Hey friend — welcome back to my cozy little corner of the internet. Today I’m sharing something near and dear to my heart (and my oven): my favorite snack recipes. These are the things I’m known for — the ones friends request, family devours, and that, honestly, probably sealed the deal when my husband and I were dating.
I’m literally giving you the recipes I actually use — the ones that have a story, a memory, or a little bit of magic baked in.
Let’s dive in. 💛
The Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies that Got me Married
Because he married a snack who likes to make snacks.
When I say these cookies are legendary, I mean it. These Broma Bakery Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies are my signature sweet — buttery, chewy, and kissed with a shot of espresso that makes the chocolate sing. You can find the recipe here.
I also love the Broma Bakery Best Chocolate Chip Cookies — because, let’s be honest, you can never have too many chocolate chip cookie recipes.
Here’s my secret: I kept frozen dough balls of these cookies in my freezer when I was dating my husband. Anytime he came over, I’d pop fresh ones in the oven. And I think it worked, because we were married three months later haha.
There’s just something about the smell of warm cookies that makes you feel at home.
Buffalo Chicken Dip — Our Fave “Special Occasion” Snack
I don’t even have the words for this dip. It is just so so good. And I normally can’t handle too much spice so that’s saying something.
We make this any time we feel like we have a special occasion, because it’s just so, so good. You can find the exact recipe here.
It’s perfect for game days, cozy nights in, or honestly, random Tuesdays when you just want something warm and cheesy. The Frank’s RedHot gives it that nostalgic buffalo flavor, while the cream cheese and ranch make it balanced and tone down the fire.
We serve it with tortilla chips, but you could do celery sticks, or toasted baguette rounds. And don’t be surprised when everyone crowds around the bowl before dinner’s even started. I’ve even made chicken wraps with this, buffalo chicken dip quesadillas, and I even once made chicken dip tostadas wher eI bough tostada shells and topped it with the chicken dip, diced lettuce, tomato, onion, and a drizzle of ranch.
Chocolate Torte — The French Dessert You NEED to Try
This one deserves a moment.
If you haven’t tried this French dessert, you NEED to. It’s everything a brownie should be but isn’t, in my opinion. A good chocolate torte is rich and silky, dense without being heavy, and every bite tastes like pure chocolate heaven. You can find the recipe I use here.
I prefer to make it in lidded ramekins because it comes out so smooth and soft that way, and I like to serve it with homemade whipped cream. It’s the kind of dessert that looks super fancy but feels like comfort food — like something you’d serve at a candlelit dinner but still sneak a spoonful of straight from the fridge at 12 am after some lovin’ from your husband… ahem.
🌮 Carnitas — My Family Secret: Double the Seasonings
This recipe is close to my heart.
I use this carnitas recipe from Recipetineats — except my dad is from Mexico (Mexican by nationality) and my mom is Mexican (ethnicity) but raised in the US, and the biggest lesson I’ve learned is to DOUBLE the seasonings in this recipe for the best results.
So good every time
We eat these as carnitas tacos the first night, but they also make amazing nachos later! It’s the kind of meal that stretches beautifully. Just don’t skip the step of pan frying them in bacon grease y’all, it MAKES it.
Peanut Butter Cookies
These peanut butter cookies are another household favorite, and they come from Ovenly.
After they come out of the oven, I just add a Hershey’s chocolate kisses and drizzle them with melted chocolate. And I love that they just feel nostalgic, and I REALLY love that they taste way more peanut buttery than any other PB cookie recipe I’ve tried.
Steakhouse Burgers — My Husband’s Constant Request
These Steakhouse Burgers from Once Upon a Chef are requested multiple times a month by my husband!
But I make them in the oven using this method — only I put bacon on the patties when I very first put them in the oven, then turn it on broil at the end to crisp the bacon up (it will be smoky, be careful!). Then I turn off the oven and add the cheese.
Game changer.
It’s that perfect blend of crispy, melty, smoky, juicy — everything you want from a burger without firing up the grill.
Kitchen Notes
These recipes have become a part of my kitchen identity and some of my family’s core memories. There’s something about food that tends to do that.
If you try any of them, make sure to tag me or comment — I’d love to see how they turn out for you.