Cooking

Easy Halloween Party Food Recipes by Maggie Jackson on KTLA Morning News

Featured on TV: Last-Minute Halloween Party Food Recipe Ideas

Cooking, Holidays, kids

Imagine this: Halloween is one day away (or today!!), and you signed up to bring treats to the class party, or perhaps you offered to host your neighbors for a get-together before trick-or-treating… Or, maybe you simply want to surprise your kids with a spooky spread when they get home from school… And, you still haven’t figured out what food you’re making! AHHHH!! Last-minute party prep is scarier than Halloween movie flicks!! Look, I’ve been in these situations, too, so I get it! I’m a busy mom balancing school drop-offs/pickups, work, children’s activities, housework, marriage and volunteer commitments all while trying to squeeze in workouts and self-care… Phew! Can’t you relate?

Thankfully, my last-minute habit (some may call it “procrastination”) has made me quick and creative when it comes to pulling together fun, festive food for parties and holidays. And, thankfully, with our fab grocery stores in Southern California, like Smart & Final, there’s so many ways to make fast and festive semi-homemade food for Halloween or any themed party!

Monster Rice Krispy Treats – scroll to find the recipe!

Smart & Final sponsored a KTLA Morning News segment that I hosted about last-minute Halloween food, and I’m sharing my tips below. I have 7 of my favorite wicked Halloween party food ideas that you can pull together in no time! From dips to treats and drinks, you can create a spooktacular spread with these recipes! If you’d like to watch the full TV segment featuring these recipes, scroll to the bottom of this blog post.

Frankenstein Layered Dip with Spooky Tortilla Crisps

Frankenstein Layered Dip and Spooky Tortilla Crisps

This is a spooktacular twist on a crowd-pleasing layered dip! Mexican food is one of my favorites, and this dip combines all the best “South of the Border” flavors with sour cream, taco seasoning, pico de gallo, cheese, guacamole and black beans. Make this recipe even more frightfully fun with Halloween-themed tortilla crisps created with spooky-themed cookie cutters, flour tortillas, butter and garlic salt. This recipe is available on my blog here.

Candy Corn Fruit Cups

Candy Corn Fruit Cups (Credit: cozycadence.com)

Here’s a recipe that’s semi-healthy, pretty-looking and SO EASY to put together! To create these candy-corn inspired fruit cocktail cups, use a clear cup and simply layer yellow pineapple on the bottom, mandarin oranges in the middle and whipped cream on top. Add a sprinkle of real candy corn (optional), and voila! Yummy, sweet candy corn fruit cups that the whole family will love!

My Candy Corn Fruit Parfait (without the candy corn candy topping)

Nutella Banana Mummy Wraps

Nutella Banana Mummy Wraps (Credit: ourbestbites.com)

Here’s a treat that’s as adorable as it is spooky: the Nutella Banana Mummy Wraps (credit: Our Best Bites). Ripe bananas wrapped snugly in buttery crescent-dough, layered with creamy Nutella and topped with candy eyes that peer out from their “bandages” — it’s the perfect mix of playful and delicious. With minimal fuss, you’ve got a quick assembly that invites kids to help (who doesn’t love wrapping their “mummies”?), and the bake time means you’ll have fresh pastries just as your little ghouls arrive for trick-or-treating or Halloween party. Serve them warm, let the chocolate and banana mingle in every bite, and watch your gathering light up with “oohs” and “ahhs.” For the complete recipe, visit Our Best Bites here.

Cheesy Crescent Witch Hats

Cheesy Crescent Witch Hats (Credit: Macy Blackwell)

These Cheesy Crescent Witch Hats are the perfect savory spell for your Halloween spread! 🧙‍♀️✨ With only 3 ingredients — buttery crescent rolls, gooey melted cheese, and a couple spooky pepperoni stars — they’re delightfully simple to make yet look like something straight out of a witch’s kitchen. Kids will love helping roll the dough into “pointy hats,” and adults will appreciate that they’re warm, flaky, and ready in minutes. Serve them as a snack, side, or appetizer at your Halloween party — they’re frightfully festive, crowd-pleasing, and guaranteed to disappear faster than you can say abracadabra!

All you need is a can of Pillsbury Original Crescent Rolls, three mozzarella cheese sticks and pepperoni slices. Use a mini cookie cutter to cut the pepperoni into spellbinding stars and moons.

Cheesy Crescent Witch Hats Recipe Directions:

  1. Unroll crescent dough on a baking sheet.
  2. Cut cheese sticks into thirds, and place each of the small cheese stick pieces in the middle of the wide base of each crescent dough triangle.
  3. Roll the base of each hat over the cheese to cover completely. Pinch the sides of the hat to seal.
  4. Cut pepperonis into mini stars and moons, and place on top of hats.
  5. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes.
  6. Serve with ranch, marinara or pizza sauce for dipping!

Graveyard Trifle

My Graveyard Trifle on KTLA Morning News

This Graveyard Trifle is a frightfully fun and decadent no-bake dessert that’s guaranteed to steal the show at any Halloween gathering! Layers of rich, moist chocolate bundt cake (I purchased two at the bakery section at Smart & Final), creamy chocolate pudding, and fluffy whipped cream create a deliciously spooky trifle cake, while the top transforms into an edible “graveyard.” Milano cookies and Hershey bars serve as tombstones, ghostly marshmallow Peeps rise from the “dirt,” and candy pumpkins add the perfect festive touch. It’s the ultimate combination of playful presentation and irresistible flavor — easy to assemble, fun for kids to decorate, and a total crowd-pleaser for anyone with a sweet tooth. A dessert so good, it’s to die for!

Tools needed for Graveyard Trifle:

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Cut bundt cakes into small bite-size pieces. Save a small portion to crumble for the trifle’s topping at the end.
  2. In a large trifle bowl, add half of the bundt cake pieces. Next, layer 10 Snack Pack cups of chocolate pudding, then half of the large Cool Whip container. Repeat layers once more: cake, pudding, Cool Whip.
  3. Use saved crumbled cake pieces to create “dirt” on the last layer of Cool Whip. Make a graveyard scene on top with decorations like Milano cookies, Hershey chocolate bars, Peep marshmallow ghosts and candy pumpkins.
  4. Serve immediately. Store leftovers in refrigerator.

Monster Rice Krispies Treats

Monster Rice Krispy Treats

These Monster Rice Krispies Treats are my kids’ favorite! You can make your own Rice Krispy Treats or cut corners, like I did, and use store-bought. These are so easy, it’s scary! Your kids will love helping you make them! Plus, I love that the process of making them does not have to be perfect. Odd-looking monsters is what makes these treats perfect for a ghoulish Halloween party!

Ingredients:

  • Large Box of Rice Krispy Treats (includes 40 individually wrapped treats)
  • Four (4) cups white chocolate
  • Four (4) different colors of food coloring (I used orange, green, purple and blue)
  • Sprinkles (use the same colors as chosen food coloring)
  • A variety of different sized candy eyeballs

Directions:

  1. Unwrap 10 Rice Krispy Treats while melting 1 cup of white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Stir until smooth. Add a couple drops of food coloring of choice to chocolate and stir until color is completely well mixed.
  2. Dip one end of the Rice Krispy Treat into the colored chocolate. Dip each treat slightly different to make each coating look odd and spooky. Place dipped treat on parchment paper.
  3. Add a variety of candy eyeballs to each treat. Get creative with different sizes and 1-3 eyeballs per treat to make them look creepy.
  4. Make “hair” on the monster treat by adding sprinkles to the tops of the treats.
  5. Repeat steps 1-4 for the other three food coloring colors.
  6. Allow treats to dry for 30 minutes and serve immediately. Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container for several days.

3-Ingredient Halloween Punch

3-ingredient Halloween Punch (credit: iheartnaptime.net)

This Halloween punch from the I Heart Naptime blog is as easy as it is eerie, and it’s sure to be your new go-to. With just three ingredients (chilled orange soda or Sprite, pineapple juice, and scoops of orange sherbet), this recipe brings bright, spooky color and fizzy fun in minutes. The vivid orange hue fits perfectly into any Halloween spread, and the sherbet floating on top adds a playful, kid-friendly float effect that will have little trick-or-treaters and grown-ups alike reaching for seconds. What I love most: it’s practically no-stress — prep the soda and juice ahead of time, scoop in the sherbet right before guests arrive, and you’ve got a drink that looks festive, tastes delicious, and leaves you free to chat and celebrate instead of hiding in the kitchen.

Ingredients:

  • 1 (2-liter) bottle Sprite or Orange Soda, chilled
  • 1 cup pineapple juice , chilled
  • 1 pint orange sherbet
  • Optional decoration: Plastic eyeballs

Directions:

  • In a punch bowl or pitcher, stir together the Sprite and pineapple juice. Scoop the sherbet into the bowl just before serving.
  • Place plastic eyeballs or other decoration on top, if desired. Serve immediately.

Halloween Recipes on TV!

Watch all these recipes in action during my KTLA Morning News TV segment about family-friendly, last-minute Halloween party food below.

I’d love to hear what you think of these Halloween recipes! Leave a comment below, or connect with me on Instagram and TikTok!

XO Maggie

Halloween Party Food - Frankenstein Layered Dip

Halloween Party Food Recipe: Frankenstein Layered Taco Dip with Spooky Tortilla Crisps

Cooking, Holidays

Get Spooky & Satisfy with Frankenstein Layered Dip & Halloween Tortilla Crisps 🎃

As the leaves outside turn golden, the air crisp, and the pumpkin-candles flicker, it’s time to bring a little themed magic into your get-togethers. Enter the show-stopper: the Frankenstein Layered Dip with Halloween Tortilla Crisps (thanks to Ralphs for the inspiration!) — a booo-tiful, effortless, crowd-pleasing recipe perfect for families, Halloween gatherings, and friendly potlucks. For the complete step-by-step recipe, please scroll to the bottom of this post.

Why it’s a winner for families and get-togethers

  • Easy to throw together: The recipe lists a prep time of just about 35 minutes and a cook/assembly time of around 8 minutes (total approx. 43 minutes). Perfect for squeezing in after the kids’ homework or while you’re prepping other dishes.
  • Layered fun for little helpers: Kids can help build the “Franken-look” layers — spreading the sour cream/cream-cheese base, layering pico de gallo, shredded cheese, guacamole, beans … it becomes a hands-on mini-project.
  • Festive and thematic without being fussy: With a clever Frankenstein-inspired presentation (think green guacamole “skin”, black olive “bolts”, bean “scars” or whatever you choose), it brings Halloween décor to the table without requiring a twenty-step gourmet process.
  • Feeds a crowd: The recipe serves about 24 (so you’ve got more than enough for neighbours, trick-or-treaters, and family members alike) according to the original listing (Ralphs)
  • Kid-friendly & adjustable: You can dial the spice up or down, skip or swap ingredients, and still maintain the layered visual and flavor impact.
  • Great for mingling: One dish everyone can graze on while chatting, costumed kids dart about, and adults sip something seasonal. No one stuck in the kitchen.
Frankenstein Inspired Taco Dip for Halloween Parties

How to turn it into a Halloween hit

  • Presentation is everything: Use a rectangular or oval dish and layer in the “Frankenstein colours”. Spread the sour cream/cream cheese mix as a base (that’s the “face”). On top, layer green guacamole (the “skin”) and then arrange black olives to look like hair or bolts. Maybe a drizzle of taco-seasoning-spiced sour cream to look like “scars”.
  • Use themed chips: Create Halloween tortilla chips by using cookie cutters to make pumpkins, bats and ghosts out of tortillas (recipe below). If you don’t have time to make those, serve the dip with green spinach tortilla chips, or black corn chips, or even pumpkin-shaped tortilla chips if you find them. Adds extra fun for the kids.
  • Add spooky bite markers: Place little plastic picks shaped like skulls or use toothpicks with mini flags labeled “Bite the monster!” to make it interactive.
  • Pair it with a family-friendly drink: Maybe a “Witch’s Brew” punch or just sparkling apple cider in orange cups—this dish hits the savoury snack spot, so you can keep beverages simple.
  • Let the kids get creative: After you’ve done the main layers, let each child add one extra decoration on top—a cherry-tomato “eye”, a slice of jalapeño “mouth”, etc. Great for bonding and gives them a sense of ownership.
  • Prep ahead: Because the layered dip is simple, you can assemble most of it earlier in the day (or even the night before) and just finish any fresh toppings just before guests arrive. That means more time to greet people, help with costumes, and enjoy the moment.

Final spooky bite

So, whether you’re hosting a mini Halloween party, prepping for costume night, or simply want a snack that says festive + family + easy, the Frankenstein Layered Dip is your go-to. It brings flavor, visual fun, and zero fuss.

Photo credit: Ralphs.com

RECIPE: Frankenstein Layered Taco Dip with Spooky Tortilla Crisps

Serves: 24 | Prep Time: Minutes | Cook Time: 8 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces Sour Cream
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tablespoon taco seasoning mix
  • 2 cups pico de gallo
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • 2 cups prepared guacamole
  • 2 large black olives
  • 2⁄3 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 8 (10”) flour tortillas
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • Garlic salt, to taste

Directions

  1. Combine sour cream, cream cheese and taco seasoning in a bowl until well blended.
  2. In an 8”x 8” casserole dish evenly spread sour cream mixture, top with a layer each of pico, cheese and guacamole. Arrange black olive and black beans to create Frankenstein’s hair, eyes, brows and mouth. Refrigerate until serving.
  3. Heat oven to 400°F.
  4. Cut tortillas with a 2½”-3” Halloween themed cookie cutter. Place on baking sheets; brush with melted butter on one side. Flip brush with remaining butter. Sprinkle with garlic salt. Bake 6-8 minutes until browned and crispy; cool.
  5. Serve tortilla crisps with layered dip.
  6. Refrigerate leftover dip. Store crisps at room temperature in an airtight container.

This recipe was featured in my KTLA Morning News segment about easy Halloween party food. You can watch the segment below and find more recipes on my blog here.

Watch Halloween Party Food Ideas on KTLA Morning News in Los Angeles below!

Do you have any favorite Halloween party food recipes? Let me know in the comments below! Don’t forget to connect with me on Instagram and TikTok!

XO Maggie

Easy Family-Friendly Breakfast Recipes

Cooking, Health & Wellness, kids

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly like and recommend. For more information about affiliates and your privacy, view our Terms & Conditions page here.

It’s back-to-school season, so mornings are early and rushed! Unfortunately, this often leaves little time to feed our families a nutritious breakfast. But, as the saying goes, “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” and its imperative that our kiddos get a healthy start before their long day at school and activities.

I know that with the early mornings’ limited time, plus a house full of picky eaters and different taste preferences, it feels much easier to resort to packaged donuts and pastries or swing through the fast food drive-through for a chicken biscuit for a quick breakfast. However, I’m here to assure you that making a fast, healthful breakfast for your family does not have to be hard, time consuming or expensive. As long as you’re willing to put in just a little prep work, you and your family can eat a variety of delicious and nutritious every day of the week! Plus, you’ll save money from avoiding coffee shops and fast food restaurants!

Check out my top family-friendly breakfast recipe ideas below!

Apple “Donuts”

Recipe: Food Network

Not only do Apple “Donuts” encourage your children to eat more fruit — it’s also a great recipe for little hands to get involved in making! Slice apples into 1/2-inch circles, and use a small circular cookie cutter or small melon baller to cut a hole in the center of each to make a “donut.” Top apples with better-for-you “frosting,” like peanut butter, cream cheese and greek yogurt. Add more fun with additional toppings, like sprinkles, sliced strawberries, granola and chocolate chips.

One-Bowl, Multi-Flavor Mini Muffins

Recipe: The Baker Mama

This one-bowl muffin batter recipe is easy to make. After adding the batter to muffin tins, simply drop in your favorite mix-ins, like blueberries, chocolate chips, cinnamon sugar, bananas or sprinkles, to create multiple flavors in one batch. This recipe is perfect for all the different taste preferences in your house or if your kiddos get bored of eating the same flavor every morning. 

Super Pancakes

Don’t settle for boring regular pancakes when you can have “Super Pancakes” filled with superpower ingredients! This recipe is especially beneficial for kids who need help eating more protein, fruits and vegetables. I make these pancakes with Kodiak Protein-Packed Flapjack and Waffle Mix and mix in milk and egg instead of water for added protein! After the batter is made, I mix in mashed banana and grated zucchini (you can’t even taste the zucchini, I promise!). Make a large batch of these Super Pancakes on Sunday morning to quickly heat up for breakfast for 3-4 days!

Photo credit: Confessions of a Midnight Baker

Coffee Shop Dupe Egg Bites

Recipe: Once Upon a Chef

Save time and money by skipping the coffee shop for your favorite egg bites and making them at home! The secret ingredient in these egg, bacon and cheese egg bites is cottage cheese and tabasco sauce! They’re so flavorful and easy to make ahead of time. Store in the fridge for 3 days or freezer for 2 months. You won’t miss your pricey store-bought egg bites!

Quick Caprese Breakfast Sandwich

Recipe: Jones Dairy Farm

This sandwich is low on prep time but full on flavor! Most breakfast sandwiches are time consuming to make, but not this Caprese Breakfast Sandwich with the help of Jones Dairy Farm Canadian Bacon, Egg Life Egg White Wraps and pre-sliced BelGioioso Fresh Mozzarella. Cut the egg wrap down into 4-6 pieces. Lightly toast the English muffin. Top one half with basil leaves, 2-3 slices of mozzarella, 2-3 slices of tomato. Finish with 2-3 egg slices and 2 slices of Canadian bacon.  

Protein Yogurt Parfait

Recipe: Created by ME! My full recipe is available in a previous blog post here

When you’re challenged with food allergies and diet restrictions but still want a high-protein breakfast, this make-ahead dairy, egg and gluten free yogurt parfait is a delectable choice! It’s made with my favorite Super Granola and Vanilla Cinnamon Protein Powder from Kroma Wellness, along with creamy Coconut Yogurt and Berries. You could add more toppings, too, like honey, chia seeds, hemp seeds, nut butter, etc. Customize it to your preference! This is a great recipe to make ahead in a mason jar to bring on-the-go during busy mornings!

Which of these recipes do you want to try? Let me know in the comments below! For more family-friendly products, activities and recipe ideas, be sure to follow me on Instagram and TikTok!

XO Maggie

Best Protein Yogurt Parfait – Gluten, Egg and Dairy Free!

Cooking, Health & Wellness

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly like and recommend. For more information about affiliates and your privacy, view our Terms & Conditions page here.

Scroll to the end of this post for my gluten, egg and dairy free yogurt parfait recipe!

The creamiest dreamiest yogurt parfait for a nutritious breakfast!

First, some background on why I made this recipe…

So, this is a bit awkward and embarrassing for me to admit, but because I know my readership is made up of incredibly supportive ladies, I’m going to follow Natasha Bedingfield‘s advice and “release my inhibitions”…

By the way, I saw Natasha perform at a fundraising gala this past year, and she was phenomenal! “Unwritten” was the best I’ve ever heard it since it was released 20 years ago! Okay, I’ve digressed and aged myself, so let’s get back on track…

Back to what I was saying… Here it goes… I’m embarrassed to admit that I HAVE HORMONAL ACNE.

UGH! I hate seeing that in writing because it makes my hormonal acne so real. It’s not that I don’t believe that I have acne – clearly, I do, as my face doesn’t lie to me in the mirror! It’s just that I’ve had to come to the brutal realization that this is not a random breakout from sleeping with makeup on or “just a phase.” I’ve been dealing with hormonal acne on-and-off ever since having children 6 years ago. It will sometimes clear up for a couple months, so I’ll think I’ve moved past it. Then, low and behold… painful, ugly, annoying cystic acne reappears on my jawline again. I hate this acne, because it feels so odd to have as an adult. I was extremely lucky and did not have acne problems during puberty or my teenage years. The acne didn’t start until pregnancy.

In the past, I’ve managed my hormonal acne with topical prescription products. For this round of acne that started about 9 months ago, I waited a few months before getting back into my dermatologist’s office to start prescriptions again. I was hoping it would clear up on its own. However, I’ve now been on my topical prescriptions (Clindamycin, Winlevi and Tretinoin) for 3+ months and nothing is getting better. In fact, my skin is just getting really, really dry and flaking, which is probably not helpful either.

I’ve decided its time to try a different approach: a holistic treatment encompassing diet and mental health. I’ve gone down a very big internet and podcast rabbit hole exploring hormonal acne treatments, and a common theme I’ve seen is eliminating dairy and eggs (and sometimes gluten) in diet on top of stress management. So, here I go… ready to conquer this approach! Although, it won’t be easy…

You see, I’m a protein girly, so eliminating eggs and dairy throws a major wrench into my usual breakfast eats. I typically love to eat greek yogurt topped with nuts and berries or make a veggie and cheese-filled omelette. The idea of eating oatmeal, toast, pancakes or waffles does not sound satisfying to me, nor do those meals usually have a good amount of protein in them for starting my day and meeting my daily protein requirements. As I discovered in my research for hormonal acne solutions, protein is a key conductor in balancing our hormones, and I try to eat at least 20 to 30 grams of protein per meal.

Loving my protein parfait made with Kroma protein and granola

Then, I remembered Kroma Wellness, a brand dedicated to simplifying eating nutritious, anti-inflammatory, clean food that makes you feel your very best. I’m so grateful that I found Kroma 2 years ago when I did their 5-Day Reset (you can read about my life-changing experience with the Kroma Reset here). I took a look at two of my favorite Kroma products that I always keep in stock – Super Granola and Vanilla Cinnamon Protein Powder – and got the idea for a dairy-free, protein yogurt parfait!

I have avoided dairy-free yogurt in the past, because it’s usually filled with alien junk ingredients and sugar with minimal protein. But, blending the Vanilla Cinnamon Protein Powder with a quality pure coconut yogurt (like Cocojune Pure Coconut) amps up the protein content while still getting rich taste, healthy fats and tons of probiotics.

Kroma’s Vanilla Cinnamon Protein Powder adds a decadent dessert-like flavor to dairy-free yogurt, milk, smoothies and baked goods. The powder boasts 20g of protein per serving, has 9/9 Essential Amino Acids, and is loaded with superfoods and adaptogens.

Now let’s talk about what we’re topping our yogurt parfaits with: Super Granola! This is the best granola ever made with a wholesome medley of 10 superfoods that’s light yet satisfyingly crunchy and an irresistible vanilla cinnamon flavor. There is no gluten or refined sugar, which is so rare compared to most granola on grocery store shelves! It’s made with high-quality ingredients and functional superfoods, like crunchy clusters of gluten-free rolled oats, cashews, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, dried blueberries, and mulberries. And, it’s boosted with adaptogenic maca to enhance mood and energy. This granola is the perfect topping to a yogurt parfait, but it’s also great to eat alone as a snack!

Watch me make this Protein Yogurt Parfait on Instagram here:

This DEG Free (Dairy, Egg and Gluten Free) Protein Parfait has now become a go-to breakfast of mine. It makes two small parfaits, so I’ll often make them in mason jars, so I can save the second one for tomorrow. I look forward to this creamy dreamy parfait every morning! Below is the recipe, and I can’t wait to hear what you think after you try it!

Protein Yogurt Parfait Recipe:

Dairy, Egg and Gluten Free!

Yield: 2 yogurt parfaits | Servings: 2 | Prep Time: 5 minutes | Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Add coconut yogurt, protein powder and almond milk to a bowl and mix. Add more almond milk, if needed, to reach your desired consistency.
  2. Divide the protein yogurt mixture into two serving bowls. Top with berries, nut butter, granola and a drizzle of honey. Enjoy!
Dairy, Egg and Gluten Free Yogurt Protein Parfait

I hope you love this breakfast recipe as much as I do! Let me know if you try it in the comments, and be sure to connect with me on Instagram and TikTok!

XO Maggie

Chocolate Chip Banana Carrot Bread Recipe

Cooking, Lifestyle

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly like and recommend. For more information about affiliates and your privacy, view our Terms & Conditions page here.

We’re a big banana bread family. During the Covid-19 pandemic, I made one banana bread for every month that the city of Los Angeles was in “lockdown.” I think I made six banana breads, maybe more, as the city continued on with various restrictions. With all that baking, I was able to perfect the BEST chocolate chip zucchini banana bread recipe ever. You can find a version of that recipe as muffins with healthier swaps for flour and sugar here.

Today, we went to make that amazing bread recipe and realized that we didn’t have zucchini on hand. However, we did have shredded carrots, which I thought was even better with the Easter holiday upon us! The result was even better than expected. This banana bread with chocolate chips and carrots is gooey on the outside with a lightly crispy top, and the flavor is both sweet and savory, making it a perfect bread for breakfast, snacks, desserts, and a yummy treat to pair with coffee or tea.

If you’re like me and always looking for ways to sneak veggies into your kids’ food, then this is the perfect recipe for you! My kids are usually veggie adverts, and they devoured this chocolate chip banana carrot bread! My 3-year-old daughter also loved helping me make this recipe. She was the “official banana masher.”

This is a great recipe for your family, and I know you’ll love it! If you kids asked who ate it all, you can just say the “Easter Bunny!”

Watch this gooey delicious bread in action – yum!!

Recipe: Chocolate Chip Banana Carrot Bread

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350º. Line a 9-inch bread loaf pan with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together melted butter, sugar, egg and egg yolk, sour cream, and vanilla. Add mashed bananas and shredded carrots and stir until combined.
  3. In the same bowl, add flour, baking soda, and salt and stir to combine well.
  4. Fold in chocolate chips and transfer to prepared baking pan.
  5. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let cool 10 minutes in pan, then transfer onto a cooling rack to cool completely.

I hope you love this recipe! Let me know if you try it in the comments below, or connect with me on Instagram or TikTok!

XO Maggie

Save on Pinterest to make for later!

Famous 5-Minute Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Cooking

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly like and recommend. For more information about affiliates and your privacy, view our Terms & Conditions page here.

The best cookies!

Who doesn’t love a chocolate chip cookie?! That’s right, everybody loves the cookie classic! And, if they say they don’t, I wouldn’t trust them… Or, maybe I would just let them try one of my chocolate chip cookies to help change their mind!

One of the coolest things about chocolate chip cookies is that there’s so many different ways to make and serve them… large, small, soft, gooey, crunchy, thin, fat and with semi-sweet chocolate, milk or dark chocolate… You can even add nuts, sprinkles, candy or dried fruit… But, then is it still a classic chocolate chip cookie? Probably not…

freshly baked famous 5-minute chocolate chip cookies

Anyway, let me tell you about my FAMOUS 5-MINUTE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES! Now, these are “mini” chocolate chip cookies (about 1.5 inches in diameter), so, it’s okay if you want to eat more than one! In fact, they’re so yummy you can’t help but eat more than one! These mini chocolate chip cookies are also crunchy on the outside but a bit gooey on the inside, which is the ideal texture for a cookie, in my opinion. And, they’re topped with flakey sea salt for that perfect sweet-savory combo finish! The very best part? They only take 5 minutes to bake!

So, I told you these cookies are famous, and they are very well known… in my house. Yeah, I haven’t received any outside awards or special recognition for my 5-minute cookies, but if you make these for your fam, I promise that you, too, will be the most famous person in your house!

The recipe is so easy that my kids love to help me make them, too! My children especially love that they don’t take long to make, so we go from cooking to consuming much faster compared to other classic chocolate chip cookie recipes.

My kids love these cookies!

What ingredients do I need for 5-minute chocolate chip cookies?

Standard chocolate chip cookie ingredients are what you’ll need on hand, like butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg, vanilla extract, flour, salt, baking soda and chocolate chips. What makes this recipe stand out compared to other chocolate chip cookies is the type of chocolate I like to use: Hu No Sugar Added Chocolate Chips. I’m a big fan of using as much natural ingredients as possible, and I love that Hu’s baking chocolate is made with just four simple ingredients: organic fair-trade cacao, organic date, organic fair-trade cocoa butter and organic fair-trade vanilla bean. Unlike competitor chocolate chips, Hu has no added sugar, sugar alcohols, lecithins/gums or dairy, and it is keto, paleo and organic certified.

Hu Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Another yummy bonus of these chocolate chip cookies is the small dash of flakey sea salt on top! I was gifted this chic olive wood salt cellar for Christmas, and I’m obsessed! While this is totally not required to make these cookies, a salt cellar is such a chic way to hold your flakey sea salt!

olive wood salt cellar
Add flakey sea salt halfway through baking

What kitchen tools do I need to make 5-minute chocolate chip cookies?

This recipe makes a lot of cookies (our last batch made 95 mini cookies!!), so you’ll want more than one baking pan so you’re not waiting to use the same one over and over again while each batch is cooking. My favorite bakeware set is from Caraway, which comes with 11 pieces for all your baking needs. If you’re not ready to commit to a full bakeware set, Caraway’s Baking Sheet Duo is perfect for making these cookies. First of all, the bakeware is absolutely beautiful. I got the “Iconics Black” color, and it looks so pretty in my kitchen and gives my brain a little boost of happiness when I use it. But, most importantly, it’s the best functioning bakeware I’ve ever used. My favorite part is that it’s the easiest to clean bakeware I’ve ever used with its non-stick coating, which is also non-toxic!

Caraway Baking Sheet Duo

You’ll also need a good mixing bowl. I have adored and gotten so much use out of this 10-piece mixing bowl set. You do not need a mixer, so that’s another easy thing about these cookies! Lastly, you’ll want measuring cups and spoons. It’s time for me to upgrade my measuring tools, so I’m currently lusting after this 22-piece measuring cups and spoon set because it comes with everything you could possibly need!

10-piece mixing bowl set from Williams Sonoma

Success tips for making the best 5-minute chocolate chip cookies:

  1. Keep them small – This recipe is designed to make small cookies, so do not use anymore than 1 teaspoon of dough to make each cookie.
  2. Roll the cookies into a ball – Don’t simply scoop and drop. Use your hands to roll the dough into a perfect tiny ball.
Make sure only 1 teaspoon of dough is rolled into a ball

RECIPE: Easy 5-Minute Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large mixing bowl, stir melted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
  2. To the same mixing bowl, add flour, salt and baking soda into the same bowl, and stir to combine. Lastly, stir in chocolate chips.
  3. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Use a teaspoon to scoop dough and roll into a ball. Place cookie dough balls prepared baking sheet, about 12-14 per sheet. Bake for 3 minutes. Remove cookies from oven and add small pinches of flakey sea salt to each cookie. Bake for remaining 2-3 minutes. Do not worry if the centers look soft, as the cookies will continue to set as they cool. Wait about 10 minutes to cool, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

Watch us make our famous mini chocolate chip cookies here:

I can’t wait to hear what you think of my famous 5-minute chocolate chip cookies! Let me know if you tried them in the comments below. Be sure to connect with me on Instagram and TikTok, too, for more easy recipes, family product ideas and entertaining tips!

XO Maggie

One-Pan Chicken Fajita Skillet with Quick Avocado Dip – Healthy Recipe!

Cooking, Health & Wellness

At the beginning of this year, I took a poll asking my Instagram followers what kind of recipes they’d like me to share. I asked my followers if they want to see: 1) Healthy meals; 2) Kids meals; 3) Party food to serve a crowd; 4) Quick meals (30 minutes or less). The majority requested to see “healthy meals” with “quick meals” falling shortly behind. Ask and you shall receive!! Or, in this case, vote in my poll and you shall receive! So, here I am, sharing a dinner recipe that is both healthy AND quick: One-Pan Chicken Fajitas!!

My chicken fajita topped with quick avocado dip and Siete Habanero Botana Sauce

Where did this One-Pan Chicken Fajita Skillet recipe come from?

My husband and I are both originally from Texas, so Tex-Mex cuisine is a favorite in our household. However, Tex-Mex isn’t necessarily known for being healthy with its flour tortillas, extra cheese, butter and extremely large portions. When my husband and I started dating over a decade ago, we were relatively new to California and missed authentic Tex-Mex food. When I moved to Los Angeles, I was surprised to find that the Mexican restaurants here didn’t all serve sizzling skillet fajitas with flour tortillas, cheese, pico de gallo, sour cream, a side of charro beans with bacon, and our favorite… queso dip! In fact, when I arrived here in 2009, I could not find a Mexican restaurant that even knew what queso dip was! Most all of the restaurants only served corn tortillas and they rarely had the melty combinations of cheese in their fajitas and tacos, like monterey jack, queso blanco and colby jack. Compared to Tex-Mex, I thought Cali-Mex was, well, bland! I had to recreate our beloved Tex-Mex flavors at home, but there was another problem… My husband and I like to eat healthy! Okay, so that’s necessarily a problem, but it can be challenging when you love traditional Tex-Mex food! So, I was determined to create a healthy-ish version of some of our favorite Tex-Mex dishes, like chicken fajitas, and that’s how this recipe came about! We honestly eat this one-pan chicken fajitas meal at least 3-4 times per month… Actually, we eat it even more than that, because I’ll switch out the protein for carne asada, ground beef or ground turkey! You can make it even healthier by omitting or limiting the cheese. And, I always opt for a healthier tortilla, like Siete Foods Almond Flour Tortillas or Ole Xtreme Wellness Tortillas.

All the authentic Tex-Mex flavored goodness wrapped in a tortilla!

What kitchen equipment do I need to make One-Pan Chicken Fajitas?

Just as the recipe name implies, all you really need is one pan! For this recipe, I use the 10.5″ Caraway Fry Pan. Last year, I upgraded my cookware to Caraway, and it’s one of the best home investments I’ve made in a long time! I was worried about spending so much on cookware, but let me tell you, Caraway is worth it! It has a non-toxic coating, so you can feel good about making dinner for your family with the cookware without worrying about harmful chemicals. Plus, it’s non-stick and so easy to clean! Another thing that majorly separates Caraway from other cookware brands is its storage capabilities. I love that the 4-piece cookware set comes with pan racks and a lid holder to free up space in my cabinets and keep my kitchen organized and aesthetically pleasing. Practicality aside, I also adore how chic this cookware looks on my stove! I purchased the “iconic black” color, and the gold hardware is beautiful! It looks perfect in my modern black and white kitchen.

Caraway Fry Pan

Another tool I loved adding to my kitchen this last year is this 8-Blade Chopper – perfect for chopping, dicing, mincing and julienning vegetables! My kids often like to help make dinner, and I like having this tool so they can help cut vegetables without using a big, sharp knife. And, it helps save time when you need to chop lots of vegetables! You can also use it to cut or crate cheese, fruit and eggs!

8-Blade Chopper

Okay, this next tool is a MUST-HAVE if you love guacamole or avocado toast: Williams-Sonoma Avocado Pitter & Masher! It’s designed to help you cut, pit and mash your avocados perfectly. Before I had this tool, I’d use a fork to mash my avocados, which was such a pain! I use this tool multiple times per week and consider it one of my kitchen essentials!

Avocado Masher

What Ingredients Do I Need for One-Pan Chicken Fajitas?

You can’t make chicken fajitas without, well, CHICKEN! I prefer to use chicken thighs for this recipe, but I’ve used chicken breasts plenty of times. Chicken thighs are a bit more flavorful. They’re also more affordable! You’ll also need a fresh bell pepper (my favorite is orange, but a red, green or yellow bell pepper works, too!) and red onion.

To give the chicken in this is recipe it’s authentic Tex-Mex flavor, I use Siete Mild Taco Seasoning. I love how versatile this seasoning is! I’ve used it for dips, and I’ve used it to make beef and turkey tacos, too!

To make authentic Tex-Mex fajitas, you need to wrap your chicken and veggies in a flour tortilla, but I like to swap out the flour tortillas for healthier options. My favorite tortillas are Siete Almond Flour Tortillas or Siete Cassava Flour Tortillas. Use Cassava Flour if you want a tortilla that’s closer to the taste of an original flour tortilla. However, I prefer Almond Flour tortillas because it has a faintly sweeter taste and it has more protein (6 grams!) per tortilla. Another favorite tortilla brand that I use often is Ole Xtreme Wellness Tortillas. I love that their high in fiber!

Watch me make One-Pan Chicken Fajitas on Instagram:

RECIPE: One-Pan Chicken Fajitas with Quick Avocado Dip

Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cooking Time: 20 minutes | Yields: 4-6 fajita tacos

For the Chicken Fajita Skillet:

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Add 2 tbsp avocado oil in skillet over medium-high heat, then add bell pepper and onion strips. Season with light salt if desired. Cook until soft, about 5-8 minutes. Remove veggies from pan and save for later.
  2. Add remaining avocado oil to skillet if necessary. Add chicken to pan and cook through, about 8-10 minutes.
  3. Add packet of Siete Mild Taco seasoning to chicken and 1/3 cup water. Stir to combine well.
  4. Add bell pepper and onion back to skilett with chicken and stir to combine.
  5. Add chicken to warmed tortilla. Top with cheese, avocado dip, salsa, taco sauce and any other preferred toppings. Enjoy!

For Quick Avocado Dip:

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Mash avocados in a medium sized bowl.
  2. Add lime juice, salsa, garlic powder, cumin and salt to the bowl. Stir to combine well with avocados. Serve immediately.

Let me know if you try this recipe in the comments below. For more healthy, easy recipe ideas, be sure to follow me on Instagram and TikTok!

Best Thanksgiving Casseroles

Cooking, Holidays

It’s Thanksgiving prep time, and I’m whipping up my favorite dishes in advance so that I don’t have to scramble the day of Thanksgiving to get the big feast on the table. As the host, I want to enjoy the day with my guests instead of spending all my time in the kitchen.

Enter the casseroles… Would it even be Thanksgiving without casseroles?! I love that you an make casseroles ahead of time, so Thanksgiving day can be a bit more enjoyable.

I grew up in the South, and the Southern women I knew growing up loved a casserole. I specifically remember one ginormous Thanksgiving I went to where everyone was asked to bring a dish and almost every single dish was a casserole except the turkey. Seriously, I’ve never seen so many casseroles! Green bean, corn souffle, au gratin potato, sweet potato, macaroni, broccoli and cheese, 10 different versions of dressing… it was a sight!

Now, I understand that some people despise casseroles. I mean, I get it. If you grew up eating casseroles at potluck dinners in the South, there is a strong chance that you’ve had some yucky casseroles! But, as someone who loves cooking for the selfish reason of wanting to eat tasty food, I have made it a priority to make my Thanksgiving casserole recipes yummy!

The best part about Thanksgiving casseroles? Most of them can be made and frozen weeks before the holiday to help eliminate cooking on the actual T-Day. Simply take them out of the freezer the night before to thaw in the fridge and reheat in the oven.

If you’re looking for a tried and true Thanksgiving side dish, I’ve shared a list of my favorite casseroles below!

The Best Sweet Potato Casserole

This was my favorite Thanksgiving side growing up, and I’m certain that’s because it tasted more like dessert than a vegetable. I’ve never been a fan of adding marshmallows to the sweet potato casserole, though. That’s just too dessert-like. This dish from Food Network is simple to make and a perfect accompaniment to your holiday meal. Find the full recipe here.

The Best Sweet Potato Casserole from Food Network

Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole

When I was a kid, my mother taught me that Southern Living ALWAYS has the best recipes. So far, she’s been right. I’ve yet to try a recipe from the premier southern magazine that hasn’t been delicious. Just like this Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole. I grew up only eating green bean casserole at Thanksgiving but have taken to loving brussels sprouts in my adult years, so I love that this recipe combines them. Plus, every dish with bacon is better! This recipe calls for frozen green beans, but I like to use fresh. Find this full recipe here.

PHOTO: VICTOR PROTASIO; PROP STYLING: GINNY BRANCH STELLING; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL

Cornbread, Chorizo, Cherry and Pecan Stuffing

When I first hosted Thanksgiving a decade ago, I was really interested in impressing my guests with some stellar sides. My foodie co-worker recommended this cherry-chorizo stuffing recipe to me, and it did not disappoint! I’ve always preferred cornbread stuffing, and the pecans are reminiscent of the dressing I ate growing up. Get the full recipe from Bon Appetit here.

Cornbread, Chorizo, Cherry and Pecan Stuffing

Mashed Potato Casserole

I have a confession… I don’t really love mashed potatoes! I’ve always found them to be a bit bland. A loaded baked potato with bacon, butter and cheese, though? Heck yes! That’s why I love this Mashed Potato Casserole — its a combination of mashed potatoes and a loaded baked potato in one! So creamy and so delicious! Get the full recipe from House of Yumm here.

Mashed Potato Casserole from House of Yumm

There you have it, folks! These are the Thanksgiving casseroles I swear by and the ones our family enjoys each year.

Let me know in the comments below which of these you’d like to try! Connect with me on Instagram and TikTok for more easy recipes and family-friendly holiday ideas.

XO Maggie

Simple Quiche Lorraine Recipe

Cooking

After I gave birth to my firstborn, my neighbor brought over a quiche, and I thought it was the best postpartum food gift ever! Quiche is good for breakfast, lunch, dinner or even a snack, and it was amazing not to worry about cooking or ordering food in those first few days home with a newborn!

I appreciated that postpartum quiche so much that I now I try to give a quiche to all my mama friends with a newborn. This classic Quiche Lorraine recipe is my go-to, because it’s so easy and absolutely delicious. Salty bacon, fluffy eggs, creamy gruyere cheese and a flaky pie crust make this quiche a real winner. I like to use a frozen pie crust to cut time and make this recipe even simpler!

The quiche I made from the recipe below (adapted from Delish.com) is headed to one of my mama friends, and I doubled the recipe to have one for our family.

Easy Classic Quiche Lorraine

Ingredients:

  • 1 9-inch pie crust, frozen
  • 8 slices bacon
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Gruyère, divided
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • Pinch of cayenne
  • Pinch of nutmeg
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly cracked black pepper
  • Chopped green onion (optional)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°. Allow frozen pie crust to thaw for 10-20 minutes. Use a fork to prick holes around the bottom and sides of the crust. Bake for 5-10 minutes.
  2. While pie crust is baking, cook bacon until crispy in a skillet over medium heat, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  3. Scatter cooked bacon on pie crust with 1 cup Gruyère, shallot and green onions.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, cream, cayenne, and nutmeg and season with salt. Pour mixture over bacon and cheese. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
  5. Bake until crust is golden and eggs cooked through, 40 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!

What other variations of quiche do you like? Let me know in the comments below if you try this recipe! Or, connect with my on Instagram and TikTok!

Easy Avocado Smoothie Recipe

Cooking, Health & Wellness

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly like and recommend. For more information about affiliates and your privacy, view our Terms & Conditions page here.

I recently had my wisdom teeth extracted, so smoothies have been my morning go-to to get optimal nutrition while avoiding chewing. I was getting bored of my usual fruit smoothies so started testing out different recipes, and I believe I have perfected the best avocado smoothie! Scroll down to get the recipe, and be sure to read to the bottom to get my comfy morning smoothie essentials!

Are avocados good in smoothies?

It might sound a bit odd to add an avocado to your smoothie, especially if you’re used to the typical smoothies with a banana base. But, let me assure you that the texture of avocado makes them perfect for creamy, rich smoothies – almost like a milkshake! The taste of avocado is super mild and we add fruit for sweetness, so you don’t end up with a smoothie that tastes like a raw avocado with this recipe. If you like your smoothies extra sweet, I recommend adding 1 tsp. of pure maple syrup to the recipe.

Are avocado smoothies good for you?

In addition to this avocado smoothie tasting great, it’s also jam-packed with health and beauty benefits! According to Medical News Today, avocados are a source of vitamins C, E, K, and B6, as well as riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, and potassium. They also provide lutein, beta carotene, and omega-3 fatty acids, which is great for eye and brain health and improves bone and joint function. Avocados contain high levels of healthy, beneficial fats, which can help a person feel fuller between meals. I drink this smoothie in the morning, and it keeps me full until lunchtime! Omega-3’s are also known to regulate your skin’s oil production and boost hair growth, so this is truly a beauty-boosting smoothie!

What do I need to make an avocado smoothie?

My avocado smoothie recipe is made with only 4 ingredients! Or, 5 ingredients if you are adding protein powder, which I recommend! Some people like their smoothies on the sweeter side, so if that’s you, I also recommend adding 1 tsp. of pure maple syrup. Of course, you’ll need one ripe avocado – our star ingredient! You can tell its ripe by gently squeezing the avocado. If it’s soft, but not mushy, it’s ready to eat! You also need your preferred milk (I like Almond MALK), vanilla extract and frozen fruit. My favorite frozen fruit for this recipe is pineapple, mango or strawberries, because they give the smoothie that extra bit of sweetness that avocado is lacking. If you’re using protein powder, I recommend Tone It Up Plant-Based Protein + Greens Powder, because it has everything you want in one scoop:15 grams of protein, 14 leaves of kale, 4 leaves of spinach and a floret of broccoli with a creamy texture and delicious vanilla flavor. Plus, it’s plant-based protein, non-GMO, gluten free and kosher with nothing artificial! As mentioned before, avocados are quite bland, so if you want to kick up this smoothie’s flavor, add a dash of salt before blending.

You’ll also need a powerhouse blender, like my Ninja Professional Plus Blender, to make your smoothie, well, smooth. This blender has a powerful motor and extra sharp blades designed for superior crushing, so it’s perfect for creating your smoothies, frozen drinks or even ice cream! I personally love how easy it is to clean. And, it’s dishwasher safe!

Ninja Professional Plus Blender

After my smoothie is done, I like to pour it into a nice glass and drink with a fancy gold straw. It feels so much better than those yucky paper cups and straws you get at smoothie shops, ya know? Try it — I think you’ll love it served that way, too!

Stainless Steel Gold Straws

Easy Avocado Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 1 1/2 cups milk of choice (my favorite is Almond MALK)
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup frozen fruit (I recommend mago, pineapple or strawberry)
  • 1 scoop protein powder (optional, but I love to use Tone It Up Plant-Based Protein + Greens Powder)
  • 1 tsp. pure maple syrup (optional for added sweetness)
  • A dash of salt (optional)

Directions:

Peel the avocado, discard the pit and add into the blender. Add remaining ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

Enjoy this easy, yummy avocado smoothie, beauties! Let me know what you think in the comments below, and be sure to follow me on Instagram and TikTok for more easy recipes!

Check out my comfy and beautiful morning essentials for the best smoothies:

  1. Good American Sweater
  2. Abercrombie & Fitch Joggers
  3. SLIP Scrunchies
  4. Fuzzy Slippers
  5. Gold Hoops
  6. NINJA Professional Blender
  7. Tone It Up Protein + Greens
  8. Pretty Glassware
  9. Gold Stainless Steel Straws