Easy desserts vow to deliver holiday cheer
POSTED: Wednesday, December 10, 2008
We've gathered our favorite dessert recipes that are simple to prepare and guaranteed to spread holiday cheer.
The Festive Fruit Pizza is fun to make with the kids. Let them choose their favorite fruits and place the “;pizza toppings”; on the cookie crust—they'll have even more fun eating their “;pizza slices.”; And what child (or adult) doesn't like Jell-O? This recipe for Gelatin Cream Cheese is sure to get smiles from everyone, because it's truly delicious! For chocolate lovers, brownies are divine, but baked together with a shortbread crust? It might sound odd, but don't knock it till you try it—it's heavenly!
Happy baking and happy holidays!
Festive Fruit Pizza
» Crust:
3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1-1/2 cups flour
» Topping:
1-1/2 blocks (12 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Fruits of your choice
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a mixing bowl, cream butter; mix in brown sugar and flour. Spread in a standard-size pizza pan. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and let cool completely.
Beat cream cheese with sugar and vanilla. Spread over cooled crust, all the way to edges. Refrigerate to cool and allow cream cheese to set.
Slice fruits, patting dry with paper towels (this keeps crust from getting soggy). Place fruits on top of cream cheese topping; chill. Serves 12.
Approximate nutritional analysis, per serving (not including fruit): 20 calories, 21 g total fat, 13 g saturated fat, 6 mg cholesterol, 150 mg sodium, 30 g carbohydrate, 0 g fiber, 7 g sugar, 4 g protein
Gelatin Cream Cheese Dessert
1 package (3 ounces) lemon gelatin
4 cups boiling water
1 package (6 ounces) strawberry gelatin
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup golden brown sugar
1 cup flour
1/2 cup coarsely chopped nuts
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup heavy cream, whippedl
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Dissolve lemon gelatin in 1 cup of boiling water; cool. Dissolve strawberry gelatin in remaining 3 cups boiling water; cool.
In mixing bowl, cream butter with sugar. Gradually stir in flour; add nuts. Spread mixture evenly in a 13-by-9-inch pan. Bake 15 to 18 minutes; cool. Chill 15 minutes.
Beat cream cheese with sugar. Mix in whipped cream. Gently stir in cooled lemon gelatin. Pour onto chilled crust; chill until firm.
Pour cooled strawberry gelatin over firm lemon gelatin mixture; chill until firm. Cut into squares. Serves 18.
Approximate nutritional analysis, per serving: 280 calories, 17 g total fat, 9 g saturated fat, 45 g cholesterol, 120 mg sodium, 30 g carbohydrate, no fiber, 24 g sugar, 4 g protein
Shortbread Brownies
» Crust:
1 cup butter or margarine
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
» Brownie:
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 package (17 to 20 ounces, depending on flavor) brownie mix (Ghirardelli brand preferred)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13-by-9-inch pan.
To make crust: Cut butter into flour and sugar until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gently and evenly pat into prepared pan. Bake 15 minutes; set aside.
To make brownies: Blend water, oil and egg in mixing bowl. Add brownie mix and stir until moistened (about 40 strokes). Spoon over crust and spread evenly. Bake 35 to 50 minutes (baking times vary depending on brownie mix). Cool and cut with plastic knife. Makes 24 bars.
Approximate nutritional analysis, per serving: 250 calories, 13 g total fat, 6 g saturated fat, 30 mg cholesterol, 135 mg sodium, 32 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 17 g sugar, 2 g protein
