Welcome to Happylifeblogspot! A food blog with drool worthy recipes
Whether you’re looking to use up that leftover Halloween candy that’s hanging around or brainstorming an epic Thanksgiving spread that will knock everyone’s socks off, Butterfinger Cheesecake fits the bill perfectly. Cheesecake is such an amazing dessert on its own but when you toss in crispy, […]
Attention all chocolate and peanut butter lovers…I’ve got the recipe of your dreams right here!!! Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies are calling your name (and mine too). Chocolate and peanut butter is a combination that I just can’t resist and these soft, chewy, sinfully delicious […]
Happy First Day of Summer!!! What better way to celebrate than with a fun new recipe? No Churn Blackberry Cheesecake Ice Cream is the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer’s day. This recipe is amazing for so many reasons. It starts off with a simple 3-ingredient base, takes super minimal prep work, and is ready after just a few hours of freezing. And since it’s no churn that means there’s no need for an ice cream maker. That’s right! You already have everything you need right in your very own kitchen. Sweet blackberry swirls, luscious cream cheese, and crunchy graham cracker pieces transform this easy recipe into an indulgent treat. No more chasing down the ice cream truck this summer, the ice cream man will be stopping by your house for dessert.
Here’s all you’ll need: blackberries, sugar, cream cheese, heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, and graham crackers.
Add the blackberries and sugar to a blender or food processor and process until the fruit is pureed. This recipe is super versatile. You can easily swap out the blackberries for your favorite fruit. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries or even peaches would make excellent additions to name a few.
Next strain the fruit puree over a fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds. If you don’t have a mesh sieve handy, cheesecloth makes a great strainer too. You can find it in most grocery stores. Set the blackberry puree aside for a little later.
Add the softened cream cheese to a large bowl or stand mixer. If you don’t have a stand mixer a hand mixer will work just the same. So no worries! It took me quite a few years until I made the splurge on a KitchenAid. If you do have a stand mixer, I recommend using the whisk attachment in this recipe.
Beat the cream cheese on medium-high speed until smooth. Pour in the heavy cream and whip at a medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Soft peaks will barely hold their shape and flop over immediately when the beaters are lifted. Reduce the speed to a lower setting (or turn the mixer off completely) and pour in the sweetened condensed milk. Sweetened condensed milk will keep Blackberry Cheesecake Ice Cream smooth, airy and really creamy.
Gradually increase the speed of the mixer until you’re on the highest setting and whip until the mixture is thick and holds stiff peaks. Stiff peaks will stand straight up when the beaters are lifted. They can take anywhere from 5-10 minutes to form. See how thick and creamy…Mmmmm!!!…This is gonna be good!
Gently fold in the crushed graham cracker cookies by hand. To make crushed graham crackers simply break them apart by hand or use a rolling pin or heavy kitchen object to smash into pieces. I’d steer clear of the food processor as it will pulverize the graham crackers a bit too much in this case.
Add a third of the ice cream mixture to an 8″ X 5″ loaf pan or a shallow container. Drop several spoonfuls of blackberry puree randomly over the top of the ice cream mixture. Drag a butter knife through to create distinct swirls of blackberry throughout the ice cream. Add another layer of ice cream and repeat twice. Our goal is to get the blackberries swirled somewhat evenly throughout the batch.
Cover Blackberry Cheesecake Ice Cream and freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight. Remove from the freezer and allow the ice cream to sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving. This will make it easier to scoop! Store leftover ice cream in the freezer for up to 3 months We recommend covering tightly with plastic wrap to prevent ice crystals from forming.
Did I mention this recipe is really easy to double? Life is short. Eat more ice cream! Who wants the first scoop? If you’re an ice cream addict (like me) then you’ve gotta try our Rhubarb Ice Cream and No Bake Black Forest Ice Cream Pie too!
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If you’re in need of a little comfort right now, grab a whisk and whip up a batch of Lemon Raspberry Streusel Muffins. Now you can enjoy light and fluffy, bakery-style muffins at home. These delicious muffins are lightly flavored with lemon, chock-full of sweet […]
One bite of our Toffee Cookies will leave you thinking OMG!! Where have you been all my life? Seriously I’ve been reflecting how truly delicious these little nuggets are and I’m feeling a little guilty for not sharing them sooner. Toffee Cookies are the absolute […]
Happy Fall Y’all! I wanted to share this quick and easy Rustic Apple Tart with you before you get bombarded with all things pumpkin (not that there’s anything wrong with that). But this one’s gonna be for team apple. The delicious little Fall dessert starts with a homemade buttery crust, is piled high with loads of fresh apples, and then finished to perfection with a sweet and gooey caramel drizzle. I know what you’re thinking…homemade crust…but you said this was gonna be easy!?! Don’t worry, I’ll walk ya through it step by step and you know what else? I bet you already have most of these ingredients on hand in your kitchen. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get baking!!
Here’s all you’ll need: all-purpose flour, sugar, salt, butter, vanilla extract, apples, cinnamon, an egg and caramel ice cream topping.
Let’s just get that tart crust out of the way because really that’s the most work you’ll have to put into this totally worth it apple tart. Combine 2/3 cup flour, 1 Tablespoon of sugar, and 1/8 teaspoon of salt in a large bowl. Cube the butter and add it to the bowl. Using a pastry blender, a butter knife or a fork, cut the butter until it’s crumbly. 
Next we’ll gradually add in the water and vanilla. Mix in 6-1/2 teaspoons of cold water as well as 1/8 of a teaspoon of vanilla, a little at a time. Full disclosure, I start the mixing process with a fork but always end with my favorite kitchen tool…..my bare hands. Knead into a ball until a soft dough forms. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Lightly flour your work area. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a 14 inch circle or a shape closely resembling a circle. This apple tart has “rustic” in it’s name so there’s no need for perfection. I’m so proud that you conquered that pie crust like the boss that you are!! But….if you’re short on time, or just plain can’t get the hang of it, I won’t be mad if you need to swap in for store bought. All roads lead to one delish dessert.
Now it’s time to prep those yummy apples! We used Granny Smith’s for this recipe but you can swap out for your favorite flavorful apple. I’m dying to go apple picking this year btw. Have you been yet? Peel and core the apples then cut them into 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch slices. Top with 3 Tablespoons of sugar and 1 Tablespoon of flour and toss to coat. Pie fillings done. See, told ya this would be easy!
Transfer the crust to a sheet of…you guessed it…PARCHMENT PAPER!!!! If you follow my blog then you know I preach about this stuff. It really does make baking SO much easier and yields tremendous results. Top with the apple filling and load this baby onto a baking sheet. Be sure to leave about an inch or two around the edges because that’s gonna be our crust.
Fold the crust over the edges of the apple tart. There really is no method to this madness, you just have to go for it. Pick a place to start and begin folding. Again don’t worry if it’s not picture perfect. I promise the taste will make up for it! Combine 1 teaspoon of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and sprinkle over the apple filling. Mmm…This is gonna be SO good!! Then whisk together the egg and 1 Tablespoon of water to form an egg wash and brush it over the tart crust.
Bake in a 400 degree preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbly. Remove to a wire rack to cool and then finish this baby off with a drizzle of your favorite caramel! Serve warm, or cold, or with a big ole scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoy!!! I know I will. Looking for more apple recipe to get ya through Fall? Try our Apple Hand Pies or our Over the Top Apple Pie Cheesecake next.
We’d love to hear from you! Leave us your comments and love down below!
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If you like Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain…..then you’ll LOVE this cake!!! Pina Colada Cake is moist, delicious, and loaded with the same tropical goodness as the popular summer drink. Now you can sip your favorite drink and eat it too. This […]
Have you started making Christmas cookies yet? Are you one of those people that makes a different batch every week and stores them perfectly in tupperware containers or are you the last minute type that whips everything together in one big cookie-palooza? I’m a little […]
Christmas is a time for family and love, a time for magic and wonder, a time for…..BAKING!!! We’ve been baking up a storm here at Happylifeblogspot this December and I don’t see it stopping anytime soon. I wanted to share with you one of my all time favorite, very unique, cookie recipes this year. Cappuccino Swirl Cookies look super duper impressive but are WAY easier to make than you think. This coffee flavored cookie has a hint of Irish cream which pairs wonderfully with the gorgeous little chocolate swirled topper. I like to make these at Christmas time but really this cookie is great any time of the year. Obviously you’ll need a hot cup of coffee for dunking. I mean it goes without saying, right?!?
Here’s all you’ll need: butter flavored shortening, white sugar, baking powder, salt, egg, Baileys coffee creamer (you can substitute Baileys or just plain ole milk), vanilla extract, flour, instant coffee, and Hershey’s hugs.
Add the shortening to a large bowl and beat with a hand mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. The butter flavored Crisco comes in the yellow package (blue is the original). And yes, of course you can use just plain ole regular Crisco if you don’t have the butter flavor on hand. Mix in one cup of sugar, the baking powder and salt until light and fluffy.
Next beat in the egg, coffee flavored liqueur (think Baileys) and vanilla and mix until well combined. So about that coffee flavored liqueur, you can totally swap out for milk if you don’t have any Baileys on hand. I got a little creative and combined the two and used a Baileys flavored coffee creamer. And I’m SOOOO glad that I have leftovers for my coffee too!!! That stuff is delish!!
Beat in the flour a cup at a time with a hand mixer. Knead in the final 1/4 cup by hand. Cover the the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour or until firm. Ok so another reason Cappuccino Swirl Cookies are fabulous at Christmas time is because you need to chill the dough. So if you’re making a cookie smorgasbord like me, you can make all your cookie doughs one day, chill in the fridge, and then do all your baking the next day. It’s nice to break it up!
Once the dough is firm, remove from the fridge and shape into 1-inch balls. Don’t forget to line those cookie sheets with parchment paper. If you’re not team parchment paper then it’s time to hop on the band wagon. You really need this in your life!! This one simple trick (using parchment paper instead of cooking spray) will really take your cookie baking to the next level. Speaking from experience!!
Next combine 1/2 cup of sugar and 2 tablespoons of instant coffee granules in a small bowl. This will create that amazing, sparkly, coffee flavored coating. My mouth is watering already!
Lightly roll each and every ball into our sugar mixture. Evenly space the cookie balls on a baking sheet. You’ll want them to be about 2 inches apart. This cookie will flatten as it bakes.
See what I mean? Bake cookies in a 350 degree preheated oven for 9-11 minutes or until the cookie tops start to crack and the sides are almost set. If they’re getting brown then you’ve gone too far so keep a close and watchful eye on these lil guys. While the cookies are baking you’re going to wanna start unwrapping those chocolate candies. We need them ready to roll when the cookies are still hot out of the oven.
Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately press a Hershey’s hug into the center of each cookie. Now I know I’m usually telling you to get those cookies off the baking sheet ASAP but today we’re keeping them on there. The heat from the baking sheet is actually a good thing because we want those Hershey’s hugs to melt. Of course the cookies look gorgeous already and if you’re not brave enough to give this swirl a whirl, then go ahead and move the cookies to a cooling rack (so the Hershey’s hugs don’t melt).
Now for the big finish…..the swirl!!! Let those hot cookies sit for about 5 minutes or so until the Hershey’s hugs are nice and melty. It takes a few tries to get down the technique but I’m confident that you can do it. Using the tip of a knife (of the back of a spoon, whatever floats your boat) slowly run your utensil through the melted hug to swirl. I like to go counter clockwise and I find that a light touch works best. I also find it helpful to start from the outside and work your way in towards the middle. Practice makes perfect! Cool completely on wire baking racks.
Ta-dah!!! Are those not the most fabulous cookies you’ve ever laid eyes on??? I mean these guys are bakery perfect! That swirl though!!! Cappuccino Swirl Cookies are sure to be the star of your cookie tray this year. Don’t forget to try our Soft Cut Out Cookies and Mini Cinnamon Roll Cookies too!
We’d love to hear from you! Leave us your comments and love down below!
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Peanut Butter Cookies were my absolute favorite as a kid. So when I grew up and started baking I knew that I needed a fabulous, no fail, peanut butter cookie recipe in my arsenal ASAP!! Well guys, this is that recipe!! These cookies are rich, […]
Hi There! I’m Lisa. I’m a lover of all things crafty, creative, DIY, and delicious!!! Oh yeah and puppies too! I love cooking and baking for my friends and family but especially WITH my friends and family. I show my greatest affection through food. If I cook or bake for you, it means I really like you!
