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(Secretly Easy) Desserts Guaranteed to Impress 100%

We’ve all been there: suddenly faced with planning a menu for that dinner party, birthday cookout or baby shower we offered to bake for months ago but put off planning until the last minute, which is right now. Now you’re scrambling, trying to think of something to prepare that will woo and awe your guests, without destroying your kitchen, your wallet, or your sanity.

Photo Credit: Ziofeng

Fear not. There’s no need to rush to the bakery to buy a fancy cake and pass it off as your own. It’s totally easy to whip up a delicious dessert that will wow your guests without a ton of effort. Even if it’s last minute, these dessert recipes will come together in a snap, and best of all, they’ll be utterly delectable.

Nobody will ever know that you put it all off until the last minute; we won’t tell. Check out a few guaranteed-to-impress desserts below.

Profiteroles


Anybody who has watched (read: binged) The Great British Baking Show has seen profiteroles recipes, and watched a dozen anxious cooks try to figure out how to make choux pastry without breaking a sweat. Don’t worry: it really is so much easier than it looks. Profiteroles are basically just little puffs of light dough, sweet but not too sweet with a tender crunch. Filled with pastry cream, custard or ice cream and sometimes topped with ganache or powdered sugar, they look as elegant as they taste. They’re the perfect after-dinner bite. And you’re going to make them! Your guests will be so impressed, they’ll never guess that you threw them together in an afternoon.

Cannoli


This classic Italian dessert brings something out in people. Anywhere there’s fresh cannoli, there’s excited folks trying to snatch one. Delicate little flutes filled with a mixture of sweetened and spiced ricotta, spiked with a bit of your citrus zest and often topped with sprinkles, pistachios or mini chocolate chips, these are such a crowd pleaser. And they are shockingly easy to make. They look amazing and taste even better - you should probably make a double batch.

Divinity


This favorite of little old southern ladies everywhere is actually a rather elegant and classy dessert. Delicate little squares of sweet, marshmallow-like divinity are made with egg whites, vanilla, and sometimes pecan or walnuts. Bite-sized and light, they are the perfect dessert to go with coffee after a large meal. People often find candy-making daunting, but these are really quite simple to make. You can play around with flavor variations, adding different extracts and nuts to suit your tastes, but honestly? Classic is the best.

Roasted Strawberries


This is one seriously classy dessert. Juicy, ripe strawberries are quartered, tossed with balsamic vinegar, fresh basil, black pepper and a pinch of brown sugar, roasted in the oven until they release their juices, then served (while still hot) over fresh vanilla ice cream. It sounds like a strange combination for the novice, but once you’ve tried it, you’ll never want to eat anything else.
And there you have it! These simple recipes are so easy you’ll have them whipped up in no time, and your guests will never know how easy they were. They’ll be too busy enjoying those seriously delicious treats.

Would you like to comment?

  1. Oo I do love desserts! The desserts I make come from a box, but I will go to bakeries and buy others. Like cannolis. I love those!

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  2. Too pretty to eat. Even though I'm an old southern gal, I am not a fan of divinity. But you are right. It is very elegant.

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  3. I am all for a good dessert I have to admit, there is nothing quite like something sweet and delicious after a meal and these all sound like such delicious ideas.

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  4. I love the idea of Cannoli and I keep trying them, but I'm not sure why they are just not my fave. They always look spectacular though! Thanks for the ideas. I love to cook, but only bake when I have to and I look for easy! :)

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  5. I'm a huge fan of desserts. All of these desserts look so yummy. Would love to give them a try.

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  6. I will have to try one of these next time I have a get together. I need something simple but impressive!

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  7. I need to try this next time, although I am cutting down with sweets. Looks delish, beautiful and sweet.

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  8. I love making profiteroles for exactly this reason. They are elegant and look like a ton of work, but they are pretty simple to prepare.

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  9. I love desserts. I always crave for it after every meal. I would love to try this delicious treat!

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  10. The roasted strawberries sound divine. I would never think of putting strawberries in the oven, but I can imagine how well they with vanilla ice cream. This. I have to try soon! Thanks for sharing.

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