There’s something about the sweet and smoky flavor combination that just works. And this Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon proves it with every perfectly caramelized bite of salmon that practically melts in your mouth.

Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon

I love how the brown sugar glaze balances everything out with just the right mix of sweet, savory, and spicy. And since the salmon is cut into smaller pieces, it cooks lightning fast, and you get the perfect glaze-to-fish ratio in every bite.

I’ve served this salmon with pineapple rice and also with this easy Asian rice. And it’s a terrific light meal with this orange parsley salad, too.

Salmon Bites

Inspired by this brown sugar salmon that we first made in the air fryer, these salmon bites are everything I love about that smoky, sweet salmon, made even better with more caramelized edges.

My New Favorite Lunch

Salmon bites have become my hands-down favorite way to cook salmon over the past year. I often cook them for lunch when I’m on my own, and in that case, the air fryer is my go-to cooking method.

However, when I’m cooking for a family meal, the broiler does a great job in the same amount of time and provides enough salmon for all of us.

Air Fryer Directions

If you’re an air fryer fan, you’ll be happy to know this recipe adapts beautifully. The salmon gets perfectly crispy on the edges and stays tender inside in just minutes.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Transfer the prepared salmon to the air fryer basket and spread in a single layer with space between each piece, if possible. Air fry the salmon for 6-8 minutes, shaking halfway through.

Remove from the air fryer and test the salmon for doneness. The fish should barely flake apart with a fork. The cooking time required will depend on the thickness of the salmon.

Brown Sugar Salmon Rub

The brown sugar rub is easily made with just a handful of pantry staples: light brown sugar, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic, paprika, and a touch of cayenne.

Toss it all together and you’ve got an easy, flavor-packed coating that is both sweet and smoky, and thanks to the sugar, it caramelizes beautifully under the broiler.

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Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon

With just the right mix of sweet, smoky, and spicy flavors, brown sugar glazed salmon bites are perfectly caramelized and melt in your mouth.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Calories 210kcal

Author Mary Younkin

Ingredients

• 24 ounces salmon skin removed, and cut into 1-inch pieces
• olive oil spray
• ⅓ cup light brown sugar
• ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ¾ teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
• ¾ teaspoon smoked or plain paprika
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Cut the salmon into bite-size pieces and place in a large bowl. Combine the brown sugar, salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, and cayenne in a small bowl and stir to combine.
• Lightly spray or drizzle the salmon with olive oil. Sprinkle the salmon with about ⅔ of the sugar and spice mixture and toss with your hands to coat. Spray a large baking sheet with oil and spread the salmon across the baking sheet. Sprinkle each piece of salmon with the remaining spice mixture.
• Place the salmon in the oven and bake for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven, and increase the heat to BROIL on high. When the oven reaches broiling temperature, return the salmon to the oven and broil for 3-4 minutes, until the salmon is cooked through and the glaze has lightly caramelized.
• Remove from the oven and test the salmon for doneness. The fish should barely flake apart with a fork. The cooking time required will depend on the thickness of the salmon.

Notes

When cooking fish, it’s always a good idea to cook it a couple of minutes less than your estimated time, then check for doneness. You can always pop it back in the air fryer or oven, but you can’t fix an overcooked piece of fish.
The most important thing to remember is that the fish will continue to cook for a few minutes after it is off the heat, so you have to remove it just before it is done to your liking. Salmon is best warm and flaking, but still a bit translucent even after resting.

Nutrition

Calories: 210kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 344mg | Potassium: 583mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 116IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon appeared first on Barefeet in the Kitchen.

The Most Perfect Moist Chocolate Cake [+Video]

This is the best Homemade chocolate cake recipe! Cake like this is rare to find. This perfectly Moist Chocolate Cake recipe is rich, decadent, and truly irresistible! Tested and approved by a cake fanatic (Me!)

You all know how I work. It’s why we have the best Traeger Ribs, Buttermilk Pancakes, and Banana Bread recipes among a gazillion others. I get all sucked into finding the best of the best for a specific recipe, and I can’t let it go until I’ve achieved it.

And friends, I’ve discovered which chocolate cake is best. If you need chocolate cake for a birthday or a family celebration, you just step right up. (Who am I kidding? Just make it because you are surviving the crazy these days.)

Creating the Best Chocolate Cake

Everyone I know loves a moist chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting or buttercream frosting, but most people struggle to make a homemade version without reaching for a cake mix. I’m absolutely giddy to share all my secrets, along with the full list of ingredients that make this the best from-scratch chocolate cake.

Here’s the twist: this is a chocolate cake recipe without butter, and that’s intentional! As much as I thought butter would enhance the flavor of the chocolate, it just didn’t. The cake lost too much moisture. Butter has a high water content that evaporates as steam during baking, so it can’t lock in moisture the way oil can. Using oil instead creates a softer crumb and keeps the cake tender and moist. If you prefer, you can swap in equal amounts of butter, or even go half and half, but all oil gave me the richest flavor and the most luscious chocolate layer cake.

Ingredients for The Best Chocolate Cake Recipe

As I already mentioned, the moistness of this homemade chocolate cake is thanks in part to the oil used in the batter. Our other secret? Buttermilk! Yep, this is a buttermilk chocolate cake.

Any time a recipe calls for buttermilk, it makes me think it’s going to be a fancy recipe. But in reality, this chocolate cake from scratch couldn’t be simpler to make.

Chocolate Cake Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour: reliable structure for the cake
• Unsweetened natural cocoa powder: better rise than Dutch-process
• Espresso powder: optional, but enhances chocolate flavor
• Baking soda & baking powder: both needed for the right lift
• Salt: balances sweetness and boosts flavor
• Oil: keeps the cake moist (better than butter)
• Eggs: room temperature helps the batter mix smoothly
• Buttermilk: adds moisture and tenderness
• Hot water: blooms cocoa for deeper flavor

Frosting Ingredients:

• Unsalted butter: base for a rich, creamy texture
• Cream cheese: adds tang and stability
• Unsweetened cocoa powder: deep chocolate flavor
• Powdered sugar: sweetness and structure
• Vanilla extract: enhances flavor
• Whole milk: thins to a spreadable consistency
• Salt: balances sweetness

Pro Tip: When you make this chocolate cake for the first time, try it exactly as written. It’s truly the best chocolate cake recipe, and baking it as is ensures you’ll know how it’s meant to turn out before experimenting. If you’d like to tweak it later, we’ve included some substitution ideas below.

For step-by-step instructions and measurements, see the recipe card below.

How to Make The Best Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Cake Steps

Okay, it’s time to bake the best chocolate cake recipe! Here we go!

1. Preheat: Set oven to 350 degrees F before baking.
2. Prepare pans: Spray bottoms of 2-3 9-inch cake pans, line with precut parchment paper, and spray sides.
3. Sift: Remove lumps from dry ingredients with a mesh sieve.
4. Mix: Beat eggs, buttermilk, hot water, oil, and vanilla using a hand or stand mixer on medium speed until smooth.
5. Combine: Add dry ingredients and mix until incorporated.
6. Divide & bake: Pour the chocolate cake batter evenly into pans and bake.
7. Cool: Let cakes rest 10-15 minutes on the counter, then turn onto a wire rack.

Unlike brownies, you can use the toothpick trick for cake. Just insert a toothpick into the very center of the cake, and if it comes out clean, it’s time to pull the cake!

Chocolate Frosting Steps

The secret to a good chocolate frosting is actually, in my expert opinion, to use both butter and cream cheese. Each doesn’t hold up to the chocolate enough, but together, man, it’s good! All rich and creamy, totally dreamy.

1. Soften: Bring butter and cream cheese to room temperature.
2. Cream: Beat butter and cream cheese together until smooth.
3. Add: Mix in cocoa, sugar, vanilla, and salt.
4. Adjust: Add milk as needed for a spreadable, but thick consistency.
5. Frost: Spread evenly on cooled cake layers and decorate as desired.

Once frosted, your chocolate cake is ready to impress! Rich, creamy, and utterly irresistible! Every bite is pure chocolate bliss.

Do You Have to Use Coffee for This Recipe?

You might have noticed coffee or espresso powder in the ingredients list, and it’s actually one of the secrets to making your chocolate cake taste extra chocolate-y. Almost every chocolate cake uses a little coffee to enhance the chocolate flavor, even if you can’t taste it.

I don’t drink coffee for religious reasons, but I still add just a tiny bit of Baking Espresso Powder, and it really does deepen the chocolate flavor. Here’s why I love it:

• No bitterness like regular coffee
• Conveniently stored in a jar
• Adds richness and depth without tasting like coffee

How to Store Chocolate Cake

Chocolate cake will stay fresh at room temperature for up to 2 days if it’s covered. After that, it should be refrigerated to maintain its texture and flavor. A whole cake can be stored in the fridge for up to 1 week when covered with foil, plastic wrap, or placed in an airtight container. For cut and frosted cake, the best method is to slice it with a sharp knife, wrap each piece individually in plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator. This keeps the slices moist and makes them easy to grab whenever you want a piece.

For longer storage, chocolate cake freezes beautifully. Frosted cake can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. First, place the cake in the freezer uncovered until it’s completely solid, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. When you’re ready to enjoy it, just thaw the cake at room temperature and serve.

Whether it’s a holiday, birthday, or just a Tuesday, this chocolate cake makes every moment feel special!

More Easy Cake Recipes:

• Our Favorite Cake Recipes!
• Flourless Chocolate Cake
• Cinnamon Roll Sheet Cake
• Easy Carrot Cake
• Banana Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting

READ: The Most Perfect Moist Chocolate Cake [+Video]

Cheesecake dip is a rich and creamy, 5-ingredient dessert dip that packs all the flavors of a no-bake cheesecake! Whip up this dip in minutes and serve with fruit, graham crackers, pretzels, or your choice of dippers.

You might also like this easy cannoli dip and classic Snickers salad.

This dessert dip is WAY easier to make than a classic cheesecake, but still has all the creaminess and flavor. It’s perfect if you’re a cheesecake lover, like yours truly, who doesn’t always feel up to preparing, baking, and chilling an actual cheesecake.

Continue reading Cheesecake Dip at Cookies and Cups.

Bring the flavors of fall to the table with this fluffy pumpkin dip. Creamy, spiced, and perfectly sweet, it is a quick and easy treat for dipping fruit, cookies, or crackers.

Fresh tomatoes, creamy burrata, and peppery arugula come together in this simple yet elegant salad. Finished with balsamic glaze and fresh basil, it’s the perfect recipe to serve as a light lunch, a side for grilled favorites, or a fresh starter to impress guests.

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve gone out for lunch just because I was craving this salad. Inspired by my deep love for the simple house chop served at Harvest Pizza, it was way past time for me to figure out how to make their salad at home.

Crunchy greens, tangy pepperoncini, and hearty chickpeas are tossed with a sweet Italian dressing and then sprinkled with crumbles of creamy cheese to recreate Harvest’s House Chop Salad.

Sweet Italian Dressing

The base flavor for this salad is the sweet Italian dressing. It’s a smooth, sweet cousin to the zesty Italian dressing that is a staple in my kitchen. It’s bright, sweet, and tangy with lemon, Dijon, and garlic flavors in each bite and just a tiny hint of heat from the red pepper.

Salad Happiness

I’m thrilled to tell you that this salad is a spot-on match for the salad we enjoy so much at Harvest Pizza. And I’m able to make it every day at home now. It feels a bit like my salad-loving heart has found an early Christmas present.

What is a Chopped Salad?

The idea behind the popular chopped salads is that each bite will include a little bit of everything, with no need to cut anything further while eating. The key to a great chopped salad is to cut, slice, or chop every ingredient roughly the same size. The greens are usually cut to approximately the same size as the other ingredients.

In this particular salad’s case, the greens aren’t cut quite as small as the chickpeas, but they’re cut small enough to be bite-sized and easily combined with the other ingredients in a simple forkful.

House Chop Salad

My family goes a bit crazy over chopped salads, and when I serve one, they often comment on how great it is to have a bit of each flavor in every bite. One of my boys insists on eating his chopped salads with a spoon, and seeing him do so never fails to make me laugh.

I’m willing to bet that after your first bite, you’ll agree that it is well worth the few minutes of extra effort to chop things small for this salad. And if you want a shortcut to salad happiness, check out this salad chopping bowl. I rarely pick up single-task kitchen tools, but this salad chopper has been making me grin for a few weeks now.

What is Ricotta Salata?

Before tasting this salad a few years ago, I’d never even heard of ricotta salata. I actually googled it as one of the salad ingredients when I first saw it on the menu. I had no idea then, just how much I’d grow to love this particular cheese.

While regular ricotta is a soft, spreadable cheese, ricotta salata has a crumbly, sliceable texture and a slightly sharper, salty flavor. It has a clean, creamy taste, somewhere in between feta and Parmesan, but much more subtle and delicate. I absolutely love this new-to-me cheese, and I top all of my salads with it whenever it’s in the house.

Unfortunately, this less-than-common cheese can be a bit tricky to find. I’ve had the best luck simply asking for it, repeatedly, at different stores. It’s almost always available at Whole Foods, though, so I’ll run in just to pick up a bit of the cheese when we are nearby.

If you can’t find ricotta salata, don’t stress it too much. I’ve also made this salad with crumbled goat cheese and with crumbled feta, and it was a hit with both cheeses. It would also be great with freshly shredded Parmesan if that is your easiest option.

Radicchio vs Red Cabbage

If you find radicchio a little too bitter for your taste, red cabbage makes a great substitute. Red cabbage offers a similar crunch and beautiful color, with a milder, slightly sweet flavor that works well in salads. It’s an easy swap that keeps the look and texture of your dish.

Radicchio has a bold, distinctive flavor that’s both sharply bitter and slightly spicy, with a hint of nuttiness. Radicchio can really wake up a dish with its punchy flavor, but if you are leery of it, red cabbage is a terrific choice in its place. My boys aren’t the biggest fans of radicchio, so I usually make this with red cabbage for my family.

Chopped Salad Recipes

It isn’t often that a salad manages to qualify as a full meal for my crew, but these salads check all the boxes for us. The ​Italian chopped salad​ is always a hit, with plenty of meat and cheese, crunchy fresh vegetables, tangy olives and pepperoncini, tossed in a zesty Italian dressing. And the ​Bacon, Bleu Cheese, and Shrimp Chopped Salad​ combines crunchy bacon, garlicky shrimp, ripe avocado, juicy tomatoes, sweet corn, and creamy cheese, along with a generous handful of fresh parsley to brighten all of the flavors.

As soon as I tasted an ​Italian Grinder Sandwich​, I knew that a grinder-inspired salad needed to happen. The tangy slaw mixture topping the sandwiches was my favorite part, so I wanted to make the most of that flavor combination in a loaded salad. Luckily, I had plenty of extra ingredients on hand, so I was able to make this ​Italian Grinder Salad​ the very next day. The whole family gives it two thumbs up.

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Harvest House Chop Salad

Crunchy greens, tangy pepperoncini, and hearty chickpeas are tossed with a sweet Italian dressing and then sprinkled with crumbles of creamy cheese to recreate Harvest Pizza’s House Chop Salad.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 316kcal

Author Mary Younkin

Ingredients

Sweet Italian Dressing Ingredients

• ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoons dijon mustard
• ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1-2 tablespoons white sugar adjust to desired sweetness
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

Salad Ingredients

• 15 ounces canned chickpeas drained and rinsed
• 4 cups iceberg lettuce thinly sliced and chopped small
• 1 cup radicchio or red cabbage thinly sliced and chopped small
• ½ cup thinly sliced pepperoncini
• ¼ cup crumbled ricotta salata, goat cheese, or feta

Instructions

• Combine all the dressing ingredients in a pint-size or larger glass jar or bottle. Seal with lid and shake to combine. Add the rinsed chickpeas to the jar with the dressing and seal with lid. Shake to coat. Allow the chickpeas to marinate in the dressing while making the salad.
• Combine the lettuce, radicchio, and pepperoncini in a mixing bowl. Top with chickpeas, and as much dressing as you like. Toss to coat everything with the dressing. Sprinkle the salad with crumbled cheese before serving.

Notes

You likely won’t need all of the dressing in this recipe for the salad, but I tend to err on the side of extra dressing. I like to have it on hand for future salads, too.

Nutrition

Calories: 316kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 653mg | Potassium: 351mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 551IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 2mg

The post Harvest House Chop Salad appeared first on Barefeet in the Kitchen.

25+ of Our Favorite Ground Beef Recipes

If there’s one thing I know about busy weeknights, it’s that ground beef is always there to save the day. It’s budget-friendly, cooks up quickly, and somehow manages to please every single member of the family (even the picky ones!).

Over the years, we’ve collected so many tried-and-true recipes that start with a pound of ground beef and end with happy, full bellies around the table. From cozy casseroles to quick skillet dinners and a few fun international twists, these are the ground beef recipes we make again and again—and I know you’ll love them too.

Comfort Food Ground Beef Recipes

Ground Beef Casseroles

1. Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole

1. Taco Casserole

1. Cheesy Ground Beef and Potato Casserole

1. Mexican Ground Beef and Rice Casserole

Classic Beef Chili & Soups

1. Instant Pot Chili

1. Ground Beef Enchilada Chili

1. Best Chili Recipe

1. Instant Pot Taco Soup

1. Ground Beef Stew

Ground Beef Dinners for Busy Nights

Quick & Easy Ground Beef Skillet Recipes

1. One Skillet Enchilada Casserole

1. Irish Ground Beef and Cabbage

1. Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet

30-Minute Ground Beef Meals

1. Cottage Cheese Ground Beef Sweet Potato Bowl

1. Enchilada Style Ground Beef Burritos

1. Easy Ground Beef Stroganoff

International Ground Beef Favorites

Mexican-Inspired Ground Beef Recipes

1. Ground Beef Burrito Bowls

1. Cheesy Ground Beef Enchiladas

1. Ground Beef Taco Salad

Italian Ground Beef Recipes

1. Spaghetti and Meatballs

1. Hearty Meat Lasagna

Asian-Inspired Ground Beef Recipes

1. Easy Korean Ground Beef

1. Korean Ground Beef Noodles

1. Korean Beef and Cottage Cheese Bowl

1. Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Kid-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes

Sloppy Joes, Burgers & Meatballs

1. Best Sloppy Joes

1. Smash Burgers

1. Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

READ: 25+ of Our Favorite Ground Beef Recipes

These Apple Pecan Squares are a simple dessert and perfect for just a few people. Add the caramel sauce for a real treat! ❤️WHY WE LOVE THIS RECIPE We’ve received several requests for smaller desserts suitable for just a few people! This is the perfect recipe for just that! It’s made in an 8X8, and…

This chicken tortilla soup is a hearty and flavorful one-pot meal made with tender chicken, black beans, corn, and zesty tomatoes. It’s seasoned with warm spices, fresh lime juice, and topped with crispy homemade tortilla strips. Quick, easy, and perfect for a cozy dinner any night of the week!