You may have planned to make all of your holiday desserts from scratch. You might have run out of time. Or maybe you are faced with a few extra holiday invitations, or even a few extra guests. Don’t worry. Keep these dessert ingredients on hand to make a wide variety of last-minute holiday desserts that are sure to please your family and friends.
Fresh Seasonal Fruits
Fresh fruit can be peeled and cut and served raw or whole, in a variety of last-minute holiday dessert recipes.
Apples
Apples are very easy to bake whole or sliced, with some spices, some brown sugar, and some oats. Make a baked apple or a last-minute apple crisp.
Pears
Pears can be halved, sweetened with your favorite sweetener, a splash of brandy, and baked and then topped with drizzled chocolate. This last-minute dessert will look like you spent hours concocting it.
Cakes, Cookies and Pastries
Keep a couple of flavors of cake mixes and festive holiday pastries on hand to help you make last-minute holiday dessert recipes.
Lady Fingers
You could pretty much mix up any pudding or yogurt plus whipped cream concoction and decorate it with Lady Fingers and it would an acceptable holiday dessert. Try layering lady fingers with fruity yogurts, fresh fruits, and whipped cream.
This can also be done with chocolate pudding.
Cherry Chip Cake Mix
Cherry Chip cake mix is a very seasonal-looking cake mix that can be used to make festive holiday cupcakes, or a cake.
Gone are the days when your dessert must have freshly whipped cream. Nothing beats the taste of that, but if you are working on a deadline, use one of these fail-safe last-minute dessert ingredients. Be sure to keep some extra milk on hand, as well.
Canned Whipped Cream
Canned whipped cream offers a richer and more natural flavor than the frozen type. Have at least two cans on hand, especially when serving kids.
Whipped Raspberry or Cherry Yogurt
You can do a lot at the last minute with a spoonful of whipped fruity yogurt. The yogurt can be mixed or layered with fresh fruit or whipped cream and served on a lady finger, or a piece of cake.
Instant Pudding Mixes
Purchase one or boxes of each of these instant pudding mixes. This will give you a variety of flavors to make for your last-minute holiday dessert.
Chocolate Pudding Mix
You cannot go wrong with chocolate. It pretty much doesn’t matter what you make with it, chocolate is always a hit dessert.
Instant chocolate pudding can be made in minutes. Use the instant chocolate pudding to make a last-minute holiday mousse by whipping it up with some whipped cream until fluffy.
Or, use the instant chocolate pudding to make individual dessert cups. Layer chocolate pudding with whipped cream in your fanciest flutes or goblets. Top with a holiday chocolate.
The instant chocolate pudding can also be made into an easy chocolate cream pie. You may need two boxes of instant chocolate pudding. Just remember to use less milk than when you make regular instant pudding. The directions are on the box, so you can’t go wrong. You will just need some whipped cream and a large pre-made pie crust.
Banana Pudding Mix
Banana pudding mix is another versatile flavor that can be used on its own, with fresh fruit, or with a chocolate pudding.
Cheesecake Pudding Mix
One of the best instant pudding flavors is the cheesecake pudding flavor. You can make a pie that tastes like cheesecake, but without all the work (or the fat calories).
Pumpkin Spice Pudding Mix
Pumpkin Spice pudding mix is a seasonal flavor of instant pudding that makes an instant holiday dessert hit. Top with whipped cream and you’re done.
Fresh Fruit
Vanilla Pudding Mix
Vanilla pudding mix is good to have on hand because it will match any other fruit or sweet flavor you can create. It pairs well with any fruit, cake or chocolate.
Keep fresh bananas, some berries and other seasonal fruit on hand to make pies,
Pre-Made Crusts
What would a last-minute holiday dessert ingredient guide be without some pie crusts?
Frozen Unbaked Crust
A frozen Unbaked Crust which comes in a pie pan will work for you if you have time to bake a pie. This is more of a short cut, but it can be useful for last-minute holiday dessert planning.
Pre-Made Graham Cracker Crust
An pre-made graham cracker crust can save the day in any last-minute holiday rush. It can be used to make banana cream pie, with fresh bananas, banana pudding, and whipped cream.
The pre-made graham cracker crust can also be used to make any type of cream pie, using the instant pudding flavor of your choice
Miniature Pre-Made Graham Cracker Crust
The miniature pre-made graham cracker crusts are sweet and cute, and kids and adults will love them. They also work because you can pre-portion the dessert sizes, ensuring there will be enough for all of your guests.
Pre-Made Shortbread Crust
By having a shortbread flavored crust in addition to the graham cracker crust, you can offer a variety of dessert flavors to guests. The shortbread also tends to be less sweet than a graham cracker crust.
Frozen Dessert Topping
Frozen dessert topping like Cool Whip or the equivalent can often be found on sale. Just purchase a couple of containers and pop it into the freezer when you need it. Be sure to thaw it out in the fridge before you need to use it.
An ice cream cake is always popular, and if you have room in the freezer, and can find one that is holiday appropriate, pick one up for a last-minute dessert idea.
Peppermint Stick Ice Cream
Peppermint stick ice cream is a seasonal item that can easily be made into a dessert. Serve it with sprig of mint in a fancy up, or, with a brownie.
Pre-Made Frozen Pumpkin Pie
If you have an hour, you can pop one of these in the oven. The house will smell great, and the pie will taste wonderful. Top with your favorite whipped cream.
With these ingredients on hand you won’t panic when you need to make one or two extra last-minute holiday desserts for your family, friends, guests, or to take to the office party.
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