Simplify Your Holiday Desserts

When you've got company over and have an entire meal to concentrate on, what you're going to serve for dessert is usually the last thing on your mind. Instead of ditching your guests after your meal to start slaving away on a fancy dessert, why not keep it simple and easy?

Dessert recipes can sometimes sound overwhelming, but yummy desserts don't need to be difficult, complicated or time-consuming. The following dessert options are great for busy holiday dinners when you want something with minimal hands-on time that can be on the table fast:

 

Pudding

It doesn't get much simpler or tastier than a good pudding recipe. Dress up a mix recipe with whipped topping and fruit, and serve in individual cups for a fancier display. Making pudding from scratch is easy too; most recipes don't take very much time at all and call for basic ingredients you probably already have on hand.

 

Pie

Making a pie might sound like a big deal, but there are a couple ways to make it one of the easiest desserts around. Buying a frozen pie crust and simply making a fruity or chocolate filling before you pop it in the oven will save you a lot of time and energy. Another easy way to serve pie for dessert is to heat up an individual frozen pie for each guest and let them top it with whatever they want: ice cream, hot fudge and fruit are all decadent pie topping options.

 

Cookies

Cookies are a staple of every holiday party and are already pretty simple, but there's a way for you to make them even less labor-intensive when you're entertaining! A great timesaving technique is to pre-make cookie dough the day or two before your guests arrive. Store the dough in the refrigerator, and simply drop the dough on a cookie sheet when it's time for dessert; no guest is going to turn down gooey cookies hot and fresh from the oven!

 

Bread Pudding

Another type of pudding that's especially relevant during the holidays is bread pudding, and lucky for chefs everywhere, it can be incredibly simple to make. Bread pudding is essentially baked French toast, so all you really need to do is layer your bread pieces in a pan, coat with a buttery and cinnamon-y egg wash and bake until it's warm and golden brown. Add raisins or dried cranberries for a little extra sweetness—plus, they're festive.

 

So the next time you're entertaining this holiday season, allow yourself to enjoy your company instead of keeping yourself cooped up in the kitchen. Happy (easy) baking!

 

 

Author Bio: This is a guest post by Meredith K. on behalf of Marie Callender's®. For dessert pies perfect for entertaining this holiday, visit www.mariecallendersmeals.com.