277708 Wed Apr 27 19:40:32 -0700 2005 14 31 Home Cooking 0 1468123 I am thinking about adding some dessert bars to a baby shower tea party. I need something easy to make since I will also be making and decorating a cake, and that one will be take most of my free time that day. I was thinking about something like lemon bars or brownies in terms of ease of preparation. Brownies do not look very festive, so I am wondering if someone has a better suggestion. I do not want to make cupcakes, etc because I do not feel like decorating them and I do not feel like buying mini-cupcakes mold and the muffin tins are a bit bulky in size for the occasion. Ideally, it will be something like lemon bars - easy to make, cut into portions and no need to decorate aside from a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Thank you in advance. Wed Apr 27 19:40:32 -0700 2005 0 summertime 1 1468169 you can always put powered sugar on the brownies or make cheesecake swirl bars (like rasberry or blueberry) Thu Apr 28 07:57:07 -0700 2005 1468123 0 ctmom 2 1468172 Ooh, what about a cake that's one layer brownie, one layer cheesecake swirl? I've done cakes like that many times (it works with almost any bottom layer so long as it's not too light) and that way you get the more festive top -- plus if you make one mix of each cake, you've already filled at least two pans, and you can just cut them into squares. Do we know if this is a girl or boy baby? (Maybe you said?) I would recommend going with pink or blue somewhere in your toppings to go along with the baby! Thu Apr 28 08:51:40 -0700 2005 1468169 0 Adrienne 3 1468262 Thank you - that is perfect, cheesecake swirl! It is a baby boy, so what would you use to make the swirl that is naturally blue? (I assume one can use raspberry jam for pink swirls, so I would like something like that). Any ideas? Thu Apr 28 17:00:57 -0700 2005 1468172 0 summertime 4 1468310 you can use blueberry jam for the swirl. Here is a recipe I found on kraftfoods.com for blueberry cheesecake bars (not swirl) looks good, easy and quick. I make their 3 step oreo cheesecake when I'm in a rush for a dessert and it is really good (I use the lowfat creamcheese and nobody can taste the difference) Link: http://www.kraftfoods.com/main.aspx?s=recipe&m=recipe/knet_recipe_display&u1=keyword&u2=cheesecake%20bars&u3=**1*13&recipe_id=75273 Fri Apr 29 07:52:24 -0700 2005 1468262 0 ctmom 1 1468189 Not bars, but how about little meringue cups filled with lemon curd? More work than bars, but can all be done ahead. Make a simple meringue and pipe into small disks, then pipe a circle around the outside of the disk to form a shallow cup. Bake on low until crisp. You can do this a few days ahead. Brush the insides with melted white chocolate. This can also be done a few days ahead. Make lemon curd (also done ahead - or you could buy it, I suppose). Just before people arrive, pipe the lemon curd into the shells using a big star tip. You could top with a little lemon rind or a raspberry or just let them be plain. They will be very pretty and delicate and won't overwhelm the cake. If you really want bars, pecan bars are scrumptious. But you seem to like lemon bars - why not just go with those? You could do a lime version if you want something a little less standard. Thu Apr 28 11:38:19 -0700 2005 1468123 0 curiousbaker 2 1468263 This sounds divine. I actually wrote it down - not for this time, because I just do not have the time before hand either, but I will be sure to use this idea. I do merengue-nest fruit cups often, never thought of brushing them with chocolate and always had to worry about the texture and assemble right before serving. Thanks for the great tip! Thu Apr 28 17:02:58 -0700 2005 1468189 0 summertime 1 1468192 What kind of cake are you making? If it's not chocolate, I would go for a chocolate bar. If it is chocolate, lemon bars sound great. If the cake is decorated, I think it's okay to have humble-looking brownies as another option. But I guess I have a chocolate=festive or chocolate trumps decoration attitude :) Thu Apr 28 11:51:58 -0700 2005 1468123 0 julesrules 2 1468264 The cake has chocolate, which is why I leaned more toward lemon bars than brownies and for some reason could not think of anything else. Thu Apr 28 17:04:04 -0700 2005 1468192 0 summertime 1 1468231 Hello Dolly bars are always a big hit. Link: http://www.recipezaar.com/118291 Thu Apr 28 14:00:22 -0700 2005 1468123 0 valerie 2 1468269 I do not think I ever had those. The recipe sounds very tempting. Thu Apr 28 17:08:39 -0700 2005 1468231 0 summertime 1 1468236 I found a great recipe in Gourmet years ago for a really good bar with macadamia nuts and coconut on a shortbread layer. The recipe is not hard and can be made the day ahead if you need. It is a nice change from the brownies/lemon bars that you see alot. Everybody requests the recipe whenever I bring them somewhere. I attached the recipe here from Epicurious. Link: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/13014?epiSearchPage=http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/find/results?search=coconut+macadamia+bar&x=0&y=0 Thu Apr 28 14:53:31 -0700 2005 1468123 0 Pat Darnell 2 1468266 Thank you so much. That is perfect. Thu Apr 28 17:06:30 -0700 2005 1468236 0 summertime 1 1468256 How about mint brownies? Make your standard brownie recipe and after you've baked and cooled it frost with buttercream icing that you've added mint extract to and tinted light green or pink. Then top that with a very thin layer of ganache. These are always a hit! Thu Apr 28 16:41:15 -0700 2005 1468123 0 DB 2 1468270 This is probably a very good idea, but I have this odd aversion to mint & chocolate combination and as a rule never prepare anything I would not want to eat myself. This probably sounds crazy. Thank you for your suggestion though. Thu Apr 28 17:11:04 -0700 2005 1468256 0 summertime