Feathers in Our Nest

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes

October 19, 2016 by Aliesha

This recipe for pumpkin cheesecake cupcakes was originally published in November 2009. I have updated it with new pictures and a printable recipe!

So I made some pretty delicious pumpkin cheesecake cupcakes on Saturday to take to our church fellowship. Thought I would share the recipe with you all! This recipe is from the November 2009 issue of Everyday with Rachel Ray.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes

Delicious cupcakes with the right amount of sweetness pair beautifully with the cream cheese filling! Perfect for fall!

Author: Aliesha @ Feathers in Our Nest

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 12

Ingredients

1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, room temperature
½ cup confectioner's sugar
1 egg white
1½ tsp. vanilla extract, divided
2 large eggs
1½ cups flour
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup olive oil

Instructions

Place a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with baking liners.
Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and confectioner's sugar for 3 minutes. Beat in 1 egg white and ½ tsp. vanilla. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl bowl, whisk the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, and salt.
In another bowl, mix the pumpkin puree, 2 eggs, granulated sugar, oil, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Whisk into the flour mixture.
Layer each muffin cup with some of the pumpkin batter, then some cream cheese mixture, then more of the batter. Bake until springy to the touch, 25 minutes. Let cool. (Tops will crack while baking.)
Frost as desired. I have used simply a generous squirt of whipped cream, but I have also used pumpkin spice buttercream!

Note: Here is the pumpkin spice buttercream recipe I used!

Enjoy!

Creating a Cozy Home in the Fall

October 11, 2016 by Aliesha

It’s no secret that I adore fall. I love the weather. I love the pumpkins. I love the warm & delicious flavors. I love the sweaters & boots. I love it all!

Today I’ll be sharing several tips for creating a cozy home in the fall! These tips are to help you (in whatever season of life you’re in!) make your home a cozy, welcoming place, not just for yourself and your own family, but for the people whom you invite into your home. Fall is a great time to show hospitality!

Add texture

I love to bring in lots of throw pillows and warm blankets, especially ones with interesting textures or pretty fringe. This layered look brings warmth to your home! Not to mention, that throw will come in handy on crisp mornings!

Add pumpkins

Well, this one is a given. Add pumpkins and your home will instantly feel more “fallified” and cozy! I don’t use orange pumpkins in my home anymore, since they don’t jive with my regular decor, so I have been collecting white, blue, tan, and burlap pumpkins over the past couple of years. You can always paint orange ones!

This little burlap pumpkin was just $1 at the Dollar Tree.

Display a seasonal art print

(Shameless plug) Adding a seasonal art print can instantly update your home and help celebrate the change of seasons! This one is available in my Instagram shop.

Bake something delicious

We eat seasonally as much as possible, meaning we fully enjoy the delicious flavors that each season offers! Right now we’re all about apples and pumpkin. I’ve baked lots of (healthy) pumpkin muffins, peanut butter granola, apple oven pancakes, whole wheat bread, and more. I’ve also started cooking soup again! I made a totally yummy broccoli cheddar soup over the weekend.

Diffuse a seasonal blend

Diffusing essential oils not only adds ambiance and a good fragrance to your home, but it also is one of the best ways to enjoy the benefits of essential oils. I’ve been diffusing Blossoms lately, and I love it!

Select some fall books

There’s nothing cozier than settling down to a read good book (or three)! If you have kids, pick up some fall library books. This is one of our absolute favorites, but I’ll try to do a post soon with some other new favorites! Don’t forget to grab something for you to read too. I’m not much of a fiction reader, but I just started reading this one!

Brew some coffee

I normally drink decaf coffee, but I made an exception to try this Apple Cider Donut coffee from Archer Farms (Target). It’s SO good! Give it a try if you see it at your local Target!

Turn on the music

So you’ve layered on the throw pillows, brewed a pot of coffee, and decorated with pretty pumpkins. You have something yummy baking in the oven and your diffuser is going with a sweet-smelling blend. Now all that’s left to do is turn on some music (I’m loving this album) and invite a few friends over!

What are your favorite ways to “cozy up” your home for fall?

This post contains affiliate links.

Apple Oven Pancake

October 10, 2016 by Aliesha

This recipe is now one of our go-to recipes for weekday lunches! My kids adore pancakes, and it’s certainly easier for me to make a one-dish meal of oven pancakes than making dozens of individual pancakes on a griddle! Not to say I never make pancakes, but I just wouldn’t have time to make them on mornings when I’m homeschooling. So this recipe simplifies things a lot!

In the fall, we make apple oven pancakes, but in the spring we use strawberries and in the summer we use blueberries! All of these varieties are delicious, so feel free to experiment using seasonal fruit!

You can double the recipe if you want (and use two baking dishes), because you can refrigerate the leftovers and reheat them the next day.

I got this recipe from Trina Holden. If you’re not following her on Instagram, you should be! She shares lots of real food recipes.

Apple Oven Pancake

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

20 mins

Author: Aliesha @ Feathers in Our Nest

Recipe type: Breakfast

Ingredients

6 Tbsp. butter
2 cups flour (you may mix whole wheat and all-purpose)
¼ tsp. sea salt
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups milk
2 apples, thinly sliced
2-3 Tbsp. sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Put butter in a 9x13 glass baking dish and put in oven to melt.
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sea salt, eggs, vanilla, and milk. If needed, add more milk to make thin, pancake-like batter. Pour into baking dish.
Lay apple slices on top and sprinkle with sugar.
Bake for 20-23 minutes until puffed up and golden around the edges.
Cut into squares, and serve!

Enjoy!

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes