What is more, they look super cute on the festive table. And it sure feels like we’re on vacation!

It’s only April but here I am dreaming of the beach.  I guess I’ll have to eat a Pudding Sand Cup instead…

What do you need to make this Pudding sand cups recipe?

In fact, these are so easy to make, you will need no more than 10 minutes tops. In addition to the ingredients in the recipe, you will need small cups and some more decorations such as cocktail umbrellas. You can find these in the party section of your grocery store or a party supplies store. 

Remember that you make these for the grandkids, so they don’t have to be in large cups. They will be a hit at your beach-themed party!

These pudding sand cups are:

• easy to make 
• tasty 
• don’t require any special skills
• summery snack
• creamy

Make a Pudding sand cups recipe for your beach-themed party

To begin with, planning and organizing a party for the little ones can be a difficult task. If it is possible, begin preparations the month before to be sure you won’t miss anything. 

Make a party plan, choose the theme, cake, decorations, and schedule the activities and games for the grandkids. Make a food menu, and organize it all in a folder on your tablet. It helps the party to be less stressful for you.  

Helpful tips:

• You can crush the biscuits in a food processor or a ziplock bag using a rolling pin.
• Feel free to use the candy you already have.
• Instead of gummy bears, you can use different types of summer-themed treats.

What do you need to make the perfect beach-themed party?

Save on time and stress by choosing the theme first. If you decide on a beach theme party, start with the cake and then plan the decorations for the room and the table. You should include the theme colors in the appetizers, desserts, and other tasty treats you serve.

For your party you will need:

• Party theme
• Invitations
• Cake
• Food menu
• Table and room decorations
• Fun games and activities for the grandkids

What is more, make sure you send out the invitations a few weeks in advance. For more excitement, grandkids can get involved in making the invitations and get crafty. They can make the invitations by using paper, pencils, stickers, and other craft supplies. 

Write a list of all the beach-themed items you want to include at your beach party:

• seashells
• starfish
• sand
• beach or pool
• umbrellas
• fish
• boats
• palm trees
• pineapples
• flamingos
• beach balls

Make super funny food names and put labels on the table

Would you like to try these pudding sand cups with bears? Or some beach party dip? How about a starfish sandwich? Come up with cute and amusing names for the tasty treats and label them.

Put the labels on the table. It will make the party a lot more fun! Even the picky-eaters will be enjoying this party food!

Try some of these ideas:

• Starfish sandwiches
• Swimming teddy bear dip
• Bikini beach bear cupcakes
• Beach party pops
• Surfing bear cupcakes

Plan the party outside

Grandkids need to be outside to get more Vitamin D. Also, to have more space for running and expressing their excitement. They need to play outdoors for at least 30 minutes a day. This party will give them lots of reasons to stay in the sun and have fun.

Easy-to-make party food snacks

Party food should be related to the topic. And it is great to have beach theme shapes and decorations, too. Get creative in the kitchen! Search the internet for some party food ideas and create them with the products you want to use. 

We have many recipes on our blog where your grandkids can help make the food item. This Pudding Sand Cups Recipe is no different. I’ve mentioned before that these are my favorite kind of treat to make because it keeps my little ones busy for a bit in the kitchen and then they always love to eat what they make. Just wait until they see this!

In addition to our Pudding Sand Cups recipe, here’s another “beach” type snack that I have made many times with my littles and they love it! It’s our Beach Theme Fruit Dip and it’s always a hit!

With summer quickly approaching, you may want to grab some of the ingredients for this recipe so that you have everything on hand. I know that my refrigerator is often sparse because there is just my husband and me at home. We don’t eat that much. 

Our little 6-year-old granddaughter was here the other day, and she opened our refrigerator, and then she said “Grammy, now I know why you and Pa come to our house for Sunday dinner because you don’t have a lot of food!”

I may not have a lot of food. But I do have lots of things to make recipes for with my grandkids. I guess I better go to the store and get some pudding! Using instant puddings makes this recipe an easy one. So let’s get started! 

Print

Pudding Sand Cups Recipe

Kids of all ages love to make this Pudding Sand Cups Recipe. Using instant puddings makes it so easy!

Course Snack

Keyword Pudding Sand Cups

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Chill time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author WritersID2

Ingredients

• 1-2 pkg small box (3.4 oz) instant vanilla or white chocolate pudding mix
• 2 cups cold milk
• 1 tub 8 oz whipped topping (thawed)
• Blue Food Coloring
• 6-8 Golden Oreos, crushed
• Gummy sea creatures, stars or shells
• Teddy Bear Grahams

Instructions

• In a medium bowl, add cold milk
• Sprinkle pudding over top and whisk until well combined
• Add food coloring and mix well
  
• Place in refrigerator about 10 minutes or until set
• Fold in whipped topping until well combined
  
• Add to glasses or cups
  
• Place in refrigerator 20 minutes to chill
• Crush cookies in food processor or resealable plastic bag until fine
• Sprinkle on top
• Add your gummy sea creatures and Teddy Bear Grahams
  

Notes

You can adapt this recipe to a "dirt cup" recipe by following the same recipe but using these ingredients:

 

1-2 small box (3.4 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
2 cups milk
1 tub (8 oz) whipped topping, thawed

10-12 regular Oreo cookies, crushed
Gummy worms

 

How to make table and room decorations for the beach-themed party?

It is no surprise that the general color is blue. You can combine it with white and other bright colors for accent. White table cloths will make your dishes and decorations more visible. 

For the perfect beach themed-party provide:

• decorative fishnet wall hanging
• fish and boat ornaments
• seashells centerpiece for the table
• white table cloth
• beach signs
• colorful balloons
• a small pool with inflatable fish and boats

For the table setting, you may use a blue scarf or organza fabric to drape in the center of the table. Put decorations on the top. For example, seashells, and boats. Stretch a fishing net across the table cloth or hang it on the wall. Use blue napkins and straws. You can even put an umbrella on each straw to make it more fun!

Fun party activities for the grandkids

Thirty minutes for each game is enough for the grandkids to have fun and then move on to the next activity. Plan some quiet games, too, such as puzzles or board games. This way grandchildren won’t be exhausted before the cake arrives.

You can give all the grandkids some beach-theme items like goggles, sunglasses, flippers. Make them participate in the beach-themed photo booth wearing them and take photos.

For instance, hide some beach-themed items somewhere in the garden and organize a scavenger hunt. Grandkids will be having a lot of fun while finding them. Leave clues in different places and watch them playing. 

Schedule different beach-themed party activities, such as:

• scavenger hunt
• decorating seashells
• craft with tropical items
• beach-themed photo booth
• make a beach-themed sensory bottle
• catching fish in the small pool with inflatable fish

Get some seashells, paint, glitter, and get crafty. The grandkids can make their painted seashells and take them home as a gift from the party. 

Besides, we have already shown you how to make a sensory bottle in some of our blog posts. You can use this idea as a great party activity. 

Provide bottles, cooking oil, paint, glitter, different seashells, and window stickers. Grandkids will have fun while making their ocean-filled bottles. Homemade toys are great for developing grandchildren’s skills. 

These activities will create meaningful conversations and lots of long-lasting memories. And most importantly, grandkids will be having fun!

Healthy party food

Create a well-balanced and healthy menu for the party. Include vital nutrients such as proteins, carbs, and healthy fats. Minimize using sugar as much as possible. Substitute it with fresh fruit. 

Here is what you can do to make your party food healthier:

• Why not go sugar-free? Grandkids won’t be able to tell if you use sweeteners instead of sugar. But it will make it much healthier. Try stevia or erythritol. You can use sugar-free chocolate, too. 
• Instead of artificial food coloring, put some blue spirulina. It will make the pudding the desirable blue color. 
• Make sure you have lots of colorful fresh fruit on the table. Bright colors will attract the grandkids, and they would want to have some.

In fact, cooking food at home is always a better option to make it organic or eliminating food coloring and artificial food enhancement agents. If you decide to buy prepackaged food, make sure it contains less sugar and no preservatives. 

Allergy-friendly Pudding sand cups recipe variation

When you gather more grandchildren together for a party, you have to consider whether some of them have food allergies or not. Make sure your food is allergy-free. Use dairy-free milk to make the recipe lactose-free and vegan. 

Why not make a homemade ”biscuit sand” for the Pudding sand cups? Use a gluten-free mix of flour and add sweetener to make it tasty.

For example, you can mix equal quantities of buckwheat flour and gluten-free oat flour with some erythritol to make it sweet. There are gluten-free crackers or biscuits you can use, too. 

The bottom line

How to throw the perfect beach theme party for your grandkids? We have you covered with tips and ideas to make your occasion memorable. Everyone will love these delicious and cute Pudding sand cups.

Not only are these easy to make but also look super cute on your party table. Your grandkids will be looking forward to the party! 

Moreover, get them involved in making the invitations and even the Pudding sand cups. They will be so excited to take part in the whole preparations! It is an affordable and money-saving idea for a sweet treat that will take your party to the next level! 

Are you already enjoying our pudding sand cups recipe? You have to check out these other posts, too:

• 23 ideas for a beach staycation
• 16 healthy kid snacks
• 31 easy pirate ideas
• 16 nautical DIY projects
• Quick and easy DIY seashell artwork

The post Pudding Sand Cups Recipe appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Items Needed:

Hard boiled eggs
Beets
Red cabbage
Turmeric
Hibiscus tea
Parsley
Vegetable oil, optional, for rubbing eggs after coloring

Instructions:

Prepare ingredients by cutting or grating

Add water to saucepan
Add ingredient and bring to boil

Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15-30 minutes or until desired color. It should be a few shades darker then you want the color of your eggs.
Remove pan from stove and allow to cool to room temperature
Strain the dye using a fine mesh strainer into a bowl

Transfer dye into glass container

Add eggs and allow to set until desired color. This can even take a few hours depending on how dark you want your color.

Remove from dye and place on wire rack or paper towel
Allow to dry completely and rub with oil to make them shiny if desired

Tips:
Every egg will not turn out the same, even in the same dye color. There will naturally be different shades.
The Parsley dyed very light with 4 hours of soaking, but overnight it dyed darker.
You may need to use cheesecloth to strain the ingredients from the dye, depending on how small the pieces of ingredients are.

Just look at these results!

Rubbing a little oil on Natural Dyed Easter Eggs just makes them glow with their more muted coloring.

While you are having to boil eggs anyway, we have a great tutorial on the perfect way to boil eggs.  Just click on the link to check it out!

I hope that you AND your grandkids will enjoy using natural dyes for easter eggs this year.  We sure did!

The post Natural Dyed Easter Eggs appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Items Needed:

Popsicle sticks, paint brushes, ceramic paint colors, twine, glue gun (if using this, please do so with supervision with little hands!) or liquid glue.

Instructions:

With two popsicle sticks underneath, glue 11 popsicle sticks close together to make the base of the feeder.

Then layer all four sides with popsicle sticks. Two on the sides, then two on the top and bottom until you have four or five sticks on each side.

With your paint brushes and paint, paint the base and the top popsicle sticks.  This adds such a fun pop of color. Let paint dry.

After dry, tie on four pieces of twine in each of the four corners.  Make sure these are long enough that they will hang nicely below a branch.

Lastly, fill with your bird seed.

Our Easy Bird Craft Feeder is now ready to hang!

Which bird seed attracts the most birds? 

While you can purchase bags of bird seed at most stores, black oil sunflower seeds at your best bet to get the most variety of birds.  They have the thinnest hulls.  Black oil sunflower seeds also seem to be a favorite of Cardinals.

Where should I hang my bird feeder?

Bird feeders are best hung in a place where your visiting birds feel safe from predators. Most important: Avoid open and noisy areas and hang your bird feeders at eye level or a little above. Do not hang feeders too close to any place where squirrels can jump on them, or too low they are within a cat’s reach.

Info taken from www.yardenvy.com

Another easy bird feeder is our Hanging Bird Seed Feeders.

These are a great way to use up any extra bird seed.  Can you see the black oil sunflower seeds?

No matter which bird feeder that you make, your grandkids will love watching to see what birds it will attract!  Thanks to the TOTS Family for a great craft idea!

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What do I put in a Charcuterie Board?

Usually the answer is…whatever you want! For this Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board we’ve included lots of yummy things some of which are seasonal but substitutions can easily be made.

Items we used:

Pirouette cookies, chocolate chips, popcorn, whipped cream, crushed candy canes, white candy melts, M&M’s, marshmallows, caramels, coconut, mini chocolate chips, peppermint Hershey kisses, gingerbread men, Ghiradelli peppermint squares, caramel and chocolate sauce and Andes mints. 

With this many options, there is always something for everyone.

Do you have a good Hot Chocolate recipe?

Glad you asked!  Yes we do.  Our favorite hot cocoa mix can be made ahead and then ready when you want to make hot cocoa fast. 

Hot Cocoa Mix

What else can you make a charcuterie board for?

One of our favorite other ways to make a Charcuterie Board is for snacks for kids.  Whenever we make these boards, we let the grandkids help create them and then they gobble the items down like nothing flat.  Our Christmas Charcuterie Board disappeared in a manner of minutes.  Bonus points that it was healthy for the grandkids too!

But here is our Charcuterie Platter for Kids Snacks:

What can I use for my Charcuterie Board?

We have used a myriad of different items.  A marble slab is always beautiful but we’ve also used wood boards, cutting boards and trays.  Large platters can also work.

We hope that this has opened your eyes to all the possibilities of doing a Charcuterie Board.  They are so fun!

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Very few items are needed and we purchased most of ours at WalMart.

Items:

Clear Cover contact paper, christmas cookie cutters, fabric paint in your desired colors, flour sack towels, masking tape, fine sharpie, pencils and scissors. (Littler hands will need an adult to cut.)

Instructions:

On the back paper side of the contact paper, take your fine sharpie and trace your cookie cutters.

Cut out your shapes.

Tape the corners of your towel to the table so it will not slip while painting.  It is also a good idea to have something underneath your towel so that the paint does not bleed through to your table!

Peel the paper backs from contact paper and lightly press them onto the dish towel.

Squeeze some paint onto a paper plate and with the erase end of the pencil, dip into the paint and make dots around your cut out shape.

Keep “dot” painting until you have a good coverage around your shape.  Make sure you also add some dots a little looser all around your shape.

Carefully peel off the contact paper from the towel.

Let these completely dry.

I know that your grandkids will love their masterpiece! Plus they will be so excited to give these as gifts.  I think we might also make some of these with their hand print and call them “hand towels”.

Either way that you make these, enjoy the holiday time with your precious grandchildren!

This Christmas Kitchen Towel Craft was adapted by I Can Teach My Child.   Thank you!

Here’s some more fun Christmas kids crafts!

Glitter Christmas Tree Ornaments

Marshmallow Snowman Craft

Cinnamon Stick Christmas Ornaments

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Peppermint Patties make such a great goodie gift and are surprisingly easy to make. 

One word of warning though.  When making these, do not put them with other candies or cookies on a plate or a container because that will make everything else taste like peppermint!  Speaking from experience…

Let’s get started.

Items Needed:

2 ½ – 3 cups powdered sugar, plus some for dusting
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (12oz) bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon shortening or coconut oil
Decoration
Additional chocolate for drizzle

Instructions:

In a large bowl, beat 2 cups powdered sugar, and butter until well combined

Gradually add heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time until well combined
Add peppermint and vanilla extracts and beat until well combined
Gradually add more powdered sugar until mixture is stiff

Place mixture on a piece of parchment paper and roll into a log about 2 inches in circumference

Place in freezer to chill 20-30 minutes, or in refrigerator overnight
Using a sharp knife, cut log into pieces about ½ inch thick, roll into a ball using powdered sugar if dough is sticky

Using a glass dipped in powdered sugar, gently flatten ball into circle

Place on parchment paper lined baking sheet
Return to refrigerator while you prepare the chocolate
Add chocolate and shortening to microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds, stir
Continue heating for 20-30 seconds at a time and stirring after each heating
Stop just before chocolate is completely melted
Stir until smooth
Line another baking sheet with parchment paper
Remove patties a few at a time from the refrigerator and dip into chocolate

Let set until fully hardened.

Notes:
For drizzle – add melted chocolate to a plastic squeeze bottle and drizzle peppermint pattie after they are set
Store in airtight container for up to 2 weeks

Print

Peppermint Patties

With creamy chocolate and a crisp, cool filling, these Peppermint Patties will become your new favorite holiday treat!

Course Candy, Holiday

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cooling 1 hour hour

Servings 16 Patties

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 - 3 cups powdered sugar
• 3 TBL unsalted butter, softened
• 3 TBL Heavy cream
• 1 tsp peppermint extract
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 12 oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 TBL shortening or coconut oil

Instructions

• In a large bowl, beat 2 cups powdered sugar, and butter until well combined
• Gradually add heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time until well combined
• Add peppermint and vanilla extracts and beat until well combined
• Gradually add more powdered sugar until mixture is stiff
• Place mixture on a piece of parchment paper and roll into a log about 2 inches in circumference
• Place in freezer to chill 20-30 minutes, or in refrigerator overnight
• Using a sharp knife, cut log into pieces about ½ inch thick, roll into a ball using powdered sugar if dough is sticky
• Using a glass dipped in powdered sugar, gently flatten ball into circle
• Place on parchment paper lined baking sheet
• Return to refrigerator while you prepare the chocolate
• Add chocolate and shortening to microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds, stir
• Continue heating for 20-30 seconds at a time and stirring after each heating
• Stop just before chocolate is completely melted
• Stir until smooth
• Line another baking sheet with parchment paper
• Remove patties a few at a time from the refrigerator and dip into chocolate
• Let set until fully hardened
• Store in airtight container for up to 2 weeks

Notes

For drizzle - Add melted chocolate to a plastic squeeze bottle and drizzle on top of Peppermint Patties after they are set

Even if Peppermint Patties are not nostalgic for you like they are for me, whomever receives these as a gift will enjoy the creamy chocolate and crisp, cool center.  Pure holiday yum!

Hold on!  We’ve got some more great Christmas goodies for you!

White Chocolate Covered Cherries

Melting Snowman Cookies

The post Peppermint Patties appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

My grandkids in this family are 10, 7, 5 and 3.  Every one of them will love making this craft.  (They are BIG marshmallow lovers!)

Of course there will be plenty of eating chocolate on the way to make these so you may want to have some extra supplies on hand.

Marshmallow Snowman Craft

Items Needed:  Candy canes (If you can find straight peppermint sticks, those work great too), marshmallows, bag of black and vanilla frosting, orange gel, mini M&M’s, Hershey Kisses, Twizzlers,  and a screwdriver.   (Please clean before use!)

Instructions:

Remove plastic from the candy canes then break off the rounded top.

With the screwdriver, make a hole all the way through in the  marshmallows.

Insert the candy cane or peppermint stick into three marshmallows.

Place a dollop of white frosting in the hole of the top marshmallow.

Using the frosting as “glue” place a Hershey kiss on top for the hat.

Take a thin rope from the Twizzlers and tie around the “neck” of the snowman. 

With the vanilla frosting, “glue” some mini M&M’s onto the snowman as buttons.

With the black frosting, make two eyes for Mr. Snowman!

Make the carrot nose with a line of the orange gel.

Let the Marshmallow Snowman dry for a little while to help the frosting “set”.

Our cute little Marshmallow Snowmen are now ready to give away as a goodie gift.  That is, only if they don’t get eaten first!  No guarantees….

This craft was adapted from Baby Gizmo.

Two more fun Christmas Crafts for the kids:

Glitter Christmas Tree Ornament

Cinnamon Stick Ornaments

The post Marshmallow Snowman Craft appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

With a wonderful nutty flavor sprinkled with powdered sugar these never last for long. Which is why it might be good to double the batch.   Here we go!

Snowball Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup pecans, finely chopped
Powdered sugar for coating

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
Line baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat
In a large bowl, beat together butter, ½ cup powdered sugar and vanilla until well combined

Mix in salt and flour until well combined

Stir in nuts

Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place on prepared baking sheets

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden brown
Remove from oven and cool slightly, about 2-3 minutes, on a wire rack
Add powdered sugar to medium bowl.

Roll cookies in powdered sugar and place on wire rack to cool completely

Store in airtight container.

Print

Snowball Cookies Recipe

It's not Christmas around our house until these cookies get baked. With a great nutty flavor sprinkled with powdered sugar, they will soon become a family favorite for you too.

Course Cookies, Holiday

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 9 minutes minutes

Servings 30 cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped
• Powdered sugar for coating

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
• Line baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat
• In a large bowl, beat together butter, ½ cup powdered sugar and vanilla until well combined
• Mix in salt and flour until well combined
• Stir in nuts
• Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place on prepared baking sheets
• Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden brown
• Remove from oven and cool slightly, about 2-3 minutes, on a wire rack
• Add powdered sugar to medium bowl
• Roll cookies in powdered sugar and place on wire rack to cool completely
• Store in airtight container

A wonderful addition to these cookies is eating them with some creamy hot chocolate.  It’s beginning to feel like Christmas already!

MORE great Christmas goodies!

English Toffee

Christmas Fudge

The post Snowball Cookies Recipe appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Historically Charcuterie Boards were created with artfully arranged cured meats and cheeses.  Nowadays you can make pretty much anything into a Charcuterie Board.

Including a Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board.

These are extremely easy to make which makes it a fun thing to do with your grandkids.  My sister Tracy’s two little granddaughters helped with this Charcuterie Christmas Tree and then promptly ate almost the whole thing! 

Their mom was surprised because usually the girls only like “orange” cheese but they gobbled up all of the cheese. 

I think that letting kids help with dishes like this really helps them become invested and much more interested and willing to try new foods.

Just watch the cute little hands below as they help to create this beautiful masterpiece!

Items Needed:

Cranberries, seedless red, green and purple grapes, star fruit, kiwi, fresh evergreen sprigs, one large stalk of celery, thyme, rosemary or mint leaves, and a variety of cheeses.  We chose extra sharp white cheddar, a dill havarti and an italian fontal caravaggio cheese.  Really, any white cheese will do.  Or even “orange” cheeses will work!

Instructions:

Cut up your cheeses into cubes and also slice the kiwi and star fruit.

On a charcuterie board, start by laying out your evergreen sprigs.

Starting at the bottom, layer your first row of cubed cheese.

Follow the cheese by a row of grapes.  Whatever color you prefer.

Then continue to the top of the three as shown below:

When your layers are done, garnish with the sliced kiwi and the star fruit.

Sprinkle with fresh cranberries.

Finish with adding some thyme, rosemary or mint leaves.

So put your grandkids to work and then get prepared for a beautiful feast! 

Recipe adapted from Muy Bueno Cookbook

Are you loving the Charcuterie idea?  Here’s another great one that we have for you!

Charcuterie Platter for Kids Snacks

The post Christmas Charcuterie Board appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Some days I will add a few slices of oranges to give it a little citrusy smell.  Other days I might drop a few drops of almond extract for an even sweeter smell.

Another great thing about this Mulling Spices Recipe is that you can also use it to prepare a wonderfully spiced apple cider.

Here is what you will need:

3 oz cinnamon sticks
⅓ cup cardamom pods
¼ cup allspice berries
¼ cup whole cloves
¼ cup star anise pods
⅓ cup dried orange peel – store bought or dried in oven

Instructions:

Place cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, allspice berries, cloves and star anise in large resealable bag

Crush lightly with rolling pin

Add orange peel to bag and toss to mix well
Store in airtight container

If you are simmering this on your stove, just place in a small pot with some water on low heat.

To serve as a drink, add 2 tablespoons of mix per ½ gallon of warm apple cider 

Print

Mulling Spices Recipe

Use to create a wonderfully spiced apple cider or simmer on your stove top. Either way, your kitchen will be filled with the wonderful smells of Christmas!

Course Drinks, Holiday, Non-Alcoholic

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 3 oz cinnamon sticks
• 1/3 cup cardamom pods
• 1/4 cup allpice berries
• 1/4 cup whole cloves
• 1/4 cup star anise pods
• 1/3 cup dried orange peel - store bought or dried in oven

Instructions

• Place cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, allspice berries, cloves and star anise in large resealable bag
• Crush with rolling pin
• Add orange peel to bag and toss to mix well
• Store in airtight container

Notes

If you are simmering this on your stove, just place in a small pot with some water on low heat.

To serve as a drink, add 2 tablespoons of mix per ½ gallon of warm apple cider 

No matter which way you use this mix, the wonderful smells (and tastes) of Christmas will warm your heart.

OOOOH.  Have we got another great cider drink for you.  Take a look!

Hot Apple Cider

The post Mulling Spices Recipe appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

When my own kids were little, they used to love hanging ornaments on the tree that they personally made.  My grandkids are no different and I know that they will love hanging this cute little reindeer on their tree.

Plus who doesn’t love the wonderful Christmas smell of cinnamon? 

Here is what you will need for this craft:

Glue gun, scissors, sparkly yellow paper, red christmas bells, colored twine, cinnamon sticks, red and green buttons and some googley eyes.

Instructions for the tree:

Cut two pieces of cinnamon sticks about 3 inches long.

With a glue gun (please use adult supervision with littler kids!) glue one cinnamon stick perpendicular to the other cinnamon stick

Cut two more cinnamon sticks a little smaller than the bottom stick.

Glue them onto the “base” cinnamon stick

Glue your red and green buttons onto the “branches”. It’s fun if the buttons are different sizes.

Cut out a star out of the yellow sparkly paper.

Glue on to the top of the tree.

Cut your twine and then fold in half.   Glue this onto the back of the cinnamon stick.

This cute little tree is now ready to hang!

Instructions for the Reindeer Ornament:

Cut three pieces of cinnamon stick about 3 inches long.

Cut your twine, fold in half and then glue in the middle of one stick.  Please use adult supervision when using a glue gun with littler kids!

With a glue gun, glue two pieces together to form a “V”.

Glue the last cinnamon stick across the other two cinnamon sticks.

Glue a red jingle bell at the point of the cinnamon stick to form Rudolph’s nose.

Glue on the googley eyes.

Rudolph is ready to fly through the sky! 

We hope that your grandkids love these Cinnamon Stick Ornaments and that they will remember making them with you for years to come!

Wait! We’ve one more Cinnamon Stick Ornament for ya!

Cinnamon Stick Christmas Tree

The post Cinnamon Stick Ornaments appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

With a chewy outside brownie for the cookie and a chocolate chip cookie dough as the filling, these cookies will be asked for over and over.

They are super simple to make but make a grand entrance once they are unveiled.   Let’s get to making these!

Chocolate Chip Brownie Cookies

Ingredients:

1 box of brownie mix plus the ingredients to make the batter (or you can also use your own made from scratch recipe)

1 1/2 cups (three sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature

3/4 cup light brown sugar

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup all purpose flour

3/4 tsp salt

3 TBL milk

2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 bag of mini chocolate chips

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Prepare the brownie batter per the package instructions.

On a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, spoon drops of brownie batter leaving space for spreading

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the tops of the brownies start to crack.

Allow to cool on the cookie sheet.

While the brownies are cooling, beat the brown sugar and butter on high speed until creamy and fluffy.

Add in the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.

Add in the flour and the salt.  Blend until well combined.

Add the milk and vanilla.  Mix well.

Fold in 3/4 cup of mini chocolate chips.

Spread this mixture on half of your “brownie cookies” then top with another brownie cookie. 

For even more chocolatey goodness, you can press or roll some extra mini chocolate chips to the sides of the cookies. 

Print

Chocolate Chip Brownie Cookies

With a chewy brownie on the outside and some yummy cookie dough for the filling inside, these Chocolate Chip Brownie Cookies will be asked for over and over again!

Course Cookies, Desserts

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 11 minutes minutes

Servings 12 cookies

Ingredients

• 1 pkg Brownie mix plus the ingredients to make the brownie batter per the package instructions
• 1 1/2 cups butter, room temperature (3 sticks)
• 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 3 TBL milk
• 2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 bag mini chocolate chips, semi-sweet

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees
• Prepare the brownie batter per the package instructions.
• On a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, spoon drops of brownie batter leaving space for spreading
• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the tops of the brownies start to crack.
• Allow to cool on the cookie sheet.
• While the brownies are cooling, beat the brown sugar and butter on high speed until creamy and fluffy.
• Add in the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
• Add in the flour and the salt.  Blend until well combined.
• Add the milk and vanilla.  Mix well.
• Fold in 3/4 cup of mini chocolate chips.
• Spread this mixture on half of your "brownie cookies" then top with another brownie cookie.
• For even more chocolatey goodness, you can press or roll some extra mini chocolate chips to the sides of the cookies. 

Notes

There are no eggs used in the cookie dough filling,  so these can be eaten without the worry of getting salmonella. 

Recipe adapted by The Tidy Mom

I am watching my little 4 year old grandson in two days and I am really going to score some Grammy points because we are going to make these cookies when he’s here.  Grammy for the win!

More cookie goodness for the grandkids!

Bomb Pop Cookies

Loft House Sugar Cookies

The post Chocolate Chip Brownie Cookies appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

I have to admit, it does make them look rather special.

Whether you make these for a cookie exchange or are making them for grandkids, this Chocolate Crinkle Cookies recipe will be a favorite. 

Ingredients:

4 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
½ cup vegetable oil
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup powdered sugar for coating

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Place chocolate in microwave safe bowl
Heat for 30 seconds, stir and continue heating for 10 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating until completely melted

Set aside to cool
In a large bowl, beat together the oil, sugar and melted chocolate

Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition

Add vanilla and beat well
In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt

Gradually add dry mixture to wet mixture until well combined

Transfer to bowl and cover with plastic wrap

Place in refrigerator to chill several hours or overnight
Remove from refrigerator and set on counter about 20 minutes to warm up slightly
Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mat
Place powdered sugar in medium bowl
Roll dough into balls and coat with powdered sugar

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are set
Remove from oven and let set on baking sheets for 2-3 minutes

Transfer to wire cooling rack and cool completely
Store in airtight container for up to 5 days

Print

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These festive Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are a favorite for cookie exchanges or just to make for family. You might want to double the batch!

Course Cookie, Cookies

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 11 minutes minutes

Servings 48 cookies

Ingredients

• 4 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 eggs large at room temperature
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup powdered sugar for coating

Instructions

• Place chocolate in microwave safe bowl
• Heat for 30 seconds, stir and continue heating for 10 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating until completely melted
• Set aside to cool
• In a large bowl, beat together the oil, sugar and melted chocolate
• Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition
• Add vanilla and beat well
• In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt
• Gradually add dry mixture to wet mixture until well combined
• Transfer to bowl and cover with plastic wrap
• Place in refrigerator to chill several hours or overnight
• Remove from refrigerator and set on counter about 20 minutes to warm up slightly
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mat
• Place powdered sugar in medium bowl
• Roll dough into balls and coat with powdered sugar
• Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are set
• Remove from oven and let set on baking sheets for 2-3 minutes
• Transfer to wire cooling rack and cool completely
• Store in airtight container for up to 5 days

Watch for more Christmas Cookies to come!

Need more cookies for a Christmas Cookie Exchange?  Here you go!

Candy Cane Cookie Recipe

Melting Snowman Cookies

Old Fashioned Gingerbread Man Cookie Recipe

The post Chocolate Crinkle Cookies appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

I know that they will be so proud to put these on their Christmas tree.

They would also be very cute attached to a Christmas goodie that you are giving to your neighbors.

Or attached to a wrapped present.  So many fun ways to use these!

Let’s get ready.

Glitter Christmas Tree Ornaments

Items needed:

Clear, plastic ornaments (we purchased ours from Hobby Lobby)
Beacon Glitter It or polyethylene finish (You can purchase this from Amazon HERE )
Red and Green Glitter
Funnel
Cup, for excess glue and/or glitter
Ribbon
Scissors
Glue dots or hot glue

Instructions:

Remove the tops from the ornaments. Pour a small amount of “Glitter It” into the ornament and slowly swirl around until the inside is coated.

Remove the excess Glitter It by pouring into a cup.
Using a funnel, pour glitter into the ornament and shake around until completely coated.

Tap the ornament upside down over a different cup to remove excess glitter.
If a thicker coat of glitter inside the ornament is desired, allow the ornament to dry and repeat the previous steps.

Let ornament dry completely.

Once the glue is dry, replace the cap.
Cut ribbon to the desired length and tie into a bow.
Using either a glue dot or hot glue, attach the ribbon to the ornament. If using a hot glue gun with children, please provide adult supervision.

You can make these with any color glitter to match your tree, wrapping paper etc.  I’ll ask my grandkids what color they want to use to see what they come up with. So fun!

More Ornament Fun!

Cinnamon Stick Christmas Ornaments

Craft Stick Christmas Tree Ornament

The post Glitter Christmas Tree Ornaments appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

What do you call these?  All my life I’ve called these Scotcharoos with an “A”.  Then I see recipes out there that are called Scotcheroos with an “E”.  What??!!

Either way, I don’t think there is a kid alive that doesn’t like these. (This Grammy loves them and can eat a quite a few.) And our Scotcharoos (with an A) is the best because of a small little tweak that makes our soft and not too hard. Plus no cutting is required. Hallelujah!

If you’ve ever cut a pan of these, you know that can be a chore.  But with our recipe below, your Scotcharoos will be a breeze. So let’s get started.

Ingredients:

5  to 5 1/2 cups of Rice Krispies (This is our little secret.  DO NOT use 6 cups that is called for in every other recipe.)

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of corn syrup

1 cup of creamy peanut butter

1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup of butterscotch chips

Instructions:

In a large sauce pan, mix the sugar and corn syrup together to dissolve the sugar.

Bring to a boil and remove from heat.

Stir in peanut butter.

Add 5 cups of Rice Krispies.  If the mix looks too liquidy you can add up to another 1/2 up but do not add any more than that or your Scotcharoos will be hard.  This is the key to making them soft instead of hard. I pretty much always use 5 cups.

Line a muffin pan with liners and then spray with a non-stick spray.  You can use regular size muffin pans or mini muffin pans. 

Evenly distribute the Rice Krispie mixture into the muffin liners and lightly press down.

In a smaller sauce pan on low heat, melt the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips until smooth.

Spoon melted mixture over each Scotcharoo and with a spoon distribute evenly. You can double the chocolate mixture if you prefer a thicker chocolate frosting.

Let cool and then you are ready to serve and eat.  NO CUTTING REQUIRED! 

Isn’t that the best news ever?

I will be serving these to my grandkids this Sunday.  Who wants to bet that there won’t be a single one leftover?

Print

Best Scotcharoos Recipe

With one little tweak, this Scotcharoo recipe makes the best Scotcharoos because they are soft and not hard. Plus no cutting required!

Course Dessert

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 24

Author Debbie

Ingredients

• 5 cups Rice Krispies
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup butterscotch chips

Instructions

• In a large sauce pan, mix the sugar and corn syrup together to dissolve the sugar.
• Bring to a boil and remove from heat.
• Stir in peanut butter.
• Add 5 cups of Rice Krispies.  If the mix looks too liquidy you can add up to another 1/2 up but do not add any more than that or your Scotcharoos will be hard.  This is the key to making them soft instead of hard. I pretty much always use 5 cups.
• Line a muffin pan with liners and then spray with a non-stick spray.  You can use regular size muffin pans or mini muffin pans.
• Evenly distribute the Rice Krispie mixture into the muffin liners and lightly press down.
• In a smaller sauce pan on low heat, melt the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips until smooth.
• Spoon melted mixture over each Scotcharoo and with a spoon distribute evenly. You can double the chocolate mixture if you prefer a thicker chocolate frosting.
• Let cool and then you are ready to serve and eat.  No cutting required!

Either way, with an “A” or an “E”, these are a fun treat to make and even more fun eating them!

Do you need more Rice Krispies goodness in your life?  

Take a look at this!

Roasted Rice Krispies Treats

The post Best Scotcharoos Recipe appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Well we sure do and know your kids will too.  Be prepared that your kids will want to make a ton of these and then place them all on their dresser in their room. 

Trust me.

I speak from experience.

So grab these items so you can get started:

Pine cones, (you can buy pine cones at your local craft store.  If you choose to pick some natural ones, make sure they are free of any little critters inside!) Colorful buttons (choose some that are bigger than googley eyes), googley eyes, glue dots, feathers, and sparkly paper

With your glue dots, glue the googley eyes onto a button.

Glue your eyes onto the pine cone.  If the dots do not work, a little tacky glue might help.

Cut a small triangle out of the sparkly paper for the beak.

Glue the beak on.

Place some glue dots on the pine cone where you want some feathers.

Press your feathers into the glue dots. 

Hoot!  Hoot!  Now you are done! 

This Pine Cone Owl Craft would make a great activity for the kids to stay busy while your Thanksgiving dinner is cooking.  Or any dinner for that matter! 

More Bird Craft Fun!

Clothes Pin Bird Craft

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Don’t these just look donut store-bought worthy?  I thought so.

These would be so amazing dipped into some creamy hot chocolate.

Just sayin.

So get your donut baking pan out.  Here we go!

Pumpkin Donuts Recipe

Ingredients:

½ cup oil, vegetable or canola
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (See our recipe to make this HERE)
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder

Glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar

1 tablespoon milk
Cinnamon Sugar for topping, ¼ cup granulated sugar with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon mixed together

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Coat donut pans with non-stick cooking spray
In a large bowl beat together the oil, eggs, sugar and pumpkin until smooth

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pumpkin pie spice, salt and baking powder
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat just until smooth

Fill donut pan about ¾ full ** see notes in recipe below

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned
Cool on wire rack for 5 minutes
Remove from pan
If using glaze, let donuts cool completely, then dip into glaze

Seriously if you made too many of these, people would want them forever and you’d have to start your own donut business. 

So yummy.

Print

Pumpkin Donuts Recipe

These Pumpkin Donuts are perfect for a cool crisp fall morning, especially if they are dipped into some creamy hot chocolate!

Course Breakfast

Keyword Pumpkin Donuts

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 18 donuts

Equipment

• Donut Baking Pan

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup oil, vegetable or canola
• 3 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice ** see notes
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder

Glaze

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 TBL milk

Cinnamon sugar for topping

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• Coat donut pans with non-stick cooking spray
• In a large bowl beat together the oil, eggs, sugar and pumpkin until smooth
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pumpkin pie spice, salt and baking powder
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat just until smooth
• Fill donut pan about ¾ full ** see notes
• Bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned
• Cool on wire rack for 5 minutes
• Remove from pan
• If using glaze, let donuts cool completely, then dip into glaze

Notes

**Donut pan - to make filling the pan easier, use a plastic decorator bag or resealable bag

We make our own Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix with our recipe HERE

Glaze - Add powdered sugar to medium bowl, add milk and whisk until smooth
Add additional liquid if the glaze is too thick. Dip donuts top side down into glaze and place on a wire rack to drip off excess.

Cinnamon Sugar - combine about ¼ cup granulated sugar with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, sprinkle immediately over glazed donut

Are you a pumpkin lover?  Check these pumpkin recipes out!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Best Pumpkin Muffins Ever

Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe

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The post Pumpkin Donuts Recipe appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

With all the yummy flavors of a perfect fall recipe, pumpkin, cinnamon, spice and pecans, this will become a family favorite to make during the beautiful autumn days.

Let’s get this cake started!

Pumpkin Dump Cake

Ingredients:

4 large eggs, room temperature, beaten
1 can (15 oz) pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie mix
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (See our recipe for this HERE)
1 teaspoon salt
1 box (15.25 oz) cake mix, butter golden or yellow
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted

Additional toppings:

Whip cream
Cinnamon
Vanilla ice cream
Caramel topping
Pecans, chopped

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Spray 13×9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray
In a large bowl, combine eggs, pumpkin, evaporated milk, sugar, spice and salt until well combined

Pour pumpkin mixture into baking dish

Sprinkle with dry cake mix

Chop pecans and spread evenly over cake mix

Melt butter in microwave safe bowl and drizzle over nuts

Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
Serve warm or room temperature with whip cream or ice cream if desired

Store leftovers in airtight container in refrigerator.

Print

Pumpkin Dump Cake

With all the great fall flavors of pumpkin, cinnamon, spices and pecans, this Pumpkin Dump Cake is fall dessert perfection.

Course Desserts

Keyword Pumpkin Dump Cake

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 15 people

Author This Grandma Is Fun

Ingredients

• 4 eggs large, room temperature, beaten
• 1 can (15 oz) pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie mix
• 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 box (15.25 oz) cake mix, butter golden or yellow
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• Spray 13x9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray
• In a large bowl, combine eggs, pumpkin, evaporated milk, sugar, spice and salt until well combined
• Pour pumpkin mixture into baking dish
• Sprinkle with dry cake mix
• Chop pecans and spread evenly over cake mix
• Melt butter in microwave safe bowl and drizzle over nuts
• Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
• Serve warm or room temperature with whip cream or ice cream if desired
• Store leftovers in airtight container in refrigerator

Notes

Addional Toppings if desired:

Whip cream
Cinnamon
Vanilla ice cream
Caramel topping
Pecans, chopped

There you go.  Fall dessert perfection. 

OOOOH!  More Fall Goodness is below.

Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe

Best Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin Chocolate  Chip Cookies

The post Pumpkin Dump Cake appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

I am really getting in my Instant Pot because it makes cooking so easy.  I have really been enjoying our Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes.  They make a great side dish.

With this Low Carb Pumpkin Cheesecake, I am definitely going to add some heavy whipping cream to top it off!

Low Carb Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Ingredients:

For the crust:
1 cup almond flour
2 tablespoons powdered erythritol sweetener
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 ½ tablespoon butter, melted

For the cheesecake:
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
⅔ cup canned pure pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 cup powdered erythritol sweetener
2 eggs, room temperature
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice  (We have a great recipe for this spice mix! Click HERE.
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:

Prepare a 7.5 inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray, wrapping aluminum foil around the bottom to protect from water seepage.

With a fork, stir together the almond flour, powdered erythritol sweetener, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and melted butter for the crust.

Press the almond flour mixture into the springform pan in a flat, tight layer. Set aside.

Place a trivet in the bottom of the electric pressure cooker liner. Add the minimum required amount of water according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until soft and creamy. Add the pumpkin puree and sweeteners, continuing to beat until completely blended, about 2 minutes.

Add the eggs, one at a time, as well as the heavy cream, pie spice, cinnamon, and vanilla. Beat just until combined.

Transfer the mixture to the springform pan and spread evenly. Cover the springform pan with aluminum foil to avoid condensation water dripping onto the cheesecake.

Place the springform pan onto the trivet inside of the Instant Pot. Cover the electric pressure cooker and set the valve to sealing. Program for manual or “pressure cook” for 35 minutes.

When the cooking cycle is complete, allow the electric pressure cooker to naturally release the pressure until the pressure pin drops. Remove the lid, press to “cancel” the “keep warm” cycle, and allow the cheesecake to continue cooling inside the pressure cooker for 20 minutes before removing.

Release the springform pan and remove cheesecake.  Let cool.

Replace the aluminum foil with plastic wrap and refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 2 hours prior to serving.

Oh and don’t forget the whipped cream!

Print

Low Carb Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheesecake

Creamy as can be, this Pumpkin Cheesecake is the perfect low carb ending to a great Thanksgiving meal.

Course Dessert, Holiday, Thanksgiving

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 8 people

Ingredients

For the Crust

• 1 cup almond flour
• 2 TBL powdered erythritol sweetener
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 TBL butter, melted

For the Cheesecake

• 2 pkgs (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
• 2/3 cup canned pure pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
• 1 cup powdered erythritol sweetener
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 2 TBL heavy cream
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

• Prepare a 7.5 inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray, wrapping aluminum foil around the bottom to protect from water seepage.
• With a fork, stir together the almond flour, powdered erythritol sweetener, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and melted butter for the crust. Press the almond flour mixture into the springform pan in a flat, tight layer. Set aside.
• Place a trivet in the bottom of the electric pressure cooker liner. Add the minimum required amount of water according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until soft and creamy. Add the pumpkin puree and sweeteners, continuing to beat until completely blended, about 2 minutes.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, as well as the heavy cream, pie spice, cinnamon, and vanilla. Beat just until combined.
• Transfer the mixture to the springform pan and spread evenly. Cover the springform pan with aluminum foil to avoid water dripping onto the cheesecake.
• Place springform pan onto the trivet that is inside of the Instant Pot
• Cover the electric pressure cooker and set the valve to sealing. Program for manual or “pressure cook” for 35 minutes.
• When the cooking cycle is complete, allow the electric pressure cooker to naturally release the pressure until the pressure pin drops. Remove the lid, press to “cancel” the “keep warm” cycle, and allow the cheesecake to continue cooling inside the pressure cooker for 20 minutes before removing.
• Release the springform pan and remove cheesecake
• Replace the aluminum foil with plastic wrap and refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 2 hours prior to serving.

Notes

We have a great recipe for the Pumpkin Pie Spice!  Click HERE.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The post Low Carb Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheesecake appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

This was a great reason to get out of the house and go for a nature walk.  Take your kids and grandkids out to gather leaves for their picture.  The leaves don’t have to be any certain color, they can even be green!

Then grab these craft supplies to get started:

Foam brush, acrylic paint in any fall colors that you like, paper plates and some white card stock paper.

Pour some paint onto the paper plates and with your foam brush, paint your leaves. 

Press the painted side of the leaf onto your paper.

Note: We found out after doing a few of these that painting the backs of the leaves show up a little better when they are pressed onto the paper.  The backs of the leaves have stronger “veins” and show up more on paper.

It was fun to put more than one color onto a leaf!

This Fall Leaf Craft is a good one for all ages of kids but also fun for adults too!

What?  More Fall Crafts?  Take a look!

Fall Leaf Art

Fall Leaf Bowl

The post Fall Leaf Craft appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

It is great to have this on hand so that you’ll be ready to go for your fall apple pie dishes.

It only takes 5 minutes to make and you won’t have to hunt for what you need.

Apple Pie Spice Recipe

Ingredients:
¼ cup ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon ground ginger

Instructions:
In a small bowl, mix all ingredients together

Store in an airtight container.  It yields 5 tablespoons which should be plenty for lots of baking!

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Apple Pie Spice Recipe

A great spice mix for all your fall apple dishes

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 5 tablespoons

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp allspice
• 1 tsp ginger

Instructions

• In a small bowl, mix all ingredients together.
• Store in an airtight container

MORE APPLE-Y GOODNESS!

Salted Caramel Apple Pies

Apple Pie Caramel Apple

The post Apple Pie Spice Recipe appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

When I order this at Texas Roadhouse, I always add on the cinnamon brown sugar.  It is so good!  If you like that too, quickly mix 1/2 cup brown sugar with 2 Tablespoons cinnamon and sprinkle it on these potatoes. Sooo good!

So let’s get cookin’!

Ingredients:

4 medium-sized sweet potatoes
1 cup of water

Topping Options
Brown Sugar cinnamon – 1/2 cup brown sugar mixed with 2 Tablespoons cinnamon
Whipped butter
Butter
Marshmallows
Pecans, chopped 

Instructions:

Rinse and scrub the sweet potatoes
Add the water to the Instant Pot

Place a steaming trivet inside, and lay the potatoes on top

Place the lid on, and seal the pot
Use manual mode to set on high-pressure cook for 10-15 minutes, depending on the size of your sweet potato.
Allow the pressure cooker to naturally release pressure for 10 minutes
Then manually release any remaining pressure
Carefully remove the lid, and remove sweet potatoes

Serve these Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes with butter or other toppings of your choice

Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.

Print

Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes

Delicious sweet potatoes - Just like Texas Roadhouse!

Course Side Dish

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

• 4 individual sweet potatoes
• 1 cup water

Toppings Options

• Brown Sugar Cinnamon 1/2 cup brown sugar mixed with 2 tablespoons of cinnamon
• Whipped Butter
• Butter
• Marshmallows
• Chopped Pecans

Instructions

• Rinse and scrub the sweet potatoes
• Add the water to the Instant Pot
• Place a steaming trivet inside, and lay the potatoes on top
• Place the lid on, and seal the pot
• Use manual mode to set on high-pressure cook for 10-15 minutes, depending on the size of your sweet potato.
• Allow the pressure cooker to naturally release pressure for 10 minutes then manually release any remaining pressure.
• Carefully remove the lid, and remove sweet potatoes
• Serve with butter or other toppings of your choice

Notes

Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 5 days

Wait!  Before you go, take a look at these other AMAZING sweet potato recipes!

Crash Hot Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potato Souffle

The post Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

I was thinking these might be cute at each place setting with sayings on the turkey about why they are “thankful” for that person sitting in that place. Or your guests can also write what they are thankful for.

Wouldn’t they be a fun addition?  Family and friends will also love the candy inside as an extra treat!

Here is what you will need:

• 4 oz mason jars 
• Red candy of choice (we used swedish fish)
• Glue. This can be tacky glue, glue dots or a glue gun.  (Adult supervision is best when using a glue gun)
  
• Googley eyes
• Colored Construction paper in yellow, orange, red and brown
  

Instructions:

Fill mason jar with your red candy. 

Cut out four feathers about 4 inches in length.

Cut out a triangle about one inch in length

Write the things that you are thankful for on the feathers.

Glue the googley eyes and the beak on to the from of the mason jar.

Glue the feathers on to the back of the jar.

Now these Mason Jar Turkey Favors are ready for the table! 

I know my grand kids will be so excited to have their creations on the table this year.  I for one am so thankful for THEM!!

Here are a few more turkey ideas!

Rice Krispie Turkey Drumstick

Oreo Turkey Cupcakes

The post Mason Jar Turkey Favors appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

This green bean casserole recipe is easily doubled if you are expecting a crowd.  Easily the best thing about this recipe is the crunchy onions on the top which add such a great flavor.

Another easy thing about this recipe is that it takes almost no time in the kitchen.  Easy to prepare and quick to cook.

One of my most favorite memories of Thanksgiving is that of my great uncle Ira.  He believed that dessert (pie) should be eaten first at a Thanksgiving meal and that he did.  We kids thought it was hilarious when he would be eating his pie while we were starting on our turkey.

Whether you eat these green beans before or after your pie, you won’t be disappointed.  Don’t forget to loosen your belt to make room!

Print

Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Course Side Dish

Author TGIF - This Grandma Is Fun

Ingredients

• 3 cans 14.5 oz each green beans, french style or cut, drained
• 1 can 10.75 oz cream of mushroom soup
• ½ cup milk
• 1 6oz can french fried onions

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• In a large bowl, combine drained beans, soup and milk until well combined
• Stir in ½ cup fried onions
• Pour into prepared baking dish and spread evenly
• Bake for 25-30 minutes
• Remove from oven and add remaining fried onions
• Bake for 5 minutes longer
• Serve immediately
• Store leftovers in airtight container

Notes

For 13x9 baking dish, double the recipe

And now for pie!

MORE Thanksgiving ideas!

Rice Krispie Turkey Drumsticks (for the kids!)

Pumpkin Pull Apart Bread

The post Green Bean Casserole Recipe appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

For some reason, when I make these cookies for my grandkids, I feel like they are a little healthier than regular cookies even though they have plenty of chocolate chips in them!  And boy, do my grandkids gobble them up!  These Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies never last long once they know I’ve made them.

Here are the ingredients for these cookies:

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
1 ½ cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice  (check out our great recipe for this!)
1 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (reserve 1/2 cup for garnish)
1 cup chopped walnuts, optional 

Recipe Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mat
In a large bowl, beat together butter and brown sugar until smooth and creamy

Add the pumpkin, eggs, and vanilla extract and beat until well combined
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and spices
Gradually add dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture until well incorporated

Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts, if using

Using a cookie scoop or a spoon, drop the dough onto the prepared baking sheets

Add the 1/2 cup chocolate chips on top to garnish.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are lightly browned.

Remove from the oven and let cookies cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling racks
Place cookies in an airtight container and store for several days at room temperature; freeze for longer storage.

See how great they look?  They taste amazing too which is why they never last for long.  Which is why I’m on my way to make some right now!

Print

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yummy pumpkiny goodness in a soft cookie. And did I mention they have chocolate chips?

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 11 minutes minutes

Total Time 21 minutes minutes

Servings 50

Author TGIF - This Grandma Is Fun

Ingredients

• ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ¼ cup brown sugar packed
• 1 ½ cup pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling
• 2 large eggs room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped walnuts optional

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
• Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mat
• In a large bowl, beat together butter and brown sugar until smooth and creamy
• Add the pumpkin, eggs, and vanilla extract and beat until well combined
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and spices
• Gradually add dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture until well incorporated
• Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts, if using
• Using a cookie scoop or a spoon, drop the dough onto the prepared baking sheets
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are lightly browned.
• Remove from the oven and let cookies cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling racks
• Place cookies in an airtight container and store for several days at room temperature; freeze for longer storage

Are you in the mood for more pumpkin?  Take a look at these!!

The Best Pumpkin Muffins EVER

Pumpkin Pull Apart Bread

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

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This is a great craft for littler hands but before we start with the instructions we want to make sure that grandparents and parents use an empty Tide PODS tub, and to always keep liquid laundry packets up, closed and safely out of the reach of children and vulnerable family members.  Taking these steps is the most effective way to prevent accidents with a liquid laundry detergent.

Ok! To make this Tide Pods Turkey, you will need the following:

1 empty Tide laundry pods container

Turkey Template printed out on printer paper or 8.5 x 11 blank adhesive label

Liquid glue or Glue Dots

Scissors (if not using a cutting machine)

Craft foam sheets in red, green, yellow, and orange

Instructions:

1. Remove the top from the container and discard.

2.Wash the container then remove the label from the laundry pods container by soaking in hot water, scraping, and then using GooGone to remove completely. You can also use a heat gun to warm the label but the ease of this option varies based on the brand. For instance, I found using a heat gun to be easy on Gain containers but difficult on Tide containers.

3. Print template and cut.

4. Apply the template to the side of the container with the liquid glue or the glue dots.

5. Cut foam sheets into strips that are 2 inches wide by approximately 8 inches long. Attach the strips to the back of the container in a fan shape.

And there you go!  A Tide Pod Turkey Craft that is bright and festive that your kids can also enjoy playing with. 

And YOU can also feel good that you are recycling and helping the environment.  I love these kinds of crafts!

Wait!  You need a few more turkey ideas for Thanksgiving?  Here you go!

Thanksgiving Wreath

Oreo Turkey Cupcakes

The post Tide Pods Turkey Craft appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Before we start the tutorial, let me share Grammy’s Rules for Slime!

1.  Wherever we make the slime, it cannot be over carpet. Kids need to sit on the floor or on a chair that has no carpet underneath.

2. Any cute little child with long hair, must have it back in a pony tail.

3. And lastly, slime can only be played with in a room without carpet! (There’s that carpet again)  No taking slime into a bedroom. 

As long as those rules can be followed, then this Grammy is ready to make slime!  Let’s start with the ingredients.  The ingredients listed below will make ONE batch.  So if you want all three colors, you’ll need to adjust quantities.

6 ounces of white Elmer’s glue, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 1/2 tablespoons contact lens solution (this solution must have boric acid in it for the slime to work).  Lastly you can add 2 tablespoons of water to your glue before the baking powder if you’d like your slime to be a little stretchier.

For the green slime, you’ll need 6 ounces of Elmer’s green glitter glue

For the orange slime, you will need some orange food coloring.

Also needed will be some small glass jars, googley eyes, a sheet of black felt, scissors and some type of adhesive – glue dots, tacky glue or a glue gun (Use glue gun only with adult supervision)

Now we are ready to start!  Squeeze all of the 6 ounces of glue into a small bowl.  We are showing the green glitter as our example.

If you are adding water, do that step now. Mix well. 

NOTE:  If you are making the orange slime, add the food coloring now to the white glue mix to make it orange.

Then add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda into the glue.

Next it is time to add the contact lens solution

Start to mix everything together.   This part may be challenging for some kids and adult supervision might be required.  If the mixture is too sticky add a little more contact lens solution. When the mixture is looking fairly solid, let your kids knead it until everything is thoroughly blended and it is looking like slime!

Next cut out the jar’s facial features out of the black felt.

We just eyeballed what we wanted and then cut those shapes out. Then with whatever kind of glue you are using, glue them on along with the googley eyes.  If using a glue gun, we recommend adult supervision.

After playing with the slime, place slime in your Halloween Slim Jar for easy storage.

See?  Making this Halloween Slime is not so bad!

If you still aren’t up to making slime, try these fun Halloween Crafts!

Salt Art Spider Web Craft

Coffee Filter Halloween Bats

The post Halloween Slime Jars appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

I love making any kind of craft with my grandkids with items that I already have around in my house.   These Cat and Pumpkin Halloween Masks are perfect for that. 

Using paper plates and either construction or cardstock paper, I can have these ready for my grandkids to make in a jiffy.  Here is what you will need:

Paper plates, some colorful cardstock paper, pen or pencil, scissors, a hole punch, tacky glue or gluestick, orange and black acrylic paint, and a foam brush.  Also needed is a straw, dowel or pipe cleaner to help hold up the mask. We used a dowel.  You will also need this free template compliments of Oh Happy Day!   Click HERE for template.

Start by painting the back of the paper plate with the orange and black paint.

While the paint is drying, cut out the shapes from the template.

With your pen or pencil, trace the shapes on to the back of the colored paper as desired.

Cut out the shapes that you just traced.

Trace two circles for the eyes and then cut them out.

Glue the shapes on to the front of your mask.

Using the hole punch, punch some holes for the cat’s whiskers. Then glue them on.

Because we used a dowel for our support, we glued them on with a glue gun.  A straw or pipe cleaner will also work.  If you choose to use a dowel, make sure any children who use a glue gun uses it with adult supervision.

And now it’s time to play!  These Cat and Pumpkin Halloween Masks will provide HOURS of entertainment and play for your kids and grandkids.

Happy Halloween!

We’ve got some more super fun Halloween Crafts for you.  Take a look!

Sparkle Spiders

Coffee Filter Bats

Salt Art Spider Web Craft

The post Cat and Pumpkin Halloween Masks appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Making your own pumpkin pie spice is super simple and needless to say, it just tastes better than the kind you buy at the store.  That’s the way it is about anything that is homemade versus store bought.  Don’t even get me started on the difference between homemade and store bought fruit jam!

Here’s the quick recipe!

Print

Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe

Course Baking

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 6 Tablespoons

Author TGIF - This Grandma Is Fun

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground allspice
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cloves

Instructions

• In a small bowl, mix all ingredients together until well blended
  
• 
• 
• Store in an airtight container
• 

We have a pumpkin recipe that is in our top ten most viewed recipes on our blog.  The recipe does not call for pumpkin pie spice in particular but lists cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. The next time I make these muffins, I am going to substitute 2 1/2 teaspoons of this spice mix to 1) make the recipe a little easier and 2) to see if it makes it even just a little better!

Here’s the link to the recipe:

The Best Pumpkin Muffins Ever

They seriously are so moist and we get SO many compliments on them.

So one pumpkin lover to another, this mix is so versatile and you will use it to make so many yummy pumpkin dishes.  Enjoy!

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This craft is a good one for littler kids since it requires just a little cutting and some gluing and then you have a fun spider to hang. 

The items that you will need for the craft are:

Sparkle paper (9 x 12) found in most craft stores,  googley eyes in different sizes, 4 pipe cleaners per spider (we used sparkly ones),  scissors, stapler, paper hole punch and some glue.  We used a glue gun but regular liquid glue will also work.  

First start out by tracing a circle on the back side of your paper.  Using a bowl or a plate works great for this.

Cut your circle out.

Take your four pipe cleaners or chenille stems and fold them in half.  Then cut at the fold to make four stems of the same size for the legs.

After cutting the pipe cleaners, make a little bend in them at around the 1/3 mark to create the legs.

Now you can either staple the legs on to the spider or if you are using a glue gun (with adult supervision) you can glue the legs on. Glue four legs on each side of the spider.

Face side up, with liquid glue or a glue gun, glue the googley eyes on. We used 8 eyes per spider.  Anywhere your kids want to glue the eyes on is fair game!

Next make a hole at the “top” of your spider with the hole puncher. Tie some yarn through the hole and you are ready to decorate your house with some Halloween sparkly glam!

Sparkly Spookiness!

I promise that your kids and grandkids will be so proud of their glittery creations!

Looking for more Halloween Crafts?

Coffee Filter Halloween Bats

Salt Art Spider Web

The post Sparkle Spider Halloween Craft appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.