Desserts for Dummies

I’m confessing that I am dumb when it comes to dessert. Oh, I’m real smart about how to eat it, but baking it, not so much. I’m the girl that when I have to bring the dessert to the potluck brings a pint of Graeter’s ice cream or some popsicles.

I’m hosting a little skirt party here and my ladies like their treats. So, I assembled my crackerjack team of child laborers (a.k.a. my children and a friend) to help me get my treats ready. These involve NO BAKING — I will admit to a heating up, but not to an actual bake.

Here are three easy desserts for you to put in your arsenal.  As stated previously, my children assembled these so you can too.

(And….drumroll please, they are all adapted or inspired by recipes off Pinterest. So see, all those hours I’m logging on that site are paying off.  To follow my boards, click here.)

Chocolate Pretzel Bites

1 bag square (grid-looking) pretzels

1 bag Hershey’s HUGS–these are the white chocolate/milk chocolate kisses. You can use any Kisses.

1 bag M&M’s. I used plain and peanut butter.

 

Pre-heat oven to 250 degrees. Place pretzels topped with Hershey’s Kiss on top, filling two baking sheets worth.

 

Heat this for 2.5 minutes.  (yes, only 2 and 1/2 minutes).  Remove from oven and place a M&M on the top immediately.

Let cool in refrigerator about 30 minutes.  Serve or cover and keep in refrigerator.

Oreo No Bake Bars from  Sweet Pea’s Kitchen

• One 16 oz package of Oreo Cookies
• 5 cups large marshmallows  (this is a little less than a large package)
• 4 tablespoons butter

Directions:

1. Butter an 8X8 inch baking pan. Line the baking pan with parchment paper letting the paper extend up two sides of the pan and overhang slightly on both ends. Butter paper; set pan aside.
2. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade, pulse Oreos until ground.

In a large, microwave safe bowl, melt butter and marshmallows in the microwave until puffed, about 1½ – 2 minutes.

Stir in ground Oreo Cookies until combined.

Transfer to prepared baking pan. Using a piece of wax paper, press mixture evenly into prepared pan.

Let set up for at least 10 minutes. Cut into bars and serve.

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries, adapted from Nutmeg Nanny.

1 container strawberries

1 container Philadelphia Cheesecake Filling (yes, I cheated)

1 small container graham cracker crumbs

 

Wash strawberries cutting off the stem and the end piece. Hull out the inside of the strawberry (what I refer to as the pith).

Fill with cheesecake filling.  Dust lightly with graham cracker crumbs.

So, in one afternoon, I accomplished all this.  I am pretty proud of myself.

I think I’ll treat myself to this tray.