Author: windandwillow

Who says dessert has to be complicated? These Turtle Cheesecake Cookie Cups are the perfect blend of chocolate, caramel and nuts, all wrapped up in a cute little package. Whether you’re hosting a party or simply craving a decadent treat, these little bites are sure to impress.

Ingredients:

• 1 Turtle Cheesecake Cheeseball & Dessert Mix
• 8 oz Cream cheese
• 1 dozen Prepared cookie cups
• Pecans (included in the mix)
• Caramel sauce (optional)

Instructions:

Making Your Own Cookie Cups:

If you prefer homemade cookie cups, here’s a quick guide:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Roll 2 tablespoons of cookie dough into a ball and place in a muffin tin.
• Bake for 14 minutes or as directed.
• While still warm, press the center of the cookie with the end of a wooden spoon to form a cup.
• Let cool completely.

Assembling the Turtle Cheesecake Cups:

1. Combine: Soften the cream cheese and mix it thoroughly with the Turtle Cheesecake Cheeseball & Dessert Mix.
2. Fill: Spoon the cream cheese mixture into the prepared cookie cups.
3. Top: Sprinkle with included pecans. For an extra touch of indulgence, drizzle with caramel sauce.

Tips:

• Make Ahead: Prepare the cookie cups in advance and store them in an airtight container. Fill and top them just before serving.
• Customize: Feel free to experiment with different toppings, such as chocolate chips or sea salt.
• Serve: These cookie cups are perfect for parties, potlucks, or as a delightful dessert for two.

There you have it! A simple yet incredibly satisfying dessert that’s sure to become a new favorite. Enjoy!

1. BLT Heirloom Tomato Tart

Bright, fresh, and beautiful, this easy dish is perfect for last minute company. Check out the quick and easy recipe here.

2. Avocado Ranch Drizzled Tacos

Whip up a serving of Avocado Ranch Sauce using this recipe and prepare your favorite protein and veg ahead of time. Assemble a quick week day lunch, or turn it into a taco bar for a crowd!

3. Creamy Lemon & Herb Soup

Turn Baked Potato Soup into the perfect lunch for a rainy spring day. Prepare the soup mix as directed, adding a can of drained white beans, the juice of half a lemon, and your preferred fresh herbs. This recipe is both fresh and hearty at the same time.

We hope this list gives you some new ideas for easy and delicious lunches even when you are short on time. We love to see all the ways you use our products. Tag us on social @windandwillowfoods

Wind & Willow has what you need to celebrate with all your friends and family (even if they are on a special diet)!  This post is dedicated to all things dairy-free. Our lists include mixes without the specified allergen in the ingredient list.* For additional allergen information please refer to our allergen guide here.

*Products are manufactured in a facility that processes products containing dairy and gluten.  Cleaning and precautions are taken but cross contamination cannot be ruled out.  Therefore, these products may not be suitable for those with extreme sensitivity.

You can skip ahead to the category you are most interested in by clicking on it in the outline below.

Dairy-Free Mixes

1. Cheeseballs
2. Cheesecake Dips
3. Savory Dips
4. Hot Ciders
5. Roasted Pecans

Key Lime Pie

Lemon Cheesecake

Lemon Blueberry

Pumpkin Pie*

The BLT

Caramelized Onion

Spinach Artichoke

Jalapeno Peach

Savory Dips

Cucumber Dill

Fiesta Ranchero

Fresh Picked Spinach

Roasted Red Pepper

Savory Herb & Pecan

Hot Cider Mixes (All)

Original Mulled*

Caramel Apple*

English Wassail*

Roasted Pecan Mixes (All)

Cinnamon & Sugar

Cracked Pepper & Garlic

*Seasonal item, while supplies last

Tips for Serving

Tips for Serving Dairy-free options are becoming increasingly available in grocery store, making it easier than ever to prepare Wind & Willow products with no dairy. Replace any dairy containing ingredient called for on the packaging with the non-dairy equivalent of your choice. Vegan butter, cream cheese, sour cream, milk, and even mayonnaise can be found at most stores.

This playful terrarium lies somewhere between a classic trifle and a kid favorite, dirt cake. Little ones will love helping to build or just eating it with you! 

The first thing you will want to do is select a vessel. Here we used a large glass storage container, but the options are endless. Individual dessert cups would make a fun party dessert!

To start, prepare a Wind & Willow Missouri Mud No-Bake Cheesecake Mix. Once prepared as directed, let mixture chill in the fridge.

Next, prepare a boxed chocolate cake mix to use as dirt layers. Prepare as directed and allow to cool completely. (We also added food coloring to a white cake mix to make a layer of moss. This is optional as you do not end up using all of the prepared cake.)

After that, gather other elements you want to include like edible rocks, larger edible boulders, herbs for trees and bushes, and fondant mushrooms and of course, a little garden snail.  You can buy your edible decorations or have fun creating your own!

Lastly, layer up your vessel and garnish! We started with edible rocks, then a layer of cake, followed by prepared No-Bake Cheesecake, more cake, then all of the cute decorations (moss, boulders, greenery, fondant).

Snap a picture of your creation before you dig in! Tag us on social mendia @windandwillowfoods. We love to see all the ways you use and share our mixes.

If you have ever wondered how to get a cheeseball to look picture perfect, you are in luck! We are divulging all our secret tips to get a cheeseball round, evenly coated in topping, and beautiful for serving.

Room Temp Ingredients are Key

Our first tip is to use full fat cream cheese and half a stick of butter, making sure they are room temperature, and completely combined before adding your mix of choice. This provides the best structure for the cheeseball.

Combine Mix, Butter, Cream Cheese

Mix cream cheese and butter until completely combined using a spoon or rubber spatula. If your ingredients have not come to room temperature, a hand mixer can help whip everything together (alternatively, a fork and some elbow grease works if you are like us and have no patience and also hate to dirty up the mixer).

Refrigerate in Plastic Wrap Until Firm

Next, you will want to spoon the mixture into a sheet of plastic wrap and gather it into a ball as best you can. Refrigerate until the mixture is firm. While still in the plastic, use your hands to form the cream cheese mixture into a perfect ball.

Sprinkle Topping onto Plate

Lastly, we like to sprinkle the topping packet on to a plate and roll the cheeseball around the plate until all sides are evenly coated.

Enjoy!

Keep refrigerated until you are ready to serve! Don’t forget to snap a picture and tag us on social so we can see your beautiful creation. #windandwillowfoods

Welcome Autumn with a cozy evening on your own or with a few friends. Including Wind & Willow favorites makes it easy! 

Nothing gets us in the mood for fall like a lovely stroll among the falling leaves. Now to continue those fall vibes indoors…

We love starting by preparing the Roasted Pecans and Cider. They are great snacks as you are preparing everything else and make the whole house smell great too.

Dinner is easy when using Wind & Willow Soup Mixes.  Baked Potato Soup is always a favorite.  Just add water, simmer and serve. Make it your own by adding your favorite garnishes like shredded cheese, bacon and green onions.

For dessert, nothing beats a pumpkin shaped Pumpkin Pie Cheeseball.   After dinner, settle in with a good book and a furry friend.

For the perfect finish to a lovely autumn evening, settle in with a good book, a furry friend and a mug of warm cider.  

Did you know we are active on YouTube? We love sharing our favorite products and how we are using them. Follow us and share our page with your people. Lets all get together with good people around good food.

Good apple pie can be hard to come by. We want the kind that tastes like grandma must have been in the kitchen for hours creating it. While we love those old fashioned recipes, who has the time? We developed this recipe in a last minute, pinched-for-time kind of moment and it has become an all-time favorite. Click the link here or in the summary at the bottom for the condensed version of this recipe, or keep reading for all our juicy secrets for the ultimate apple pie.

Secret #1: Don’t Worry about the Peel

We have tested it, and we are here to tell you that it’s okay to leave the peel on! If we have time we do peel our apples, but if you slice them nice and thin, or choose to dice them, the skin just adds some fun color and you hardly notice them. So core, cut, and (if you choose to) peel about five apples.

Secret #2: Apple Type is Overrated

There are a lot of theories about what apples are best for a pie, we say whichever you have on hand are best! If you are grabbing some for the recipe just get what you like, looks good, or sounds exciting to try!

Secret #3: Submerge in Lemon Water

Place your prepped apples in water with a squirt of lemon juice while you prep your crust to keep them from browning. Just be sure to drain the water before adding them into the recipe.

Secret #4: Store Bought Crust?!

Our beloved family recipe for pie crust is one secret we will never divulge, but we have an even juicier one to reveal… store bought crust is almost as good. So just thaw that ready made crust and press it into your pie dish for the quick route and if you have time go ahead and make your own homemade crust.

How to Bring it all Together

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, cook apples on the stove in 4 Tablespoons of butter over medium heat until they are to your desired tenderness (approximately 10 minutes). Sprinkle in 2 Tablespoons of flour and a Wind & Willow Apple Cider Mix. Stir until flour and sugar dissolve. (approx 10 minutes). Once the filling is ready, spoon it into your pie dish and top with your remaining crust.

Secret #5: For that Golden Crust

Wisk one egg and brush it on top of the pie. This is technically an optional step, but truly that flaky golden crust is worth the extra time even when you are in a hurry. Use a sharp knife to cut vents into the top of the crust after the egg wash. Bake the pie for about 25 minutes or until it is fully cooked and golden.

Just a Few More Tips

• Any one of our three Cider Mix flavors will work for this pie recipe. Each one offers a unique flavor profile: Original for a traditional pie, Caramel Apple for an extra gooey and decadent pie (our personal favorite), or Wassail for a hint of unexpected bright citrus.
• Get creative with add-ins like raisins, nuts, or cranberries in the filling, cinnamon sugar sprinkled on the crust before baking, or replacing the top crust with a crumble topping.
• The longer you let your pie cool, the easier it is to cut a pretty piece… but sometimes it is totally worth cutting in sooner than later!

If you have Wind & Willow products on hand and some simple pantry staples, you are always prepared to create show stopping dishes at the drop of a hat. Impromptu gatherings are the best. Gather friends and family around good food and prepare to make memories.

For our more concise recipe click here.

We love to hear your stories of gathering around your Wind & Willow creations. Tag us on social media @windandwillowfoods so we can check out how you are using our products.