Need Quick & Easy (and Yummy!) Dessert Help!

[MISSINDI]

Having company over for dinner tomorrow night. Since I'm at the office all day tomorrow, I'm trying to keep it quick and easy, but still delicious. I'm making Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil salad as a starter, and then Lemon Spaghetti. Just need a dessert. Any ideas? It's a very chocolate crowd, so that's a preference, but open to other ideas. I've made them Chocolate Decadence before, and that was a big hit. Help!

[Sami]

how about baking a batch of brownies in the morning. If you have any fruit in the house, you can cut it up and serve it with the brownies.

Sami

[eas11]

Do you have to cook something?????
It's going to be hot hot hot tomorrow. I suggest a stop on the way home at your favorite ice cream place and getting a selection of flavors!!!

[SweetTooth]

What about this? I have never made it, but I know it got rave reviews. I have a friend that uses chocolate icing for the top layer. It would have different nutritional values, but would be quicker. :o)

Good luck!



Chocolate-Eclair Icebox Dessert

A fabulous iced topping gives this chilled graham cracker, cream-filled pastry its uniqueness.


INGREDIENTS:
22-1/2 sheets (about 1 [14-ounce] box) low-fat honey graham crackers, divided
Cooking spray
3 cups fat-free milk
2 (3.4-ounce) packages fat-free vanilla instant pudding mix
1 (8-ounce) tub fat-free cream cheese
1 (8-ounce) tub frozen reduced-calorie whipped topping, thawed
1/4 cup fat-free milk
2 tablespoons stick margarine or butter, softened
2 tablespoons honey
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
1-1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar


INSTRUCTIONS:
Estimated Total Time: 45 minutes
Arrange 7-1/2 graham cracker sheets in the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Combine 3 cups milk, pudding mix, and cream cheese in a large bowl, and beat at low speed of a mixer 1 minute or until thick. Fold in whipped topping. Spread half of the pudding mixture over graham crackers, and top with 7-1/2 graham cracker sheets. Repeat the procedure with the remaining half of pudding mixture and 7-1/2 graham cracker sheets.

Combine 1/4 cup milk, softened margarine, honey, and unsweetened chocolate in a medium bowl, and beat well with a mixer. Gradually add powdered sugar to milk mixture, and beat well. Spread chocolate glaze over graham crackers. Cover dessert and tent with foil; chill 4 hours.

[Gecko]

If it is going to be really hot - how about make your own sundae's? You could make a chocolate fudge sauce (or buy one), buy some premium ice cream, cut up some fruit and let everyone help themselves.

[MISSINDI]

OK, can't do brownies since don't have much time in the morning, but if I have no inspiration before I get home, then I might just succumb to a Ghiradelli brownie mix I have at home and make Brownie Sundaes.

Don't want to do just plain sundaes ... it's such a good idea, I've done it with them before. ;)

Printed out the Icebox Dessert - looks delicious, but won't work for tonight with the 4 hour chill time.

[misskitty100]

What about Chocolate Dipped Strawberries? Could melt some chocolate real fast in the microwave, dip the berries & pop them in the fridge. I would probably make 3-4 per person.

[staceye]

What about nutella crepes using ready made crepes from the grocery store? Spread with a good glob of nutella, fold it up, nuke it for a minute to make it all melty, then top with a few fresh berries and some powdered sugar.

That's my favorite chocolate dessert-in-a-hurry.

[DmOrtega]

I was looking through old issues of Everday Food and came across a sundae made with a scoop of chocolate ice cream and a half scoop of marshmallow creme. Topped with hot fudge sauce and broken pieces of graham crackers. How about putting out different toppings, so people can personalized their own sundae?

[Celadon]

I think Bananas Foster is a great quick dessert. You make it after dinner and serve immediately; guests are always wowed by it.

[jabelt]

Originally posted by staceye
What about nutella crepes using ready made crepes from the grocery store?

Speaking of Nutella, it also makes a great fondue. No other ingredients required, just the regular fruits and cakes to dip.

[MISSINDI]

Originally posted by jabelt


Speaking of Nutella, it also makes a great fondue. No other ingredients required, just the regular fruits and cakes to dip.

Julie - as a Nutella lover, that's news to me! Does it melt pretty quickly? This might be just what I need for tonight, especially with one of the other guests being a Nutella fan as well.

DH is at the grocery store now with my list ... crepes sound like a good idea too, but I know he's going to have a hard enough time finding Nutella. ;)

[Jen]

I've made the Died and Went to Heaven Chocolate Cake for events like this...it's so fast to put together, and it uses stuff you probably have in your cupboard. Plus is it really delicious!! You could serve with some fresh berries and/or sorbet.

[dcollier]

This isn't chocolate, but it's wonderful. Very good, very refreshing on a hot day, and extremely easy. I've made it dozens of times when I was short on time but wanted something delicious. Everyone loves it. I layer it in stemware: one scoop of Bluebell Light Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream, a couple of spoonsfuls of lemon curd, topped by crushed ginger snaps. Then repeat once. Super easy, and amazingly delicious.

Denise

[jabelt]

Originally posted by MISSINDI


Julie - as a Nutella lover, that's news to me! Does it melt pretty quickly?

;)

If my memory serves me correctly (about a 50/50 chance), it does melt fairly quickly. A friend of mine had us over about 6 years ago and did it. I think the texture helps. You could always nuke it on low temp for a few minutes to give it a headstart.

[rosie_one]

Take a croissant, slice in half lengthwise, fill with ice cream. Close the croissant, top with sundae sauce and toppings.

Our favorite is vanilla bean ice cream topped with stovetop caramel sauce and sliced toasted almonds. Yum. Ooo... might have to have this for dessert tonight too. You could easily do a chocolate variation.

Amaretto Caramel Sauce. In a 1- to 2-quart pan over low heat, stir 1 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Increase heat to high and boil, without stirring, until the mixture is amber colored, about 8 minutes; remove pan from heat. Meanwhile, in a 1- to 2-quart pan over medium-high heat, heat 1/3 cup whipping cream not quite to a boil. Off the heat, carefully add hot cream and 1/4 cup amaretto or other almond-flavored liqueur or 1 tablespoon almond extract to the caramelized sugar; stir until blended (the mixture will bubble up). Serve warm. Makes about 1 cup.