I love having things on hand that I can whip up for grand-kids, unexpected company, or a surprise treat for my husband. That’s the good news. The bad news is I don’t want to have to be in the kitchen all day to do it.
Knowing that our DVO readers may feel the same way, I looked up some great quick and easy desserts that can be done in minutes. Let me know what you think — or send a recipe of your own and I’ll put it in the next newsletter!
Minute Apple Tart
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
2 Granny Smith apples or two peaches, peeled, cored and sliced paper thin
1/2 cup apricot jam or preserves
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pistachios
Roll pastry onto a well floured surface into a 12" x 12" rectangle and cut into nine 3" squares. Prick the pastry with a fork and coat each with a spoonful of apricot jam. Fan the apple slices over the jam, arranged nicely.
In small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon and mix well. Sprinkle over apple (or peach) slices. Put the tarts on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, until the apple slices are crisp-tender and the pastry is golden brown. Sprinkle with pistachios. Try serving these hot, with vanilla ice cream!
Download this recipe.
Caramel Crisp Marshmellows
24 large marshmallows
1 cup thick caramel ice cream topping
2-3 cups rice krispies cereal
Pierce each marshmallow with a toothpick. Holding the marshmallows by the toothpick, spoon ice cream topping over each, then roll in the cereal to coat. Set on waxed paper and refrigerate to set. Makes 24
This recipe will work fine with any generic frosting mix. I changed the recipe to use a graham cracker crust so there's no baking needed. For the original version using a sugar cookie crust, see Rocky Road Bars. The dry frosting mix is made by Jiffy.
Download this recipe.
No Bake Rocky Road Bars
Prep Time: 15 minutes
15 chocolate cream sandwich cookies, crushed
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup butter
1 15-ounce package or 2 7-ounce packages DRY milk chocolate frosting mix
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
Combine cookie crumbs and 1/3 cup melted butter in a small bowl. Press into bottom of a 9" square pan. Set aside while preparing filling.
In heavy saucepan, combine 1/4 cup butter and water and heat to boiling. Add the dry frosting mix (Jiffy brand is best - be sure the boxes add up to about 15 ounces) and blend well.
Remove from heat and let cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Stir in marshmallows, pecans, and chocolate chips and spoon onto the cookie crust.
Cool completely and cut into pieces to serve.
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