Desserts/ Easy to Make or Buy

Basic trifle. Bake a chocolate cake in a 9x13 pan, let cool and cut into 1" squares. Make a batch of vanilla pudding. In a large clear bowl or trifle bowl, make several layers of cake, pudding, sprinkle some chocolate chips, and whip cream. Top w/chips or chocolate shavings and you have a pretty and easy dessert.

You can also get creative with the layers. Everyone's favorite are my red velvet cake, cheesecake pudding, white chocolate chips and whip cream layers!

I have a chocolate pie that is AMAZING and so easy. You will need:

I package of Hershey Bars (I think there are like 6- 8 regular size bars to a package)
1/2 cup of milk
a premade graham cracker pie crust
whip cream (Cool Whip)
10 large marshmallows

Break up all of the candy bars into pieces and put in a bowl with the milk. Cute your marshmallows into 4 pieces each and add to the bowl. Microwave for about a minute and then stir with a whisk, keep heating (gradually) and stirring until all ingredients are melted and combined. Then just pour it into the shell and place in the refrigerator. You need at least 6-8 hours in the refrigerator for it to solidify again, but once it is done pour the whip cream over the rest of the pie and serve. It is soo easy and one of my favorite deserts.. Yum!

Easy gorgeous pineapple uside down cake

Put butter and brown sugar in the bottom of 2 round cake pans and into the oven until it all melts together. Take it out and lay canned pineapple rings in the pans, (reserve the juice) with a marraschino cherry in each one. Make a yellow cake mix, substituting pineapple juice for the water called for. Pour batter into both pans and bake. WHen they come out let them cool 10 minnutes then flip upside down on a cake plate. Makes 2 easy beautiful cakes.

If you decide to make something, these are ridiculously easy and I haven't met anyone yet that doesn't like them:

Mini cherry cheesecakes:

http://www.bakerella.com/super-easy-mini-cherry-cheesecakes/

easy cheese cake.

2 8oz packages of cream cheese
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
mix until smooth and lump free. pour into a ready made graham cracker crust, bake at 350 until the middle is firm to touch, and the top is golden brown.
top with your choice of fruit.

(Can't take credit for this one, it came off the box of philadelphia cream cheese some years ago).

good luck to you,
F. B.

Dirt cake! Adults and children love it and it is so easy to make! And many ways to display it creatively or just simply.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Dirt-Cake-I/

Google lemon poppyseed bundt cake. It's a classic, very spring-like and easy to make because the base is a cake mix. I just saw the recipe in a local paper this morning. PM me if you want it and can't find it online.

As for ease, I'm going one step farther. I am trying a new recipe for a lime olive oil cake, but if it doesn't turn out I'm going to have angel food, strawberries and whipped cream as a back-up.

Strawberry short cake.
Depending on how many people.

Purchase a Angel food cake

2 cartons of strawberries sliced
Mix with 1 Tablespoon of sugar, This will make a syrup with the strawberries.

Place a slice of cake on a plate, top with strawberries add whipped cream

Sometimes we add chocolate sauce!

Whipped Cream.. for topping

Its always more impressive if you can make something easy instead of buying it. =)

Chocolate Cheesecake Bars


An easy WOW from a Crescent Cook: Dreamy, creamy cheesecake filling is sandwiched between flaky Crescent layers in a surprisingly easy dessert bar.

Prep Time: 10 Min
Total Time: 1 Hr 30 Min
Makes: 18 bars

INGREDIENTS:
1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
2 packages (3 oz each) cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup caramel topping

DIRECTIONS:
• Unroll dough into 2 long rectangles. Press 1 rectangle in bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of greased or sprayed 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish; press perforations to seal.
• In small bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add egg; beat on low speed just until mixed. Fold in chocolate chips; spread over crust. Top with remaining rectangle of dough. Press out to edges of dish; pinch edges to seal with bottom crust. Drizzle with caramel topping.
• Bake at 375°F 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 hour on cooling rack. Cut into 3 rows by 3 rows to make 9 bars. Cut each bar diagonally into 2 triangles. Store covered in refrigerator.

bunny cake
get 2 boxes of any kind of cake mix u want.. make 2 round cakes.. once they cool off a bit take one of them and cut it into 2 ears.. its hard to explain without showing someone but when u cut the cake the middle piece that comes out from between the two ears u use as a bow tie for the bunny .. ice them with any kind of white iceing and use the gel decorating stuff to draw on the face, little center parts of the ears and i do polkadots on the bow tie.. when my mom makes it she puts shredded coconut to make it look like fur.. i dont tho im not a big fan of coconut

Brownie sundaes. Set out like a mini-buffet, each person makes their own to taste:
Brownies from the store bakery
Vanilla ice cream plus other flavors if you like
chocolate and caramel sauces
canned whipped cream
fruit: bananas, berries or canned cherries
chopped nuts
chunks of cookies and chopped up candy bars
marshmallows or marshmallow creme
candy sprinkles

Easy to pick up the ingredients at the grocery store. No prep ahead. Little prep necessary at the gathering. Just make sure the host has room in the freezer for the ice cream. Great for sweet tooths, my kids love it when I do the sundae bar.

Pudding pie. Easiest thing in the world and everyone I know LOVES it!

Premade graham cracker crust
box of instant pudding
milk
Cool Whip

Make the pudding as directed on the box. Pour into the crust and refridgerate until set. Spread Cool Whip on top.
Done. It's very spring like, easy to make, and you can try all kinds of combinations with different flavors of pudding, chocolate graham cracker crusts, etc.

Another easy family favorite is lemonade cake. Very spring like.

Lemon cake mix
lemon instant pudding
1/4 cup lemon juice

Make cakebatter according to package directions. Add pudding mix and lemon juice. Bake as directed. Let cool for 15 minutes.

Glaze:
1 cup confectioner's sugar
3TBSP whole milk
1 TBSP lemon juice (I use a fresh squeezed lemon)

Whisk until smooth and drizzle over warm cake.

These are my family's two favorite spring/ summer type desserts. And they are both super easy.
Happy Easter!

I have a super easy cheesecake recipe that my mom got from a co-worker of hers named Linda about 40 years ago. Although we have all tried many recipes, we have never found a better or easier one. I don't care if you're terrible at desserts, this one is foolproof if you follow the directions. Here it is:

Linda's New York Style Cheesecake

Crust:
1 C crushed graham crackers
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter, softened
10" springform pan

1) preheat oven to 350*
2) Combine crackers, cinnamon, and butter, and mix well. Flatten into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 12 minutes and then cool.
3) Turn oven to 325*

Filling:
2 lbs cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 C sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup whipping cream
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp lemon juice

1) Use your KitchenAid mixer with paddle attachment. Whip cream cheese to soften.
2) Add sugar gradually and whip until mixed thoroughly. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly with each addition.
3) Lower mixing speed, and add vanilla, whipping cream, and sour cream. Add lemon juice, and mix well.
4) Carefully spoon filling over graham crust in spring form pan.
5) Bake at 325* for 1 hour 15 minutes. Turn off the oven and prop the door open 2-3 inches for 1 hour. (DO NOT REMOVE THE CHEESECAKE FROM THE OVEN - this is what keeps the cheesecake from cracking on top.)
6) Remove from the oven and cool at room temperature for 2 hours before removing the sides of the springform pan. Refrigerate.
7) Serve with fresh berries, raspberry sauce, or chocolate sauce.

For Easter, I make chocolate dipped coconut macaroons.
The recipe is on the back of the Bakers brand coconut.
Super easy and delicious!