Southern Made Simple

Keeping things simple with a smidge of Southern charm

Home Cookin'

Butternut Squash Muffins

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These Butternut Squash Muffins are a scrumptious way to start the morning. Each bite is cinnamon-y sweet, and the fresh butternut squash baked right in makes them perfectly moist. The sugary crumble on top is absolutely irresistible, too! Butternut Squash Muffins

Alright, before I really dive into sharing all of the sweet details of this recipe, you and I need to make a pact, okay? Hold up your right hand and repeat after me: “I (state your full name) do solemnly swear that I will not tell Laura’s 5 year old daughter that these muffins contain a vegetable. I realize that in doing so I am jeopardizing the peace and harmony that she experiences at the breakfast table each time she prepares these muffins, and the last thing 2020 needs is a stealer of the peace. 

Okay, phew. I feel like I can proceed now. Anyway, where were we? Oh yes, butternut squash. My fall-time favorite. 

Butternut Squash Muffins

My butternut squash plants have done quite well this year, considering I planted a batch in the spring knowing good and well they’re a winter squash. I was just curious to see how they’d do, honestly, but I’ve still been pulling squash off of the vine here and there, and I’m hopeful to have an even bigger harvest this fall. Butternut squash are a cousin to pumpkins, and their flavors are quite similar. For all of those glorious “pumpkin-this” and “pumpkin-that” recipes circulating around Pinterest, you can use cooked and mashed butternut squash and make nearly the same thing. I do it all the time!

These are a petty basic muffin when it comes right down to it, but the cinnamon-y crumble on top always makes me come back for more. The added butternut squash makes these perfectly moist, and my kids devoured 2 a piece before I could even finish photographing them. Of course, I had to call them “magical unicorn sparkle muffins” in order for my 5 year old to eat them. One mention of butternut squash and she would hit the ground running. Y’all pray for me. 

While it seems that my Instagram feed is already beginning to flood with fall decor, it’s kind of hard for me to get into the fall mood when it’s 100ºF in the shade here in south Alabama. Because these muffins are a little bit lighter on the fall flavors, I think they’re a good transitional treat to start baking this month, and especially as butternut squash is becoming more readily available in the supermarkets and in the garden.

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

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Butternut Squash Muffins

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar packed
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 3/4 cup mashed cooked butternut squash
  • 3/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup butter melted
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Crumble Topping

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup cold butter cubed
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 F
  • In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients.
  • In another bowl, combine eggs, mashed butternut squash, corn syrup, butter, oil and vanilla
  • Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
  • Fill greased muffin tin or paper-lined muffin cups about halfway full.
  • In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon
  • Cut in butter until crumby and sprinkle over each muffin tin
  • Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
  • Allow to cool before removing from pan. Serve warm and enjoy!

Notes

To make these mini muffins, just adjust the cook time to 10 minutes.

Tried this recipe?

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If you plan on doing some fall baking this upcoming season, here are a few of my must-haves in the kitchen, especially if these Butternut Squash Muffins are on the menu!

 

Butternut Squash Muffins

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

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash | Butternut Squash Oatmeal Raisin Cookies | Cinnamon Raisin Buttermilk Muffins | Snickerdoodle Mini Muffins

Fresh Apple Cake

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This recipe for Fresh Apple Cake is truly like biting into a slice of old school southern baked goodness. The fresh apples keep the cake perfectly moist, and the pound-cake-like crust takes it over the top!

Fresh Apple Cake

Let’s talk about cake for just a minute, shall we? You can never go wrong with a good old fashioned cake, but when it comes right down to it, I prefer mine without the icing. Sure, the icing on the cake is always the prettiest part, but too much sugar isn’t always a good thing, and I believe a cake being able to stand it’s own without adding all the frills really says a lot about the quality and goodness of the cake itself. 

You wouldn’t cover up the golden delicious crust on a pound cake with icing, would you? Of course not! I prefer my cakes to be like that. Give me ALL the golden sugar-y crust and hold the icing, please!

Fresh Apple Cake

Fresh apple cake has always been a favorite of mine. The fresh apples baked inside keep the cake amazingly moist, but perhaps the best part about this particular recipes is, as I mentioned earlier, the pound cake crust. There’s a special trick to accomplishing that crust, and it all has to do with how you grease your pan.

Sometimes we can be prone to reach for the non-stick cooking spray when a recipe calls for greasing the pan, but your cake will truly be lacking something special if you go that route. As I’ve said in previous posts, I do not cook with Crisco like so many old school southern recipes call for. My ONLY exception to that rule is when I’m baking a cake, especially a pound cake or a fresh apple cake like this one.

Fresh Apple Cake

When baking a cake, you’ll want to “grease and flour” the pan to prevent your cake from sticking to the sides and falling apart. To grease the pan, you’re going to need to get your hands a little dirty. Technically, I suppose you could find a way around getting your hands dirty, but I prefer to use my hands to really get down into all of the crevices of the pan. You’ll want to take a scoop of Crisco and smear it ALL around the inside of the tube pan, making sure to not leave any area ungreased. Next, you’ll want to “flour” the pan, or in this case, use powdered sugar instead of flour. Trust me on this one.

Dusting the pan with flour or powdered sugar creates a line of defense between the Crisco and the cake batter. It prevents the Crisco from seeping into the batter as the cake bakes, yet still lets the batter rise up the sides of the pan. The Crisco creates a perfectly golden crunchy layer that is one of my favorite parts of this recipe, and you won’t have a difficult time releasing the bread from the pan. Before you pour the batter in the pan, be sure to dump any excess powdered sugar that didn’t stick to the Crisco into the trashcan.

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

Fresh Apple Cake
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Fresh Apple Cake

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 cups all purpose flour (Divide flour into 2 3/4 cups + 1/4 cup)
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup chopped pecans optional
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 4 apples (I use Red Delicious) peeled and chopped
  • Crisco and about 1/4 cup powdered sugar for greasing and dusting the pan

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 300 F
  • Using a stand mixer, combine vegetable oil and sugar.
  • Add eggs one at a time and beat well.
  • In a separate bowl, mix pecans and 1/4 cup flour
  • In a separate large bowl, combine 2 3/4 cups flour, baking soda and salt and gradually add into the sugar mixture
  • Add floured pecans and vanilla
  • Fold in apples
  • Thoroughly grease a tube pan with crisco and "flour" the pan with powdered sugar. This creates an AMAZING crust, so don't skip this part!
  • Pour batter into greased pan and bake for 1 hr and 20 minutes
  • Test for doneness before removing from oven
  • Enjoy!

Tried this recipe?

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

Here are a few of my favorite must-have’s in the kitchen when baking a fresh apple cake, or any cake for that matter!

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

Blueberry Cream Cheese Cake | Banana Nut Squash Bread | Lemon Poppy Seed Summer Squash Bread | Lemon Poppy Seed Bread | Grandmama’s Mini Lemon Cakes

White Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

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These White Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats will absolutely melt in your mouth, and are a perfect combination of traditional rice krispie treats and a creamy peanut butter fudge that is absolutely irresistible!

White Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

I’m a big time peanut butter fan. My two girls share my same obsession with the creamy and peanut-buttery goodness of a spoonful of Jif, and it’s not an uncommon occurrence for us all to be snacking on a spoonful of peanut butter for our afternoon snack each day. Marshmallows come in at a close second with my girls when it comes to a favorite snack. I’ve been known to keep a handful of marshmallows sitting by my stove that I hand off to the girls when they start creeping into the kitchen and playing under my feet while I’m trying to cook. It keeps them occupied for .2 seconds – that is until they come marching back in snooping around for another one.

With an abundance of marshmallows and peanut butter on hand, it just felt right to whip up a batch of peanut butter rice krispie treats, but these aren’t just your ordinary rice krispie treats. These are made even sweeter with white almond bark, which is very similar to white chocolate that causes these treats to melt right in your mouth after your very first bite. They are divine!

White Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

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

White Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
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White Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Author: Southern Made Simple

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb white almond bark most packages are 1 lb exactly
  • 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
  • 3 cups rice krispies cereal
  • 1 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows

Instructions

  • In a double boiler, melt white almond bark and peanut butter together, stirring frequently
  • In a large bowl, combine cereal and marshmallows
  • Once peanut butter mixture is melted, pour over cereal and stir until well combined and marshmallows are melted
  • Spray 8x8 baking dish or brownie pan with non-stick cooking spray
  • Pour mixture into pan and gently press down with the back of a spoon to flatten and fill the space of the pan
  • Allow to set for 2-3 hours, or until treats are dried enough to hold their shape when cut
  • Enjoy!

Tried this recipe?

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

Have you ever wondered how others are able to get their rice krispie treats to look so clean and pristine? It riddled my brain for years, as my rice krispie treats always looked very, well, homemade. To be clear, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! But my heart longed for my White Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treatsto have neater edges and to have a fresh-from-the-bakery look to them. I spent so much time thinking people just had a steadier hand and a clearer eye for precision than I did when cutting their treats, only to realize that’s not the case at all. All of those clean edged confections and brownies are more than likely cut using a brownie pan with a built in slicer – and let me tell you, it’s a game changer!

Here’s a few of my top picks on Amazon for making these White Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats:

White Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

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

No Bake Peanut Butter Pie | Peanut Butter Corn flake Candy | Peanut Butter Fudge | Guilt Free Peanut Butter Balls | Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

Fried Apple Pies

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These Fried Apple Pies are a classic dessert that’s perfect with a little powdered sugar or a scoop of ice cream on top and a tall glass of milk. Enjoy!

Fried Apple Pies

There’s just something almost magical about taking a bite into a fresh warm fried apple pie. The sweet cinnamon filling and the chunks of perfectly tender apples tucked inside bring out all the goodness of a classic apple pie, while the flaky buttermilk biscuit that holds it all together brings back memories of devouring fruit filled hand pies growing up. Every time I bite into a fried apple pie, I instantly think about walking the fairway at the county fair during the cooler months. The aroma of fried confections fills the air as you walk from booth to booth scoping out the latest food craze, and if you’re lucky you can find a fruit filled pie sprinkled with a layer of powdery white sugar, just like these.

Fried Apple Pies

Making fried apple pies is simple and inexpensive. You’ll need 4 apples, a can of refrigerated jumbo buttermilk biscuits, butter and a few pantry staples such as sugar, all purpose flour, cinnamon and a smidge of allspice. This is a great recipe for little hands to to help with in the kitchen, too. I used to love using a rolling pin to flatten dough when I was little, and flouring the surface (aka getting to make a mess on purpose) was always a highlight for me!

Once the apples are peeled and chopped, you’ll toss them into a pan with a little butter and cook on medium low for about 5 minutes, or until they’re tender. Remove the apples from heat and add in the sugar, flour, cinnamon and allspice and stir until well combined.

Fried Apple Pies

Allow the apples to cool down while the biscuit dough is flattened and the oil for frying is heating up. I highly recommend using a heavy rolling pin such as a marble rolling pin for rolling out dough. The weight helps make the biscuits perfectly flat and evenly thin. 

Once the apples have cooled considerably, spoon a small amount into the center of each biscuit and fold the dough over. Use a fork to crimp the dough closed, as pictured below.

Fried Apple Pies

Here’s a few of my top kitchen picks to have when making fried pies:

Fried Apple Pies

Once the oil has reached the proper temperature, drop the hand pies in one at a time and cook for 2 minutes, making sure to flip them over at the halfway mark so they cook evenly. Place fried pies on a drying rack with paper towels positioned underneath to catch any excess grease dripping off the pies. Serve hot with powdered sugar or vanilla ice cream.

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

Fried Apple Pies
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Fried Apple Pies

Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Servings: 8
Author: Southern Made Simple

Ingredients

  • 4 apples peeled, cored and diced
  • 3 Tbsp butter cubed
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 Tbsp all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • 1 can 8ct Refrigerated Jumbo Buttermilk Biscuits
  • Oil for deep frying
  • Additional flour for dusting

Instructions

  • Heat oil in deep fryer to 350 F
  • In a large skillet, combine apples and butter and cook over medium low for about 5 minutes, or until apples are slightly tender. Stir frequently
  • Remove from heat in stir in flour, sugar, cinnamon and allspice until ingredients are well incorporated
  • Set aside to allow to cool
  • Using a heavy rolling pin roll out each biscuit on a well floured surface
  • Once apples are mostly cool, spoon a small amount onto the center of each flattened biscuit, being sure not to spread apples too close to the sides
  • Fold flattened biscuit over and crimp closed with a fork
  • Place in deep fryer basket and cook for 2 minutes, being sure to flip over after 1 minute
  • Remove from oil and set out on drying rack over paper towels
  • Serve warm with powdered sugar or ice cream
  • Enjoy!

Tried this recipe?

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

 

Fried Apple Pies

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

Fried Peach Pies | Fried Fig Pies | Cinnamon Stewed Apples | Homemade Apple Cobbler | Apple Pie Cheesecake Trifles | Homemade Apple Butter | Cinnamon Roll Apple Cobbler

Affiliate links are included throughout this post at absolutely no cost to you. I only promote what I truly love!

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash

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This recipe for Brown Sugar Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash brings all the flavors of Fall, and it’s a perfectly sweet option to serve as a side dish or even a dessert!

 

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash…

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Mixed Berry French Toast Bake

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The post is sponsored by the Be the Best You promotion at Publix. The opinions and text are all mine. 

My morning routine is very important to me. It’s quiet time I have to myself to dream, reflect, meditate and create. Taking time first thing in the morning to do things for myself sets the tone for the rest of the day and allows me to be my best self and start the day on a positive note. Breakfast plays a big role in my time spent with myself, and I love getting creative in the kitchen to fix my family a special breakfast before their day begins, too.  This Mixed Berry French Toast Bake is usually devoured by everyone in no time at all, and the fresh berries tucked inside add a pop of joy to every bite!

 

Strawberry French Toast Bake…

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Butternut Squash Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

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While this recipe for Butternut Squash Oatmeal Raisin Cookies may be giving off Fall vibes, it’s a perfect treat to enjoy any time of year. Grab a tall glass of milk and a cookie or two. You definitely can’t have just one!

Butternut Squash Oatmeal Raisin Cookies…

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Apple Pie Cheesecake Parfaits

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These Apple Pie Cheesecake Trifles are a simple, no-bake dessert that are perfect for the 4th of July! 

They say there’s nothing more American than homemade apple pie, and throughout the years it’s become an iconic representation of American culture that is enjoyed all year round – especially on the 4th of July. There are few things better than enjoying a sweet and delicious golden apple pie with a flaky buttery crust and a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. The thought alone is enough to make anyone’s mouth water! And because I love a classic apple pie as much as the next person, it’s really no surprise that it stands as the inspiration behind my latest recipe concoction: Apple Pie Cheesecake Trifles.

Apple Pie Cheesecake Trifles…

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