The first movie in the Murder, She Baked/Hannah Swensen series that doesn't include Cameron Mathison's character, Mike Kingston, due to the actor joining Great American Family, a rising competitor to Hallmark Channel.
Alison Sweeney and Victor Webster's characters in the The Wedding Veil series of movies (another Hallmark series) eventually marry each other.
Since each mystery is based on a book centered around a specific baked pastry or dessert, each movie attempts to drop hints related to the book's story. This movie references apples and apple dumplings, so the first time Hannah is shown teaching at the college, she's instructing her students making apple dumplings. Also, in a later scene, Hannah discovers the murder victim and a handmade card decorated with apples is clearly visible next to the body.
At 14:40 when Hannah comes out of the restroom to rejoin Norman at the table, after her mother has fluffed up her hair, her hair appears stringy and straight.