stuck with dessert, help.

[pete k]

I’ve been assigned the task of dessert for Thursday for about 20-25 people. I know my way around the kitchen and I can usually follow most recipes, but desserts are something I’m not too familiar with.

Help!

[wyogal]

Do they want pumpkin? Pie, cake, bars, cheesecake, trifle? Find a recipe and follow it, if you are familiar with the kitchen, it shouldn't be too hard. I use Pillsbury pre-made crusts, those found rolled in a box in the cooler section.

[pete k]

I'd like to use pumpkin, butternut squash, or even sweet potatoes. I want it to be simple, but not too simple if that makes any sense.

[Mother of four]

Pumpkin cheese cake is always good, and one cake feeds a lot as it is quite rich. Maybe make something chocolate for those who are not into pumpkin.

[attran99]

The Voltaggio brothers made a butternut squash cheesecake on their Thanksgiving special. Recipe available on Cooking Channel website.

[nemo]

What wyogal said. But I think you should take at least two, preferably three, choices. If you know your crowd wants pumpkin or sweet potato pie, take two and augment with maybe lemon bars. If you know your crowd will only want a sliver of this or that, take a pie, lemon bars or tassies,, and maybe chocolate truffles. Be sure to take enough whipped cream! (Whip at the last minute at the venue, or whip ahead and store in a moistened cheesecloth lined strainer over a bowl to catch the drips, keep refrigerated with plastic wrap.)

[danna]

Not only would it be nice to take 3 kinds of pie ('cause some of us loathe squash-based-dessert), but 20-25 people will demand at least 3 pies. I agree w/ wyogal that the Pillsbury (red box) pie crust is acceptable as long as your crowd are not serious pastry-freaks, and that will make the process MUCH easier.

I have made a pumpkin cheesecake that was an epicurious recipe on the cover of Gourmet many years ago. It turned out beautiful and I reproduced it several times. It moved me from "loathe" all the way to "meh" on that particular pumpkin dessert ;-)

[Heidi cooks and bakes]

I like making my whipped cream in advance. To help stabilize it, I use powdered sugar instead of granulated sugar. The corn starch holds it, it doesn't separate, and you can't taste the corn starch at all. It also doesn't change the texture.

And with a cooking intense holiday, you'll come with dessert ready to go. Kitchen space and utensils are hard to come by on Thanksgiving. You'd be a hero in my book!

[biondanonima]

That's a great tip Heidi - I'll have to try it!

[Heidi cooks and bakes]

Once you try it, you'll never go back!

[greygarious]

Go to Costco. Get two of their immense pumpkin pies at $6 each. They are fully baked and quite good. Make whipped cream or sweetened mascarpone, whipped, and pipe it in rosettes to garnish. Add candied pecans and have a warm caramel or butterscotch sauce to drizzle.

[Jay F]

I agree. Much less stress on you, and nobody will care. If you're not a Costco member, try the pies at Whole Foods.

[danna]

Some people will care, although they are hopefully too polite to let on.

[Jay F]

My thought was to make it less stressful for someone who feels *stuck* with dessert.

[goodhealthgourmet]

since you're feeding that many people i'd definitely go for something that can be made in large batches. and nemo is right, if you're the only one bringing dessert you might want to offer some flavor options.

a tray of pumpkin (or sweet potato) cheesecake bars would take care of that category, and then you could do the lemon bars or chocolate truffles nemo mentioned.

and some fellow Hounds were talking about Ina Garten's chocolate-dipped pecan squares in another thread...
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/in...

[pete k]

Excellent!

Thanks for the pointers. I think I have a clear direction of what to do now.

[goodhealthgourmet]

great. there are lots of bakers among us, so if you get tripped up with recipes or procedures just holler and we'll do our best to help you out.

[cookie monster]

Second the pumpkin cheesecake bars. I do a lot of baking, but since I'm not a huge cheesecake fan personally, I had never made it until a friend requested it for her birthday a few weeks ago. I used this recipe, recommended on a Chow.com thread, and they were super easy and a huge hit. I used gingersnaps for the crust to add some extra spice.

http://www.chow.com/action/rd2/d122e6...

You could also do pecan squares, brownies and/or lemon bars, all cut into small squares so that people can taste a couplethings without commitment to a big piece of pie or cake.

[Querencia]

1) Definitely follow the excellent advice to buy a couple of good pies---people look for pies on Thanksgiving. At least one of the pies should be pumpkin. You should offer whipped cream with it. 2) In addition you want something chocolate so make a pan of brownies (it's OK to use mix) and while they are hot pour this over them: in saucepan put 1 cup sugar, 1/3 cup milk, 1/3 cup butter. Bring to boil. Boil 1 minute by clock. Remove from burner. Dump in 1 cup chocolate chips. Stir until they melt. Pour this over the brownies in the pan. As it cools, it sets up into fudge and makes a snazzy topping for the brownies. 3) Cut up a lot of fresh fruit in a pretty glass bowl---berries, melon, grapes, pineapple, pink grapefruit---use frozen pineapple bits if you can get them. Some people will opt for fruit after a heavy meal. Offer a liqueur to pour over the fruit.

[julesrules4food]

Wow, that fudge frosting for brownies sounds great Q. Does this do a 8x8, 9x9 or 9x13 pan?

[DebinD]

That's a similar frosting to mine -except I skip the milk. Actually I just use equal parts chocolate chips and butter with a smidge of corn syrup. Although I think I always get heavy handed and use a tad more chips.

[mara44]

I would go with pumpkin pie, apple pie, and Banoffee pie. A British friend make it a few weeks ago for a dinner we had. It was brilliant and everyone loved it. http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes.... Buy the pumpkin, apple pie, and make the Banoffee pie. It's easy, no baking and I used chocolate covered biscuits from Trader Joe's. A fruit tray would be great too as someone suggested.

[attran99]

I'm making banana pudding and lemon icebox pie. I'm feeling under the weather this year, so I'll be purchasing the apple pie and pumpkin pie from Costco.

[cheesymama]

I'm not a pumpkin fan, so here's the pie I make for our Thanksgiving, it's delicious! http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/br...
I agree about something chocolate as well. I'll be trying that icing recipe for brownies!

[DebinD]

Pioneer woman apple dumplings are always a huge hit with the crowds!!
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/02/apple_dumplings/

Pumpkin is a requirement -I would buy a pie (because they taste just fine) or make these
http://spenceranderica.blogspot.com/2011/11/pumpkin-recipe-pumpkin-squares.html

And I would always throw in some chocolate
These brownies are tried and trueand easy to double for a 9x13 pan (skip the horrid frosting though and add your own) - (read the comments -don't over beat)
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/best-brownies/detail.aspx
or try this chocolate chip pie
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/chocolat...