reasons, right?). If you know how to mix and stir then you already know how to make this recipe. I also must note that I used pecans in this example, but you can also substitute almonds or cashews.

As I mentioned earlier, these nuts are perfect for giving out to family and friends as little gifts. Or you can save them and eat them all for yourself. They are so addicting! I love picking them off the baking sheet right after they come out of the oven. And they make your house smell just like the mall - in a good way!

Cinnamon Candied Pecans

Yield: 4 cups

Ingredients

·      1/4 cup granulated sugar

·      1/2 cup light brown sugar

·      1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

·      1 teaspoon salt

·      1 egg white

·      1 teaspoon vanilla extract

·      16 ounces (about 4 cups) unsalted pecans halves

Directions

1.     Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2.     In a medium bowl, add sugars, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk until combined. Set aside.

3.     In a large bowl, whisk the egg white and vanilla together until frothy. Add the pecans and gently toss until the pecans are well coated. Add the sugar and cinnamon mixture and toss until pecans are covered.

4.     Spread the pecans out in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 30 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes. The sugar mixture will harden on the pecans.

5.     Remove from the oven and let the pecans cool on the baking sheet. When completely cool, store in an airtight container.

Recipe adapted from Two Peas and Their Pod

HAPPY NATIONAL SUGAR COOKIE DAY

Today we celebrate one of America’s favorite cookies! The sugar cookie may seem plain in appearance, but they should definitely not be underestimated when it comes to satisfying your sweet tooth!

My favorite part about the sugar cookie is that it can be cut into fun shapes and decorated with frosting and sprinkles (lots of sprinkles)!

These cookies have a wonderful, buttery flavor, with crisp edges and a melt in your mouth chewy center. They are topped with a layer of sweet buttercream icing and beautified with a layer of sprinkles!

HOMEMADE LOFTHOUSE SUGAR COOKIES

Printable Recipe

INGREDIENTS

For the cookies

·         1/2 cup sour cream

·         1 cup sugar

·         1/2 cup butter, softened

·         2 eggs

·         1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

·         3 cups all-purpose flour

·         1 and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

·         1/2 teaspoon baking soda

·         1/2 teaspoon salt

For the Frosting

·         4 cups powdered sugar

·         2 teaspoons vanilla extract

·         2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

·         1/2 cup butter, softened

·         1/2 cup vegetable shortening

·         Sprinkles (optional)

DIRECTIONS

For the cookies

1.      Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

2.      In a large bowl combine sour cream, sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla and mix well.

3.      In a smaller bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt

4.      Add dry ingredients to wet mixture and mix until everything is just incorporated.

5.      Scoop out even size scoops of dough and then roll in a ball

6.      Place on a cookie sheet and slightly flatten with your hand so it's in a circular shape.

7.      Place cookie sheet in oven and bake for 8 minutes

8.      Transfer cookies to a cooling rack and let cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting

1.      Cream together butter and shortening with mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes.

2.      Add 1/2 cup powdered sugar and beat until smooth.

3.      Add another 1/2 cup and beat until smooth.

4.      Add vanilla and beat until smooth.

5.      Add the remaining sugar and milk, making sure you end with sugar. 

6.      Continue to mix on medium until smooth.

Recipe adapted from justapinch.com

Combine the wet ingredients

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients

Scoop out the dough into the size of a tablespoon and roll into balls

Sprinkles are optional (but not really!)

The final product!