Proven bite-size/pick-up-able dessert recipes

[mtnlaurel]

I don't cook desserts often and need PROVEN* dessert recipes that I can make & take to a party.

Bars, cookies, little tid-bits.... things that you can eat without utensils.

Do you have any favorites? If you have time, could you give link to or post the recipe?

Thanks a million!

Most of my recipes are for things like pies, cakes, etc.
*Notice I say 'proven' this is after a complete clusterFUDGE experience last holiday season... where I failed miserably with recipes that I just found on web, not from people I know that have actually prepared them

[Rosemary]

This is my mom's fudge recipe. It is very easy and does not have marshmallows in it as many recipes do. Can omit nuts if desired.

Fudge
12 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk (low fat)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts of choice

over very low heat melt chocolates til creamy. stir in milk til well combined---the mixture will become very thick. remove from heat. add vanilla and nuts blending well. into foil lined 8 x 8" sq. pan spoon fudge evenly flattening top with knife dipped in hot water. cover and refrigerate til set. cut into squares. store in airtight container in a cool dry place.

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This is a very easy shortbread-like bar cookie. The recipe makes a large quantity so it is good for gatherings. Recipe originally came from the Betty Crocker Cookie Book that was printed in the 50s. My family has made these for years.

Jan Hagel
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 lg. egg -- separated
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. water
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

heat oven to 350 degrees. lightly grease a jelly roll pan.
beat butter til creamy. add sugar and yolk. stir dry ingredients together and mix into butter mixture.
pat evenly into pan. beat water and egg white til frothy. brush over top of dough. sprinkle with nuts. bake 20-25 min. or til lightly browned.
cut immediately into finger-like strips and let cool completely.


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These are another long-time family holiday cookie. No idea where the recipe came from before my grandmother.

Mexican Cinnamon Balls
1 cup butter -- softened
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
2 1/4 cups flour -- sifted
1 tsp. each cinnamon and vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

in a large bowl beat butter til light and fluffy. gradually beat in confectioner's sugar. stir in the flour, cinnamon and salt just til combined. add vanilla. dough will be stiff. wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 min.
preheat oven to 400 degrees. roll dough into 3/4" balls and place 1 1/2" apart on ungreased cookie sheets. bake 8-10 min. or til set and slightly golden. mix last two ingredients in small bowl and roll hot cookies in this mixture. put on racks to cool.

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This is an easy, reliable coffee cake if you have a bundt pan. It serves many. For a potluck it can be cut into slices before serving. I make a less rich version that is still excellent, changes noted.
Sour Cream Coffeecake
1 cup butter (I use 1/2 cup)
2 cups sugar (plus 4 tsp.) (I use 1 cup)
2 large eggs
1 cup sour cream or yogurt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and coat lightly with ground bread crumbs a small bundt (9") pan. set aside.
Cream butter with 2 c sugar til light and creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition. stir in vanilla.
sift dry ingredients together (all except cinnamon) and add alternately with sour cream.
in a small bowl mix 4 tsp. sugar, cinnamon and nuts. starting with batter, layer nut mixture and batter alternately in the pan. bake about 60 min. or til tester comes out clean. let cool on rack in pan 5 min. before inverting to cool completely on rack.

[mtnlaurel]

Thank you Rosemary!!! They all sound scrumptious!

And that's what I was on the hunt for last year... a fudge recipe w/out using the marshmallow fluff stuff.

[sweetana3]

My fudge recipe is great and I have used it over 30 years.

Put 2 cups sugar, 1 cup evap. milk (not condensed) and 1 stick of butter/margarine in a heavy pan and bring to a full rolling boil stirring pretty constantly. Boil for 10 minutes.

In a bowl mix 3/4 cup finely crushed graham crackers, 3/4 cup flour, 1 t. vanilla, bag of chocolate chips (Nestle best) and any nuts if you want.

When the 10 minutes is up, dump the bowl stuff into the hot mixture and take off heat. Stir like crazy to melt the chocolate. Pour into a 9X9 or 10X9 or 13X10 pan ( it just makes it more or less thick). Let cool. None of the measurements of the dry ingredients are critical. I use whatever crumbs i get from one segment of a graham cracker box and use a big bag of chips. I pour in the vanilla and dont measure much.

It melts nicely.

[KayLR]

Love this---especially since I discovered the "Printable version" Thread Tool at the top of the page.

[leslieann]

Wow, KayLRZ....I didn't know about that! Thanks...and thanks for all the recipes.

[Tussiemussies]

Cake balls on a stick are very popular right now....here is a recipe from wikihow:

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Cake-Pops