Easy desserts for Christmas??

[mollyanna58]

Any suggestions? Anything with chocolate would be a bonus.

Thanks!

[emma1420]

If homemade then I'd try millionaire shortbread, it is a very simple (it's like a giant twix).  I also think homemade fudge is very easy.

[Tennesseer]

Define 'easy'.  Easy could be Oreo cookies.

[thyme4change]

www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/mint-chocolate-brownies/94e8ac3c-41c4-45e1-843b-fcf043646c49
Classic mint brownies.  Make ahead, and everyone loves brownies.  You could do half with the mint and half just regular.  I serve cupcakes on Christmas eve - apparently not very "Christmas-y" but you know what, no one seems to complain.

[ArchietheDragon]

Dec 22, 2014 9:18:33 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/mint-chocolate-brownies/94e8ac3c-41c4-45e1-843b-fcf043646c49
Classic mint brownies.  Make ahead, and everyone loves brownies.  You could do half with the mint and half just regular.  I serve cupcakes on Christmas eve - apparently not very "Christmas-y" but you know what, no one seems to complain.

I bet your mother doesn't approve. 

[Tennesseer]

This is not hard to make and just a couple of steps and ingredients.  The 'hardest' part is the constant stiring until the right texture.  I have made it before and am making it for Christmas dinner.  Chock full of chocolate.

Double Chocolate Pie

[swamp]

Make whatever kind of brownies you want.

While they are baking, make some instant pudding (I prefer chocolate, but whatever you want).

When they are done and still warm, drag a fork across the pan of brownies and poke holes in them.

Pour the pudding over the warm brownies.

Put in fridge to chill.

Just before you serve, top with whipped cream.

[The Captain]

Triffle (if you have the bowl for it).

It looks fantastic and you can do so many variations.

www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/chocolate-trifle

I have four round cake pans so I use a box of chocolate cake mix and divide it among the four pans.  Then you knock about 5-10 minutes off the cooking time since the layers are thinner.

You can substitute kahula for the coffee if you'd like to make an adult version.

Don't even bother to crumble the cake, just trim the layers to fit in the bowl..

Layer:
Cake, pudding cool whip.  Repeat, Repeat, Repeat - top with heath bar crumbles.

AND it doesn't matter if you mess up the cake and tear the layers - no one will ever know.

[thyme4change]

Or do a bunch of Christmas cookies.  Everyone loves a christmas cookie. You can use the cookie mix to make sugar cookies (if you don't feel like making your own) and get a tree shaped cookie cutter.  Buy some cake icing, couple of drops of green food coloring and some sprinkles.

I learned the trick to making great rolled out sugar cookies.  Take 2 #2 pencils that are not sharpened and put them on either side of the dough.  Then when you roll the dough out it will be thick and perfectly even.  It cooks even and you don't have those sad paper thin cookies.  If you don't have a rolling pin, use a wine bottle that has straight sides.  Put it in the fridge before using it to roll out the dough.  You can use store bought dough and this technique will still help make a good cookie.

This year I made this recipe, and holy cow are they good.  I used store bought icing and used a biscuit cutter to make just round cookies.  They got rave reviews.

bakerbettie.com/sour-cream-sugar-cookies/



½ cup unsalted butter
⅓ cup vegetable shortening
2¾ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
⅓ cup full fat sour cream
1½ teaspoons baking powder
Juice of 1 lemon


In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter and shortening about 30 seconds or until softened.
Add sugar, egg, sour cream, baking powder, and lemon juice and mix until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
With the mixer on low, slowly add the flour. Scrape sides as needed.
Divide dough in half. Cover and chill for 2 to 3 hours or until easy to handle.
Preheat oven to 375.
Roll dough on lightly floured surface to ⅛ inch thick.
Cut with desired cookie cutter, dipped in flour to prevent sticking.
Place on parchment or foil lined baking sheet.
Bake at 375 degrees for 5 to 6 minutes or until edges are firm and very lightly browned (these will not turn golden, they should still be white in color)
Slide parchment paper with cookies attached onto counter top to cool for 5 minutes.
Remove to wire rack to cool completely before icing.

[thyme4change]

Dec 22, 2014 9:19:35 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

Dec 22, 2014 9:18:33 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/mint-chocolate-brownies/94e8ac3c-41c4-45e1-843b-fcf043646c49
Classic mint brownies.  Make ahead, and everyone loves brownies.  You could do half with the mint and half just regular.  I serve cupcakes on Christmas eve - apparently not very "Christmas-y" but you know what, no one seems to complain.

I bet your mother doesn't approve. 

Of course she doesn't.  Why would she pick that one thing that I do to approve of?  It would throw off our entire relationship!

[swamp]

Dec 22, 2014 9:28:54 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Dec 22, 2014 9:19:35 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

I bet your mother doesn't approve. 

Of course she doesn't.  Why would she pick that one thing that I do to approve of?  It would throw off our entire relationship!

does she at least approve of your husband? He's cute and has a good job.

[thyme4change]

Hard to tell.  She seems to tolerate him as well as the rest of us.

He, however, has noted many times that she is the first mother of all the gals he dated that didn't swoon over him.  I had to assure him that she doesn't swoon.  Period.

[gooddecisions]

Watching the today show reminded me how easy buckeyes are to make and you probably have everything you need:

Peanut butter
Butter
vanilla
chocolate chips
sugar

allrecipes.com/recipe/buckeyes-i/

[mollyanna58]

@wxyz, I had passed that one on to someone who makes pecan pie when you posted it before Thanksgiving. 


Thanks for all the ideas and recipes. 

[Tiny]

Apply some homemade frosting to a baked box mix cake/cupcakes (Spice Cake, Carrot Cake, Pumpkin Cake mix) or any kind of plain purchased cake/dessert: cinnamon rolls, apple spice cake, brownies.


CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups confectioners' sugar (add more if you want a thicker consistency)

ADD ONE of the following:

1 tablespoon pure maple syrup - Do NOT use flavored maple syrup (ie any sort of maple flavored corn syrup)

OR
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

OR
2 tablespoons Brown Sugar (can add another tablespoon to taste)

Maybe 1/2 a cup of Chopped Walnuts or Pecans to add to the top of whatever you frosted.

MAKE THE FROSTING:

Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth (by hand or with an electric mixer).
Add the option ingredient, vanilla, and confectioners' sugar; continue beating until well combined and smooth.

Frost your baked good - and top with nuts (if you want).

[Tiny]

You can purchase a 'bucket' or 'tub' of frozen Filled Cream Puffs. (I see them at Aldi's and I know my SIL's buy them at Sam's/Costco). Buy a bottle of Hersey' Chocolate Syrup -- actually any sort of 'chocolate syrup' that you'd use on icecream will work. I've seen high end chocolate syrup flavors in jelly jars. You can probably find some 'chocoate glaze' or frostings on-line. I'd go with the type of frosting that would go on a Boston Cream Pie.

Thaw the Cream Puffs. Dip them or drizzle them with the chocolate syrup/frosting.   Maybe add some Christmas sprinkles? or Sugar to them?   Arrange them nicely in a single layer on a platter.   

And you are done.

[ArchietheDragon]

My kids think I am the most awesome when I serve this for dessert. 

[Deleted]

This year I'm picking up 3 lbs. of Christmas cookies at the Italian bakery.  I vow not to be so lazy next year (another New Years resolution)

[giramomma]

Dec 22, 2014 10:59:58 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

My kids think I am the most awesome when I serve this for dessert. 

I make banana bread with chocolate chips and let the kids eat that for breakfast, particularly on rough mornings.

It's gotten so, now when they hear the chocolate chip bag krinkle, the first thing they say is "banana bread?" and the second is "can I have some chips?"

[mollyanna58]

Dec 22, 2014 10:59:58 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

My kids think I am the most awesome when I serve this for dessert. 

Easy AND chocolate - just what I asked for. 

[giramomma]

I go with bundt cakes
www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Sour-Cream-Maple-Cake-with-Lemon-Glaze-107332

www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chocolate-Whiskey-Bundt-Cake-232636

[happyhoix]

Get some of that melting chocolate at the grocery store - they sell it with the chocolate chips.

Stick that in the microwave to melt (do this in the tray it came in), then coat whatever you feel like coating.

I've used Oreos before, and also you can put peanut butter between two ritz crackers and dunk the whole thing in chocolate.

Or in salted peanuts or cashews (or any kind of nuts) and drop them by teaspoons onto waxed paper.

The chocolate melts within minutes, then sets back up again within about 10 minutes, so they're very quick to make.

Our store has white chocolate and milk chocolate. Very addictive though.

[Peace Of Mind]

Dec 22, 2014 8:57:24 GMT -5 mollyanna58 said:

Any suggestions? Anything with chocolate would be a bonus.

Thanks!

Do you have a Publix near you?  Drive to store.  Buy this Chocolate Ganache Cake for about $20: 

[Chocolate Lover]

Dec 22, 2014 9:25:50 GMT -5 The Captain said:

Triffle (if you have the bowl for it).

It looks fantastic and you can do so many variations.

www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/chocolate-trifle

I have four round cake pans so I use a box of chocolate cake mix and divide it among the four pans.  Then you knock about 5-10 minutes off the cooking time since the layers are thinner.

You can substitute kahula for the coffee if you'd like to make an adult version.

Don't even bother to crumble the cake, just trim the layers to fit in the bowl..

Layer:
Cake, pudding cool whip.  Repeat, Repeat, Repeat - top with heath bar crumbles.

AND it doesn't matter if you mess up the cake and tear the layers - no one will ever know.

I do that with brownies, makes it less important if they over or undercooked.  

[Chocolate Lover]

Bake whatever kind of brownies you want, cook them. Take them out of the oven, put mini marshmallows on top and put back in the oven for 5 minutes. Melt chocolate chips and pour on top. Share if you feel like it.

ETA: WATCH the marshmallows, the 5 minutes is a guideline, they'll brown nicely then burn to a crisp. And they puff up while they're in there which is kind of amusing.

[kittensaver]

I second Anne81's suggestion:

An angel food cake

a pound cake

a quart (or two) of ice cream

an assortment of toppings (chocolate sauce, fresh berries, caramel sauce, nuts, holiday sprinkles, etc)

whipped cream or whipped topping

All store-bought. Everyone can customize their dessert the way they want

[MarleyKeezy78]

My aunt makes tons of different cookies every Christmas so I just stock up on Christmas eve   Easy peasy    I can't bake sweets to save my life, but I can make a mean homemade chicken pot pie!

[quince]

I'm making cookies: I have four batches of dough in the freezer, but a refrigerator cake would be easy:  Graham crackers/whipped cream/pudding in layers.  I made this one:
www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-a-no-bake-icebox-cake-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-202104

It was very eatable.

[Spellbound454]

Chocolate pudding............Just put it in the microwave for 30 seconds and cover with custard........voila

[Ombud]

Crap. I have to do this for the last night of Hannukah :

Brownie mix. Drizzle melted caramel over top. Sprinkle with flaked sea salt (learned it at Williams Sonoma)

Pumpkin bars (Betty Crocker mix). Cream cheese frosting

Sugar cookies (mix) shot out of cookie gun. 1 small pouch will make plenty.

Tag me if you know a Vegan eggnog recipe. yeah. I know. Oxymoron