no bake

9 Store Bought Halloween Party Foods to Make in Less than 5 Minutes

October 12, 2018 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

9 Store Bought Halloween Party Foods to Make in Less than 5 Minutes for busy moms. These DIY Halloween treats will make everyone happy at the school harvest party. No chocolate melting or baking. Just simple Halloween fun.

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Holidays with young kids are some of my favorite times. Seeing the excitement with all the decorations and fun treats warms a mama’s heart. But if you have young kids at home, you know that time thing is not always abundant.

You may have high hopes of creating homemade chocolate cupcakes with perfectly hand rolled witch hats made of fondant. But then the 4 year old wants to play barbies, the 10 year old needs to go to basketball practice and the baby needs to well, eat.

So your Halloween cupcake dreams are momentarily crushed. Now you are staring at the grocery store shelves looking for something easy and also cute (probably with a toddler screaming at your feet).

To make the Halloween season go a little smoother, we have collaborated with some great bloggers to bring you 9 store bought Halloween party foods to make in less than 5 minutes!

9 Store Bought Halloween Party Foods to Make in Less than 5 Minutes

My kids probably get more excited about a Halloween Oreo than they would about any fancy dessert that I could create. Note that I said “would.” Elaborate desserts are a thing I enjoyed before kids. No bake, done in 5 minutes are a little more my style these days. Especially since little man has decided to learn to walk and is in to everything.

Here are 9 store bought Halloween party foods to make for your kids school party. These are also great for a fun October lunch or dinner treat.

Mummy Snack Cakes I can’t believe how much these look like a tiny mummy and it took me no time at all to make thanks to my BFF, her name is Little Debbie.

Ghost Snack Cakes A simple ghost face on a delicious white chocolate ding dong is sure to make your kid smile.

Pumpkin Cupcakes These are great because they are not spooky at all. Perfect for a school or church fall harvest party.

Spooky Eyeball Sandwich by Kimspired DIY – Such a fun lunch option for the Halloween season! I make a million PB&J’s a month so why not make it into an eyeball!

Jack O Lantern Mandarin Orange Cups by Mission to Save – Fruit disguised in a Halloween costume is always welcome at my house. Sugar sure is fun but gosh the kids get so much of it this time of year. I want to put these in the lunchbox for school.

Halloween Witch Hat Cookies by Princess Pinky Girl – These cute witch cookies have an oreo base and just four ingredients.

Vampire Donuts by the Happy Family Blog – I know my kids would love the donuts but the bagel idea is another great way to add some Halloween fun to your table with a low sugar item.

Pudding Bat by The Inspiration Edit – These pudding bats are so adorable! If you need a prepackaged item for a class party, this is a unique dessert to send.

Ghost Cheese Sticks & Jack O Lantern Cuties by Sizzling Eats – Great non-candy options to put in a lunch box that are still fun and festive.

I hope these 9 store bought Halloween party foods to make in less than 5 minutes help to get you time for an extra cup of coffee (oh & make your kids super happy)!

If you need some items to send for the class goody bag or your trunk or treat event, check out 31 non-candy Halloween treats and 16 Halloween favors that won’t get trashed.

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Cups

June 21, 2020 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

These no bake strawberry cheesecake cups start with a rich buttery graham cracker crust.

The fresh strawberries and a light and creamy cheesecake are layered in individual cups for a delicious and pretty summer dessert.

I hosted my bunko friends at my house this weekend. When we meet, the host provides dinner, drinks and of course dessert before we play.

For dinner I had decided on a family favorite of ours – crack chicken puffs. They are filled with cream cheese and bacon and wrapped in crescent dough. These bundles taste great but definitely rich.

So for dessert, I was wanting something a little lighter and with a summer feel.

But here’s the deal. Even though I wanted a light dessert, it still had to taste amazing because dessert is my favorite part of a meal.

And the big 2 lb package of strawberries in my fridge was staring me in the face so I pivoted from my usual chocolate and went fruity.

These no bake strawberry cheesecake cups are layered with a creamy cheesecake filling and fresh strawberries. And so good!

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Cups

These little cups are so pretty which I love because you eat with your eyes first! The layered trifle look makes this simple dessert look fancy with very little work.

And individual treats are always fun!

These no bake strawberry cheesecake cups use just a few ingredients that you probably already have most of at home.

What You Need:

Graham Cracker Crumbs
Butter
Sugar
Cream Cheese
Heavy Whipping Cream
Vanilla
Strawberries
9 oz Plastic Cups

Making Strawberry Cheesecake Mini Parfaits

To make these individual desserts, you want to make the crust first so that it has time to set up while you make the cheesecake filling.

Combine the graham cracker crumbs (they make these already crushed up so you don’t have to do it yourself), melted butter and sugar in a medium bowl.

Stir until it starts to clump together. Keep stirring until the butter is well combined with the graham crackers and sugar.

Take 2 tablespoons and place it into the bottom of each cup.

Use a fork to gently press the crust into the cup.

Place the cups with the crust into the fridge to set up while you make the cheesecake filling.

No Bake Cheesecake Filling

To make the filling, combine the softened cream cheese with the sugar and mix using a stand or hand mixer until smooth.

Add the Heavy Whipping Cream slowly and the vanilla.

Beat until light and fluffy.

Add the cheesecake filling to the gallon zip bag. Cut off the end so that you can use it as a piping bag (it makes it easier to fill the cups).

Dice the strawberries.

Assembling the Dessert Cups

Now you are ready to assemble the no bake strawberry cheesecake cups.

Your cups should have the graham cracker crust set up now.

Cheesecake Filling

First add a generous squeeze or two of cheesecake filling from your homemade piping bag.

Using a spoon, spread the filling out into an even layer in each cup.

Stawberries

For the next layer, add a tablespoon or two of diced strawberries to each cup.

Then repeat another layer of no bake cheesecake filling and a final layer of diced strawberries.

Put back in the fridge for at least one hour. They are best eaten the same day.

But I will tell you, I ate one for breakfast the day after and it was still just as yummy!

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Cups

Servings

Ingredients

6 tbsp melted butter
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup Sugar
2 blocks Cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
2 tsp vanilla
2 lbs Strawberries
12 plastic disposable cups

Servings

Ingredients

6 tbsp melted butter
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup Sugar
2 blocks Cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
2 tsp vanilla
2 lbs Strawberries
12 plastic disposable cups

Instructions

Combine the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs and 1/4 cup sugar in a medium bowl.
Stir it together until it starts to clump together and the butter in well incorporated into the cracker crumbs.
Place 2 tablespoons of the crust mixture into the bottom of each plastic cup.
Use a fork to press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom.
Place the cups in the fridge while you make the cheesecake mixture so that it can firm up a little.
Mix the softened cream cheese and 1/2 cup of white sugar to a large bowl and mix until incorporated.
Slowly add in the heavy whipping cream and vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy.
Dice strawberries.
Using a gallon ziplock bag with the cheesecake filling, pipe some filling into each cup.
Using a spoon, spread the cheesecake filling out.
Add a layer of diced strawberries.
Repeat another layer of cheesecake filling and end with a layer of strawberries.
Chill for at least one hour. Best served the same day.

No Bake Dulce De Leche Caramel Pie

November 13, 2018 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

No Bake Dulce De Leche Caramel Pie will be the star of your dinner party or Thanksgiving dessert table. Only 3 ingredients and less than 5 minutes of prep make this recipe easy as pie.

No bake dulce de leche caramel pie was developed from my love of the O’Charley’s caramel pie. Anywhere that gives away free pie every Wednesday deserves a special place in your heart. But sometimes you just need to be able to make your favorite restaurant pie at home. And that is where this recipe will change your life. Ok, maybe that is a little dramatic but i think you will really like it!

You may have seen the recipes where you boil the cans of condensed milk for 3 hours until they turn into caramel. You can’t let your water run below the can or it can and will blow up. And your kitchen will be covered in caramel. Your easy pie will be ruined in a flash.

Before I had kids, I made a caramel pie using this method. It is good. It tastes pretty dang close to the O’Charley’s caramel pie. But I knew that I could not do that boiling method with a very busy 12 month old and a chatty 4 year old running through my house. My kitchen surely be covered in caramel that had blown up while I was changing a diaper or fixing a cup of milk.

So I was on the hunt for something easier that would still give me a decadent caramel pie.

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

No Bake Dulce De Leche Caramel Pie

A caramel pie was on my Thanksgiving meal plan. I knew that if I could get brave enough to boil the condensed milk with 2 kids running around, it would be an easy, make ahead dessert to add to my dessert spread.

I was standing in the grocery store, staring at the condensed milk and picturing all the things that could go wrong with this boiling milk project when I had a revelation. Staring me in the face was a little can of dulce de leche. Do you know what that means?

Some nice little company boiled your condensed milk for you, stuffed it in a can and it can all be yours for a couple of bucks. Genius! Here is what you need in order to make this 3 ingredient no bake dulce de leche caramel pie .

What You Need:

1 Can Dulce De Leche

1 Graham Cracker Crust (I used a pack of the mini crusts)

8 oz container Cool whip

(Optional Toppings: Mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts)

Preparing the No Bake Dulce De Leche Caramel Pie

Open your can of dulce de leche. Spread it into the pie crust.

Refrigerate for a few hours to chill. Top with cool whip and serve.

It is so easy your kids can do it. It literally takes less than 5 minutes of prep to make the pie. The longest part is just chilling it which isn’t even totally necessary but I do like it better chilled.

How Much Does It Cost?

Depending on sales at your local grocery store, you should be able to make this pie for less than $6. Making this no bake dulce de leche caramel pie simple and affordable!

Is your family a fan of caramel pie? Do you love no bake, quick and easy dessert recipes?

If you need some simple Thanksgiving breakfast ideas for your kids, try this turkey shaped breakfast bagel and this turkey shaped eggs in a basket.

No Bake Halloween Mummy Snack Cakes

October 6, 2018 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

These no bake Halloween mummy snack cakes are going to be your best friend when you remember at 8 pm that you are in charge of the dessert at the class party in the morning!

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

These require no baking, you don’t even have to melt chocolate! 3 ingredients and about 5 minutes will get you a platter of cute “Pinterest worthy” Halloween treats. And if you need to make these in the car while sitting in the grocery store parking lot, we won’t judge.

How to Make No Bake Halloween Mummy Snack Cakes

You will need:

Little Debbie Fancy Cakes

Candy Eyeballs or Milk Chocolate Chips

White Icing

My idea of an easy Halloween treat is one that I don’t have to use a microwave, stove or oven. No cookie cutters or rolling anything into bite size balls. I don’t even want to make pudding or jello. I want the definition of simple but also cute, fun and festive. Think open store bought package, do one step & done. If this is you keep reading! You won’t be disappointed with these ultra easy no bake Halloween mummy snack cakes.

These store bought cakes come together quickly to create adorable little DIY mummy faces in just a couple minutes. Step 1 is to open the packages on all your cakes. Step 2, add a dab of icing on the back of each eyeball. Next, stick the eyeballs on the cakes.

On this photo, I used chocolate chips just in case you don’t have candy eyeballs on hand! I think the eyeballs are a little cuter but the chocolate chips still make a convincing mummy.

The fancy cake makers have already perfectly drizzled vanilla icing over the cakes that look just like a mummy wrap (told you, no melting chocolate on my easy desserts). I mean really, can I hug this mysterious “Little Debbie?” I think I love her.

These no bake Halloween mummy snack cakes are sure to be a hit at school or your Halloween party. If you love super simple Halloween desserts, check out these Ding Dong Ghosts & upside down Hostess cupcake pumpkins.

Once you get your no bake Halloween mummy snack cakes done, find 31 non-candy treats to hand out to Trick or Treaters and 16 Halloween favors that won’t get trashed for class party fun.

Harvest Party No Bake Pumpkin Cupcakes

September 16, 2018 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

Harvest Party No Bake Pumpkin Cupcakes are made from store bought ingredients and can be made in less than 5 minutes.

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. We have fun making not so spooky (no bake) witch cakes, decorating the yard with tacky inflatables that my kids LOVE, and going to trunk or treat festivals. However, some schools opt for a more generic Fall or Harvest Party instead of a Halloween focused one. Typically those parties specify no scary things like ghosts, goblins or monsters.

If your child’s school requires this or if you are just looking for a fun seasonal treat without a Halloween focus, these little treats are easy and festive.

Harvest Party No Bake Pumpkin Cupcakes

It is only September and the pumpkins are already everywhere. I have seen them at the grocery store, of course Hobby Lobby, and all over Pinterest. I even found 45 unique pumpkin spice products on Amazon. And I love the beauty of a plain pumpkin as part of your Fall decor. So why not bring a sweet little orange pumpkin for a class party?

My daughter and I whipped up a couple of these yesterday for an afternoon treat. If you can unwrap Hostess cupcakes, you can make these harvest party no bake pumpkin cupcakes. In fact, your 4 year old can do it! I love involving the kids in making seasonal treats.

What You Need

–Hostess Orange Cupcakes

– Green M&M’s (I just bought a regular bag of M&M’s and picked out the green ones)

–White Icing

When making kid treats, I love to find things that use just a couple of ingredients that are easy to find. It cuts down on costs and allows me to do more fun things for each holiday.

Making the Harvest Party No Bake Pumpkin Cupcakes

Get ready, you are going to be able to make these adorable pumpkin cakes and still have time to go take a bubble bath (or who am I kidding, you will have time to do the 3 loads of laundry waiting, homework and dance lessons – but Hey, at least you will have time!).

Unwrap the orange cupcakes and turn them upside down on your platter or in your clear cello bags (the icing swirl should be facing down).

Take a green M&M and put a dab of white icing on the bottom (skinny side so that it will stand up vertically). Using the icing like glue, stand the M&M upright in the center of your cupcake.

Bam! Now you have a set of harvest party no bake pumpkin cupcakes to take to school festivities. Would your kids like these pumpkin cakes?

If you have a Halloween party to attend, check out these No Bake ghost cakes for a spooky twist.