Need some ideas and recipes for special occasion
elphie754
Posts: 7,574 Member
Our household is hosting a special event next week. With everything that is going on, I completely forgot that I had offered to take care of the desserts. Only problem? I can't bake lol. Last time I tried making a cake, well let's just say I wouldn't even feed it to a raccoon.
With that said, looking for some ideas of non-cake based desserts. I have a few ideas in mind (like chocolate covered fruit) but I feel like that is just "plain". Anybone have any suggestions or go to recipes?
*The dessert absolutely can not contain wheat, barley, oat, gluten, or red dye #40*
With that said, looking for some ideas of non-cake based desserts. I have a few ideas in mind (like chocolate covered fruit) but I feel like that is just "plain". Anybone have any suggestions or go to recipes?
*The dessert absolutely can not contain wheat, barley, oat, gluten, or red dye #40*
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Replies
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Hmmm, if you can get chocolate cookies that suit your dietary needs you could make this one - it's very easy, just a stack of biscuits (cookies) sandwiched together with cream. But it looks like you made an effort!
What about a trifle? It's a good classic celebration dessert and if you buy cake or similar that is gluten free etc you would be OK.
Or a choc avocado mousse, just blend everything up together.... Or some kind of truffle - mostly chocolate and cream, though they might be a bit more fiddly than you feel like.
Or, my aunty used to make a really yummy sweet dip to have with fruit - I think it was basically whipped cream with chocolate and other good stuff mixed in. Or fondue, everyone loves fondue...oh oh, do you know anyone who has a chocolate fountain - that would look like you had made a big effort!
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Yum. We used to have something just like that growing up, but we called it an ice box cake. I'm pretty sure the one gluten free company I buy from sells thin chocolate wafer cookies.
This is kind of sad, but I have no idea what trifle is lol.
The mousse does sound really good.
Haha. Once upon a time my parents had a chocolate fountain, but I'm pretty sure they got rid of it.
Thank you!0 -
My quick go to:
-crumble your favorite cookies into glasses
-cut up your favorite fruit and mix it with a bit of sugar, layer over the cookies
-mix whipped cream with vanilla extract (and a spot of sugar if you like it sweet) and layer over the fruit
-add a few pretty looking slices of fruit on top as decoration
voilà quick and easy dessert
ETA: you can make as many layers as you want... I tend to make double the fruit/cream layers for visual effect
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i make a non bake cheesecake that everyone loves.
cookies (gluten free for you) and butter for the base. crush the cookies fine,melt enough butter and pour it over the crushed cookies.mix well until it's nicely moist but firm.put on the baking tin and cover the bottom.that's the base. put it in the fridge to cool.
a pack of philadelphia cheese, and a whip cream (the type that is in powder form and you add milk to it).whisk according to the instructions to make the whip cream, and add the philadelphia.pour it over the biscuit base .that's the cream part.put in fridge again.
after 3-4h in the fridge,take it out and cover the top with jam. i prefer cherry or strawberry,or blackberry.put it in the fridge until you're ready to serve.
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jennypapaje wrote: »i make a non bake cheesecake that everyone loves.
cookies (gluten free for you) and butter for the base. crush the cookies fine,melt enough butter and pour it over the crushed cookies.mix well until it's nicely moist but firm.put on the baking tin and cover the bottom.that's the base. put it in the fridge to cool.
a pack of philadelphia cheese, and a whip cream (the type that is in powder form and you add milk to it).whisk according to the instructions to make the whip cream, and add the philadelphia.pour it over the biscuit base .that's the cream part.put in fridge again.
after 3-4h in the fridge,take it out and cover the top with jam. i prefer cherry or strawberry,or blackberry.put it in the fridge until you're ready to serve.
That sounds really good.1 -
I also suggest a no bake dessert. I like the ideas of a trifle or a layered dessert with whipped topping.
Here is a no bake torte that is rich and delicious. It meets all your criteria.
http://talesofakitchen.com/desserts/chocolate-banana-cake-with-caramel-layer-and-cacao-nibs/
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I also suggest a no bake dessert. I like the ideas of a trifle or a layered dessert with whipped topping.
Here is a no bake torte that is rich and delicious. It meets all your criteria.
http://talesofakitchen.com/desserts/chocolate-banana-cake-with-caramel-layer-and-cacao-nibs/
Thank you0 -
A local celebrity made her name with her first book "150 squares", Jean Pare.
All her recipes are proven crowd pleasers. Here's one.
http://faeriemousenibbles.blogspot.ca/2009/04/companys-coming-with-jean-pare.html?m=10 -
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Lol. I have been banned from baking in the oven in the apartment. They won't even let me have an easy bake oven. The stove is questionable. As my Significant others state-I need adult supervision in the kitchen or all hell breaks loose. Sometimes they will let me use the microwave. Sort of kidding, although sort of not. I can cook, and dishes come out great, but for some reason desserts and I just don't mix.
Few of my disasters while baking (yes feel free to laugh at me):
-I someone managed to burn one side of a cookie tray but not the other of frozen cookies (yeah I know, directions are on the back).
-the cake I was talking about in the Op managed to be burned on the outside and completely raw on the inside
-jello, yeah yeah, how can anyone screw up jello?? I can! I forgot Jell-O shots (with alcohol) go in freezer, regular jello goes in fridge. I put the regular jello in the freezer and it came out all crystallized
- who can forget this: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10041611/some-comedic-relief#latest. When I "self cleaned" chicken Parmesan instead of baking it
-not cooking related but growing up we never had an electric dishwasher. The dishwashers were the kids. So when I moved out, I had no clue really how to use a dishwasher in my new apartment. So after looking at it, I was like "oh this is easy". I put soap where is said soap, closed it and pressed on. Simple! Had conquered something on my own and was so proud. Yeah...... nothing is ever that easy. About 10-15 minutes later my German Shepard comes into the living room covered in bubbles. I was like wtf??? Went into kitchen and the entire kitchen was flooded with bubbles. I didn't realize you can't put regular dishwashing soap in the dishwasher. Very very messy lesson lol.3 -
Lol. I have been banned from baking in the oven in the apartment. They won't even let me have an easy bake oven. The stove is questionable. As my Significant others state-I need adult supervision in the kitchen or all hell breaks loose. Sometimes they will let me use the microwave. Sort of kidding, although sort of not. I can cook, and dishes come out great, but for some reason desserts and I just don't mix.
Few of my disasters while baking (yes feel free to laugh at me):
-I someone managed to burn one side of a cookie tray but not the other of frozen cookies (yeah I know, directions are on the back).
-the cake I was talking about in the Op managed to be burned on the outside and completely raw on the inside
-jello, yeah yeah, how can anyone screw up jello?? I can! I forgot Jell-O shots (with alcohol) go in freezer, regular jello goes in fridge. I put the regular jello in the freezer and it came out all crystallized
- who can forget this: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10041611/some-comedic-relief#latest. When I "self cleaned" chicken Parmesan instead of baking it
-not cooking related but growing up we never had an electric dishwasher. The dishwashers were the kids. So when I moved out, I had no clue really how to use a dishwasher in my new apartment. So after looking at it, I was like "oh this is easy". I put soap where is said soap, closed it and pressed on. Simple! Had conquered something on my own and was so proud. Yeah...... nothing is ever that easy. About 10-15 minutes later my German Shepard comes into the living room covered in bubbles. I was like wtf??? Went into kitchen and the entire kitchen was flooded with bubbles. I didn't realize you can't put regular dishwashing soap in the dishwasher. Very very messy lesson lol.
In this case... I'm happy I did not post some of the more elaborate creations I thought about that fulfill your criteria... I'm tempted to say your SOs would try to lynch me. Far too many things that could go wrong...
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ladyreva78 wrote: »
Lol. I have been banned from baking in the oven in the apartment. They won't even let me have an easy bake oven. The stove is questionable. As my Significant others state-I need adult supervision in the kitchen or all hell breaks loose. Sometimes they will let me use the microwave. Sort of kidding, although sort of not. I can cook, and dishes come out great, but for some reason desserts and I just don't mix.
Few of my disasters while baking (yes feel free to laugh at me):
-I someone managed to burn one side of a cookie tray but not the other of frozen cookies (yeah I know, directions are on the back).
-the cake I was talking about in the Op managed to be burned on the outside and completely raw on the inside
-jello, yeah yeah, how can anyone screw up jello?? I can! I forgot Jell-O shots (with alcohol) go in freezer, regular jello goes in fridge. I put the regular jello in the freezer and it came out all crystallized
- who can forget this: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10041611/some-comedic-relief#latest. When I "self cleaned" chicken Parmesan instead of baking it
-not cooking related but growing up we never had an electric dishwasher. The dishwashers were the kids. So when I moved out, I had no clue really how to use a dishwasher in my new apartment. So after looking at it, I was like "oh this is easy". I put soap where is said soap, closed it and pressed on. Simple! Had conquered something on my own and was so proud. Yeah...... nothing is ever that easy. About 10-15 minutes later my German Shepard comes into the living room covered in bubbles. I was like wtf??? Went into kitchen and the entire kitchen was flooded with bubbles. I didn't realize you can't put regular dishwashing soap in the dishwasher. Very very messy lesson lol.
In this case... I'm happy I did not post some of the more elaborate creations I thought about that fulfill your criteria... I'm tempted to say your SOs would try to lynch me. Far too many things that could go wrong...
Lol. I can see it now: "uhhhh what are you doing in the kitchen?" "Oh nothing, just following a dessert recipe someone gave me online". Few minutes later "why is the kitchen on fire???" Lol0 -
Are you open to just buying a nice dessert from somewhere? If I recall OP I think you are pregnant, I would play that card and say "oh just too exhausted to bake but I picked up these delicious treats from the local bakery".
I'm not much of a baker myself but after a dinner party one time I served affogato (gelato with espresso poured over it and amaretti cookies crumbled on top) and it got rave reviews, people went on and on about how fancy it was.1 -
WinoGelato wrote: »Are you open to just buying a nice dessert from somewhere? If I recall OP I think you are pregnant, I would play that card and say "oh just too exhausted to bake but I picked up these delicious treats from the local bakery".
I'm not much of a baker myself but after a dinner party one time I served affogato (gelato with espresso poured over it and amaretti cookies crumbled on top) and it got rave reviews, people went on and on about how fancy it was.
Unfortunately buying from a bakery is not an option (ever). I have such severe allergies to wheat, barley and oat, and a lot of bakeries claim gluten free, but use gf oats (which I also react to). The slightest bit of cross contamination would send me to the ER.
Yes, I'm pregnant. I already played that card which is how I got stuck with dessert. My significant others are taking care of appetizers and dinner.0 -
Okay, I'm trying not to laugh, but those are funny. I'm laughing with you, not at you! If it makes you feel any better, I don't like to bake. If I'm going to have a cooking failure, it will be with baking.
I leave that to my 15yr old DD that loves to bake.
I can vouch for the avocado chocolate pudding. That stuff is so good! If you don't tell anyone it's made with avocados, it's hard to tell. We're dairy free so I use unsweetened coconut milk and it works just as well. If you served it cold in little dessert dishes or something with sliced strawberries (or even a whole strawberry) on top it would look pretty and chocolate and strawberries always go together! And for the record, it tastes great as "breakfast" too.
Ingredients
2 large avocados - peeled, pitted
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup honey (I usually use a bit more until its sweetened to my taste buds - about 2/3-3/4 cup)
1/3 cup milk (any variety - coconut, almond, etc. not flavored)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
In a food processor or blender, blend avocados until creamy (I find a food processor easier). Add everything else and blend until smooth and the thickness you want. You can add milk and honey to your desired thickness and sweetness. It does NOT get thicker in the fridge so you want to make it the consistency you want at this point of blending it. Refrigerate for several hours until well chilled. Top with fruit or Tru Whip, or both! The recipe as it stands makes 4 - 1/2 cup servings. Approx. 400 cals per serving.0 -
ronjsteele1 wrote: »Okay, I'm trying not to laugh, but those are funny. I'm laughing with you, not at you! If it makes you feel any better, I don't like to bake. If I'm going to have a cooking failure, it will be with baking. I leave that to my 15yr old DD that loves to bake.
I can vouch for the avocado chocolate pudding. That stuff is so good! If you don't tell anyone it's made with avocados, it's hard to tell. We're dairy free so I use unsweetened coconut milk and it works just as well. If you served it cold in little dessert dishes or something with sliced strawberries (or even a whole strawberry) on top it would look pretty and chocolate and strawberries always go together! And for the record, it tastes great as "breakfast" too.
Ingredients
2 large avocados - peeled, pitted
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup honey (I usually use a bit more until its sweetened to my taste buds - about 2/3-3/4 cup)
1/3 cup milk (any variety - coconut, almond, etc. not flavored)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
In a food processor or blender, blend avocados until creamy (I find a food processor easier). Add everything else and blend until smooth and the thickness you want. You can add milk and honey to your desired thickness and sweetness. It does NOT get thicker in the fridge so you want to make it the consistency you want at this point of blending it. Refrigerate for several hours until well chilled. Top with fruit or Tru Whip, or both! The recipe as it stands makes 4 - 1/2 cup servings. Approx. 400 cals per serving.
Oh no, feel free to laugh at me lol. I'm just one of those people who shouldn't be allowed in the kitchen.
Thank you, sounds good.0 -
WinoGelato wrote: »Are you open to just buying a nice dessert from somewhere? If I recall OP I think you are pregnant, I would play that card and say "oh just too exhausted to bake but I picked up these delicious treats from the local bakery".
I'm not much of a baker myself but after a dinner party one time I served affogato (gelato with espresso poured over it and amaretti cookies crumbled on top) and it got rave reviews, people went on and on about how fancy it was.
Unfortunately buying from a bakery is not an option (ever). I have such severe allergies to wheat, barley and oat, and a lot of bakeries claim gluten free, but use gf oats (which I also react to). The slightest bit of cross contamination would send me to the ER.
Yes, I'm pregnant. I already played that card which is how I got stuck with dessert. My significant others are taking care of appetizers and dinner.
Another time when I didn't feel like baking for a dinner party I got an assortment of high end chocolates and served port and chocolate and people loved that as well. I know you can't partake of the port and I'm not sure if the chocolates work with your allergies but might be another fall back.
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Parfait
Ice cream sundaes
Banana pudding
Chocolate mousse
Rice pudding
Cheesecake
Flan
Poached pears with ice cream
Fruit salad
Sorbet
Ice cream cake0 -
WinoGelato wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »Are you open to just buying a nice dessert from somewhere? If I recall OP I think you are pregnant, I would play that card and say "oh just too exhausted to bake but I picked up these delicious treats from the local bakery".
I'm not much of a baker myself but after a dinner party one time I served affogato (gelato with espresso poured over it and amaretti cookies crumbled on top) and it got rave reviews, people went on and on about how fancy it was.
Unfortunately buying from a bakery is not an option (ever). I have such severe allergies to wheat, barley and oat, and a lot of bakeries claim gluten free, but use gf oats (which I also react to). The slightest bit of cross contamination would send me to the ER.
Yes, I'm pregnant. I already played that card which is how I got stuck with dessert. My significant others are taking care of appetizers and dinner.
Another time when I didn't feel like baking for a dinner party I got an assortment of high end chocolates and served port and chocolate and people loved that as well. I know you can't partake of the port and I'm not sure if the chocolates work with your allergies but might be another fall back.
I do know of a gluten free chocolate shop, will call them up and see what they have.0 -
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This might sound like a stinky suggestion, but honestly, when we had two with horrible food allergies in our home, it's what we did. I would make whatever it was we were suppose to take and not worry about the allergy thing. That would be served to everyone else and if my guys wanted the same type of dish - ie main dish, dessert, side dish (they would tell me ahead of time), I made separate for them. I would sometimes try to make a similar dish so it looked sort of the same but sometimes that was just impossible. It's a pain in the butt but when you're cooking around 50+ severe food allergies it's what you do or you'd go crazy. I would put theirs off to the side and make sure they were served before allowing myself to move away or I would put their food on plates and cover it in a warm oven. As people were serving themselves I would pull theirs out and put them on plates they could handle and hand it to them. The other thing they'd do is just not partake of a specific food for that event. They never made a big deal of it. If someone asked why they weren't eating something they'd just say it didn't sound good to them at that moment or they were full, whatever. And people that knew us knew the circumstances and never said anything. Definitely not as fun, but it works when you need it to.
Could you make a single serving dessert for you or just skip having dessert and then make something that you don't have to worry about the allergies (which inevitably makes it harder to cook/choose) for everyone else? Although allergy friendly recipes have greatly improved since we had to be allergy free, they are often still hard to make work (read: appetizing/appealing/not dry). I was never so glad as the day I no longer had to worry about food allergies!
Anyways, just some random thoughts.0 -
Eton Mess... it's just broken up egg white meringue cookies, which are gluten free and usually pretty easy to find, macerated fruit of choice (strawberries or raspberries, and whipped cream layered in individual glasses. You can put out bowls of the various components and people can help themselves.1
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »Eton Mess... it's just broken up egg white meringue cookies, which are gluten free and usually pretty easy to find, macerated fruit of choice (strawberries or raspberries, and whipped cream layered in individual glasses. You can put out bowls of the various components and people can help themselves.
That sounds really good right about now.0 -
ronjsteele1 wrote: »This might sound like a stinky suggestion, but honestly, when we had two with horrible food allergies in our home, it's what we did. I would make whatever it was we were suppose to take and not worry about the allergy thing. That would be served to everyone else and if my guys wanted the same type of dish - ie main dish, dessert, side dish (they would tell me ahead of time), I made separate for them. I would sometimes try to make a similar dish so it looked sort of the same but sometimes that was just impossible. It's a pain in the butt but when you're cooking around 50+ severe food allergies it's what you do or you'd go crazy. I would put theirs off to the side and make sure they were served before allowing myself to move away or I would put their food on plates and cover it in a warm oven. As people were serving themselves I would pull theirs out and put them on plates they could handle and hand it to them. The other thing they'd do is just not partake of a specific food for that event. They never made a big deal of it. If someone asked why they weren't eating something they'd just say it didn't sound good to them at that moment or they were full, whatever. And people that knew us knew the circumstances and never said anything. Definitely not as fun, but it works when you need it to.
Could you make a single serving dessert for you or just skip having dessert and then make something that you don't have to worry about the allergies (which inevitably makes it harder to cook/choose) for everyone else? Although allergy friendly recipes have greatly improved since we had to be allergy free, they are often still hard to make work (read: appetizing/appealing/not dry). I was never so glad as the day I no longer had to worry about food allergies!
Anyways, just some random thoughts.
I really can't. We don't even keep products I'm allergic to in the house because that's how sensitive I am.0 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »Eton Mess... it's just broken up egg white meringue cookies, which are gluten free and usually pretty easy to find, macerated fruit of choice (strawberries or raspberries, and whipped cream layered in individual glasses. You can put out bowls of the various components and people can help themselves.
I will second this. I was going to suggest it until the 'don't use the oven' got thrown into the mix. Never thought of buying the maringue.
We quite often do it for Christmas desert.
You could also do fresh fruit kebabs with a couple of dipping sauces.
Have a fun dinner party.
Cheers, h.0 -
middlehaitch wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »Eton Mess... it's just broken up egg white meringue cookies, which are gluten free and usually pretty easy to find, macerated fruit of choice (strawberries or raspberries, and whipped cream layered in individual glasses. You can put out bowls of the various components and people can help themselves.
I will second this. I was going to suggest it until the 'don't use the oven' got thrown into the mix. Never thought of buying the maringue.
We quite often do it for Christmas desert.
You could also do fresh fruit kebabs with a couple of dipping sauces.
Have a fun dinner party.
Cheers, h.
Thank you0 -
I have decided what I want to make. I have a recipe for flourless chocolate cake that I completely forgot about. It requires using the stove and oven so hopefully our kitchen fire extingusher is not expired lol. Ialso saw a cute idea of making a fruit salad and using a watermelon as a bowl. I'll likely end up doing both. Thank you everyone.2
https://youtu.be/32oIb2B1WyA
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