By Staff
The countdown is just about down to zero since Thursday is Thanksgiving. I hope that you have everything in order for the big feast on your table.
If you have everything except dessert figured out, I have some last-minute, quick recipes for some luscious desserts. These recipes sound quite tasty and everyone will think you slaved for hours to make them appear on the dessert table at your home.
I promised some quick and easy dessert recipes to finish off the feast. I hope that you find one or two here that will meet those requirements and get a few gasps of delight from your holiday guests.
This first recipe combines the wonderful flavors of cream cheese and cranberries. It's easy and very quick to prepare. Just make sure you do it in time to give it a little setting time in the refrigerator. This is certain to become a favorite.
Cranberry Cheese Pie
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 (9-inch) prepared graham cracker crust
1 (3-ounce) package raspberry flavored gelatin mix
1 cup boiling water
1 (14.5 ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce
1/3 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Beat the cream cheese, margarine, and vanilla extract together in a mixing bowl until smooth and fluffy. Sift in the confectioner's sugar and mix until thoroughly blended. Spread evenly over the bottom of the graham cracker pie crust. Whisk the gelatin and boiling water together in a small bowl until dissolved. Stir in the cranberry sauce and walnuts. Pour over the cream cheese layer in the pie crust. Refrigerate until set, 3 to 4 hours. Serve chilled.
Who could have a holiday meal without a little chocolate at dessert. This next recipe is wonderfully quick and very easy to make. It's even one you could run into the kitchen and prepare while everyone is enjoying the main course.
Quick Candy Bar Pie
1 1/4 cups cold milk
2 (3.9-ounce) packages chocolate vanilla flavored instant pudding
1 (8-ounce) tub whipped topping, thawed, divided
4 (1.5-ounce) bars chocolate candy, cut into 1/4-inch pieces, divided
1 ready-to-use chocolate flavor crumb crust (6 oz. or 9 inch)
Beat milk, pudding mixes and 1/2 of the whipped topping in medium bowl with wire whisk 1 minute. (Mixture will be thick.) Reserve 1/4 cup of the candy bar pieces; stir remaining pieces into pudding mixture. Spoon into crust. Spread remaining whipped topping over pudding mixture; sprinkle with remaining candy pieces. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.
This last recipe is a twist on an apple pie but is similar to an apple cobbler. It comes together almost instantly. It does require 30 minutes in the oven so make sure you are prepared for that baking time.
Apple Crunch
2 (21 ounce) cans apple pie filling
1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour apple pie filling into a 9×13-inch pan. Sprinkle cake mix over apples. Drizzle melted butter on top, stirring slightly to evenly moisten dry cake batter. Bake 30 minutes. Serve hot or cold.
I hope these quicky and easy recipes will help you get those final desserts on tyour table.
Beginning next week, I'll be sharing some other great holiday recipes for the upcoming Christmas season. I plan to include recipes for everything you'll need to get through the party season including appetizers, beverages, main dishes, side dishes, desserts and even some specialty dishes.
If you have someting you'd like to share with the readers of this column, please feel free to send it to me. You can either drop by the office at 407 St. Nicholas Ave., drop in the mail to P.O. Box 887, Brewton, AL 36427, give me a call at 867-4876 or send it by email to lisa.tindell@brewtonstandard.com. Either way, I'll be happy to give you credit for the recipe or tip you share.
Until next week, happy Thanksgiving and happy cooking!