Whether you have a craving for something sweet, or you have been asked to bring a dessert to a gathering with friends and family…these easy recipes will be the talk of the town. For many wonderful cooks, baking has long been a thorn in their side. For some reason it is easier to make a wonderful roast with all the trimmings or a salmon dinner that would delight the president, than it is to bake up some beautiful homemade delicious desserts. Many a “good cook” has opted to pick up a pie/pastry from a favorite restaurant or bakery rather than try their hand at it themselves. Or perhaps you are a great baker, but don’t have the time you need to make Creme Brule and are in need of some simple yet delicious recipes.
Whatever the case may be, choose from one of these homemade recipes and then go for it! Start with the one that strikes you as the most appealing and get started. You can try them out on your family, friends, or co-workers. Nothing lights up the workplace more than an unexpected treat., especially when it is homemade. Be sure to bring the recipe with you, that way when everyone asks for it (and they will) – you already have it there.
Let’s start with Chess Cake. This is a unique sweet cake that doesn’t need an icing. The cream cheese icing is actually baked on. It bakes out with a delicate golden finish. This dessert can be eaten warm or cold. It needs no addition, it is melt-in-your-mouth good all by itself.
Ingredients:
1 box yellow cake mix
1 egg
1 stick of butter
1 8oz package cream cheese
2 eggs
1 box confection sugar (10x sugar)
Directions:
Mix together the first 3 ingredients and push into a 9×13 inch greased pan (creating a kind of crust).
Mix last 3 ingredients together and pour over the above mixture in the baking pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40 – 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
The next recipe is also a crowd pleaser. Easy Pineapple Cake is fast and incredibly good. Don’t let the name fool you, you don’t have to be a pineapple fan to enjoy this one. This homemade dessert is great when you need to make something in advance. It is actually better the day after it is made, when the ingredients have had a chance to blend into one another. This recipe also freezes very well. So if you are getting ready for a family reunion, or preparing for another hectic week, you will love having something in the freezer that just takes a little while to unthaw.
Ingredients: Cake
2 C. sugar
2 C. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 eggs
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
20-oz. can crushed pineapple, undrained
1 C. walnuts, chopped
Ingredients: Frosting
8 Tbsp. butter
1 1/2 C. powered sugar
8-oz. pkg. cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla
Directions:
In a large bowl combine all cake ingredients and mix thoroughly. Pour into greased 9×13 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 – 45 minutes. Once cake is in the oven, mix all the frosting ingredients together until creamy. Pour over warm (not hot) cake. *Remember: this cake is best when made in advance.
So there you have it….Two homemade, very unique cakes that are sure to bring compliment after compliment. You will feel like you are in a commercial scene where the guests rave about the hours you must have spent in the kitchen, when you really only had to throw some ingredients into a bowl and then into the oven for 40 minutes or so. It will be our little secret. Enjoy!
