These simple and stress-free dessert ideas will have you out of the kitchen in no time and enjoying the holiday season.

1. Banana Coconut Cream Pie. Slice two bananas and layer half on the bottom of a prepared graham cracker crust. Prepare two packages of instant vanilla pudding according to package directions for pie filling. Stir 2 cups whipped topping into pie filling. Spread half of this mixture over bananas. Layer remaining bananas and then rest of pie filling. Top with 1 cup toasted coconut. Chill about two hours or until set.

2. Mini Pies. Using two prepared pie crusts, cut three inch circles (I use the top of a glass as my “cutter”). Fit each pie crust into a muffin cup. Prick the pie bottoms and bake according to package directions. After pie crusts are cooled, fill with assorted pudding flavors. Use either package mixes or even easier, already prepared pudding flavors. Top each pie with fresh fruit, chocolate chips, nuts, sprinkles or chopped candies depending on the pudding flavor.

3. Mini Tarts. Fill mini phyllo cups with fresh fruit and whipped topping.

4. Parfait Cups. Layer berries and whipped topping in small plastic cups. For a more formal presentation use wine or cordial glasses.

5. Mini Cheesecakes. Prepare a no bake cheesecake mix according to package directions but instead of using a pie plate, divide mix evenly among 12 cupcake papers. Top with fresh fruit, pie filling or candy morsels.

6. Decorated Cookies. Mix confectioner’s sugar and a small amount of milk until spreading consistency. Use to frost store bought sugar cookies. Decorate with seasonal sprinkles or sugars.

7. Chocolate Strawberries. Wash and dry 1 pint of fresh strawberries. Chill for 20 minutes. In a microwavable bowl melt 12 oz. milk chocolate and 1 tsp shortening at 15 second intervals until melted, stirring each time. Dip strawberries into milk chocolate covering half of the fruit. Place on foil lined baking sheet and cool in refrigerator.

8. Gourmet Brownies. Prepare one box of brownie mix. Add to prepared mix 6 ounces of chocolate chips. Spread in pan. Top with 1 cup chopped nuts. Bake according to package directions.

9. Chocolate Nut Fudge. Combine a 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk and 12 ounces of chocolate chips in a bowl. Microwave one minute. Stir until smooth. Add ½ cup chopped nuts. Pour into a greased 8 X 8 pan. Chill until firm.

10. Cupcakes. Using a simple box mix, prepare cupcakes according to package directions. Frost with ready-made frosting. Use seasonal colored sprinkles to decorate in holiday colors.

If you are looking for a tasty and fast recipe that is authentic Italian, this quick Italian dessert recipe is for you. There is no better way to finish off a delicious Italian dinner than with a tasty and light dessert. This recipe is great to serve your guests after a pasta dinner and wine. You can also serve this as a social dessert with coffee at any time. Tiramisu is a favorite among Italian food lovers.

Ingredients for this Tiramisu Quick Italian Dessert Recipe:
• 30 Italian lady fingers that are divided
• 2 ½ cups of strong warm espresso
• 2 ounces of chopped chocolate
• Unsweetened cocoa used for dusting the dessert
• 6 egg yolks
• ¾ cup of white sugar
• 1 ¼ pounds of mascarpone cheese
• 2 cups of heavy cream
• 1/3 cup of white sugar
• 1 ½ tablespoons of dark rum

Directions for making Tiramisu Quick Italian Dessert Recipe:
• Dip the first 18 Italian ladyfingers into the espresso
• Line the bottom of a 12 x 9 pan with the ladyfingers
• Sprinkle half of the chopped chocolate over the mixture
• Add a generous dusting of the cocoa on the mixture
• Set this aside
• Combine the egg yolks and ¾ cup of the sugar
• Mix this on high in a mixer for about ten minutes
• Mix the mascarpone by hand until it is completely mixed and lump free
• Set this aside
• Mix by a mixer or by hand the cream, 1/3 cup of sugar and the rum until it forms stiff peaks
• Add the mascarpone mix and whip this again until completely homogenous
• Spread half of the egg and cheese filling onto the ladyfingers in the pan
• Soak the rest of the ladyfingers in espresso and make a second layer over them
• Leave some spaces in between the ladyfingers and sprinkle the remaining filling evenly over the ladyfingers
• Lightly sprinkle this with more cocoa
• Wrap and refrigerate for about four to six hours
• When this is chilled, sprinkle it again with a light dusting of the cocoa
• Slice and serve with a spoon or spatula

This quick Italian dessert recipe for tiramisu will delight your taste buds and you will love how light and tasty this dessert is. You can serve small servings after a big dinner, or a little bit larger pieces as an afternoon social treat. Some prefer to serve this dessert with espresso, coffee or if you and your guests prefer to enjoy the richness, try with a nice glass of red wine.

Everyone has their favorite dessert but often forgets about the quick and easy spreads like Strawberry Shortcake, which can help to lift the stresses of planning a party. Keeping in mind that time is of the essence, finding an old time favorite that can not only entertain your guests and satisfy their taste buds but also give you a spare moment to catch your breathe will offer itself as a great option to the fast and frenzied look of the last minute chef. Following these simple instructions should leave you with some time to relax and enjoy some socialization with your friends.

When gathering ingredients for your Strawberry Shortcake, remember what you will need to make this dessert as hands-free for as possible. Dessert plates and disposable silverware are a must and usually are very affordable. Consider the option of having your guests prepare their own dessert so that all you need to do is display the items on a table for them to assemble. Do remember that if you have ever been at a party where you assembled your own dessert, when it came time to apply the fruit or sweet stuff that fewer reservations were taken than if the hostess had pre-made them. With that, do purchase extra ingredients so that you don’t run out. Starting from the bottom up the ingredients are as follows:

Biscuits or Angel Food Cake (sliced into stackable halves)

Fresh fruit (strawberries or cherries) or frozen strawberries or cherries (thawed)

Cool Whip

With a grocery list like this, you can’t go wrong in buying extra. This very simple dessert is not only a pleasure to eat but to make as well. I would also venture to guess that your guests most likely haven’t had this dessert for a while and will appreciate the reminder of such a simple pleasure.

If you decide to pre make this dish, be sure that it isn’t done too soon before the party to avoid a soggy biscuit. Other than that, these are very simple and tine efficient little treats to prepare in bulk. Happy guests, happy host, happy wallet and extra time to gab. You simply can’t go wrong.