Best Guy-Friendly Dessert?

[sherrycakes]

I'm creating a dessert buffet for a couples shower we're hosting for my sister-in-law. Most of the men are being dragged by their spouse, wanting nothing to do with anything associated with a baby shower (including my husband).
I'm thinking my standard shower spread of cupcakes, tarts and cookies might not suffice.
What desserts will make the guys glad they came?

[sherrycakes]

I wanted to add that I served the Guinness cake w/Sono Baking Company's ganache and an amaretto italian meringue filling (on top of the ganache). I also brushed the cake with Kahlua before filling. It was delicious! Everyone swooned, the kitchen staff/wait staff heard the commotion and asked if they could taste a piece. I'd made plenty and sent some back and the chef came out to talk to me about the recipe. Great advice, thanks!

[danna]

Wow, that sounds fantastic! The meringue was just a basic italian meringue flavored w/ amaretto liquer? And then a layer of cake, layer of ganache, layer of meringue? SWEET! Did you have any left? If so, how did it hold up? How many layers? thanks.

Honestly, i have never understood why people hold couples baby showers when they know they are torturing the men (and some of us girls, too) but it sounds like yours was totally worth it! ;-)

[sherrycakes]

My brother loves babies and has waited years for to have one. His wife has four children from a previous marriage, so it was fitting to have a little party for him. We didn't play any games, it was really just a dinner with gifts.
Yes, it was a layer of cake, brushed w/Kahlua straight, a thin layer of ganache and a thick layer of amaretto-flavored meringue. crumb-coated ganache (I may do the meringue next time) and second layer of ganache to finish. 2 cakes (fairly thick, baked in deep pans) split into four layers. I made it the day before, but we had no leftovers. I used a chocolate stout, instead of the Guiness, too.

[funniduck]

brownies topped with ice cream and Bailey's
rum, brandy, or bourbon balls
big chocolate chip, peanut butter or oatmeal raisin cookies
lemon bars
whoopie pies

[attran99]

Creme brulee...every guy is a sucker for a blow torch and the caramelized sugar crust.

[dcrf]

Chocolate chip cookies ,

[Perilagu Khan]

Yep. With tall glasses of ice-cold whole milk.

[gnomatic]

Guys would eat ANY homemade baked goods, no questions asked...at least at places I work (where it's almost always 80%, if not more guys).

It's HOW they eat it that is different. If it's out in the open, where anybody can see them take it and eat it, they would less likely to do so. Put it in a different room, where they are free to help themselves and eat it in their man cave (or desk)...they will. But they will never take the very last piece....sometimes they would leave HALF a cookie.

I have made brownies, banana bread, cookies, lemon cookies, lime cakes, banana cake, ice-cream etc... They eat it all. The most popular has been the rejects from my attempts at making macarons. Didn't think the guys would like flat almond meringue cookies...but they did. It was the only time they finish everything.

[Feed Me]

What's the deal with pie and men? lol. 'Mom's apple pie' situation, I guess, nurturing. I think you can't go wrong with a rich brown betty and kahlua coffee

[CapreseStacy]

Candied bacon or chocolate-dipped bacon would likely be a hit.

[tim irvine]

In Forkin' Fantastic there's a recipe for Layne Cake with candied bacon. So you've got starch, fat, sugar, lots of bourbon, and bacon all over it

[thew]

grrr. i hate the moderation here sometimes. ganache covered strippers is funny.

anyway to be OT

dark chocolate things. works with drinks or coffee. not cloying sweet. manly

[Karl S]

Standard advice (to which there are of course exceptions): pies for guys, cakes for gals.

[morwen]

I have a recipe for Blueberry Boy Bait but it sounds like these guys have already been hooked!

[maxie]

chocolate pudding

[nmurawsk]

A chocolate stout cake would be good. I've never made but found this link

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/foo...

[millygirl]

I'm with eight inch pestle on this.....real men eat deserts, and enjoy them!

My husband loves a good chocolate cupcake. Okay maybe he doesn't ooh and ahh over the icing design or colors but he sure can snarf them down.

[Emme]

Cherry or Apple Pie
Chocolate Chip Cookies (or if it's my friends, Oatmeal Raisin cookies)
Brownies

...of the men i just polled, none said cake.

[superfinespot]

agreed on these with slight variation for my boyfriend:
pumkin, apple, cherry, or blueberry pie w/plain vanilla ice cream
oatmeal raisin or oatmeal scotchies cookies (but i think for most the CCC is the way to go)
brownies

cake would never fly.

[Hank Hanover]

Not sure there is a budweiser cake.

Brownies are good if you don't want them slicing. Otherwise a really sweet chocolate cake.

Set up a separate room with a Wii video game and a big screen, beer, wings and chips. You won't be able to get them to leave.

[Perilagu Khan]

I doubt she wants them to enjoy themselves THAT much. ;)

[coll]

There's a great Guinness cake....Budweiser wouldn't cut it.

[morwen]

No, but there is Guinness Chocolate cake.

[Vetter]

Oh, yes, and it is good. I used to make it with a nice ganache. That's what I'd recommend!

[greygarious]

The Guinness chocolate cake, baked in this pan:
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/produc...
with a separate whipped cream and optional chocolate sauce to drizzle over the slices.

[eight_inch_pestle]

Not sure the men actually need anything different, but if you want to go stereotypically manly, I'd suggest bourbon, coffee, cigars (if there's a nice patio), and a charcuterie and cheese plate with some seasonal fruit. Real Men love good fruit.

[blue room]

What a nice project/problem to have! I can speak only for my man-- and first he wants cherry pie, with (vanilla) ice cream. *Everything* else runs a very close second, but here's something to consider--

[sherrycakes]

Love it! I'm leaning towards pie, too. We're going to be at my friend's restaurant so I can't bring alcohol w/me but he's graciously letting my make the desserts for after dinner. I'm thinking about throwing a stadium wool blanket over the dessert table and bring cake stands to give it a 'bake sale' kind of look and just bring 2-3 pies, brownies and the coconut cupcakes (on a 3-tiered stand).

[Perilagu Khan]

brisket

[Aravisea]

+1

[Breadcrumbs]

I'll second that "Pie" suggestion. I do a lot of entertaining and in my experience men will choose the following (in this order):

Apple Pie
Cherry Pie
Apple Crisp or Cobbler

Chocolate Chunk Cookies (tend to prefer dark chocolate)

Ice Cream (eg vanilla ice cream w strawberries and bananas)

[ITry]

Being a man, I wholeheartedly agree with Breadcrumbs. I personally don't have a very discriminating palate, so I would reverse the list, putting chocolate chunk cookies on top, then ice cream, then the pies and cobbler.
As I think about it, a barbecued dessert would peak my culinary interest over the aforementioned items. Including individual interactivity with the grill would be a plus all around. It' would keep us outside where we could be men and talk football or whatever and the woemn could be inside doing whatever it is that women do at those types of functions.

[Quimbombo]

How about a dessert wine?

Tokaji.

"nuff said.

[ipsedixit]

Beer floats

Chocolate bacon anything, like bars or cookies

[pikawicca]

Apple pie a la mode.

[Frosty Melon]

Really good brownies. Or 7 layer bars.

[sherrycakes]

I was thinking Ina Garton's brownies, Harvey Wallbanger cake or bread pudding with whiskey cream sauce so I must be on the right track! Another option is mini-tart sized pumpkin, buttermilk and pecan pies.

[jameshig]

Bourbon.

Seriously!

[Aravisea]

Seriously. Or a variety of scotches. The man of the house would go nuts over that...although for a baby shower....maybe not so situationally appropriate. :)

I also second the cheesecake suggestion. Or what about an ice cream bar? A few varieties with a bunch of toppings to choose from are always fun.

[Frosty Melon]

I guess I always associate cheesecake with the Golden Girls...

[JungMann]

Bourbon would certainly pique my interest. If you infuse bourbon into caramel for a cheesecake or brownies, you're certain to have a hit. Also try spiking chocolate flavors with chilies or bacon. Bourbon and bacon pralines anyone?

[goodhealthgourmet]

"Bourbon and bacon pralines anyone?
~~~~~~
bacon peanut brittle with a nice bourbon or scotch.

[monku]

Bread pudding with bourbon sauce.

[coll]

Cheesecake usually works.