In Episode 5 of Mom Life in The Woods, I mentioned the focaccia bread I make on repeat, and I promised I’d share the recipe here. So here it is. (By the way, here’s a link to listen to the episode. It’s called “Grow Something Anyway.”)

Ever made monkey bread? It's delicious! This fun recipe is something the kids will enjoy making alongside you, and you can add an extra couple steps to turn it into a "King Cake" for Mardi Gras or any other time of year. We adapted this recipe from the Abu's Monkey Bread recipe in the Disney Princess Cookbook [ad]. (All the recipes in the book are really delicious and easy to pull off.) 

This was my first year ever making cinnamon star bread, and I learned that it’s much easier than it looks. The end result is beautiful (not perfect, but perfectly charming), festive, and absolutely worth the effort.

I found the recipe online, here. If I’m being completely honest, I chose the first recipe that popped up in my Google search, and I struck gold. Not only was it straightforward, but it also included a step-by-step video, which made all the difference when it came time to twist the dough into that star shape. If you’re trying this for the first time, I highly recommend choosing a recipe with a video tutorial.

If you’re a novice in the kitchen or don’t bake bread often, here are a few tips I’d share before you begin:

Make It a Kid-Friendly Project (with a little planning)

This is a fun recipe to do with kids, but timing is everything. The dough needs about an hour to rise, so I recommend making the dough yourself first. Once it’s ready to roll out, then call your child into the kitchen to help with the assembly. That’s when it gets fun - spreading the filling, stacking the layers, and twisting the dough into its star shape.

No Stand Mixer Needed

You don’t need a stand mixer for this recipe. I don’t own one, and I get through bread recipes just fine. Use a regular electric handheld mixer to get things started, and once the dough becomes too bulky, switch to using your hands. Easy and very manageable.

Add Flour as Needed

Flour is your friend here. You want the dough to feel tacky, but it shouldn’t stick to your fingers. Add flour a little at a time until it reaches that sweet spot.

When it’s time to roll out the dough, don’t be shy with the flour on your work surface. My dough was sticking to the counters at first, but adding more flour than I thought I’d need made a big difference and saved my sanity.

Imperfect Circles Are Totally Fine

Don’t fret if your circles aren’t perfect. Mine were all slightly different sizes and not even true circles, and it still came together beautifully in the end. Once all the layers were stacked, I was able to gently pull and stretch the dough to make it work. No one will ever know.

Use the Video

When it’s time to cut and twist the dough, watch the video before you start, and again while you’re doing it. This step looks intimidating, but once you see it in motion, it clicks right away.

A True “Wow” Bread

Cinnamon star bread looks like something you spent all day making, even though you didn’t. It’s perfect for Christmas morning, a holiday brunch, or a cozy winter baking day at home.

If you’ve been eyeing this recipe for years and feeling intimidated, let this be your sign: you can absolutely do this. Even your first one will be beautiful.

Enjoy!

I make these zucchini boats for dinner some nights, and they’re always a hit! Even my daughter who usually give veggies the side-eye clean her plate and even ask for seconds. It’s zucchini, it’s taco night, and it’s dinner that feels fun but still fits a healthy balance.

One of the coziest parts of fall is gathering in the kitchen, filling the house with warm scents, and treating our families to comforting seasonal favorites. You don’t need to be a gourmet chef to make it happen (I’m certainly not one!); just a few simple recipes (and even some fun shortcuts!) can bring everyone together around the table.

Here are some easy, family-friendly fall food ideas that will warm hearts and tummies this season.

Have you had sloppy joes yet this summer? It’s a fun and easy lunch or dinner idea that feels just the right amount of nostalgic, and you can make it with the ground meat of your choice (I personally almost always use ground beef). Whether you're feeding hungry kids after a day at the pool or need something low-effort before heading out to evening activities, sloppy joes are a summertime win.

You can definitely do this the homemade way, but EASY is my mantra for the summer. This is also a super easy meal for little ones to help with!

Here’s how I make mine: