From pantry to plate sounds like a dream for busy hosts…and yes, we’ve got you covered! Here are 5 simple and quick recipes to follow if you are on a time crunch.
From Pantry To Plate: Chocolate Mug Cake
Whenever the host is in a rush and has to prepare an impressive dessert, a chocolate mug cake comes out on top. It requires a few ingredients and just a few minutes. The beauty of a mug cake, though, lies in the simplicity as it can be made with the regular staples of flour, sugar, cocoa powder, milk, oil and a pinch of baking powder — you can make a rich, intense dessert with almost little to no preparation time. All you really need is a microwave safe mug, a spoon and a microwave to transform these basic ingredients into a warm, fluffy cake.
To prepare the cake, simply mix all the dry ingredients in a mug and add the wet ingredients and proceed to mix until smooth. Even stirring in some chocolate chips or adding a dollop of peanut butter does the trick. Cook it for 1-2 minutes in the microwave, and voila — your hot and decadent chocolate cake is ready to be enjoyed. This mug cake recipe will best suit individual servings, making it perfect for an unplanned treat or any small gathering.
This dessert is equally extremely versatile. You can top it with a scoop of ice cream, whipped cream or even caramel or chocolate sauce. The chocolate mug cake will revolutionise the busy home space — quick, without trying, and sweet to the taste. This is definitely a great home-made dessert made in q short amount of time. This dessert would come great when you look forward to impressing somebody without going through a cumbersome recipe.
From Pantry To Plate: Chocolate Dipped Fruits
Chocolate-dipped fruits are perfect for a busy host to impress their guests with minimum effort. They combine natural sweetness and the richness of fruits with that of chocolate which makes them appealing to almost everyone. That is what makes this dessert one of the best, given that few ingredients are needed to prepare this dessert and only a short amount of time is required to do the job.
You can choose among strawberries, bananas, slices of apples or even dried fruits like apricots and figs to be coated by some yummy chocolate. The only thing that makes chocolate-dipped fruit delectable is the quality of chocolate. You can use dark, milk or white chocolate — whichever you prefer or suits the flavour you want.
To prepare, all you have to do is melt your desired chocolate in the microwave or over a double boiler until smooth and clump-free. Dip each fruit about halfway into the melted chocolate and place them on a parchment-lined tray. You can get creative by adding various toppings such as crushed nuts, sprinkles or shredded coconut while the chocolate is still warm. You could even drizzle on contrasting chocolate such as white chocolate over dark in a decorative pattern as this is a way to give them added looks and aesthetics. Once dipped, place the fruits in the refrigerator to set the chocolate.
Not only is chocolate-dipped fruit fast and easy, but it is a bit healthier from other sweets and still feels so decadent. They can be served on a platter as finger foods, making them great for guests and very minimal cleanup for maximum flavour.
From Pantry To Plate: No Bake Cheesecake
When it comes to quick and easy treats, no-bake cheesecakes are just the thing for anyone who wants to serve up a really delicious and crowd-pleasing dessert without having to spend way too much time and effort in the kitchen. They are not only easy to make but can also be served for a variety of functions or gatherings. When it comes to a no bake cheesecake, the process is simple as the base can consist of easy to obtain ingredients such as crushed graham crackers mixed with butter and sugar pressed into the bottom of small jars or glasses.
No-bake cheesecake is the best when it comes to saving time and effort due to the lack of long hours of baking and the cheesecake filling is made from another range of simple ingredients such as cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract and whipped cream. This is placed onto the top of the crust and is kept in the refrigerator to set and once it has, you will then be able to enjoy a smooth and creamy cheesecake made at a fraction of the time.
One of the stand out factors about no-bake cheesecakes is how versatile they can be. You could pair them with anything such as fresh berries, caramelised peaches or even layer in some yummy chocolate ganache or lemon curd. These additional toppings is a great way to lift and enhance the flavour and add an attractive visual to it — making the dessert look even more complex, intricate and posh (without the time and effort)
Another advantage of no-bake cheesecakes is that they can be prepared way ahead of time. Undoubtedly quick and easy, the no-bake cheesecake is a fun and show stopping dessert for hosts that are busy but still are looking to impress and treat their guests with a yummy delight.
From Pantry To Plate: Affogato
This Italian dessert is becoming increasingly famous and has proven to be the the perfect delight for any busy host looking to offer their guests something really special without having to spend too much time or effort in the kitchen. Affogato is an extremely simple yet sophisticated dessert that is made up of only two simple staple ingredients — vanilla ice cream or gelato and a shot of yummy hot espresso.
This dessert takes literally one scoop of ice cream in a glass or small bowl, over which is poured a freshly brewed shot of espresso. Warm espresso melts the cold ice cream in such a great way. The temperature and flavour of the drink are in just perfect contrast.
Affogato is most definitely an excellent option for those looking to impress their guests without the hassle of preparing something that looks and feels extravagant while taking too much of time and energy. This dessert only requires a few minutes to put together and only needs a handful of ingredients. Affogato is a great way to end the meal. When it comes to room for customisation, affogato can be tweaked and varied in order to suit various tastes or cravings. For instance, hosts can replace the components to suit their own preference or the flavour profile of their beloved guests.
With its minimal preparation time and a truly luxurious flavour profile, affogato is indeed one of the most perfect and sought after desserts that are amazing to be served to guests while entertaining.
From Pantry To Plate: Mini Trifles
Mini trifles are the perfect dessert for the busy host who wants to impress without having to spend hours in the kitchen. These visually appealing treats are layered, can be customised and also come with the benefit of requiring minimal time to be made and assembled — which makes them ideal for those last-minute gatherings. That is the beauty of mini trifles as you can use a wide variety of ingredients depending on what you like or what you have on hand.
Traditionally, trifles are made and assembled with layers of sponge cake, custard, whipped cream and fruit. Hosts can feel free to be creative with their flavour combination and assembly. For instance, they can replace the sponge cake with crumbled cookies or give them an extra splash of colour.
You can easily make mini trifles with the use of individual glasses or jars. These servings can be made with much less effort and is easier to serve along with adding visual appeal to any presentation. It may contain as much cake, cookies, custards and puddings, whipped creams and fresh berries or fresh fruit as you wish — a mixture layered in a clear glass serving cup. Added touches of sweetness with flavour come sometimes from drizzling the creation with caramel, chocolate sauce or even some preserve from another type of fruit.
The best thing relating to mini trifles is that they can be made ahead of time. You can just set it aside as you work on other things relating to hosting, knowing your dessert would be ready by the time it is needed. Plus, they are perfect for casual dinners or even holiday gatherings.
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