Although I enjoy cooking year round, as the holidays approach I find myself itching to create scrumptious sweets and treats.  I am far from a gourmet chef and enjoy simple recipes that are easy to implement within a couple hours, but still result in goodies that are pleasing to the taste buds.  Below are some of my favorite “sweets” recipes.  Enjoy!

Caramel apples have always been one of my favorite sweets.  This recipe that I found on allrecipes.com is a great and simple way to make these scrumptious treats.  Once you master the basic recipe, you can become very creative with your apples.  Try replacing milk chocolate with white chocolate and using food coloring to create colors for themed parties and fun.  Being a San Diego Chargers fan, I once made baby blue apples with yellow lightning bolts on them.  They were a hit!

If you are new to the world of making cheesecakes, start here!  These mini cheesecakes are mouth-watering tiny delectable treats. However, you will need to make sure to look up some cheesecake basics because the recipe does exclude some points that will help perfect your cheesecakes, such as making sure the cream cheese is at room temperature upon mixing.  Also, I personally like to use graham crackers or Oreo cookies instead of vanilla wafers as the mini crusts.

When the month of October hits I start to think of pumpkins. I think of pumpkins for carving. I think of pumpkin seeds for roasting. I think of pie I should be baking. However, my favorite pumpkin activity is making pumpkin bread. Oh how I love the smell of cinnamon and cloves! The Betty Crocker pumpkin bread recipe is great. I was able to easily make delicious pumpkin bread from my first attempt at baking it.

I cannot recall my childhood without thinking of my mom baking chocolate chip cookies.  She used good old Nestlé’s Original Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe and I too have used it time and time again.  This recipe is a genuine favorite.  There is no need for substitutes.  Follow the recipe exactly!

Another great original recipe!  Although delightfully wonderful, be prepared for an extraordinarily gooey mess while making.  Also, move quickly!  If you don't, you will be stuck with a marshmallow-y disaster.  Drizzling chocolate over the top, once the treats have cooled, also adds another deliciously sweet layer.