Howdy Sugar Pies!! Well, the leaves are starting to turn colors of butterscotch and apple red here in the Ozarks and the temps are dropping at night. Yay!! Time to pull out my sweaters! Don’t you just love this time of year? There’s nothing like the coming of fall and winter to spark our nesting instinct to cozy up our homes and sit with a hot cup of tea or coffee to plan for the upcoming holidays! One of my favorite desserts for this exciting and magical time of year is Butter Crunch Pumpkin Bars. I’ve made this for years and it never ceases to brighten eyes and cause the smacking of lips as my family and friends take their first bite. There are several versions of this recipe online but this is the recipe that I love and I’m thrilled to share it with you! It’s actually easier than pie but tastes just as scrumptious!!

Gather the ingredients…

Fill up your mixer…

Blend it nice and smooth…

…Pour it into a greased glass pan

Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly on top of the liquid pumpkin mixture…

(I use Duncan Hines Butter Golden, it has the BEST FLAVOR!)

Add the nuts and melted butter…

Bake it…

Smell the scrumptious aroma as it cools…

Cut into squares, top with homemade whipped cream and enjoy…

be prepared to share the recipe!!

Aunt Ruthie’s Butter Crunch Pumpkin Bars

15 oz. can pumpkin

12 oz. can evaporated milk

3 large eggs

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

Topping:

1 package yellow butter cake mix (I use Duncan Hines Butter Golden Cake Mix-it has the best flavor!)

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup melted butter (2 sticks)

Garnish with fresh whipped cream

Mix the first six ingredients until creamy. Pour into greased 13×9 glass baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with dry cake mix. Then add pecans and drizzle butter. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes. Cool, then serve each piece with a dollop for fresh whipped cream.

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When wild gusts of  wind rattles the screens and heavy, gray, storm-clouds fill the sky with thunder rumbling in the distance that’s the perfect time to make a batch of Warm & Cozy Hot Spiced Cider. There’s nothing cozier than to be safe at home, with a crock pot of hot cider simmering, on a cold, blustery, day! What a privilege to be a homemaker! To make warm and cheerful the place that we call home! To bless our loved ones with an atmosphere of comfort and tender loving care.

This is also such a wonderful hot beverage to make when you have guests coming over! It’s so easy because you make it in your crock pot/ slow cooker. Once you prepare it, guests can just help themselves! I just leave a ladle resting on a dish with mugs nearby so family and friends can make themselves at home!

Gather some whole cloves and cinnamon sticks and put them in a tea or spice infuser (I love the one I have because it’s elongated. You can find it here on the affiliate link!

Pour a gallon of cider to a slow cooker, add some brown sugar and the spices…

Add let it simmer and fill your home and tummy with the most delicious aroma and flavor!!

Warm & Cozy Hot Spiced Cider Recipe

1 gallon apple cider

1 cup brown sugar (or a little more to taste)

1 teaspoon whole cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

1 orange sliced

Pour apple cider in a crock pot. Add sugar, stir. Put whole cloves and cinnamon in a spice/tea-infuser or a cheesecloth bundle and place in pot. Add orange slices. ( You can also poke the whole cloves in the orange slices and drop the cinnamon sticks in the cider) Simmer covered on high until hot, stirring occasionally. Once steaming hot, remove the spices and lower heat to low to keep warm. Enjoy the taste and aroma throughout the day! Stay cozy!!

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