Meet Your New Favorite Sweet Treats from Dunkin' Donuts!

This post is in partnership with Dunkin' Donuts, regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

Being a connoisseur of all things deliciously sweet, it may come as no surprise to you that I'm a pretty big fan of Dunkin’ Donuts. With an innovative menu and breakfast items available all day long, it's easy to see why it's such a popular place to grab a coffee & some sweet, sweet goodness.

On my most recent visit I was greeted with a huge smile and a great attitude behind the counter, which was a wonderful way to start my breakfast and my day! Let me take a brief moment to say thanks to RJ, from the Clearwater location, for being so amazing! If you're in my area, you'll have to go see him!

Let's get back to the donuts though... If you're a fellow Dunkin’ Donuts fan, you may remember back in 2014 when they offered a Croissant Donut and it quickly became one of the most popular limited-time bakery items in history! It's kind of a big deal that they're bringing something similar back, so I'm super excited to share more about the new Blueberry Cobbler Croissant Donut!

These little beauties are absolutely one of my favorite sweets on the planet--I could eat one for breakfast, one for a snack, and nibble on a few for dinner and still want one for dessert! The flavor combination is incredibly satisfying and the croissant donut texture is airy and light, making for the perfect donut for any time of day!

While I'm obviously a huge fan of the croissant donut, I can't forget about the other new and delicious donut on the menu. It offers the flavor of drinking your morning coffee and the delicious sweetness of a donut, all in one bite! The Caramel Latte Square is just the right way for any coffee-lover to start the day! With a creamy filling and rich icing and just the right amount of tiny little candies on top, I fell in love with this donut from the first bite!

Paired with my favorite French Vanilla Iced Latte from Dunkin' Donuts, I was in heaven while enjoying these two new products on the menu. It's safe to say I'll be heading back to Dunkin' Donuts in the near future, dare I even say today?

Both of these delicious donuts are available at your local Dunkin' Donuts for a limited time and they are among the most delicious items that have ever graced my lips, no exaggeration. You'll have to give each of the new donuts a try and I guarantee you'll totally understand what I mean!

So tell me, which donut will you be trying out first? The Blueberry Cobbler Croissant is my recommendation but both of these sweet treats are so good, you'll probably want seconds or maybe even thirds!

Make Everyday Awesome + The BEST [Gluten Free] Brownie Recipe EVER!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.

Lately I've been trying to focus on one simple goal, each and every day; that goal is to make everyday awesome. Whether I'm taking the time to shop for the nursery, cleaning up the garage, or spending the day with my family, I've been trying to find the positive in every situation and really embracing what life has to offer each day.

We all have the tools to make each day awesome, whether that means changing our mindset or just reminding ourselves to "be in the moment" and really enjoy what's happening--we're all capable of having awesome days everyday.

I can't be the only one that thinks an awesome day starts out with something delicious, though. Some days I want donuts, some days I want fruit, and today... Today, I wanted a gluten free brownie with sprinkles and a delicious cup of coffee and I made that happen so easily, I can't help but share the recipe and my secret ingredient with you!

These super moist and delicious brownies are the answer to your sweet tooth cravings and quiet possibly, the best brownies you've ever had. With a decadent caramel flavor from the International Delight Simply Pure Caramel Coffee Creamer and super rich, dark chocolate gooey melted chocolate chips, you'll be craving a brownie each and every morning... and how could you not have an awesome day after having a brownie for breakfast? I mean, really!

Plus, with International Delight Simply Pure, made with only five simple ingredients, you can enjoy a cup of coffee in a whole different way! I like to add vanilla on really awesome days, sometimes I mix things up and add hazelnut, and I fairly regularly add caramel, because it's absolutely delicious!

But let's talk about the super delicious, decadent gluten-free brownies I promised you. I know you're probably wondering, what do you need to make these brownies?

Brownie Ingredients:

6 tablespoons butter
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Egg, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup all-purpose, gluten-free flour
1/2 cup International Delight Simply Pure Coffee Creamer, I used the caramel flavor but any of the delicious options will be a great addition to your recipe!
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips

For the Frosting, you'll also want to have these items on hand:

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon butter, softened
3 tablespoons International Delight Simply Pure Caramel Coffee Creamer
Colorful Sprinkles

You'll begin this recipe by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease the pan.

Now melt the 6 tablespoons of butter in the microwave, it usually takes around 15 seconds for it to turn into a liquid.

Next you'll want to stir in the sugar and cocoa. Followed by adding in the egg and vanilla.

Mix well.

Now add the baking powder and baking soda and mix thoroughly.

The final three ingredients to add into the brownie batter are the most important.

Take the time to slowly add in flour, stir. Then add in Simply Pure Caramel Coffee Creamer in small amounts and stir, alternating pouring each item into the mix until both are completely added. Once it's all combined, add in the dark chocolate chips and mix well.

Now spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for around 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick (or a fork) comes out clean!

Once the brownies are cool to the touch, it's easy to whip together the frosting! You'll combine all of the frosting ingredients in a bowl, other than sprinkles. Mix the frosting well until it's the correct texture and spread over the top of the brownies.

Add a handful of sprinkles to the top of the delicious dessert and ENJOY!

It's that easy to make these colorful, delicious brownies... And I really want to know, how can you not have an awesome day starting it out with something like brownies and a nice cup of coffee with delicious, clean label creamer?

Tell me, how do you make sure everyday is awesome? Do you begin your day with some yoga or maybe you like to take your dog for a walk? I'd love to hear all about it in the comments below!

The Perfect Sweet & Salty Treat: Chocolate Covered Potato Chips!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of SKOUT for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you the type of person who loves to snack on potato chips? Lately, I can relate - from indulging in hot dogs & a small bag of sour cream & onion chips, to making a dessert that involves just regular ol' original flavored potato chips, I've loved indulging in every single type of chip.

After deciding to partner with SKOUT to find some other potato chip lovers, I knew I had to share a favorite recipe of mine and it's so simple!

To make this sinfully delicious treat to share with all your friends you will need:

Original Flavor Potato Chips,

Dipping Chocolate,

& Colorful Sprinkles.

You'll begin by warming the chocolate 30 seconds on low heat (or defrost setting), stirring and heating again for 15 second intervals until it's fully melted.

Now dip each chip into the chocolate, submerging about half of the salty goodness into the sweet tasty chocolate.

Add sprinkles to each chip as you go & wait for the chocolate to set.

Serve & ENJOY!

It's that easy to make a treat every chip lover will adore! With the salty, deliciousness of original flavored potato chips and the rich, indulgence of the chocolate, it's like a snack and dessert at the same time. So delicious, so amazing, and so easy to make!

If you're wanting to make friends as easily as you made this little treat, check out SKOUT today! It's the leading global app for making new buddies and it's easy to use!

An Easter Tradition: DIY See's Candies Snack Bar + a Giveaway!

Today's discussion is brought to you by See's Candies,
regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

Easter is almost here and that means I've been ogling all the adorable bunny items in every store I visit... and it also means that the "Easter Bunny" will be visiting my house soon. For now, though, I decided to play the Easter Bunny in our home and set up a scrumptious little candy snack bar with See's Candies during our most recent weekend brunch.

With so many delicious candies, it's easy to see why I chose to include all See's delectable delights in my snack bar. From Sugar Coated Sour Bunnies to Dark Chocolate Raspberry filled Springtime Truffles, I've decided to incorporate See's into my Easter tradition every year from now on! I'm so excited to celebrate Easter the very same way next year, with a special new member of our family. Getting to see the joy Easter brings from a child's point of view will make this tradition that much more amazing... but I'll be honest and share that this year I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to snack on delicious candy and other brunch-time favorites!

To celebrate Easter in style our little candy snack bar had to include all of the best American-made See's Easter candies with some flair added to the table.

As I mentioned, there were Springtime Truffles and Sour Bunnies, as well as Rocky Road Eggs, Chocolate Butter Eggs with Walnuts, Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate Bunnies of all sizes, Jelly Beans, and even a giant Easter Treasure egg!

Everyone was able to find something to treat their sweet tooth after brunch and it was marvelous. I decided to spruce up the table some with some colorful Easter eggs and a pretty little Easter basket, paired with a couple of cake plates to really show off the delicious candy snack bar options. The last important addition to the table was a colorful springtime plate and napkins set, now my table was ready for guests to enjoy and you can prepare your dessert table this easily too!

Whether you are looking for the perfect over-sized Chocolate Bunny to add into your little one's Easter basket or you want to surprise your sweetheart with a giant Easter Treasure Egg, See's has everything you'll need! Want to treat yourself (or someone you love) to something delicious without having to spend a dime?

Enter to win a $15 See's Candies Gift Card giveaway with the giveaway tools form below:

Entry-Form

Cozy Weekends with Hot Cocoa Moments!

This post was sponsored by Starbucks as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.
I received compensation and complimentary products to facilitate my review.

While the weather here in Florida has been perfect, it never hurts to get cozy and that's exactly what I did all weekend long... and well, since I'm 11 weeks pregnant, I have a feeling I'll be trying to get cozy almost every weekend in the upcoming future.

Luckily, I was able to spoil myself with a few of my favorite things - Cuddles from my dogs, a warm, delicious glass of hot cocoa, a little bit of binge watching of my favorite TV programs, and of course, a new blanket to snuggle up with.

While the cuddles were great and my new blanket is probably the softest I've ever owned, the real star of my cozy little weekend was the Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa. The best part of drinking my favorite little pregnancy friendly mermaid created beverage, you ask? I made it at home, in my Keurig, in seconds!

With a velvety smooth cocoa taste, perfectly complemented by a dash of salt, a pinch of caramel, and the perfect amount of non-fat milk, this Starbucks® Hot Cocoa K-Cup® is like hiring a barista to work right in your kitchen! Plus, you don't have to make a special trip out of the house to score a cup of this yummy treat, you can pick up a pack of K-Cups wherever you buy your groceries!

The thing is, there's also just delicious Starbucks Hot Cocoa K-Cups and I can't leave those out! With some amazing artisan Marshmallows and a bite of shortbread - it's like a little stay-cation destination in your home... a winter retreat is easy with a little treat from Starbucks, especially when you can make it in your kitchen in just a few seconds!

So tell me, how do you like to get cozy? Can you think of any must-have items to add to my weekend "retreats" to make getting cozy easier? I can't wait to spend next weekend cozied up and comfy... actually, who am I kidding? You'll probably find me sipping a Hot Cocoa, snuggled up under my new blanket, every single day this week! Want to enter to win a little Cozy Starbucks set of your own? Click here!

Delicious, Homemade Valentine’s Day Candies with Marshmallow Crème

It's hard to believe the day of love is only a WEEK away now, but don't fret... I'm here to save the day with this delicious, homemade marshmallow filled candy recipe so you can wow your sweetheart!

While these candies look amazing and intricately created, they are super easy to make and nearly anyone can become a candy making professional in just minutes, so go ahead and buy a cute heart shaped box and treat your sweetheart to a dozen of these adorable desserts on Valentine's Day!

Valentine’s Day Candies with Marshmallow Crème   

Time: 2 hours  
Yields: 8 Candies   

Ingredients:

½ cup Wilton Bright Pink Candy Melts     

1 tbsp. Cream Cheese     

½ cup Marshmallow Crème      

Red Coloring     

Small Candy Hearts (red, pink, or white)     

1 Wilton Stack & Melt Candy Mold  

Instructions

A Wilton Candy Melting Pot is recommended to heat candy melts. If you do not own a candy melt pot, you can simply microwave candy melts at 50% for 30 seconds. Stir. Heat at 50% for 30 seconds. Stir. Heat at 50% in 15-second intervals and stir until completely smooth. Do not over heat.   

The next step is easy, using a spoon, slowly pour candy melts into each circular cavity in your candy mold. Rotate the mold from side to side, ensuring all sides are coated. Dip out any excess. The goal is to create a thin shell. Gently tap mold onto countertop to remove air bubbles.        

Place mold in freezer for 30 minutes.       

In a small mixing bowl, combine marshmallow crème and cream cheese. Add red food coloring until desired color is achieved.       

Remove mold from freezer and add in marshmallow crème mixture into each circular cavity.   

Pour a thin layer of pink candy melts on top of each cavity, creating an enclosure, don't forget to wipe any excess from the side. Place mold in freezer for 30 minutes, then remove. Gently pop each candy from the candy mold.        

Add a drop of pink candy melt to some cute small candy hearts and place on each candy.

Place candies in freezer for 15 minutes, remove & enjoy!

The Perfect Homemade Winter Candies with Coconut Buttercream Filling

This post contains affiliate links, regardless all opinions are my own.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks lately, so instead of sulking around I decided to make something delicious and adorable to cheer myself up. These candies are absolutely one of the cutest you'll ever eat and they are actually fairly simple to make, with such a delicious coconut filling!

Whether you want to surprise your sweetie with homemade Valentine's candy or make these adorable snowman candies for your kiddos, you're going to love this simple coconut filled candy recipe!

The Perfect Winter Candies with Coconut Buttercream Filling

Ingredients:

Time: 2 hours Yields: 12 Candies Ingredients
1 cup Wilton White Candy Melts
Blue Coloring Paste
1½ cup Powdered Sugar
1 stick Unsalted Butter (room temperature)
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 tbsp. Milk
½ cup Shredded Coconut
Icing Decorations
1 Wilton Stack-N-Melt Candy Mold   (also sold at Michaels Online)
Instructions:

A Wilton Candy Melt Pot is recommended to heat candy melts, but it's okay if you don't own a candy melt pot! You can still make this recipe super simply, just microwave candy melts at 50% for 30 seconds. Stir. Heat at 50% for 30 seconds. Stir. Heat at 50% in 15-second intervals and stir until completely smooth. Do not over heat, otherwise the texture is all wrong! Add blue coloring paste to white candy melts until desired blue is achieved. If candy melts become too thick simply add a touch of coconut oil to thin.

Using a spoon, slowly pour candy melts into each rectangular cavity. Rotate the mold from side to side, ensuring all sides are coated. It’s best to focus on one rectangle at a time. Dip out any excess candy melt. The goal is to create a thin layer. Gently tap mold onto counter top to remove air bubbles. Place mold in freezer for 30 minutes.

In medium mixing bowl, cream butter with electric mixer until smooth. Slowly add powdered sugar while mixing on slow speed. Add vanilla extract and milk until combined.

To finish the filling, you'll add the shredded coconut to the mix and continue to mix.

Remove candy mold from freezer and add coconut buttercream filling into each circular cavity. Leave enough room for the filling to be covered by the other half of the candy shell.

Now, pour a thin layer of blue candy melts on top of each cavity, creating an enclosure. Wipe any excess from the side. Place candy mold in freezer for an additional 30 minutes.

Remove candy from freezer and gently pop each candy from the mold.

Add a drop of blue candy melt to icing decoration pieces and place on each candy. Place candies in freezer for 15 minutes, one last time. Remove from freezer & ENJOY!


Now that I've shared this super yummy candy recipe, I'd love to know what your favorite homemade candy flavor is? Are you a fan of strawberry filling or a gooey chocolate center? Tell me all about your candy love in the comments below!