Dessert Ideas Needed!

[scheddj]

We're having one side of the family Christmas on the day after Christmas. I've been assigned the desserts. I was thinking about taking a couple of pies but here's my dilema - I really wanted to take advantage of the day after Christmas sales to buy a new wardrobe since I've dieted down a couple of sizes in the last few months.

So, I need a couple of desserts that can either be made two days ahead and still be tasty, or something that doesn't take a lot of prep time. It also has to travel well since we're a two hour drive away. Any ideas that you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Local_Girl]

Do you have to make them yourself? If not and there is a location near you...how about Grand Traverse Pie Co. pies? They are yummy!

Wanted to add: Congrats on the weight loss!!

 

[merekc]

You didn't say how many people but a tray of lemon squares, brownies (you can get fancy with caramel and stuff), cookies, etc could be made several days before and will travel well. It is also nice for having dessert sort of a dessert sampler, easy to grab option.Maybe paired with one bigger dessert but drawing a blank on other ideas.

 

[scheddj]

Thanks for the congrats. Now to maintain through the Holidays!

While it's not a rule, it would be 'frowned upon' if it wasn't home made. It doesn't have to be pies though.

 

[figment52]

Do you have a trifle Bowl or a clear mixing bowl - a layered dessert always looks impressive and is very easy.

Bake a cake or brownies. Mix a box of pudding(your chioce of flavor), and pick up a couple cartons of berries and get a carton of cool whip.

Cut up the cake and place a layer (about 1/3 of it) in the bottom of the trifle bowl followed by a layer of the pudding, then some fruit anf finally the cool whip. Repeat this two or three times (your choice) and end with the cool whip. Save some fruit for the garnish on top.

At Christmas time I make this with brownies or chocolate cake and instead of fruit I use crushed candy cane (how much you use depends on how much you like peppermint).

You can assemble this before you go or once you get there.

 

[scheddj]

I had forgotten about lemon bars. Those are my fave. I also like the punchbowl cake idea. I could bake the cake a couple of days before and just assemble right before we left.

Oh, and there are 24 people attending.

 

[merekc]

Do you have a trifle Bowl or a clear mixing bowl - a layered dessert always looks impressive and is very easy.

Bake a cake or brownies. Mix a box of pudding(your chioce of flavor), and pick up a couple cartons of berries and get a carton of cool whip.

Cut up the cake and place a layer (about 1/3 of it) in the bottom of the trifle bowl followed by a layer of the pudding, then some fruit anf finally the cool whip. Repeat this two or three times (your choice) and end with the cool whip. Save some fruit for the garnish on top.

At Christmas time I make this with brownies or chocolate cake and instead of fruit I use crushed candy cane (how much you use depends on how much you like peppermint).

You can assemble this before you go or once you get there.

I had thought of a triffle also since it is my go to dessert recipe, but wasn't for sure how well it would travel for 2 hours. Maybe if you could safely prop it up in the trunk it would help it stay cool or layer it when you arrive. I layer brownie, chocolate pudding, cool whip and toffee chips. It is ALWAYS a hit.

 

[squirrel]

How about fresh fruit and a yogurt & Cool Whip dip. Bring the Cool Whip frozen and pack it in a cooler with the yogurt to keep it cool while you drive.

You can use canned pineapple if you want, apples, bananas, grapes, strawberries, etc.

 

[wsblank2000]

Oreo Cookie Cake

Ingredients:
1 (20 oz) package oreos (sometimes I use 16-18 oz depending on what the store has)
1/2 c butter (I use a little less)
1 (16 oz) container cool whip, thawed
2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese
1 c confectioner's sugar
2 c milk
1 (3.5 oz) package instant vanilla pudding

Directions:
1. Crush cookies into bite size pieces. Reserve 1 cup for top. Melt butter and mix with rest of cookies. Press into a 9x13 pan. Put in freezer for 5 minutes.
2. Blend 1/2 of whipped topping, all the cream cheese and sugar. Spread over crust and place cake back into the freezer.
3. Prepare pudding with the milk according to package instructions and then spread over top of cake.
4. Spread remaining whipped topping on top of pudding and then sprinkle with remaining cookies.

Keep cake refrigerated.

 

[ktlm]

Everyone at work goes nuts over a co-worker's cherry cheesecake. She let me in on her little secret. She used to make pies from scratch to bring to work, but the last time she spent a lot of time doing that no one ate it. Her famous cherry cheesecake that everyone raves over and that gets eaten very quickly includes 1) a graham cracker crust; 2) a tub of Kraft cheesecake filling (found next to the cream cheese in most grocery stores); and 3) a can of cherry pie filling. You unwrap the crust, dump in the cheesecake filling and spread it out; and pour the can of cherries over it. It takes less than 5 minutes. I "made" it for Thanksgiving, and I'm "making" it again this week. I always bring the pies, and we just put them in a little ice chest for long drives. Seems to work fine. If it would not be "frowned" upon the way you are making it, you can also bring the 3 pieces and put it together wherever you are in about 2 minutes.

 

[shortbun]

I saw a woman on TV take a chocolate muffin(premade), top it and hollow it then fill it with cherry pie filling. She made a holder out of aluminum foil, put a ring of redi-whip around the edge and used some very llight green sugar to dust the ring-voila, a wreath. She used fruit leather to make the bow by cutting it into thin strips and treating it like ribbon. Nice desert. A lot of it could be assembled on site.

 

[shortbun]

Everyone at work goes nuts over a co-worker's cherry cheesecake. She let me in on her little secret. She used to make pies from scratch to bring to work, but the last time she spent a lot of time doing that no one ate it. Her famous cherry cheesecake that everyone raves over and that gets eaten very quickly includes 1) a graham cracker crust; 2) a tub of Kraft cheesecake filling (found next to the cream cheese in most grocery stores); and 3) a can of cherry pie filling. You unwrap the crust, dump in the cheesecake filling and spread it out; and pour the can of cherries over it. It takes less than 5 minutes. I "made" it for Thanksgiving, and I'm "making" it again this week. I always bring the pies, and we just put them in a little ice chest for long drives. Seems to work fine. If it would not be "frowned" upon the way you are making it, you can also bring the 3 pieces and put it together wherever you are in about 2 minutes.

I might just make this. My kind of baking!!!!

 

[IDoDis]

This recipe is super easy and really good!


Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding

* 2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
* 6 to 8 bananas, sliced
* 2 cups milk
* 1 (5-ounce) box instant French vanilla pudding
* 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
* 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
* 1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream

Directions

Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top.

In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve. If you put lots of foil around it and maybe some gallon-sized ziplog bags of ice inside a box, it should be fine for your 2 hour drive.


Google the title and and then look at Google images so you can see what it looks like.

 

[Minnie]

Everyone at work goes nuts over a co-worker's cherry cheesecake. She let me in on her little secret. She used to make pies from scratch to bring to work, but the last time she spent a lot of time doing that no one ate it. Her famous cherry cheesecake that everyone raves over and that gets eaten very quickly includes 1) a graham cracker crust; 2) a tub of Kraft cheesecake filling (found next to the cream cheese in most grocery stores); and 3) a can of cherry pie filling. You unwrap the crust, dump in the cheesecake filling and spread it out; and pour the can of cherries over it. It takes less than 5 minutes. I "made" it for Thanksgiving, and I'm "making" it again this week. I always bring the pies, and we just put them in a little ice chest for long drives. Seems to work fine. If it would not be "frowned" upon the way you are making it, you can also bring the 3 pieces and put it together wherever you are in about 2 minutes.

What a great idea and a "homemade treat"

Next work event I'm "making" this

 

[momxx5]

I often make brownies in a mini-muffin pan. They are really good.....moist and creamy, and most importantly....bite size. No need to cut them.

A little tip....when making cookies, brownies, etc a head of time and you are worried about them getting hard or crispy, simply put into a sealed container, even a baggie along with a piece of fresh bread. The moisture of the bread transfers to cookies and do not change taste at all.
This is an age old tip that we have used since I was a kid and my mom used to make over 12 kinds of cookies for the holidays.

 

[WDWjen]

I just recently watched Giada make these on Food Network...but I do it semi-homemade! You just need a mini muffin pan, store bought pie dough and apple pie filling..

Take store bought pie dough (I used pillsbury rolled up in a box) and roll out on counter, sprinkle on some flour. Then use a round cookie cutter to cut out mini circles. (size and # of circles depending on your mini muffin pan). You could even use a shot glass and turn upside down to cut out circles.

Place 1 circle in each mini muffin pan spot and spoon in apple pie filling (you can make your own but I used a 1/2 jar from trader joes) and then use another circle to top the mini pie. Giada then brushed an egg wash (to make the crust turn golden brown) and use a fork to crimp the edges of each mini pie. Make one small slit in top of pie to vent steam.

These were such a big hit at my last party b/c they are bite size! No need for plate and fork and they travel so easily (you can keep them in the mini muffin pan if you wanted) My husband suggested using redi-whip and dotting the top of each one but I think they were great on their own.

 

[bellarella]

I might do a bunch of finger desserts.

Oreo balls (you can get fancy with how you dip them).

Bite size brownies (Costco's Ghiradelli Brownie Mix is awesome, I make them in mini muffin tins and top with heath bar, crushed candy cane, york peppermint patties, etc.)

Pinwheels (pie crust cut in squares, a bit of cherry pie filling in the middle and then you cut the dough diagonally from the corner and have every other section folded to middle)

Cookies assortment.

I also might make a bread pudding. Emrile has a great one on Food Network that I've modified over the years.

A rich chocolate bundt cake could be nice too -- make a berry compote to go with it and top with whipped cream and it becomes a pretty fancy dessert.

Good luck!

 

[scheddj]

Everyone at work goes nuts over a co-worker's cherry cheesecake. She let me in on her little secret. She used to make pies from scratch to bring to work, but the last time she spent a lot of time doing that no one ate it. Her famous cherry cheesecake that everyone raves over and that gets eaten very quickly includes 1) a graham cracker crust; 2) a tub of Kraft cheesecake filling (found next to the cream cheese in most grocery stores); and 3) a can of cherry pie filling. You unwrap the crust, dump in the cheesecake filling and spread it out; and pour the can of cherries over it. It takes less than 5 minutes. I "made" it for Thanksgiving, and I'm "making" it again this week. I always bring the pies, and we just put them in a little ice chest for long drives. Seems to work fine. If it would not be "frowned" upon the way you are making it, you can also bring the 3 pieces and put it together wherever you are in about 2 minutes.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner. I didn't know this pre-made filling existed. I just went to the grocery store and picked it up. While the filled crust is chilling, we're all sitting around eating the leftover filling. This stuff is awesome.

 

[merekc]

I just told my Dsis about the cheesecake this morning after reading this thread. She also went out to buy (I mean make) it for Christmas with her DILs. Thanks ktlm! I think you made everyone's day.

 

[unlimiteddisney]

peanutbutter pie.
This takes 10 min maybe 15. It is super easy and delicious!
Oreo cookie crust pre-made in baking isle
French vanilla instant pudding 4 oz
1 cup milk
hot fudge sauce not syrup
3-4 tbs of peanut butter creamy
tub of coolwhip


Spread hot fudge covering sides and bottom of pie shell. You may need to heat it a little. Use as much or as little as you want.
In a sperate bowl mix pudding mix and 1 cup cold milk with a whisk. Add peanut butter and use electric mixer till well blended and creamy.
Fill pie shell and top with cool whip. Sprinkle oreo crumbs on top or other candy if you wish. Refrigerate


Strawberry yogurt pie

This can be frozen for a couple days. Serve semi thawed

Oreo or grahm cracker crust shell pre-made.
Conatiner of columbo or other creamy no fruit on bottom strawberry yogurt.
tub of cool whip

Mix the cool whip and yogurt together with spoon. Fill shell and refrigerate.