Easy Potluck Party Dishes

As the saying goes, sharing is caring, and nothing spreads a little love like a potluck gathering among family and friends. Whether you’re celebrating the holidays or at a watch party for your favorite team, bring a simple make-and-take recipe for a tasty good time.

Not only does a potluck menu take some pressure off the host, it gives each guest the chance to share beloved recipes and introduce new dishes featuring favorite ingredients. One sure bet for a crowd pleaser is the rich flavor of Musselman’s Apple Butter, a classic Pennsylvania Dutch spread made with apples and cinnamon that can add a special touch to your favorite sweet or savory recipes.

Be sure your dish arrives looking as good as it tastes with these tips for smart food transport:

• Keep plastic wrap or foil from touching food on a serving platter by inserting toothpicks to create a tent.

• For hot dishes, such as these Sweet Bacon Smokies, prevent the condensation that accumulates in the lid from dripping on food by wrapping the lid with a small cloth or paper towels.

• Use an insulated cooler to maintain the temperature of a dish for longer journeys, but for a short distance, place the serving dish in a larger pan lined with towels for a hot dish or with ice-filled plastic bags to keep a cool dish chilled.

Find more recipes just right for sharing at musselmans.com.

Sweet Bacon Smokies

• 1          package bacon

• 1          package little smokies (little sausage or hot dogs)

• 1          cup Musselman’s Apple Butter

1. Heat oven to 350° F. Place parchment paper on jelly roll pan or other edged baking pan.

2. Cut bacon strips into thirds. Wrap each strip of bacon around a smokie, piercing with toothpick to hold bacon in place. Place smokies on pan.

3. Baste each smokie with generous amount of apple butter.

4. Bake 20 minutes. Remove and flip each smokie. Baste again with apple butter.

5. Reduce heat to 275° F and bake another 20 minutes until bacon is cooked to desired doneness. Make sure apple butter doesn’t burn.

6. Transfer smokies to slow cooker on low heat to keep warm for serving.

Apple Butter Gooey Butter Cake

Cake:

• 1          cup flour

• 3/4       cup sugar

• 1 1/2    teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2       teaspoon salt

• 1          egg

• 1/4       cup unsalted butter, melted

• 2          tablespoons milk

• 1/2       teaspoon vanilla extract

Filling:

• 4          ounces cream cheese, softened

• 1          cup Musselman’s Apple Butter

• 1          egg

• 1/4       cup unsalted butter, melted

• 1/2       teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1          cup powdered sugar

• 1/2       teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus additional for serving

• 1/2       teaspoon ground nutmeg

• whipped cream

1. Heat oven to 350° F. Lightly grease 8-by-8-inch square pan.

2. To make cake: In large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk in egg, melted butter, milk and vanilla until moistened. Spread evenly in pan.

3. To make filling: In large bowl with electric mixer, beat together cream cheese and apple butter until smooth. Beat in egg then beat in melted butter and vanilla. Scrape bowl then beat in powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon and nutmeg.

4. Spread filling over cake; bake 45-50 minutes, or until center is set. Do not overbake as center should be slightly gooey. Cool completely before serving.

5. Garnish with whipped cream and dust with cinnamon to serve.