Apple Pie Bread

One of my favorite things to do on the weekend is make sweet breads that we can snack on all week long. While they’re not always the healthiest recipes, I like that they’re homemade and a less processed than anything we’d pick up at the store. I always cook sweet breads in an 8×8 square pan. I find that the bread cooks more evenly and we avoid the crispy heels that none of us are a fan of. We pack them in lunch bags for dessert or for an after school snack.

Our favorite is banana bread, but it’s safe to say this Apple Pie Bread is now going into the rotation!

Apple Pie Bread | Five Marigolds

I got the recipe from Pip and Ebby and made a few small modifications:

Ingredients:

BREAD

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (you could also add 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, but I left this out)
  • 3 large apples, peeled, sliced and cut into small chunks (about the size of diced onions), I used HoneyCrisp and Opal Apples, because that’s what I had on hand.

TOPPING

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9×9-inch glass pan with olive oil spray and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine the butter, brown sugar, milk, eggs and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until mixture is creamy. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Gradually add the flour mixture to the large bowl and mix until fully incorporated. Fold in the apples and pour into the oiled pan.
  3. To make the topping, combine 2 tablespoons of melted butter with 1/2 cup each of flour and brown sugar. Mix with a fork until crumbly and sprinkle evenly over the top of the batter – I used only 1/2 of the mixture, just enough to cover the surface. Bake in the preheated oven for 55 minutes, checking for doneness starting at 45 minutes by inserting a toothpick into the center of the bread.
  4. Cut into 16 squares and serve warm. Want to really go for the “wow” factor?  Drizzle just a little ice cream caramel over the top. Oh. Yes. I. Did.

Apple Pie Bread | Five Marigolds

Do you prep snacks and meals? I’d love to hear your tips, below!

 

Free Valentine’s Day Printables

44I just love Valentine’s Day! Such a fun day for kids to express friendship to one another. Dub loves tearing open the goodies, but EClaire really loves to see the creativity of the Valentines and read the messages from her friends.

Today I’m sharing printables and ideas for Valentine’s Day.

Candy Necklace Valentine

Candy Necklace Valentine Printable | Five MarigoldsI designed these for EClaire’s princess party this summer, and adapted them again for Valentine’s to be more inclusive of boys in her class.  Just print these out, cut two slits,  add the candy bracelet (I get mine at Dollar Tree 10/$1) and sign the back. Find the original post and download here!

 

Be Minecraft Valentine

Be Minecraft Valentines Printable | Five MarigoldsDub is obsessed with Minecraft! So, I created this “Be Mine (craft)” printable to wrap a box of Conversation Hearts for an inexpensive Valentine. Just seal with some stick glue and sign the back.  Find the orignal post and download here.

Straw Valentine

This Valentine by Paging Super Mom was a hit among the preschoolers Dub gave this to years ago – and their parents who loved the non-sweet Valentine. I used the heart shaped curly straws from Hobby Lobby (10/$1) and signed his name on the printable in PhotoShop. Super cheap and easy.

Kool-Aid Valentine

Kool-Aid Valentine Printable | Five MarigoldsLast year EClaire had so much fun putting these Kool Valentines together! Simply download the printable here and affix to the back of Kool-Aid packets with a heart sticker. I digitally added her name, but you can sign yours for a more personalized touch.

Candy Buttons Valentine

Valentine Candy Buttons | Five MarigoldsI absolutely loved the candy button favors I made for EClaire’s princess party this summer, so I recreated them for some homemade and very inexpensive Valentines. The kids think this is such a novelty that it’s always a hit! Find the full instructions here.

There you have it, just a few of the Valentines we’ve given over the years. What do you think? Will you be using any of these this year? Please take a moment to tell me about it, below!

Free Valentine's Day Printables | Five Mariolds

 

In addition to being featured in the fab blogs shown on the buttons to the right, this post was also featured on Huckleberry Love.

Be Minecraft Valentine’s Day Printable

Is your little one obsessed with Minecraft? I feel you. Dub has the game, the app and the collection of hardcover books that he studies relentlessly. It’s Minecraft hysteria up in here.

Be Minecraft Free Printable Valentine | Five Marigolds

I knew I had to make his Valentine Minecraft-themed. I just wasn’t finding the right thing, so I had to create it myself. I was most inspired by this adorable candy wrap by Simple as That, but really didn’t want to buy a full box of Mike & Ike candy for each of his classmates *cough*cheap*cough* and I was too lazy to cut out those adorable tags of hers. I know, this says a lot about me.

So I went to work creating a wrap for a standard box of conversation hearts. Once it’s printed, I helped cut out the wraps, and then I put Dub to work wrapping the box, using stick glue to seal it on the side, and he signs the back. Done (I love when a good plan comes together).

Want to use these for yourself? Download the free printable here.

What do you think of these Be Minecraft Valentines?  Tell me about it below – I love your feedback! Minecraft Valentine | Five Marigolds

MORE FREE MINECRAFT PRINTABLES: Like these printables? Be sure to check out my other free Minecraft Printables here and here.

Candy Necklace Valentine’s Printable

Remember the Princess Candy Necklace favors i made for my daughter’s birthday? Well, I’m all about upcycling my work, so I made a few modifications so we can use them for EClaire’s classroom Valentines. The party favors have been such a hit among all my readers, so I’ve decided to offer these up as a free Candy Necklace Valentine printable, as well.

Princess Candy Necklace Party Favors | Five Marigolds

Just print these out, two-sided, on some card stock, cut a slit on either side of the card and finish with a candy bracelet!

Candy Necklace Valentine Printable | Five Marigolds

>>Download your free

Candy Necklace Valentine Printable here<<

Candy Necklace Valentine Printable | Five Marigolds

Click here to get the princess version, perfect for birthday party favors!

If you love these and plan to use them for your Valentines, please take a moment to tell me about it in the comments!

get more free valentine’s day printables!

Looking for more great Valentine’s Day printables like this? Try my other popular free options:

          

 

Candy Necklace Valentine's Day Printables

These are so adorable! Printable candy necklace birthday party favor cards.