7 Tips for Making Dessert in a Hurry

The last thing you want to do when you're tired, hungry and in a rush is spend time making dinner or as a last resort you will consider dessert delivery in Sydney with The Cupcake Room. Much as I love cooking, when it comes to dinner, I like to keep it fast and simple.

7 Tips for Making Dessert in a Hurry
[image: pexels by nicole michalou]

But I never skimp on dessert. Dessert is my favorite part of the day, and I think it's important to always have something sweet to look forward to. The problem with dessert is that it doesn't come together in the same way dinner does. Unless you're really on top of your game, chances are it's not ready when dinner is done — which means you have to wait around for it. You have a potluck to go to, or a dinner party, or an unexpected guest dropping by. You need dessert. And you need it now. No problem! Here are four tips for making dessert in a hurry:

1. Make Desserts That Don't Need the Oven

Cookies, brownies and cupcakes all need to bake — and all of that takes time. Opt for desserts that you can make in no time at all, like our Easy Chocolate Pudding or Just-Like-Grandma's Pound Cake.

2. Have Desserts on Hand at All Times

Keep some key ingredients for fast desserts in your kitchen at all times. For example, keep a few boxes of pudding mix stashed away in the pantry, or some frozen puff pastry in the freezer (you can thaw it out quickly). You don't even need to make anything; just serve up some of your homemade ice cream with some store-bought cookies and you've got a delicious dessert!

Here are some tips for getting dessert on the table fast, without resorting to late-night shopping or eating ice cream straight from the carton:

• Buy fruit in season and freeze it. This allows you to make a quick pie or crumble when you don’t have much time.

• Keep a few back-up puddings in your pantry (i.e., instant pudding mixes). You can just add milk and chill them for a quick dessert that everyone will love!

• Use cake mixes for more than cakes. Use a cake mix to make cookies, bars, and even cheesecake! Boxed cake mixes are usually located near the flour at most grocery stores.

• Have a few recipes that only take 30 minutes from start to finish, such as this twist on pineapple upside-down cake or this warm chocolate pudding.

3. Desserts with no baking required

Whether you want cookies or cakes or pies, a lot of them require oven time. That can be a big deal if you're already using your oven for dinner at the same time! A good way around this is by looking for recipes where no baking is required — including no-bake cookies, no-bake cheesecakes, no-bake fruit pies and other such delights. Not all desserts need heat!

4. Brownies

They cook quickly and can be frozen for up to six months. To make them last longer, skip the frosting and wrap them well in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then store them in an airtight container or a large resealable plastic bag. For best results when reheating brownies, put them on a baking sheet and heat them at 350 degrees F for 5 to 10 minutes or until warmed through.

5. Cookies

Make big batches of your favorite cookies and freeze them in single layers on waxed paper-lined baking sheets until they are hard enough to not stick together when they touch — from 20 minutes to several hours depending on the size of the cookie — before transferring them to freezer bags or containers. They will keep for up to three months if wrapped properly.

6. Opt for pre-made crusts

If you've got the time (or inclination), homemade pie crust is pretty easy to make, but if you're low on time, there are plenty of high-quality pre-made options out there. Just be sure to read the label — some brands use hydrogenated oils, which can be bad for your health. In this case, "fake butter" isn't better than the real thing.

7. Choose simple ingredients

If you're making a cake or cupcakes from scratch, stick with basic ingredients that require fewer steps in the recipe. The same goes for assembling a fruit cobbler or crumble — stick with frozen fruit and cut down on prep time.

Always keep dessert mix in the pantry! When it comes to cooking and baking, I'm more of a rule breaker than a rule follower — if I want chocolate cake but only have vanilla mix on hand, I'll still make it anyway!