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Need dessert ideas for a potluck bbq

Sabine

Sabine

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
3,445
We just moved and dh started a new job, and we have a 'meet and great' potluck to attend tomorrow evening (just found out yesterday). Dh signed me up to bring a dessert.

I could go with some old standby's like cupcakes or brownies, but I've made a lot of those lately so I don't really feel like it.

Any ideas for a cool dessert I can bring that's more exciting than that?

Criteria...
Can't be anything too complicated or requiring too many steps/skills...I'm a novice baker and my 1 year old will be playing at my feet as I make it.
Can't require lots of prep time as I have to get stuff to make it tonight and make it tomorrow (and no time for a trial run).
Preferably something easy to transport and serve.
 
How many people is it for?

I suggest http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/search-results.asp?quick=1&ICID=KH1003 -- it's the "quick and easy" section of Hershey's recipe site. I'm sure you can find some contenders there! I've made a few recipes from that site (brownies and some other, more involved recipes) and they've all turned out well. Maybe mini cheesecakes baked in cupcake liners? There is a recipe for chocolate cherry cheesecakes that have a Nilla wafer on the bottom and a simple cream cheese/sour cream/chocolate mixture dolloped on top and baked. I've made them before and they're yummy!

ETA: skill level is "beginner" and they're under an hour, start to finish.
 
Yes the mini cheesecakes sound good. We made something similar for a company picnic and it was a big hit.
Vanilla wafer instant vanilla pudding pudding canned cherry pie filling and Cool Whip
 
I was going to suggest making brownies or chocolate chip cookies, but you said you're looking for something different.

What about banana pudding with nilla wafers? I don't know the real name, but you can find the recipe online (cooks.com and other sites, I'm sure). I've never made it but I think it's just layering bananas, vanilla pudding, and nilla wafers in a serving dish (or trifle bowl). I've seen it done with a layer of cool whip among the other layers also. I was trying to think of something that wouldn't require a lot of work since I know you have your hands full with Jacks.

Another idea would be to bring a fruit salad.
 
I've never made these myself, but a student recently brought these to class and they were delicious. They look SUPER easy, maybe too easy, but don't they look delicious? Using those white and milk chocolate kisses would make them look really cool, too.

Chocolate pretzels:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chocolate-Pretzels/Detail.aspx
 
Apple Rhubarb Crisp -- I've done this before (different recipe) and it was a HUGE hit every time. The most complicated thing to do is peel & slice apples. Transports nicely. Serve cold, hot from the oven, warmed, room temp....

Granny smith apples are great for this. With the rhubarb, I like to use a couple of granny smith and a couple of honey crisps.
 
Here's the recipe for the Baked brownie. Baked is a bakery in Brooklyn, and their brownie has been awarded best brownie recipe or something by America's Test Kitchen and Oprah. It's fantastic. If you've ever made brownies, it's pretty much the same procedure, so nothing tricky or difficult. The instant espresso power really makes them perfect.

Baked Note: A great brownie is easy to make, but you have to be aware of several factors. 1. Use a dark cocoa powder, like Valrhona. A pale, light-colored cocoa does not have enough depth. 2. Make sure your eggs are room temperature and do not overbeat them into the batter, and 3. Make sure you check your brownies often while baking. Once the brownies have been overbaked slightly, they have reached the point of no return.

1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons dark cocoa powder
11 ounces quality dark chocolate (60-72%), chopped coarsely
8 ounces butter (2 sticks), cut into 1 inch cubes
1 tsp instant espresso powder
1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup light brown sugar
5 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Butter the sides and bottom of a glass or light colored metal pan 9x13x2 pan.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, the salt, and cocoa powder.

Configure a large sized double boiler. Place the chocolate, the butter, and the instant espresso powder in the bowl of the double boiler and stir occasionally until the chocolate and butter are completely melted and combined. Turn off the heat, but keep the bowl over the water of the double boiler and add both sugars. Whisk the sugars until completely combined and remove the bowl from the pan. Mixture should be room temperature.

Add three eggs to the chocolate/butter mixture and whisk until just combined. Add the remaining eggs and whisk until just combined. Add the vanilla and stir until combined. Do not over beat the batter at this stage or your brownies will be cakey.

Sprinkle the flour/cocoa/salt mix over the chocolate. Using a spatula (DO NOT USE A WHISK) fold the dry into the wet until there is just a trace amount of the flour/cocoa mix visible.

Pour the mixture into the pan and smooth the top with your spatula. Bake the brownies for 30 minutes (rotate the pan half-way through baking) and check to make sure the brownies are completely done by sticking a toothpick into the center of the pan. The brownies are done when the toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.

Cool the brownies completely before cutting and serving.
 
Ooo I love that jello pretzel stuff!

JD makes a yellow cake and puts it in two smaller cake pans instead of one big one, and then he mixes cool whip w/cream cheese and sugar as frosting and puts it all over one cake, and cuts up strawberries to pile up on top. Then the 2nd cake on top, more frosting and strawberries. I like it more w/no stuff mixed in w/the cool whip myself. He makes it w/angel food cake too sometimes. It just screams summer to me!
 
What about angel cake with strawberry sauce and strawberries on top? You could subtitute other fruits if you'd like.
 
Zoe said:
I was going to suggest making brownies or chocolate chip cookies, but you said you're looking for something different.

What about banana pudding with nilla wafers? I don't know the real name, but you can find the recipe online (cooks.com and other sites, I'm sure). I've never made it but I think it's just layering bananas, vanilla pudding, and nilla wafers in a serving dish (or trifle bowl). I've seen it done with a layer of cool whip among the other layers also. I was trying to think of something that wouldn't require a lot of work since I know you have your hands full with Jacks.

Another idea would be to bring a fruit salad.
Click to expand...

For me, personally, banana pudding is the quintessential bbq dessert. It was my first thought when I saw this thread. I need to get a great banana pudding recipe, but Zoe is right--you can whip something together quickly just layering nilla wafers, bananas and pudding. Yum!
 
Have you ever made magic cookie bars? They are super easy and delicious, I can eat a pan myself. :oops: All you do is melt a stick of butter in a 9x13 in pan, sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of crumbled graham crackers over the butter. On top of this, layer 1 can of sweetened condensed milk, then 2 cups of chocolate chips, 1 bag of sweetened coconut, then 1 cup of chopped pecans (or any nut) then press down with a spatula. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 (or 325 if your pan is glass) and 25-30 minutes later=yum :lickout:
 
How about some type of fruit crisp they're easy and delicious!
 
NewEnglandLady said:
Zoe said:
I was going to suggest making brownies or chocolate chip cookies, but you said you're looking for something different.

What about banana pudding with nilla wafers? I don't know the real name, but you can find the recipe online (cooks.com and other sites, I'm sure). I've never made it but I think it's just layering bananas, vanilla pudding, and nilla wafers in a serving dish (or trifle bowl). I've seen it done with a layer of cool whip among the other layers also. I was trying to think of something that wouldn't require a lot of work since I know you have your hands full with Jacks.

Another idea would be to bring a fruit salad.
Click to expand...

For me, personally, banana pudding is the quintessential bbq dessert. It was my first thought when I saw this thread. I need to get a great banana pudding recipe, but Zoe is right--you can whip something together quickly just layering nilla wafers, bananas and pudding. Yum!
Click to expand...


Alton Brown did this the other day on Good Eats.

One recipe is cooked, one is refrigerated -- both looked YUMMY :lickout:
Alton Brown Banana Pudding
 
Sabine said:
We just moved and dh started a new job, and we have a 'meet and great' potluck to attend tomorrow evening (just found out yesterday). Dh signed me up to bring a dessert.

I could go with some old standby's like cupcakes or brownies, but I've made a lot of those lately so I don't really feel like it.

Any ideas for a cool dessert I can bring that's more exciting than that?

Criteria...
Can't be anything too complicated or requiring too many steps/skills...I'm a novice baker and my 1 year old will be playing at my feet as I make it.
Can't require lots of prep time as I have to get stuff to make it tonight and make it tomorrow (and no time for a trial run).
Preferably something easy to transport and serve.
Click to expand...

What about a fruit salad with melon, peaches, berries, and a basil simple syrup drizzled over top? Nice and sweet, light and refreshing, super easy, and the basil makes it seem a little more special.

Also, I know you said that you're tired of brownies, but I really think that's because you haven't had the Baked brownie! I made some for my friend's birthday yesterday, and now the guys in my department are making up birthdays so that they can get the brownies again. ("Ummm, princesss....my birthday is July 25th. Shoot, that's a weekend. It's, uh, July 26th. I really like brownies. You love me enough to make me brownies for my birthday, right?" :halo:) Start to finish they took me about an hour/hour and 15 minutes so you could definitely make them while Jacks takes a nap.
 
I don't now if this is something you can do but what I absolutely love for dessert for a BBQ is grilled pineapple with some icecream on top :lickout: :lickout: It's like the perfect end to a perfect bbq :lickout:
 
fiery said:
I don't now if this is something you can do but what I absolutely love for dessert for a BBQ is grilled pineapple with some icecream on top :lickout: :lickout: It's like the perfect end to a perfect bbq :lickout:
Click to expand...

Or grilled bananas, served with cinnanon sugar and vanilla icecream :lickout:

However, as it is your first time meeting the group, I would seriously consider going with a tried and tested recipe you are very comfortable with. New groups are always stressful (and, personally, I always feel as though I am being measured up) so I think you should make it easier on yourself.
 
Ohhhh...these are such great suggestions and making my mouth water! Thanks for all the ideas!

I think I'm going to go with the banana pudding! I could totally lose myself looking at all different kinds of mini-cheesecakes and such, and I'd never be able to decide which kind to make before running to the store tonight!
 
My favorite quick and easy is dump cake. For a crowd I'd buy one of the large foil pans. To make that much I'd use 2 large cans of cherry pie filling, 2 large cans of crushed pineapple (don't drain) and mix the fruit together. Spread in the bottom of the pan (spray with non stick). Sprinkle 2 dry yellow cake mixes on top. Pour 2 cubes of melted butter on top and bake at 350 degrees until crust is golden brown. Serve with cool whip or ice cream. This is delicious and everyone really likes it.
 
marcy said:
My favorite quick and easy is dump cake. For a crowd I'd buy one of the large foil pans. To make that much I'd use 2 large cans of cherry pie filling, 2 large cans of crushed pineapple (don't drain) and mix the fruit together. Spread in the bottom of the pan (spray with non stick). Sprinkle 2 dry yellow cake mixes on top. Pour 2 cubes of melted butter on top and bake at 350 degrees until crust is golden brown. Serve with cool whip or ice cream. This is delicious and everyone really likes it.
Click to expand...

I've had this a couple of times and its really yummy! :lickout:
 
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