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Katie Joy Allen

@ktjoy87

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13 years married. ❤️ I honestly can’t believe it!

We’ve been through so much together, and especially this year, we’ve been reminded just how precious life, health, and family really are. Through all the highs and lows, I’m so grateful we’re here, healthy, together, and raising the best little family.

Life hasn’t always gone according to plan, but I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else. I’m so proud of the life we’ve built and all the memories we’ve made along the way.

Here’s to 13 years down and hopefully another 50+ years of laughing, loving, growing, and figuring it all out together. I love you @chrispi_314 🥂❤️ by @ktjoy87

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10 hours ago

🍫🔥 S’MORES PIE | Katie Tries to Win Things 🥧

This week’s bake-off contender is a s’mores pie! And while it was absolutely delicious, the toasted marshmallow meringue might have stolen the show. ☁️🔥

⭐ My rating: 8.5/10
The verdict: A little slice of heaven… and a LOT of richness. 😂

A friend suggested that next time I cut the ganache in half and add a light peanut butter mousse layer instead. Chocolate + peanut butter + graham cracker + marshmallow?! I’m already dreaming about it.

Also peep Jojo’s camera work debut 💀

🍫 THE RECIPE

I followed the NYT Cooking S’mores Tart recipe, with one shortcut: store-bought graham cracker crust instead of homemade.

Ingredients

Chocolate Ganache

1 cup heavy cream
12 oz bittersweet chocolate (68–74%), chopped
3 tbsp unsalted butter
Pinch of fine sea salt

Marshmallow Meringue

6 egg whites
1¼ cups granulated sugar
¼ tsp cream of tartar
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped

Plus: 1 store-bought graham cracker crust

Directions

Make the ganache: Heat the heavy cream until steaming, then pour over the chopped chocolate. Let sit briefly, then stir until smooth. Add the butter and salt and stir until glossy.
Fill the crust: Pour the ganache into the graham cracker crust and chill until set.
Make the meringue: Combine egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in a heatproof bowl. Whisk over simmering water until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is warm. Whip until thick, glossy, and stiff peaks form. Beat in the vanilla bean seeds.
Finish: Pile the meringue over the chilled ganache and toast until golden.
Slice and enjoy!

Would you try this as-is, or go for the peanut butter mousse twist? Tell me what I should bake next! 💗

#KatieTriesToWinThings #PieBakeOff #SmoresPie #Baking #Dessert by @ktjoy87

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5

2 days ago

🎂✨ KT Tries to Win Things took a little break from pie this week!
Instead, I made 48 cupcakes for Jojo’s 5th birthday party! 💜💙🩷
Funfetti + chocolate cupcakes, colorful buttercream swirls, sprinkles, and OF COURSE… edible glitter. ✨
Were they perfect? Absolutely not. 😂
Were they cute, easy, and a huge hit with the birthday girl and her friends? Absolutely!
Sometimes the goal isn’t to win the competition—it’s just to make something your 5-year-old will love. 💕🎉
#KTTriesToWinThings #JojoTurns5 #BirthdayCupcakes #DescendantsBirthday #HomeBaker by @ktjoy87

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15 days ago

🍪🥧 Katie Tries to Win Things is BACK! 🥧🍪
After a little hiatus to deal with work and life things, I’m back in the kitchen—and this week I’m turning one of my favorite easy desserts into a PIE!
My friend Colleen introduced me to this Oreo Cookie Dream Dessert years ago, and I’ve made it several times because it is SO easy and always a crowd-pleaser. This time, I decided to skip the 9x13 pan and make it in a pie dish instead!
I kept the recipe basically the same, except I swapped the Cool Whip for homemade whipped cream.
⭐️ Rating: 9/10
It’s creamy, chocolatey, packed with Oreos and chocolate chips, and requires very little effort. Definitely a contender for Crowd Favorite, but I’m not sure it has quite enough oomph to take home 1st place. 🏆

🍫 Oreo Cookie Dream Dessert Pie 🥧

Ingredients
• 1 package Oreos
• 6 Tbsp melted butter
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 large package (5.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding
• 2¾ cups milk
• 16 oz Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream
• 1 cup confectioners sugar
• ½ cup mini chocolate chips
For homemade whipped cream
• 1½–2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar
• 1 capful vanilla extract

Directions
1️⃣ Crush the Oreos into fine crumbs, reserving about 1 cup of crumbs for the topping.
2️⃣ Mix the remaining crumbs with the melted butter and press firmly into the bottom and up the sides of a pie dish to create the crust.
3️⃣ Prepare the chocolate pudding according to the package directions and refrigerate while you make the cream cheese layer.
4️⃣ Beat the softened cream cheese, confectioners sugar and half of the whipped topping until smooth and fluffy.
5️⃣ Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the Oreo crust.
6️⃣ Spread the chilled chocolate pudding over the cream cheese layer.
7️⃣ Top with the remaining whipped cream.
8️⃣ Sprinkle with the reserved Oreo crumbs and mini chocolate chips.
9️⃣ Refrigerate until completely chilled and ready to serve!

And there you have it—a super easy, super delicious Oreo pie. ❤️
What should I try next? Comment below! 👇🏻#pie #oreodessert #bakeoff #homemadebaking by @ktjoy87

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21 days ago

🍓🥧 Pie #4: Strawberry Pie!
This one is extra special because I’ve actually made Joy the Baker’s strawberry pie bars before—and loved them! This time, I decided to turn the recipe into a full-on pie to see if it could be a contender for my church’s pie bake-off. 👀
And I had a very important little helper in the kitchen…JoJo! 👩‍🍳💕 She helped me make this one, which obviously means she gets some credit for the final 9/10 rating. 😂
The buttery pecan shortbread crust + strawberry filling + crumble topping is SUCH a good combination. The filling was a little tarter than I remembered and it was a little tricky to cut into at first, but once it was chilled? Delicious.
Pro tip: serve this one at room temp or chilled with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. 🍦
9/10 — and I think we may have a bake-off contender!
One more pie down…what should I bake next? 👇🏼
#KatieTriesToWinThings #PieBakeOff #StrawberryPie #HomemadePie by @ktjoy87

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3

a month ago

😭😭😭

She’s just a little baby, how could it be today was her first day of kindergarten?? by @ktjoy87

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5

a month ago

We have a KINDERGARTNER 🥹 We’re so excited to see what she will accomplish this year ✨ by @ktjoy87

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a month ago

Nothing like a BSB concert with your cousin to heal you a lil bit ✨ 🩵 🤍 by @ktjoy87

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a month ago

🍅🥒 KT Tries to Win Things: Heirloom Tomato & Zucchini Galette

Okay, technically this is a galette… not a pie. So will it win my church’s pie baking competition? Probably not. 😂
BUT I’ve made this before and knew I had to make it again because it is SO GOOD. It’s basically summer on a plate — heirloom tomatoes, zucchini, caramelized onions, cheese and fresh herbs all baked into a delicious cornmeal crust.

⭐️ 8/10
The recipe:
🥧 Cornmeal crust
🧅 Caramelized onions
🍅 Heirloom tomatoes
🥒 Zucchini
🧀 Blue cheese + cheddar
🌿 Fresh basil + thyme
🍯 Honey + olive oil
🥚 Egg wash for the crust

My tips: If you can find smoked blue cheese, use it! I used smoked cheddar, which was delicious, but the smoky flavor wasn’t quite as noticeable. And DON’T skip the hot honey drizzle at the end — the sweet + spicy combo is 🤌🏼.
The crust was delicious but a little crumbly, so that’s where I lost a point.

Pie or galette… my taste buds don’t care. 😂

📖 Recipe: Heirloom Tomato & Zucchini Galette with Honey & Thyme from Half Baked Harvest.
What should I try next in my quest to win the pie bake-off?! 👇🏼

#KatieTriesToWinThings #PieBakeOff #Galette #SummerRecipes #HeirloomTomatoes HotHoney HomeBaking by @ktjoy87

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9

2 months ago

Had the most amazing weekend in Vegas seeing @backstreetboys & @kellyclarkson ! There is something about gathering in a place with strangers experiencing music together that just makes me feel so alive! If you’ve been thinking about buying the ticket, just go! See the artist you love. Sing too loud. Stay out too late. Make the spontaneous decision. Make the memory.

#backstreetboysvegas #kellyclarksonconcert #thespherelasvegas by @ktjoy87

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4

2 months ago

🍑 Peach Crumble Pie 🍑
9/10 🌟
Woooow... this one was so good. 🤤 The cinnamon sugar graham cracker crust paired with the peaches was absolute perfection.
If I made it again, I’d probably cook part of the filling first or add a little more flour or tapioca starch to help absorb some of the extra juice so the crust stays crisp. But flavor-wise? I’d make this again in a heartbeat.
Crust:
✨ @traderjoes Cinnamon Graham Crackers
✨ @nytcooking Graham Cracker Crust recipe
Filling:
✨ @sallysbakeblog Brown Sugar Peach Crumble Pie recipe
Now the real question... is this the pie that could win my church’s pie bake-off? 👀🏆
Comment below what pie I should try next! 🥧 by @ktjoy87

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13

2 months ago

✨ Katie Tries To Win Things - Pie ✨

This week I made a chocolate cream pie. I used the @nytcooking recipe by Samantha Senevirante. I love how the chocolate custard is light, yet rich. My two chocolate lovers (my husband and 4.5 yo daughter) were very pleased.

I give this an 8.5/10. I think it’s really solid and could have a chance of winning! I think for better presentation I would put the crust in a tart shell. But I need to do more research.

What kind of pie should I try next??

#pie #chocolate #winning #nytcooking by @ktjoy87

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2 months ago