TOP POSTS :: Best of October

     

Hello November everyone! Can you believe we are at the beginning of the holiday season? I am so excited as this time of year is just magical and so much fun! Within the next week, I will be decorating for Christmas and transforming my home into all things Christmas, so I hope you join me as I will have a ton of ideas! I have always decorated early for the holidays as mine always start in November with family coming into town so I kinda have too, plus I LOVE it anyway! ;) But no worries as I will also be sharing a few Thanksgiving ideas in the next week as well.

But before we start with all of the talk about the holidays, let's take a look back to see what you all were reading in October & loving the most. As always, I would also like to say THANK YOU to all who stop by to read, comment from time to time & send me emails. I SEE IT ALL! So thanks again. xoxo

:: TOP POSTS for October 2015 ::

RECIPE :: Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups for Apple Dipping

RECIPE :: Cut-Out Treats + 5 After School Traditions

 

   SHOPPING :: IKEA FINDS [September Edition]

   CRAFT :: Halloween Eyeball Wreath

  REAL PARTY :: Halloween Sleepover Party

So now you are all caught up on some of the most read posts here on my blog. Hopefully you will just add me to your BlogLovin feed so you don't miss any posts. =) You can find it on the top right sidebar here - super easy to do!
See you next time! Which post was YOUR favorite this month? Let me know . .

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Looking forward to seeing you again! :)

 

RECIPE :: Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups for Apple Dipping

Today’s post is sponsored by NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE, but my love for their morsels/cookie dough is all my own!

Fall is in full swing here and it makes me so happy as it's my favorite season to enjoy! The trees are constantly changing to their amazing colors, the temperatures are getting cooler and it makes me want to indulge in some of my favorite treats! Commence all of the fall-iday baking recipes!!!! Fall is the absolute best for baking and my family enjoys making homemade treats using seasonal produce and apples is our 'go-to' fruit of choice this time of year because we love the dipping! Everyone knows that the best way to celebrate this season is with apple anything! Yes that's right, move over pumpkin everything, as today we are bringing it with a fave apple treat! 
"It's all about them apples, 'bout them apples and caramel dipping!" lol . . . I HAD to! ;)

For as long as I can remember I have loved looking forward to apple dipping in the fall and using caramel dip with them and of course adding any toppings that I am feeling at the moment. One of the other treats that get me in the mood for the fall baking season is warm chocolate chip cookies!!!! Hmmmmm . . .so I thought it was high time I married the two up so we could enjoy two of our faves all at once. Today I am bringing you my new fall favorite: chocolate chip cookie cups for apple dipping using NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE chocolate chips and cookie dough.

This recipe is pretty easy and it is sooooooo worth it because they are so yummy and who doesn't like their apples dipped in caramel? Here's how you can make your own chocolate chip cookie cups to have some apple dipping fun!

1.Gather all of the ingredients you will need: your favorite apples, almonds (or a different nut of your choosing), caramel dip, a bag of NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE dark chocolate morsels, a package of NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE chocolate chip refrigerated cookie dough and a traditional size muffin pan. 

2. Open the package of cookie dough, take a heaping spoonful and form into a ball shape and place in each muffin pan slot. I love using this cookie dough because it is made with real NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE semi-sweet chocolate morsels and the dough always delivers that classic taste that we grew up on as kids so you know it is going to be good! 
Press the dough to form a cup shape, you may find using a tart shaper and your fingers is helpful to get it just right. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. After removing from oven, press centers in again to give the shape of a cup and let them completely cool. They should look like this.

3. Grab your NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE dark chocolate morsels and melt about half the bag in 30 second intervals in the microwave stirring after every interval to prepare them for dipping the cookie cups in. These chips are my favorite as they have a deep, rich flavor that just enhances the chocolate flavor in my recipes.

You will also want to chop your almonds to sprinkle on the dipped cookie cup once it's dipped.

4. Dip each cookie cup in the melted chocolate and sprinkle right away with almonds and set aside so they can dry. Once I had dipped all of mine, I placed them in the freezer for about 5 minutes so they would harden up a little quicker because I have NO patience. ;) And I think it really did help.

5. Add the caramel dip to each little bowl or perhaps some toppings, apples or even fill them with some of the melted chocolate! I added a decorative straw cut down to size, to give it some flair and to possibly use to scoop out some caramel dip if you wanted. You are now ready to munch on your new fall favorite treat!

Make sure you are following me on my Instagram as I will be sharing a giveaway about how you can WIN a Target gift card on me so you can pick up the ingredients to make these yourself and do some #fallbaking with NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE! Now what do you think you will make if you win? Let me now below and happy fall baking!







Thank you so much for letting me share this product with you and for supporting the brands and companies that help support my blog!   

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RECIPE :: Caramel Apple Cupcakes

     

Today I want to share this simple & YUMMY recipe with you for "Caramel Apple Cupcakes"! I promise it will be simple with a few variations that are sure to please everyone, all using a box cake mix that you can get this time of year. Is your mouth watering yet? Delish looking huh? ;)

Here's is what you will need to make the caramel apple cupcakes:

- grab a box of Pillsbury caramel apple cake mix, some Smucker's caramel sundae syrup, your ingredients to make the cupcakes (from recipe on box) and some cupcake liners, follow the directions & done!

 

I want to share with you a few variations on these tasty treats that you will love!

1. While the cupcakes are still warm - not hot, take a fork & poke several holes into the top of the cupcake & squirt some of the Smucker's caramel sauce on top, this way you can enjoy some of the caramel sauce on the inside of the cupcake too. 

This is the perfect alternative for people that like the 'cake' more then the icing.

If you like nuts, sprinkle a few on top . . . .yum! 

2. another variation is to just ice the cupcakes with your favorite icing BUT I used a simple cream cheese frosting for these suckers!

3. the last variation is MY fave as it gives you a 'surprise' in every bite! ;)
Once they cool, take a spoon or small scoop & 'scoop out' part of the cupcake (sorry forgot to take a pic of this part). Then squirt some of the caramel sauce inside. Once you do that, ice the cupcake as usual & adorn with your favorite toppings. In this case, we used crushed nuts to top off the cupcakes. They TRULY did taste like caramel apples that you get at the fairs. ;)


 

What desserts have you made variations of lately? Anything good? 
Let me know what you are baking up this week . . .  

Are you loving the "eye candy" here? 

Then join me over on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter & Instagram so you never miss out on an exclusive deal or any behind the scenes photos!

Check out my designs, artwork & decor in my Etsy shop! 

 

Looking forward to seeing you again! :)