Southern Made Simple

Keeping things simple with a smidge of Southern charm

Home Cookin'

Venison Sausage Balls

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We’re currently in the heart of deer season here in south Alabama, and my husband has been in the woods quite a bit lately trying to make sure our freezer is stocked with venison to last us a full year until next year’s deer season begins. These venison sausage balls are a quick, simple, no-fuss and no-fail appetizer that I love to whip up any ol’ time, but especially on game days when college football is on the big screen.

Venison Sausage Balls

These sausage balls only call for a handful of ingredients, and they take about 15 minutes to cook all the way through in the oven. My husband loves to eat them by themselves, but I personally love to dip them in a little bit of pepper jelly or drizzle a smidge of syrup over them to give them a bite of sweetness. If I’m lucky and there’s any leftovers the next morning, I love to pop them in the microwave and have them for breakfast!

Venison Sausage Balls

While this recipe calls for ground venison sausage, you can easily adapt this recipe to use pork sausage. If you want to spice things up a tad, spring for a spicy sausage blend instead of using mild! I use a combination of shredded cheddar and shredded mozzarella in the mixture because I believe the mozzarella adds in a little extra moisture to keep them from feeling dry. You can experiment with different cheeses if you so choose, and even add in a little creole or cayenne pepper to give them so extra flavor!

Venison Sausage Balls

To make sure my sausage balls are even in size so they will all cook evenly, I love to use a click-release cookie scoop and plop them right on top of the baking sheet without getting my hands dirty. If you happen to have any leftovers, just store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll keep for 4-5 days, but they’ve certainly never lasted that long in my household!

Here’s a free printable copy of the recipe if you’d like to give it a try!

Venison Sausage Balls
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Ingredients

  • 3 cups Bisquik baking mix
  • 1 lb ground venison or ground pork sausage
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 2/3 cup whole milk

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 F
  • Using a stand mixer, combine all ingredients and blend until well combined
  • Use a cookie scoop or your hands to roll out dough into ping-pong sized balls and place on a greased baking sheet
  • Bake for 15-17 minutes
  • Enjoy!

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Venison Sausage Balls

Looking for more great venison recipes? Check out these recipes found right here on Southern Made Simple!

Venison Meatloaf | Grilled BBQ Bacon Venison Burgers | Venison Country Fried Steak | Bacon Wrapped Venison Tenderloin | Venison Pot Roast | Venison Taco Bites

And while you’re at it, check out this roundup of other amazing venison recipes!

Do you have a favorite venison recipe you’d love to share? Or maybe a favorite game day (or any day) appetizer that’s your go-to this time of year? What would you pair with these venison sausage balls? Leave a comment below and share the love!


Comfort Food With A Twist: Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potatoes

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This post was sponsored by Southeastern Mills as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

For me, holiday cooking and baking is all about bringing out those family favorite recipes that exude comfort and nostalgia. Especially during a year that proved to be quite trying and difficult, I believe we all could use a little more comfort food to help warm our spirits and fill our bellies with goodness as we near the end of this year. Some of my absolute favorite comfort foods that we love to eat near the holidays are cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, freshly carved turkey and a little gravy to go with it all.

Comfort Food With A Twist: Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potato

And for those holiday feasts where comfort foods are often in abundance, sometimes it can be a bit of a challenge to “spruce” up the leftovers and enjoy them in a new and exciting way. Personally, I’m not a big fan of leftovers. I’ll eat leftovers once, maybe twice, and then I’m ready to move on, even if it is some of my favorite comfort foods. After Thanksgiving this year, I got a little experimental with our leftovers and created the ultimate holiday comfort food dish…with a twist. These Turkey and Dressing Loaded Baked Potatoes are a perfect portion of pillow-soft buttery baked potatoes, topped with homemade cornbread dressing, turkey, brown gravy and a smidge of cranberry sauce on top. Truthfully, I may never want these classic holiday dishes any other way now!

Comfort Food With A Twist: Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potato

Cornbread dressing is a popular side dish in the southern portion of the United States. While others enjoy “stuffing” during the holidays, my family prefers cornbread dressing made with Southeastern Mills Cornbread Mix. I keep a variety of Southeastern Mills baking and gravy mixes on hand at all times. The made from scratch quality you find in Southeastern Mills baking and gravy mixes make meal prep easy and convenient any time of year, but especially right here at the holidays. The cornbread dressing made with Southeastern Mills Cornbread Mix is a star ingredient in these loaded baked potatoes, and I love the that I’m able to simply mix, bake and enjoy perfect cornbread every time I pour the batter into a skillet. Southeastern Mills baking and gravy mixes are the perfect complement to any meal, and they can be used in so many unique and non-traditional ways!

Ultimate Thanksgiving Loaded Baked Potato

When making cornbread dressing, you’ll want to make your cornbread a day or two in advance. You’ll start by preparing two packages of Southeastern Mills Cornbread mix according to package instructions. Allow it to cool completely, then crumble into very fine little pieces inside a gallon sized resealable bag. Seal it up and set it aside until you’re ready to prepare the dressing.

Comfort Food With A Twist: Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potato

Freshly carved turkey is my favorite thing to serve alongside dressing, and pouring a little Southeastern Mills Roast Turkey Gravy Mix on top is like the icing on the cake. I love to serve gravy on top of mashed potatoes as well, so including it in these Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potatoes to achieve the ultimate comfort food just felt so right. 

Comfort Food With A Twist: Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potato

Making these Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potatoes is as easy as 1-2-3. You’re basically just layering up those classic holiday dishes and using the potato as the vessel. You’ll start with a baked potato. You can bake them in the oven, or cook them in an instant pressure cooker to speed up the process a little bit. Once your potato is cooked, add a little salt and butter if you like. 

Comfort Food With A Twist: Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potato

Next, spoon in a little bit of cornbread dressing, and use a fork to gently incorporate the dressing a little into the potato. Then, shred some turkey and add it on top of the potato. As I mentioned earlier, this is a really great way to get creative with holiday meal leftovers if you’re looking for a fun and delicious way to jazz up the giant turkey you prepared for the holidays! 

Comfort Food With A Twist: Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potato

Finally, it’s time to top the potato with your favorite turkey and dressing toppings. Some people prefer gravy, other people prefer cranberry sauce, and then there are those people (I’m raising my hand high over here) that love to add both! The Roast Turkey Gravy Mix from Southeastern Mills was the perfect touch to top off these baked potatoes, and taking that first bite into this unconventional baked potato was truly comfort food at its finest! 

Comfort Food With A Twist: Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potato

If you’d like to jazz up those holiday leftovers like I did, or if you’re looking for a fun and unique way to serve up traditional holiday menu items, you can find my recipe for these Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potatoes, including the cornbread dressing below!

Print Recipe

Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potatoes

Ingredients

For Cornbread Dressing

  • 2 packages Southeastern Mills Cornbread Mix prepared
  • 6-8 slices white sandwich bread gently torn into thumb size pieces
  • 2 large yellow or white onions very finely chopped
  • 1 bunch celery both ends removed and very finely chopped
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 26 oz family size can Cream of Chicken Soup
  • 1 Tbs rubbed sage
  • 1 tsp poultry seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

For Baked Potato

  • 3-4 large russet potatoes baked
  • 2-3 cups cooked shredded turkey
  • 1 package Southeastern Mills Turkey Gravy Mix prepared
  • Cranberry Sauce if desired

Instructions

For Cornbread Dressing

  • Prepare cornbread according to package instruction and allow to cool completely
  • Crumble cornbread into very fine pieces and seal in a sealable zipper bag and set aside over night
  • Grease a large casserole dish (9x13 or larger)
  • Grease a large casserole dish (9x13 or larger)
  • Combine very finely diced onions and celery in a stockpot and add just enough water to cover the top of the onions and celery
  • Boil until the celery is good and tender, or to your liking. Do not drain. You'll use the broth off of the vegetables in the dressing.
  • Transfer crumbled corn bread to a very large mixing bowl and place torn white bread right on top - do not stir in
  • Pour onion and celery mixture over cornbread, followed by the can of cream of chicken, 2 cups chicken broth, and your seasonings.
  • Pour into greased baking dish and bake uncovered for 55-60 minutes, or until bubbling and a nice thin crust has formed around the edges. Serve immediately

Assembling Baked Potato:

  • Layer prepared cornbread dressing, shredded turkey, Southeastern Mills Roast Turkey Gravy and cranberry sauce (if desired) and enjoy!

Tried this recipe?

Tag me on Instagram: @SouthernMadeSimple or use the hashtag #SouthernMadeSimple and share your love of southern cuisine!

Comfort Food With A Twist: Loaded Turkey & Dressing Baked Potato

Do you have a favorite way to jazz up holiday leftovers? Incorporating Southeastern Mills gravy and baking mixes into your holiday meals is a great way to elevate your meals with a made-from-scratch quality, so be sure to keep an eye out for them during your next grocery store run!

Overnight Gingerbread French Toast Casserole

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The house is quite as I’m sitting here typing this, sipping my coffee. My children are nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of every single toy they circled with a red crayon in the Target Christmas Catalog dance in their heads. The aroma coming from the kitchen is slowly creeping its way throughout the rest of the house, and I can hardly wait to sit down at the table with my family and a bowl full of this Overnight Gingerbread French Toast Casserole. Oh, if only I could capture the scent of this dish in a candle. It smells exactly like Christmas, and not the candy-cane or evergreen tree scent so many people try to make it. It smells like true homemade holiday magic, and the smell isn’t even the best part!

Overnight Gingerbread French Toast Casserole

French toast casseroles are pretty popular around here. I make them for my family quite a bit. I’ve made Strawberry French Toast Casserole, Mixed Berry French Toast Casserole, and I’ve even made a Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole, but there’s just something about this gingerbread version that really steals the show. Personally, I’m a huge fan of molasses and ginger together. Gingerbread in general gives me those warm-fuzzy Christmas feelings, and adding a little powdered sugar and maple syrup on top? Honey, that’s some sho’ nuff certified goodness.

Overnight Gingerbread French Toast Casserole

I typically use a loaf of Italian bread from the bakery at my grocery store to make any french toast casserole. Walmart always sells their loaves for $1 each, which is much cheaper than what you’ll find down the bread aisle! I simply slice the bread into thumb-sized pieces and toast them in the oven for about 15 minutes. Next, I whip up the egg mixture with a variety of spices typically found in gingerbread. Of course, molasses and ground ginger are a must in this recipe. I recommend using a milder version of molasses over blackstrap for this recipe.  Then, pour the egg mixture over the bread crumbs, cover, and refrigerate overnight for best results before baking.

Overnight Gingerbread French Toast Casserole

Try not to get too hung up on the “overnight” part of this recipe, though. If you don’t have that kind of time, don’t worry about it! You can certainly pop it into the oven right away if you need it in a hurry. It’ll still be fabulous, I promise! 😉 

Overnight Gingerbread French Toast Casserole

The cinnamon sugar crumble on top is probably my favorite part of this recipe. It gives a slight crunch that soaks up the warm syrup perfectly. Here’s a copy of the recipe if you’d like to give it a try!

Overnight Gingerbread French Toast Casserole
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Overnight Gingerbread French Toast Casserole

Ingredients

For French Toast Casserole

  • 1 loaf Italian bread cubed
  • 8 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves

For Crumble Topping

  • 1 stick cold salted butter cubed
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves

Instructions

  • Cube loaf bread into small pieces and toast in over at 300 F for 15 minutes
  • Remove from oven and pour bread cubes in a greased 9x13 casserole dish
  • Preheat oven to 350 F
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, molasses, vanilla and spices
  • Pour egg mixture over the bread. Cover dish and set in refrigerator overnight or for at least 4 hours. See note.
  • Bake for 20 minutes, then add topping and bake for an additional 25 minutes.
  • Serve with maple syrup and/or powdered sugar. Enjoy!

Notes

For best results, allow bread mixture to set in refrigerator overnight or for a few hours before baking. However, baking at this point will be fine as well if you are in a hurry.

Tried this recipe?

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What do you love to make for breakfast during the holidays? Leave a comment below and share the love!

Looking for more recipes similar to this Overnight Gingerbread French Toast Casserole? Check out these favorites found right here on Southern Made Simple! 

Strawberry French Toast Bake | Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast Bake | Mixed Berry French Toast Bake | Molasses Cookies | White Chocolate Drizzled Gingerbread Stars

Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Do you have a really good, classic, no-fail and dependable chocolate chip cookie recipe that you love to reach for when a cookie craving comes along? If not, allow me to introduce you to the new love in your life. Seriously. These Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies are lightly crispy on the outside, perfectly soft and chewy on the inside and have an irresistible buttery and brown sugar flavor with the perfect chocolate chip-to-cookie ratio. I may be tooting my own horn a little bit here, but I’d say these chocolate chip cookies are pretty darn close to perfect.

Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are the most googled cookie recipe of all time, and that holds especially true during the holidays. Many folks are grasping at things that bring them comfort and joy during this time of year, and that means savoring classic recipes that they know are good. And honestly, I think chocolate chip cookies would even bring the Grinch himself a little bit of joy and happiness. I’ve never seen a grumpy person with a stack of cookies and a glass of milk in their hands. 😉 

Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

The base of this recipe may look a little familiar to you, as it’s the same dough that I use in my Soft & Chewy White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies that I shared just a few weeks ago. It’s my go-to cookie dough for just about any cookie, especially ones that I really want to have that soft-batch bakery feel. 

Here’s a free printable copy of my recipe if you’d like to give it a try!

Print Recipe

Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup salted butter room temperature
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 Tbs vanilla flavoring
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp corn starch
  • 2 cups milk chocolate chips

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl using a hand or stand mixer, combine butter, white sugar and brown sugar
  • Add in vanilla and egg and mix until incorporated
  • Slowly add in flour, baking soda and corn starch and mix until soft, thick dough forms
  • Add in chocolate chips and stir until just combined
  • Refrigerate 1 hour or longer (Don't skip this step!)
  • Preheat oven to 350 F and spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray or use a non-stick silicone baking mat
  • Once dough is thoroughly chilled, roll or scoop into 1 1/2-2 inch balls and place an inch or more apart
  • Bake for 10-11 minutes. *Cookies will appear undercooked when first removed from the oven. Do not cook any longer - the cookies will continue to set while left to cool on the cookie sheet.
  • Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Tried this recipe?

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By the way, here’s a few of my must-haves in the kitchen when it comes to baking cookies. There’s still time to let Santa know about these items if you’re adding them to your wish list! 

Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

When these cookies first come out of the oven, they’re going to look a little undercooked. That’s exactly what you want them to look like. I promise. They’ll continue to cook a little while they’re cooling on the cookie sheet, and the texture will be everything you’ve ever wanted a cookie to be. You’ll definitely be going back for seconds and thirds. And then you’ll go back for another one to dunk into your coffee the next morning. I’m just speaking from experience here. 😉 

Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you like this recipe for Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies, be sure to check out these other great recipes found right here on Southern Made Simple!

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies | Molasses Cookies | Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies | Soft Batch Candy Corn Cookies | Strawberry Milkshake Cookies

What types of cookies will you be baking during this holiday season? Do you like to try new-to-you recipes, or do you prefer to stick to the classics? Leave a comment below and tell me about your favorite kinds of cookies. I always love to hear what’s cooking in your kitchen!

White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn

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Since we put up our Christmas tree and decorations last week, we’ve been spending a lot of family time watching kid friendly Christmas movies almost every night. We turn all of the lights in the house off except for the tree, lighted garland and a few flameless candles, and my two girls have been absolutely mesmerized over the new ambiance that the Christmas lights bring. Even though our girls are very young and their attention span can’t last the length of the movie, we still enjoy the time we spend together. I’ve also enjoyed making a special treat for us to munch on while we all curl up together and watch. Popcorn is always a must when watching movies, and I love to zhoosh it up a bit and make it feel a little more Christmas-y. This White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn is the perfect blend of sweet and salty, and has been the perfect movie snack for us all to enjoy while watching the big screen!

White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn

When I was in college, I worked at the local movie theater for about 2 1/2 years to help pay for my wedding. During that time I sort of had a love-hate relationship with popcorn. Sure, freshly buttered popcorn smells absolutely amazing, but for the entirety of those 2 1/2 years I smelled like popcorn too. My clothes, car, even my bedroom smelled like popcorn. I had to nearly crawl inside the giant popper each night to disassemble and clean the machine, and you would be amazed at how quickly that “extra butter” can get all over everything. 

So all that is to say, I never really popped popcorn very much after I left my job there. Popcorn was my supper many a night when I was working late, and I always felt that I had had my fill of it. But every now and then I circle back around to it, and adding fun toppings like melted white chocolate and crushed peppermint candies makes this snack irresistible!

 

White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn

If you find yourself curling up on the couch this season to enjoy your favorite Christmas movies, here’s a few of my favorite things to cozy up with on movie night!

And if you want to spruce up your  popcorn and make it feel a little more festive, here’s a free printable copy of the recipe for you to try!

White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn
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Ingredients

  • 2 bags buttered popcorn popped
  • 1 8oz bag Wilton White Chocolate Melts
  • 1/8 tsp peppermint extract
  • 1 tsp fine red sugar sprinkles (feel free to add more or less!)
  • 10-12 peppermints crushed

Instructions

  • Pop popcorn according to package instructions, set aside
  • In a microwave safe bowl, pour in chocolate melts and microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring in between until completely melted
  • While chocolate is melting in microwave, carefully crush peppermints
  • Pour popcorn into a large mixing bowl and pour melted chocolate, crushed peppermints and sprinkles and stir until well coated
  • Pour popcorn onto a baking sheet and spread out to dry
  • After about 15-20 minutes, the chocolate should be dry and the popcorn is ready to eat. Enjoy!

Tried this recipe?

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White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn

And if you’re looking for a bit of a different flavor profile for your popcorn on movie night, check out these recipes for Caramel Apple Bourbon Popcorn and Smokin’ Sriracha Popcorn! 

Are you enjoying watching holiday movies this Christmas season? What are some of your favorite movies and snacks to enjoy? I’m always looking for a good recommendation! Leave a comment below and share the love!

Cranberry Banana Nut Bread

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This recipe for Cranberry Banana Nut Bread is one of my favorite things to bake during the holiday season. When it’s sweet aroma fills my kitchen as it’s baking, it has a special way of giving me those warm and fuzzy feelings that only the Christmas season can bring. The tartness of the cranberries paired with the sweetness of the bananas makes a wonderful combination, and it’s absolutely delightful with a pad of butter smeared on top and a cup of coffee to go with it!

Cranberry Banana Nut Bread

Little known fact about me: I do not like bananas. At all. You won’t ever find a banana pudding recipe or a banana cream pie here on Southern Made Simple. Even their smell bothers me. I have to turn my head away when I’m peeling one for my daughters to eat. Banana flavored things such as pudding or candies are also a hard pass for me. However, oddly enough, the one exception to my strange distaste for bananas is banana nut bread. And I don’t just like banana nut bread, I love it.

Cranberry Banana Nut Bread

And when I get lucky enough to have a few bananas on the counter that my daughters are no longer interested, I know exactly what I’m going to make with them. Cranberries freeze decently, so this time of year when the grocery stores have plenty of them on hand, I like to buy extra and keep them in the freezer so that I can pull them out and bake with them throughout the first few months of the year.

Cranberry Banana Nut Bread

This cranberry banana nut bread is perfectly moist with golden brown edges that have the perfect amount of “crunch.” This bread is great to bake and give to a loved one during the Christmas season, and it also freezes and thaws nicely if you’d like to bake extra!

Here’s a free printable copy of my recipe if you’d like to give it a try:

Cranberry Banana Nut Bread
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Cranberry Banana Nut Bread

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup butter softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 ripe bananas mashed
  • 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine softened butter and sugar
  • Add in mashed banana, eggs, yogurt and vanilla and stir until just combined
  • Add in flour, baking soda and salt and stir until just combined - do not over stir
  • Fold in cranberries and nuts
  • Pour batter into a greased 5x9 loaf pan
  • Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in middle of bread comes out clean

Tried this recipe?

Tag me on Instagram: @SouthernMadeSimple or use the hashtag #SouthernMadeSimple and share your love of southern cuisine!

 

Cranberry Banana Nut Bread

Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post to find more recipes featuring cranberries! If you’ve got some leftover from Thanksgiving, this bread is a perfect place to put those berries to good use!

If you like this recipe, be sure to check out these other great recipes found right here on Southern Made Simple!

Banana Nut Squash Bread | Soft & Chewy White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies | Cranberry Jalapeno Christmas Dip | No Bake Mini Cranberry Cheesecake Trifles | Cranberry Cream Cheese Pound Cake | Sugared Cranberries

Are you doing any special holiday baking this season? If so, I’d love to hear what you’ve got cookin’ in your kitchen! Drop a comment below and share what you’re making for the holidays. I hope you and your family truly have a happy, safe and wonderful Christmas season!

Southern Cornbread Dressing

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This recipe for Southern Cornbread Dressing is a true southern staple dish to serve during the holiday season. Made with homemade cornbread from scratch, this recipe makes coming home for Thanksgiving even more spectacular!

Southern Cornbread Dressing

It’s absolutely not a certified southern Thanksgiving dinner unless there’s a big pan of homemade dressing sitting next to the turkey. Cornbread dressing is comfort food at it’s finest, and it’s always served with either a spoonful of cranberry sauce or a drizzle of gravy right on top. Truth be told, I think the dressing is more of the star of the Thanksgiving feast than the turkey is. I may not go back for seconds for the turkey, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I’ll be getting a second helping of dressing!

Southern Cornbread Dressing

I was always taught to make my dressing with day-old cornbread. It’s not imperative that you do that, but using day-old cornbread is preferred by many as old cornbread soaks up more of the broth and produces a better texture and consistency in the dressing. All that is to say – don’t skip this part! If you’re serving this for Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll want to make sure you plan ahead and get that skillet of cornbread in the oven the day before. You’ll also want to make sure you have about half a loaf of white bread on hand that is also a few days old. This recipe calls for thumb-size pieces of white bread to go with the day-old cornbread to help really lock in the moisture in the dressing.

Southern Cornbread Dressing

Despite what many people may believe, dressing and stuffing, in my opinion, cannot be used interchangeably. Even though there are many similarities, traditional Southern Cornbread Dressing is different from “stuffing” for a few reasons. Stuffing is typically known to be a bit herbier, with sage being the stand-out herb used. While many dressing recipes do call for sage and other seasonings (such as this recipe,) you’ll frequently find that many omit the sage all together. Stuffing also typically uses larger chunks of bread, while cornbread dressing uses a very finely ground cornbread as its base. Dressing is usually more moist while stuffing tends to be a bit drier, and then of course there’s the whole “stuffing it inside a turkey” thing. While I think the practice of literally stuffing the bird is fading out a bit, cornbread dressing is never stuffed inside a turkey where as stuffing traditionally is.

Southern Cornbread Dressing

My grandmother’s signature in her dressing was adding just a smidge of nutmeg. It’s not anything that really stands out in the dish, but I love adding it in because that’s exactly what she did. I never got to sit down and have a Thanksgiving dinner with her, but I’d like to think she’d be proud that I add in the nutmeg in memory of her. 

Are you ready to make a big ol’ helping of southern cornbread dressing? Here’s everything you’ll need to get started:

Southern Cornbread Dressing
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Southern Cornbread Dressing

Ingredients

Cornbread:

  • 2 cups self-rising cornmeal
  • 5 eggs
  • 1 1/4 cup whole buttermilk
  • 1 Tbs canola or vegetable oil for greasing the skillet

Cornbread Dressing:

  • Crumbled day-old cornbread
  • 6-8 slices white sandwich bread gently torn into thumb-size pieces
  • 2 large yellow or white onions very finely chopped
  • 1 bunch celery both ends removed and very finely chopped
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 26 oz family size can Cream of Chicken Soup
  • 1 Tbs rubbed sage
  • 1 tsp poultry seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

Instructions

For Cornbread:

  • Preheat oven to 400 F
  • Pour oil into iron skillet and roll oil around thoroughly to ensure the entire pan is coated with oil
  • In a large bowl, combine corn meal, eggs and buttermilk and stir
  • Pour batter into greased skillet and bake for 22-25 minutes, or until it's just lightly golden on the top and around the edges. Don't overbake!
  • Crumble cornbread very finely, making sure there are no chunks larger than the size of your pinky nail.
  • Cover crumbled cornbread and set aside for a day or overnight.

For Cornbread Dressing:

  • Grease a large casserole dish (9x13 or larger)
  • Preheat oven to 350 F
  • Combine very finely diced onions and celery in a stockpot and add just enough water to cover the top of the onions and celery
  • Boil until the celery is good and tender, or to your liking. Do not drain. You'll use the broth off of the vegetables in the dressing.
  • Transfer crumbled corn bread to a very large mixing bowl and place torn white bread right on top - do not stir in
  • Pour onion and celery mixture over cornbread, followed by the can of cream of chicken, 2 cups chicken broth, and your seasonings.
  • Pour into greased baking dish and bake uncovered for 55-60 minutes, or until bubbling and a nice thin crust has formed around the edges
  • Serve with turkey, cranberry sauce and all of your favorite fixin's!

Tried this recipe?

Tag me on Instagram: @SouthernMadeSimple or use the hashtag #SouthernMadeSimple and share your love of southern cuisine!

If you have ample leftovers, dressing will freeze well so you can enjoy it again later! Just add a little chicken broth to liven it back up, warm all the way through and enjoy all over again!

Southern Cornbread Dressing

What is your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? Do you prefer cranberry sauce or gravy on top of your dressing? Leave a comment below and share the love!

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!

 

If you’ll have little ones running around the house during Thanksgiving this year, be sure to take a look at these fun Thanksgiving Themed Snack Crafts for them to make and share!

Soft & Chewy White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

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These Soft & Chewy White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies are a perfect holiday treat to indulge in! Grab a cup of coffee or a tall glass of milk and enjoy!

I need y’all to hear me on this. Clean out your ears real good and make sure you’re listening very closely, because what I’m about to say is very serious. It is absolutely no exaggeration, and while I understand that it is a bold statement, it’s wholeheartedly true.

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

I’ve had a lot of cookies during my time here on Earth. Soft batch, fudgy, cakey, some with nuts, some with various types of chocolate chips. I’ve loved nearly every cookie I’ve tried. Some tries were just likes and not loves, but for the most part I’m a cookie-kinda-girl and I’ve never been mad at a cookie. I even like the super cheap ultra-manufactured nothing-special cookies. You know, those butter cookies you had every year at VBS as a kid that you stuck your finger through the middle and wore like they were edible rings? I love those, too. They’ve got a special place in my heart.

But these? These cookies are my favorite cookies in the entire world. Granted, I know I’ve never tried every cookie in the world, but at this point I don’t feel like I need to. I’ve found true love, and it’s baked right into these Soft & Chewy White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies. 

I can’t put my finger precisely on it – maybe it’s the copious amounts of butter, or the richness of the brown sugar. Maybe it’s the fact that these cookies are perfectly chewy and soft, but sturdy enough to dunk in your morning coffee or glass of milk without it crumbling straight to the bottom of your glass. Or perhaps it’s the bits of tart cranberry tucked inside coupled with the sweetness of those white chocolate morsels. Whatever it is, the world needs more of it. Especially in this dumpster-fire of a year 2020.

If you’ll be doing a little holiday baking this year, this recipe is a must-try. I promise you. Bake some for you, bake some for your neighbors down the street, or make them as a treat for your family for getting through an incredibly tough year. Honestly, just bake them because it’s a random Tuesday. You don’t need a reason!

Here’s a free printable copy of my recipe if you’d like to give it a try!

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
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Soft & Chewy White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup salted butter room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp corn starch
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbs vanilla flavoring
  • 1 cup dried sweetened cranberries
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl using a hand or stand mixer, combine butter, white sugar and brown sugar.
  • Add in vanilla and egg and mix until incorporated.
  • Slowly add in flour, corn starch, baking soda and salt and mix until a soft, thick dough forms.
  • Add in dried cranberries and white chocolate chips and stir until just combined.
  • Refrigerate for 1 hour or longer. (Don't skip this step!)
  • Preheat oven to 350 F and spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray or use a non-stick silicone baking mat
  • Once dough is thoroughly chilled, roll or scoop into 2 inch balls and place about an inch or more apart on the cookie sheet
  • Bake for 10-11 minutes. *Cookies will appear undercooked when first removed from the oven. Do not cook any longer - the cookies will continue to set while left to cool on the cookie sheet.
  • Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Tried this recipe?

Tag me on Instagram: @SouthernMadeSimple or use the hashtag #SouthernMadeSimple and share your love of southern cuisine!

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

If you like this recipe, be sure to check out these other great cookie recipes found right here on Southern Made Simple!

Strawberry Milkshake Cookies | Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Cookies | Molasses Cookies | Banana Nut Cranberry Cookies | Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies | Cool Whip Cookies | Hot Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies | Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies | Cookies for Santa

Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast Bake with Salted Caramel Coffee Sauce

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This shop has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TogetherWithRedDiamond

As I curl up in a blanket on my couch and pause for a moment to begin planning our holiday meals for my family, I can’t help but be swept away with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Sure, our time with our extended family has been put on pause, and our traditional large meals gathered around the dinner table during the holidays will look a little different for now, but changing my perspective to focus on the positives of this year instead of the negatives has really helped me draw from a place of gratitude for the things that I have rather than sadness over the things I cannot have.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast Bake with Salted Caramel Coffee Sauce

One positive is that even though I won’t be fixing meals for a larger number of people, I am still able to fix some of my all-time favorite seasonal meals for my immediate family this season, and nothing makes us all feel the goodness of fall quite like my Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast Bake with Salted Caramel Coffee Sauce. I’ve always been big on making breakfast time extra special during the holiday season, and there is nothing better than having a warm slice of this French toast goodness with a hot cup of coffee in hand.

And speaking of coffee, the star ingredient of this French toast bake is a salted caramel coffee sauce to pour over each slice in place of traditional syrup. The caramel has just enough hint of coffee flavor in it to make any coffee lover smile, and swirling a bit of it into my cup takes my morning coffee time to a whole new level.

Hover over the image above to find Red Diamond® Coffee products at a store near you!

My husband and I love to enjoy a morning cup of coffee together each day, and I always keep my coffee bar stocked during the holiday season so any guests or family members can help themselves to a fresh pot while they’re here. Lately I’ve been brewing Red Diamond® Classic Blend Ground Coffee, and each sip has been just like a warm and much needed hug from an old friend.

As a native Alabamian, it always makes my heart happy to support businesses that are here in my own state. Red Diamond Coffee is roasted right here in Alabama, and it’s made from the highest quality 100% Arabica coffee. Only the best high-grown coffee beans are used, and they’re all handpicked and roasted in the world’s finest Scolari Roasters. The fresh and warm flavors are something I can truly appreciate during this season, and this coffee makes for a perfect pairing with a plate of this French toast bake!
Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast Bake with Salted Caramel Coffee Sauce

Making this Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast Bake is very simple and straightforward. This dish feeds our family of 4 with plenty of leftovers, so if you’re visiting with a few extended family members this season, this bake is perfect for feeding several people. To get started, you’ll want to use day-old bread or a loaf of French or Italian bread cut into cubes and toasted at 300°F for 15 minutes, or until firm.

Next, cube a brick of cream cheese into small pieces and toss them in with the bread crumbs into a 9×13 casserole dish. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, 1 can of pumpkin puree, sugar, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg and pour over the bead cubes. For the very best results, I like to let the mixture rest in the refrigerator for a few hours before baking, but if you’re in more of a hurry you can go ahead and pop it in the oven at this point.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast Bake with Salted Caramel Coffee Sauce

While the casserole is baking, go ahead and combine all of the listed ingredients for the crumble topping. Once the casserole has baked for 20 minutes, add the crumble mixture on top and bake for another 25 minutes. The casserole will make your entire house smell absolutely wonderful, and sinking your teeth into a warm and gooey slice of this French toast bake will make you wish the autumn season could stick around all year long!

But the very best part of the dish is the icing on the cake – or should I say the caramel on the casserole! The salted caramel coffee sauce is absolutely sensational, and using Red Diamond Coffee inside the caramel sauce gives it an extra special touch. I love that Red Diamond is real coffee – handpicked from the world’s finest fields and crafted without compromise. Perfect’s not easy, but honestly this coffee makes perfection seem effortless! I always pick up my Red Diamond Coffee at my local Publix, but you can check this store locator to see where Red Diamond Coffee is sold near you!

Once the Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast Bake is out of the oven, drizzle the homemade salted caramel coffee sauce on top, and don’t forget to add a smidge into your coffee, too!

Here’s a free printable copy of the recipe if you’d like to give it a try:

Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast Bake with Salted Caramel Coffee Sauce
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast Bake with Salted Caramel Coffee Sauce

Ingredients

For French Toast:

  • 1 loaf Italian or French bread cubed and toasted at 300 F for 15 minutes
  • 1 8 oz plain cream cheese cubed into small pieces
  • 8 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 15 oz can pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp vanilla

For Topping:

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 stick salted butter cold and cubed
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg

For Caramel Sauce:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 Tbs Red Diamond Classic Blend Ground Coffee
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 5 Tbs butter cubed
  • 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt

Instructions

For French Toast Bake:

  • Cube loaf bread into small pieces and toast in over at 300 F for 15 minutes
  • Remove from oven and place in a greased 9x13 casserole dish
  • Preheat oven to 350 F
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, pumpkin puree, white sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla
  • Cube cold cream cheese and sprinkle amongst bread cubes
  • Pour egg mixture over the bread. For best results, allow bread mixture to set in refrigerator for a few hours before baking. However, baking at this point will be fine as well.
  • Bake for 20 minutes, then add topping (below) and bake for an additional 25 minutes.

For the topping:

  • While french toast is baking, combine all topping ingredients into a large bowl.
  • Using a hand or stand mixer, combine all ingredients until a crumbly mixture forms
  • Sprinkle on top of french toast bake and bake for an additional 25 minutes.
  • Serve with Salted Caramel Coffee Sauce and enjoy!

For Caramel Sauce:

  • Line a coffee cup with a doubled coffee filter. Pour 2 Tbs of Red Diamond Classic Blend Ground Coffee into the filter.
  • Heat 3/4 cup water in saucepan on stove to boiling. Remove only 1/4 cup of water and pour over coffee grounds. Allow to steep for a few minutes until cooled down slightly.
  • While the coffee grounds are cooling, whisk sugar into remaining water and bring to a rapid boil. Cover and boil for about 6-8 minutes, or until the sugar and water begin to turn an amber brown color.
  • While the sugar mixture is simmering, remove coffee filter and grounds from coffee mug and gently squeeze the grounds to get any excess liquid out. Discard grounds and filter.
  • Very gently add cubed butter into the boiling sugar mixture, making sure not to splatter the mixture onto your hands. Whisk vigorously as the mixture will begin to bubble quickly.
  • Then slowly add in the heavy cream and whisk until foaming mostly subsides.
  • Add in vanilla, coffee and sea salt.
  • Bring mixture back to a boil to thicken, then remove from heat and allow to cool before serving.

Tried this recipe?

Tag me on Instagram: @SouthernMadeSimple or use the hashtag #SouthernMadeSimple and share your love of southern cuisine!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast Bake with Salted Caramel Coffee Sauce

I’ll be passing this recipe along to my out-of-town relatives that we will not be able to gather with this year. While we’ll be missing them in person, it warms my heart to know that they’ll have a belly full of goodness to keep the smiles going!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast Bake with Salted Caramel Coffee Sauce

This fall family-favorite really has a way of bringing us all together, even if we do have to be a little bit farther apart for right now. Brewing a fresh pot of Red Diamond Coffee to pair with it makes this holiday season feel extra nice, and I can’t wait to share a cup with my family this holiday season, even if it is through a computer screen!

If you’re getting a head start on your holiday menu planning like me, be sure to print out a copy of this Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast Bake with Salted Caramel Coffee Sauce recipe and grab all of the ingredients needed to make it. And while you’re at it, make sure you pick up a canister of Red Diamond Coffee to go with it!

 

Acorn Muffin Bites

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This shop has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence and Entenmann’s® Little Bites. All opinions are mine alone. #SeasonOfLittleBites

When I decided to homeschool my daughter this year, I was excited at the freedom and the possibilities to venture beyond the books and discover new ways of learning through hands-on activities and adventures. The fall season is the perfect time to venture outdoors and study nature, and we’ve been enjoying collecting and gathering acorns, twigs, pinecones, and things of that nature to study more in our at-home kindergarten classroom.

Acorn Muffin Bites

After a recent outdoor scavenger hunt, my daughter’s fascination with acorns was beginning to bloom. She loved how they all had little “hats” on top, and she started her own collection of them inside an old glass jar. This prompted the wheels in my brain to begin turning up new ideas to spark her curiosity and imagination. I opened up a package of Entenmann’s Little Bites® Chocolate Chip muffins for her to enjoy for her afternoon snack, and the idea to create these Acorn Muffin Bites was quickly born!

Acorn Muffin Bites

Entenmann’s Little Bites® muffins have been a staple in our pantry for years. I love them because they contain no high fructose corn syrup and zero (0) grams of trans fat per serving, and she loves them because they’re perfectly soft, easy, and mess-free for her little hands, plus they contain real ingredients like blueberries, strawberries, and in this case – real chocolate chips! The muffins were already the perfect shape to use as the base of the acorn, so while she was snacking I headed back to the pantry to search for some melting chocolate, pretzel sticks and a few chocolate sprinkles to create our own little snack-craft project.

Acorn Muffin Bites

Realizing I needed to add a few things to my grocery list, I hopped online and added more Entenmann’s Little Bites® muffins to my cart, plus a few other things we needed around the house using Walmart’s Online Grocery service. I love being able to conveniently add items I need to my cart from my computer or phone and choosing a time to pick up my groceries at the store that works for me. With a busy homeschooling schedule, I’m thankful to be able to spend less time in-store and more learning and playtime with my girls!

Entenmann’s Little Bites® muffins are available nationwide and come in more than 8 varieties, so there’s truly a flavor to fit every snacking occasion. In addition to the chocolate chip muffins, I also picked up a package of Entenmann’s Little Bites® Blueberry Muffins and Entenmann’s Little Bites® Pumpkin muffins to further celebrate the fall season!

Acorn Muffin Bites

Once I had all ingredients needed on hand, I explained to my daughter that we were going to add a few new acorns to her beloved collection, but this time we weren’t going to keep them in a jar – we were going to eat them! She looked a little puzzled, but she was so excited when I told her that chocolate and sprinkles were involved. These acorn muffin bites are a perfect craft for little hands to get involved with, as there’s no actual cooking or baking required. All we needed was a little melted chocolate almond bark, chocolate sprinkles, and pretzel sticks that were broken in half.

Once the chocolate was melted in the microwave, we dipped the tops of the chocolate chip muffins into the melted chocolate and then added sprinkles on top. We then set them out on a plate to dry and inserted the pretzel stick in the top to serve as the stem. After about 20 minutes, the chocolate was dry and we began to snack away!

Acorn Muffin Bites

Creating these cute little acorn muffin bites using Entenmann’s Little Bites® muffins was a perfect homeschool (or anytime) activity to do with my daughter, and they were a wonderful way to celebrate the goodness found in the changing of the season this year! In addition to making fun snacks like these, we love to enjoy Entenmann’s Little Bites® muffins for any occasion, and we’ll soon be taking them with us on many more outdoor adventures! I love that they’re perfectly pre-portioned and portable your on-the-go needs. They’re a must-have in our house, and they certainly keep the smiles coming!

Acorn Muffin Bites

Next time you’re shopping in-store or online at Walmart, make sure you check out the variety of Entenmann’s Little Bites® muffins (like Pumpkin!) and other varieties such as Entenmann’s Little Bites® Fudge Brownies, plus other NEW flavors coming soon!