My Christmas snowball cookies look fancy but they are so easy, even an amateur cook can make them. There’s no mixer required because this recipe is so simple. You just put all the ingredients into a bowl and combine with your hands. After a brief stint in the fridge, you just shape them into balls and bake. They are actually pecan balls so you must be sure to toast the pecans first. It really adds so much more flavor to these powdered sugar cookies.

They make a beautiful presentation so I often give them as a homemade Christmas gift. But they don’t just look good. These pecan balls simply melt in your mouth and every time I serve them or gift them, people ask for the recipe. And here’s some even better news. You can make them ahead and freeze! Gotta love that: Easy make-ahead Christmas cookies!  Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

I love seeing my recipes being made all over the world.  I hope you’ll share where you are from and please send your photo to: YourPhotos@JennyCanCook.com

BUNNY MADE SOFT RYE ROLLS FROM MY SIMPLE WHITE BREAD

“Hi Jenny,  This year my family decided to have a traditional Czech style Christmas.  However, rather than making rye bread, I opted to use your recipe for Simple White Bread (with egg), to make Soft Rye Rolls.  I used half “bread flour” and half “medium rye flour.”  I also let the rolls rise an extra 10 mins.  To finish, I mixed a whole egg with 1 tablespoon of water as an egg wash to brush over the tops, then sprinkled the rolls with caraway seed.  Delicious  Soft and tender with the taste of rye.  I just can’t say enough about your Simple White Bread recipe.  Not only has it produced beautiful bread time after time, but my variations on the recipe have all turned out well.  Thanks again! ~ Bunny (in Chicago)”

~ They look great and thanks for sharing the details of your variation. ~ jenny

DALILA MADE MY CHRISTMAS WREATH BREAD

“Hi Jenny! ?  I made your CHRISTMAS WREATH BREAD and it came out FABULOUS!! ? I used one cup of fruit-cake mix instead of the raisins in the sweet bread. Let me tell you this sweet bread is wonderful, I can snack on it all day long….LOL!  I plan on making this fabulous bread again without the glaze, I like the idea of having it as toast in the morning. I’m also thinking this sweet bread will make a very tasty French toast. Thank you again for sharing your recipes with us Ms. Jenny! Happy Baking!  ??A very Merry Christmas to you and yours!!! ?”

~ Looks yummy. Thank you for the lovely photos and all the best for 2018. ~ jenny

JACALYN MADE MY NO KNEAD BREAD & PIZZA

“✨ 2 Hours To Fabulous No Knead Bread ✨ Thank You Jenny ?”

~ I may have to try your veggie pizza. Thank you and have a wonderful Christmas. ~ jenny

“This Pizza Dough Stands Up to Two Pounds Of Steamed Broccoli & Spinach & Diced Can Tomatoes ? Onions, Low Fat Cottage Cheese and Mozzarella Sauce. With a Beautiful Crust ! Jenny You Are A Gem ?! Thank You, Jacalyn. All the above Vegatables were subject to
paper towel drying. There were no Vegetables Injured during Process!”

DIANE MADE MY FASTER NO KNEAD BREAD

“Thanks so much Jenny you have delighted me and my family with your wonderful recipes made simple. Attached is a photo of your crunchy bread. I used herbs, garlic, onion powder and parmesan cheese. So delicious our family favourite! I made all this bread in one day and gave it as Christmas gifts to my family. Merry Christmas Jenny ?”

~ All in one day? That is truly inspiring. Merry Christmas back to you! . ~ jenny

JODY MADE MY BRAIDED CINNAMON BREAD

“Look what I made!  It’s amazing, Jenny!  I added a few ground pecans in the cinnamon mixture because Hubby likes nuts.  Thank you for another perfect recipe.  You’re so nice.”

~ Those tunnels look good! Thank you for your photo. ~ jenny

JACALYN MADE MY POLISH DONUTS & PIZZA

“Dear Jenny, Photos below of Polish Donuts with Blackberry Jam. The Pizza I have made twice. So good to have healthy recipes. Fat a Conscience Wonders! I have Crusty No Knead buns in! Busy day here Baked Apple Pie. Recording ?  Screenwriting a Funny True Life Comedy. Abram Band is always busy. Wishing you and yours a Blessed Merry Christmas ?  And a New Year pouring out Goodness  from All Directions ✨ Always Warm Regards, Jacalyn Perriello.”

~ Thank you for the great photos – they both look wonderful! ~ jenny“Pepperoni, Turkey, Spinach, Onions, Tomatoes, Black Olive Pesto Pizza. Thank you ? So Much! Always Thankful.”

JUDI MADE MY FASTER NO KNEAD BREAD

“My first attempt at making your faster no knead bread!”

~ Well that’s a lot better than MY first attempt. Love the sesame seeds!” ~ jenny

BUNNY MADE MY BUTTERMILK BISCUITS…

“Dear Jenny, I’m having a wonderful time trying your recipes as the snow continues to pile up outside. No running to the corner store for bread, thanks to you.  My newest adventure, hot buttery BISCUITS.   I followed your recipe for “Buttermilk Biscuits” to a T, with only a couple small adjustments.  Rather than rolling the dough out once, I folded the dough into 3rds, rolling it out twice more, to help create layers (like they do for puff pastry).  I raised the oven heat to 475 for extra spring, and put these 3 inch biscuits into the oven without any glaze.  Only after baking did I brush them with melted butter.

Oh my, OINK! OINK!  Everyone was pigging out on your wonderful biscuits.    (Next time, instead of using buttermilk, I think I will use milk and add pickle juice to it  — then stuff the baked biscuits with ham as a traveling sandwich).  Thank you for another great recipe, Jenny; and the applause of my family.  ~ Bunny in Chicago”

~ You’re a creative baker. Thanks so much for sharing. ~ jenny

… AND MY SIMPLE WHITE BREAD (with egg)

“Dear Jenny, I love it when leftovers and recipes do double duty; so I wanted to share. (I hope you don’t mind me sending you my variation). With a bit of leftover mashed potatoes, dried dill and dried minced onion, I turned your Simple White Bread (with egg) into one of those gourmet, sandwich breads.

First, I added 2 1/4 tsps. of dried dill to the dry ingredients in Step 1.  Then, I added 1 Tabl. of dried, minced onion to the milk in Step 2, letting the onions soak for a few mins, before warming the milk to the proper temperature in the microwave.  Then, just after Step 3, I added between 2/3 cup and 3/4 cup of microwave-warmed, leftover, mashed potatoes (prepared with milk and butter), to the dough and mixed it in well  before adding the final 1/4 cup of flour in step 4.

After baking, I brushed the loaf with melted butter and  let the bread completely cool before slicing. The wait was interminable, as I was pretty excited — never having made potato, onion or dill bread before.  It came out incredibly moist, tender and flavorful.  So delicious. The surface of the bread is not super smooth due to the minced onions, but worth adding them.  My loaf came out darker on top than your original Simple White Bread recipe , but brushing the top with butter makes it soft — just perfect for sandwiches.  (Perhaps I should have covered it with foil, earlier).   Thank you Jenny.  I wouldn’t have had the nerve to try this if your Simple White Bread (with egg) recipe wasn’t practically foolproof. ~ Bunny (in Chicago, IL)”

~ Your combination sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing the details for everyone. (Luv Chi-town!) ~ jenny

I’ve been giving homemade treats as Christmas gifts for years. It’s easy to buy gift cards but taking time to make something for a friend or family member is more meaningful and always brings a big smile. Making someone homemade caramel corn or cookies or granola bars gives them something they can not buy anywhere because nothing store bought will ever taste as good as homemade.

The best homemade gifts are ones that travel well and keep well. That’s why I choose caramel corn, sugar cookies, granola bars, and biscotti. Everyone’s favorite is my caramel corn and if you’ve ever tasted this homemade caramel corn, you’ll see why – it’s absolutely fantastic!

Granola bars are the next most requested gift, again because you can’t buy a granola bar anywhere that even comes close to how good these are. Biscotti is a more exotic and unexpected gift because it takes more work to make these Italian cookies but my recipe for double chocolate almond biscotti will make a coffee lover very, very happy. They are so delicious!

Sugar cookies are not an unusual gift but my recipe uses less butter and less sugar than most and these festive holiday cookies simply melt in your mouth. Nothing store bought will ever taste as good. I can’t wait to start making all of these holiday gifts. Some will be mailed and others delivered in person. If you want to give and receive joy this Christmas, I hope you’ll consider giving some homemade treats as gifts. But be prepared: They will ask for them again next year! Click below for the recipes. – Jenny Jones

Homemade Caramel Corn

Healthier Christmas Sugar Cookies

Granola Bars

Double Chocolate Almond Biscotti

Did you eat too much turkey? Is that second piece of pumpkin pie still haunting you? Have some crudite.

Most of us probably didn’t eat enough vegetables over Thanksgiving weekend. Green bean casserole is mostly casserole and not a lot of beans. And aren’t candied yams really a dessert? Thanksgiving dinner is a great tradition and I enjoyed mine just like everyone else, as well as the leftovers but there’s a big container of fresh vegetables in my fridge right now. I always keep crudite on hand but I made extra today.

Vegetables are our lifeline to good health and when you have colorful veggies ready as a snack, you’re doing a lot of good for your long term health. I mix the colors because each color has its own health benefit: yellow & orange for eyes and lungs, red for memory and immunity, green for bones and teeth, purple & blue for aging and blood pressure and that’s just naming a few. Eating a variety of colored vegetables will provide a variety of different antioxidants that can help keep us well.

Eating vegetables every day, both fresh and cooked, is like an insurance policy for your health. And fresh crudite is not only appealing to look at, it’s delicious.  Keep and container of fresh veggies in your fridge and see how fast they disappear! – Jenny Jones

Wishing all my American friends and visitors a Happy Thanksgiving. And for all those committed to cooking all day for friends and family, like I am… good luck! It’s a challenge but very satisfying once you’re all done and putting away leftovers for tomorrow.

I already made my simple stuffing, gravy, cranberries, and pumpkin pie yesterday. Today it’s the turkey, mashed potatoes, and green beans and of course real whipped cream for the pie. My best wishes to everyone for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I have much to be thankful for and never take my good fortune for granted. – Jenny Jones

Just in time for Thanksgiving, here is an even faster way to make my original crusty rolls. And you can make them ahead and freeze. They freeze beautifully and you can re-crisp, directly from freezer to oven, in minutes. They are even more crusty when you freeze and reheat!

The original version takes 4 hours but this one is ready in half the time – TWO hours! Using more yeast and hot water, it’s the fastest way I know to make these fabulous dinner rolls. It’s important that your oven be preheated to 450° F and my oven takes 35 minutes to reach 450. It’s really best to use an oven thermometer to make sure your oven it hot enough as these rolls depend on the first blast of high heat to puff up and rise.

This dough is sticky so it may help to see how to shape the rolls by watching the video attached to my original version of No Knead Crusty Rolls.

These fabulous artisan rolls can be made ahead and nicely re-crisped the next day or better still, make, cool, and freeze and just reheat by placing them directly on the oven rack, preheated to 325 °F, for 10-12 minutes. I’m always excited when I can find a way to make something easier and faster, especially when it’s homemade bread. They’re not just dinner rolls – I had them for breakfast today.

So there are three ways to make these crusty rolls. One is my original 4-hour recipe. Two is the overnight version where you use cold water and let the dough sit out overnight. And third, this new, fastest way ever to make no knead crusty rolls – in two hours!  Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

Somebody needs to stop me from eating my third slice of this delicious sweet bread! I’m happy to share my easy recipe for cinnamon swirl raisin bread and there are a few reasons why I think you’ll like it. First, it’s good! Second, it’s easy to make compared to most other recipes. Third, it’s a faster, one-rise recipe so the bread is ready to eat in 90 minutes. I use a mix of yellow and red raisins because I like the two different colors and textures.

Swirled loaves often wind up with gaps inside the loaf and it happens to me too. One day it’s perfectly tight and the next time I make it I get gaps but even with a gap, this cinnamon bread is still fantastic. I made the one below the exact same way as the one above, and it developed some small gaps but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it. With or without gaps, it’s the best cinnamon raisin bread I’ve ever had.

If you’re tempted to spread butter on it before adding the brown sugar/cinnamon mixture, I do not recommend it because when I tried it, the loaf did not hold together as well. In fact, this bread has no butter at all – I make it with extra light olive oil and it’s delicious! I hope you’ll try this recipe, follow it exactly, and let me know how yours turned out. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

It’s really fun to see how my recipes turn out all over the world.  I hope you’ll share where you are from and please send your photo to: YourPhotos@JennyCanCook.com

NERMINA MADE MY NO KNEAD BREAD & BREADSTICKS
“Dear Jenny, I love watching your videos.You make cooking and baking seem so simple and easy.I made many of your recipes and they all turn out. Attached is a photo of a no knead bread which I make at least twice a week! It is our favorite! I also made your Sesame Seed Breadsticks. They disappeared very quickly. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing recipes! Greetings from New Jersey, USA ~ Nermina.”

~ Thanks  for the photo. If you’re making it twice a week, no wonder it looks so good. ~ jenny

DALILA MADE MY WHOLE WHEAT APPLE MUFFINS WITH PINEAPPLE
“Good morning Jenny, ? I made your WHOLE WHEAT APPLE MUFFINS recipe using pineapple instead of apples. I ran out of apples using your recipe for apple pie. I made pies like crazy for Thanksgiving to give away to friends. Just letting you know that your pie recipe was a hit for them too!! So I decided I’d like to try your muffin recipe with pineapple pieces. They came out DELICIOUS, so tasty with a wonderful crunchy topping. I really do enjoy baking with whole wheat pastry flour, excellent results. Another winning recipe Ms. Jenny, THANK YOU!! Happy Baking! ?”

~ This is a novel idea using pineapple and sounds very tasty. Thank you for sharing. ~ jenny

BUNNY MADE MY SIMPLE WHITE BREAD (with egg) into ROLLS
“Hey Jenny,  Your Simple White Bread (with Egg) recipe formed into dinner rolls made me look like a rock star this Thanksgiving.

*  For maximum rise, I used bread flour and scalded the milk (to de-activate the protease enzyme). *  I used the full 2 Tabl. of sugar for extra flavor.  *  I buttered the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan before putting the rolls in.   (Next time I will use parchment on the bottom, as they stuck just a little bit coming out of that glass pan.)  *  For extra lightness, I let the rolls rise an extra 20 mins.   *  I also glazed the rolls with 1 large egg and 1 Tablespoon of water just before baking for a little extra browning and shine.

Wow, looked like they came from a bakery and were so delicious.  Soft, tender, and moist.  For those making rolls, I suggest they remove the rolls out of the pan within 5 mins. of baking so the residual heat from the pan will not dry out the rolls. That’s what I always do.   Once the pan is cool, you can simply slide the rolls back into the baking pan for transporting or serving. I can’t wait to experiment and try these with buttermilk, herbs, cheese or rye flour, etc.  Thanks again, Bunny.”

~ This is great information for other cooks. Thanks so much for sharing so much detail. The rolls look fabulous! ~ jenny

PAUL’S 11-Year Old Daughter OLIVIA MADE MY DUTCH BABY PANCAKE
“Hello again Jenny. My now 11 yr old daughter Olivia wanted to try a “Dutch Baby”, I helped with the very hot pan but otherwise all her own work. Very good it was too! ~ All the best from the UK.”

~ Olivia, you’re an inspiration to other young people and I’m really impressed with your cooking skills. Keep up the good work! ~ jenny

DALILA MADE MY CHICKEN SOUP, BANANA MUFFINS & WHOLE WHEAT PANCAKES
“Hi Jenny, I made three of your recipes and they came out wonderful!! I mainly like your recipes because they’re not difficult for me. Besides not hard to make, they’re also healthier…..YAY YOU!!  I HATE recipes that have 25 steps and ingredients that are hard to find. You sure do make my time in the kitchen fun, THANK YOU!! ? I made your CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP, CRUNCHY OATMEAL BANANA MUFFINS and  your WHOLE WHEAT PANCAKES using bananas instead of apples. Happy Cooking & Baking!!”

~ I’m glad to know you’re enjoying so many of my recipes. Thank you for sharing. ~ jenny

ELLEN MADE MY MARBLE LOAF CAKE
“Can’t wait to try my next recipe from your collection. I already ate half the cake in just a few hours!”

~ I love this marble cake with a cup of green tea. Thanks for the photo! ~ jenny

BETH’S LAST PIECE OF ONE BOWL CHOCOLATE CAKE
“Last night, my Army husband enjoyed the last piece of the Veterans Day cake I made for him over the weekend. He’s asked me–practically begged me!–to please make this cake again soon, and I definitely will. This cake is a winner! ~ Beth in San Diego, California.”

~ I get the same request here at home. “Please make that chocolate cake again. ~ jenny

MARGARET MADE MY APPLE PIE
“Just happened upon your recipe on You Tube -gave it a try , and it was fantastic! Easy as PIe to make. LOL! Never thought about making an olive oil crust. I was pleasantly surprised . Yours looked much better of course , but this tasted great.  Tapioca and all!”

~ Actually, yours look way better than mine but more importantly, I’m glad it tasted good. Thanks for the pretty photo. ~ jenny

ALTAKLEH MADE MY EASY ONE BOWL YELLOW CAKE
“Hello I’m from BC Canada. I like your recipes. I tried the yellow cake recipe but added cocoa to half the mixture and made zebra cake. Looked awesome tasted delicious and the kids loved it. Tasted good warm and really good the next day as it gets cold.”

~ I love this! Please add a comment below on how you did the zebra effect so others can try it, including me! Thank you.  ~ jenny

BETH MADE MY EASY ONE BOWL CHOCOLATE CAKE for VETERANS DAY (Nov. 11)
“I decided my husband, an Army doctor and military veteran, deserved a special dessert on Veterans Day, so this evening I surprised him with…<drumroll>… an Easy One Bowl Chocolate Cake! Decorated it with a few American flag toothpicks, and–voila!–I had the perfect patriotic dessert for hubby. Thank you, David, for your service… thank you, Jenny, for this wonderful recipe… and thank you to all the veterans out there who may be reading this. I salute you.”

~ What a perfect treat for Veterans Day. I have much appreciation for your husband’s and all veterans’ service to our country.  ~ jenny

SHERRY MADE MY FALL-OFF-THE-BONE RIBS
“Hi Jenny, I have recently found your recipe videos!  You are so much fun to watch and I LOVE your teaching style!  If I understand correctly you are stepping back from it all.  But so thankful to have your site and look forward to making as many of your recipes as possible.  Married 35 years and I am just now learning to cook!  My family loves your Rib recipe!!!  Thank you for sharing your talents!!! Gods Blessings upon you and your family! ~ Sherri Smith, Ft. Worth, Texas.”

~ Learning to cook will bring you many health benefits. I’m happy my recipes can help. ~ jennyBUNNY MADE MY SIMPLE WHITE BREAD
“Hi Jenny, I LOVE your recipe for “Simple White Bread.”  The 2nd Tablespoon of sugar gave it such a wonderful flavor.  Not sweet, just delicious.  Furthermore, after covering the loaf with foil after the first 15 mins. of baking, my loaf came out golden brown from top to bottom.  My yeast was 2 years old, so I used 2 1/4 tsps. of instant yeast, and let the bread rise for about an hour.  The result, a beautiful rise without any unsightly air holes.  It looked so good, I could barely wait to taste it or get busy baking another loaf.  I also added 3/4 of a Tablespoon of granular lecithin to the wet ingredients, so my loaf would stay fresh longer (However, I have a feeling my bread won’t last long). When the loaf came out of the oven, I immediately turned it out, then brushed it with melted butter.  It improved the appearance a bit and gave me that perfect crust for sandwich bread.  Next time, I may use an egg white wash to give the top some sheen. Anyway, thank you for a great recipe I will use again and again. I’ve included photos of my effort, below.”

~ Thank you so much. Brushing the loaf with butter is a great idea. ~ jenny

JODY MADE MY SESAME SEED BREADSTICKS
“Jenny, you rock my world!  Another recipe that’s a hit with my Hubby and me.  I ran out of sesame seeds and so I used my Trader Joe’s “Everything But the Bagel” sesame seasoning blend it’s really good.  There’s some garlic in there. Thanks again for the great recipes you share.”

~ It’s nice to see them with a different coating and the garlic sounds good. Thank you for sharing. ~ jenny

PAUL’S 11-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER MADE MY DARK CHOCOLATE FUDGE BROWNIES
“Hi again Jenny. This time my 10yr old daughter is in on the act. She has loves your videos so I handed over the kitchen and she did a fantastic job creating these brownies. She was worried they would be sweet but they are lovely and bitter with a rich chocolate flavour, loads of toasted nuts and a soft centre. Fab! ~ Paul in the UK.”

~ What a great job for a 10-year old! They look terrific. ~ jenny

Here’s a simple chocolate cake recipe that works equally well using whole wheat pastry flour or all purpose flour. In fact, it’s hard to tell the difference so I prefer making it whole wheat. It’s like a chocolate pound cake but healthier because it’s 100% whole grain but you can make it with all purpose flour if you like. And instead of butter I use extra light olive oil. What sends it over the moon is adding dark chocolate chips and toasted nuts.

The only cocoa I use for my baking is Dutch process because it’s never bitter and the result is a beautiful, dark chocolate cake. I can always find it (Droste brand) at World Market. Pound cakes tend to be heavy and dense but by beating the egg whites separately, it makes the cake lighter and taller. My loaf pan measures 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches.

If you’re a chocolate lover like I am, I hope you like this moist and delicious, easy chocolate loaf cake. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones