Living La Vida Holoka


20 Thanksgiving Desserts You’ll Want to Save Room For

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No matter what your favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner is, you’ll want to save room for dessert with these 20 Thanksgiving dessert recipes!


Thanksgiving is only TWO DAYS AWAY!  What’s your favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner?  For me, it’s definitely the sides and the desserts.  I could totally skip the turkey, load up on stuffing and casseroles, and save room for dessert!  Normally, I’m not much of a dessert person, but I am definitely a pie person!  You know there’s going to be at least one pie on the Thanksgiving dessert table.  I’ll take a sliver of pumpkin pie and a sliver of apple pie, please and thank you!

Last week, I shared a recipe for No-Bake Pumpkin Eggnog Cheesecake.  Although it’s not pie, it’s definitely going to show up again on our holiday table!  Thanksgiving is all about those holiday flavors.  Some are traditional, classic recipes shared year after year and some have modern, updated twists.  If you need a last minute holiday dessert, check out these 20 Thanksgiving dessert recipes!  It’s your last chance to work one or more of these into your holiday menu!  Then, keep these recipes on hand for the rest of your holiday gatherings! 

20 THANKSGIVING DESSERTS YOU’LL WANT TO SAVE ROOM FOR
  1. Caramel Apple Pie Cookies – CincyShopper
  2. Caramel Apple Pecan Streusel Pie – Baked by an Introvert
  3. Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake Bars – Who Needs A Cape?
  4. Reeses Pie Recipe – Eating on a Dime
  5. Browned Butter Pumpkin Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting – Cooking Classy
  6. Sweet Potato Pie – Simply Stacie
  7. Pumpkin Cake Recipe – Kirsten Oliphant
  8. Caramel Apple Dumpling Bites – Fav Family Recipes
  9. Streusel Pumpkin Pie – CincyShopper
  10. Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie – A Family Feast
  11. Creamy Pumpkin Crisp – Who Needs A Cape?
  12. Pumpkin Mousse with Candied Pecans – My Home and Travels
  13. Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies – Crystal and Co.
  14. Crunchy Pecan Pumpkin Pie Bars – Small Town Woman
  15. Turtle Brownie Cheesecake – Life Love and Sugar
  16. Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake Recipe – The Best Cake Recipes
  17. French Apple Pie – Creative K Kids
  18. No-Bake Pumpkin Cookie Dough Cake Pops Recipe – Crayons and Cravings
  19. Apple Butter Pie Recipe – Tastes of Lizzy T
  20. The BEST Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars – Chelsea’s Messy Apron

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What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dessert?

No-Bake Pumpkin Eggnog Cheesecake

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This post is sponsored by Montchevre but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Take the stress out of holiday entertaining with this No-Bake Pumpkin Eggnog Cheesecake. It’s a simple recipe with a ton of seasonal flavor and an unexpected ingredient!


Multiple, overlapping deadlines.
A never-ending holiday shopping list.
Trying to please everyone in the family.
Sacrificing things I love about the holidays just to get it all done.

You know, there are lots of things I love about the holiday season, but these aren’t it. The last few years have been completely chaotic during Christmas.  This year, I’m taking it all back!  I’m nearly finished with my Christmas shopping.  Just a few easy gifts to grab and then I’m done!  Our tree will go up next weekend and then I have full intentions to set out a day to break out my inner gangster wrapper.  And this year, I want to bake up batch after batch of cookies.  It’s something I’ve been slacking on doing the past few years.

This holiday season, I plan on making things as easy as possible without having to give up the things I enjoy most about Christmas.


My secret ingredient for this delicious no-bake dessert!

 
Since I’m all about making things as easy as possible this year, I’m keeping a few no-bake recipes handy.  If you ever need a last minute dessert for your holiday gatherings, no-bake is the way to go!  This No-Bake Pumpkin Eggnog Cheesecake combines two of my favorite seasonal flavors into an easy and delicious dessert! 

I’m going to let you in on my secret ingredient for this recipe – Montchevre’s pumpkin goat cheese.  I know what you’re thinking.  Goat cheese in a dessert?  But it totally works!  I’m not one for overly sweet desserts.  The pumpkin goat cheese tones down the sweetness while giving this cheesecake a nice, subtle pumpkin flavor.  

Plus, there are some benefits to adding Montchevre goat cheese to your holiday recipes.  It’s made with quality goat’s milk from local, independent farms.  It’s high in protein, calcium, vitamin D, is rich in nutrients and vitamins, and contains less lactose!  And it’s available in so many delicious flavors, like pumpkin!

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No-Bake Pumpkin Eggnog Cheesecake

No-Bake Pumpkin Eggnog Cheesecake

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
  • 8 oz. light cream cheese, softened
  • 1 - 4 oz. Montchevre pumpkin goat cheese log
  • 1/2 tsp. pumpkin spice
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 cup light eggnog
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
  • Optional toppings: graham cracker crumbs, light whipped cream

Instructions

  1. Mix together the graham cracker crumbs and butter until combined. Press into a 9" springform pan.
  2. In a stand mixer, cream together the cream cheese and goat cheese on medium to high speed, just until combined and smooth.
  3. Stir in the pumpkin spice and sugar.
  4. Gradually add the eggnog until it is fully incorporated. Beat until the cheesecake filling thickens. Then, add in the pumpkin puree.
  5. Spoon the cheesecake filling into the springform pan and refrigerate 6 hours, or overnight.
  6. Carefully remove from the pan and top with graham cracker crumbs.
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The longer you keep this cheesecake in the fridge, the better it will be. I definitely recommend making this the night before and letting it chill – literally – in the fridge overnight.  If you find that the graham cracker crust is a little too crumbly, add a little more butter to the mixture (you could even sub in coconut oil). 

The texture of this no-bake dessert is definitely a lot smoother and less cheesy than an actual baked cheesecake, but it’s full of delicious seasonal flavors!  Speaking of which, if you’re not into eggnog, no worries.  I used that in place of heavy cream and the flavor is really subtle.  It’s not too sweet, it’s not too pumpkin-y either.  It’s an easy, stress-free holiday dessert that you can make ahead of time!

Now that dessert’s covered, here’s a delicious appetizer idea! Use Montchevre Goat Cheese to top this delicious Goat Cheese, Fig, and Prosciutto Sweet Potato Toast recipe!

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Have you ever used goat cheese in a dessert recipe before?

Quinoa and Brussels Sprouts Salad with Chicken

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This post has been sponsored by Social Native and Success.  This post may contain affiliate links. Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.

If you’re looking for an easy weeknight meal or holiday side with lots of fall flavor and crunch, this Quinoa and Brussels Sprouts Salad with Chicken is it!


With the holidays just around the corner, I’ve been trying my best to eat wholesome meals and keep healthier snacks in the house. It’s not always easy to make better choices.  Especially with leftover Halloween candy (we didn’t get ANY trick-or-treaters this year) and heavier holiday dishes being tested in our kitchen.

Thankfully, my efforts to eat better before I gorge myself on our holiday feast has allowed me to eat the seasonal fruits and veggies that I enjoy so much. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again – I love fall produce! 

Currently, I’m all about fresh Brussels sprouts.  My mom got me into Brussels sprouts when I was younger.  She used to buy the frozen kind that comes in a light sauce.  No one else in the house ate them besides us and I never really understood why.  I just love these little cabbages!  


Once upon a time, Brussels sprouts got a pretty bad rap.  So I’m so happy to see them standing out in more recipes these days – like this recipe! I made this Quinoa and Brussels Sprouts Salad for the first time last year.  It was easy to put together and it’s full of so many great fall flavors.  It’s a quick weeknight meal that’s filling and made with wholesome ingredients.

A Quick and Easy Weeknight Meal or Holiday Side Dish!

 
Quinoa is also one of those foods that I’ve come to truly love.  It’s delicious on its own, but I like using it to bulk up my salads.  Not only does quinoa keep you full and satisfied, but it’s a great source of protein and antioxidants.  Use it in place of rice in your dishes!

I would even go so far to say that if you ditch the chicken, you could probably pass this salad off as a holiday side!  It’s quick, easy, and all you would have to cook is the quinoa and bacon! 

Want to really make things easy on yourself?  Use Success’s Quinoa Boil-in-Bag.  Just drop the bag in boiling water and you’ll have cooked quinoa in minutes!  Plus, it’s just enough quinoa needed to make this salad!

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Quinoa and Brussels Sprouts Salad with Chicken

Quinoa and Brussels Sprouts Salad with Chicken

Ingredients

  • 3 cups fresh Brussels sprouts, grated
  • 1 bag of Success Quinoa Boil-in-Bag, or 1 1/2 cups tricolor quinoa
  • 1 lb. chicken tenderloins
  • 4 slices of bacon, chopped
  • 1/4 cup red onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup pecan pieces
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • Crumbled herb & garlic goat cheese, or cheese of your choice
  • Optional: Cranberry Pear balsamic dressing

Instructions

  1. Prepare the quinoa according to package. Once the quinoa is cooked, allow it to cool.
  2. While the quinoa is cooking, heat a skillet and add the bacon. Cook the bacon until crispy, about 5-8 minutes. Drain bacon on a paper towel.
  3. Wipe out the pan and add the chicken tenders. Cook for 8-10 minutes, or until no longer pink in the middle.
  4. In a large bowl, add the shaved Brussels sprouts, quinoa, bacon, onions, pecans, and cranberries. Mix to combine ingredients.
  5. Top with chicken and crumbled goat cheese.
  6. Serve with your favorite fall dressing!
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This was another one of those recipes that I wasn’t sure if my husband would enjoy. Turns out, he thought it was “really, really good.”  I mean, what’s not to like about a big salad made with a bunch of fall flavors like shaved Brussels sprouts, quinoa, cranberries, and pecans? 

We topped our salad with a Cranberry Pear White Balsamic from a local artisan oil and balsamic vinegar shop.  Drizzle it with your favorite dressing and enjoy a truly delicious and filling fall salad!

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If you like this recipe, you might enjoy these as well:

Get Warm & Cozy with these Delicious Fall Soups!

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This post may contain affiliate links.  Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.

Get warm & cozy with these 20 delicious fall soups to enjoy on a chilly day!  These recipes include traditional soups to the super creative!  There’s something for ever soup lover!


The days are officially shorter and the weather is just going to keep getting colder.  It’s the perfect time of year to celebrate soup season!  Who doesn’t love to warm up with a big bowl of soup on a chilly day?  There’s really nothing better than a hearty, homemade soup. 

My husband isn’t much of a soup eater, but I love cooking up large batches, portioning them out, and keeping them in the freezer.  That way, I can have soup for lunch whenever I want!  Most of my favorite soups are loaded with veggies.  I used to hate chunky soups, but soups – like this Tuscan Meatball and Bean Soup – have quickly become a favorite of mine! 

Warm up this fall with these 20 cozy and delicious soup recipes!  There’s a different soup for everyone!  Maybe even my husband!

  1. Copycat Panera Autumn Squash Soup Recipe – CincyShopper
  2. Butternut Squash Soup with Roasted Chickpeas – Busy Being Jennifer
  3. Stuffed Cabbage Soup – Mama Loves Food
  4. Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup Recipe – Eating on a Dime
  5. Greek Lemon Chicken Soup Recipe – A Spicy Perspective
  6. Easy Chicken Dumplings Soup with Pumpkin Recipe – Raising Whasians
  7. Instant Pot Beef Stew – Tasty Galaxy
  8. Cheesy Italian Sausage Potato Chowder – A Night Owl Blog
  9. The Best Creamy Butternut Squash Soup – Pass Me Some Tasty
  10. Roasted Apple & White Cheddar Soup – 4 Sons R Us
  11. Creamy Roasted Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup – Little Sunny Kitchen
  12. Smoked Sausage, Kale and Potato Soup Recipe – Diethood
  13. Instant Pot Creamy Taco Soup Recipe – Eating on a Dime
  14. Chicken, Wild Rice & Mushroom Soup – Simply Stacie
  15. Hearty Vegetable Beef Soup – Busy Being Jennifer
  16. Roast Pumpkin Soup – Eat, Little Bird
  17. One-Pot Tomato and Basil Tortellini Soup – Gal on a Mission
  18. Creamy Bacon Spinach Tortellini Soup – Small Town Woman
  19. Acorn Squash Soup – CopyKat
  20. Chicken Parmesan Soup – Closet Cooking

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What’s your favorite kind of soup to enjoy on a chilly, fall day?



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