I don’t often talk about baking on this blog. In part because I don’t really enjoy baking. As you all know I also can’t eat gluten which makes baking even more difficult. So, when I do make desserts I prefer ones that aren’t baked.
Today I thought that since we never talk about desserts it was high time. So I decided to put together a list of no-bake desserts that I love to eat and make. These are all desserts that I have made at home and at dinner parties, and they will please just about everyone you serve them too. Being no-bake, they are also great for the summer as they don’t heat your house up too much.
So, without further ado, this is my
Number 5 – Strawberry Cheese Cake Cups
Okay, let’s talk about these little guys. Regular cheesecake is made by mixing cream cheese with eggs, sugar, and vanilla. The mixture is then poured over a graham cracker crumb base and baked. Once cooked it is cooled and topped with strawberry jam or something like that.
Similar to the original, this no-bake strawberry cheesecake is made by whipping together cream cheese, sugar and vanilla and a little bit of whipping cream. The cream thins out the cream cheese just enough that it can be squeezed through a piping bag.
This cheese mixture is then layered with fresh or macerated strawberries and graham cracker crumbs. This gives all the elements and flavours of cheesecake without the need for baking and in a fraction of the time. Portioned individually they make a great dessert for a party or large get-together.
Ingredients
- 1 8 oz block cream cheese room temperature
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs gluten-free if preferred
- 1 pint Strawberries washed, dried, and sliced
- 1/2 cup Whipping Cream (more may be needed)
Instructions
- Cut the cream cheese into small pieces and place in the bowl of a mixer with the paddle attachment.
- Add the sugar, vanilla, lemon zest and juice and beat on medium speed for about two minutes.
- Add in the cream in a slow steady stream.
- Once all the cream is incorporated turn the mixer to high and beat until light and fluffy.
- Put the cheese mixture in a piping bag and allow it to chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- set up 6 equal-sized cups or ramekins.
- Place a few sliced strawberries in the bottom of the cup, top with graham cracker crumbs, and a layer of the cheese mixture. Repeat for two more layers, finishing with a layer of cheese and strawberries.
- Chill for one hour then serve.
Number 2 – Lemon Curd
Lemon curd is one of my all-time favourite desserts. It has such a bright, fresh flavour that it is great to finish almost any meal. Lemon juice and zest, cooked with eggs, butter, and sugar. What could be better?
I have talked about lemon curd here before and shared this recipe from Epicurious. It is the recipe I use and so I am going to share it again. It couldn’t be simpler.
Number 3 – Bananas Foster
Bananas Foster is a dessert that originates in New Orleans. It is bananas cooked in caramel doused in rum, lit on fire, sprinkled with cinnamon, and served with vanilla ice cream. Yeah, I’m drooling too!
To make this dessert you first make caramel with brown sugar and butter. Take about 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 2 tbsp of butter and put them in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Once the butter and sugar melts and starts to bubble add in 2 bananas that are peeled sliced in half lengthwise and widthwise. Start the bananas flat side down, cook for about 30 seconds, flip and cook for 30 more seconds. Now add in 1 oz of rum, stand back and light it on fire. While the flames are still burning sprinkle over 1/2 tsp of cinnamon. Serve with vanilla ice cream as soon as the flames burn out.
Number 4 – Chocolate Mousse
You guys know I love Julia Child. I talked about it last week. Well, I have yet to find a chocolate mousse recipe that is better than hers. So, that is the recipe I use.
Chocolate mousse is like the most decadent chocolate pudding you will ever have. Chocolate is melted with espresso, mixed into egg yolks that have been beaten with sugar, and then enlightened with whipped egg whites. The mixture is left to chill and set and what you get is the richest, chocolatiest dessert known to man. The kicker is it isn’t difficult to make. Yes, there is some skill involved, and it takes a bit of time, but the effort is well worth it.
Here is a link to Julia’s Chocolate Mousse Recipe. Epicurious was nice enough to write it out for all of us.
Do yourself a favour and make this at least once in your life.
Number 1 – Tiramisu
The word Tiramisu literally means “pick me up” in Italian. The name is likely due to the amount of coffee, brandy, and sugar, in the dessert and the little jolt of energy you get after eating it. So, what exactly is Tiramisu?
It starts with a mousse. Similar to the chocolate mousse we just talked about except this version is made with mascarpone cheese. The cheese is mixed with vanilla, egg yolk, sugar, and a touch of brandy, then whipped until it is light. The egg whites are then whipped to soft peaks and folded into the yolk mixture to make a light mousse.
To make the Tiramisu, ladyfinger cookies are dipped in a mixture of hot espresso, sugar, and brandy, and layered with the mousse. The top layer of the cheese mousse is then sprinkled with cocoa powder. The dessert is then put in the fridge to set for a few hours.
While the tiramisu is in the fridge something magical happens. The cookies soften and form a moist cake-like layer. This is juxtaposed by the delicate airiness of the mousse. Finally, it is all tied together by the bitterness of the cocoa. Amazing!
Ingredients
Mousse
- 500 g Mascarpone Cheese
- 5 eggs Yolks and Whites Separate
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 tbsp Brandy
Assembling
- 1 pkg Italian Lady Finger Cookies
- 1/4 cup Brandy
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 1 1/2 cups espresso or very strong coffee
- 1/4 cup Cocoa to top the dessert
Instructions
Mousse
- Whip the egg yolks with 1/2 cup of sugar
- Add in the mascarpone, vanilla and brandy and mix well. Set aside.
- Beat the egg whites on low until they start to foam.
- Tune the speed up on the mixer and slowly pour in the remaining half cup of sugar.
- Beat the whites to soft peaks.
- Fold the whites into the yolk mixture in three additions.
Assemble
- Place a thin layer of the cheese mouse on the bottom of a high-sided 9×9 inch dish.
- Mix the coffee, brandy, and sugar together.
- Dip one cookie at a time in the coffee mixture and place, sugar side down on the layer of cheese mousse.
- Repeat this process until the whole bottom of the dish is leayerd with cookies.
- Top the cookies with a layer of the cheese mousse about 1/2 inch thick then more cookies.
- Do this until you reach the top of the dish or run out of mousse.
- Make sure to finish with a layer of the mousse.
- Put the cocoa in a small sifter or mesh sieve and shake over the Tiramisu.
- Put the Tiramisu in the fridge to set for at least two hours and serve.
Conclusion
Dessert doesn’t have to be really complicated, it doesn’t have to heat your house, and it can still be amazing. All of these are examples of no-bake desserts that will blow your family and friends away and every one of them can be made gluten-free (use gluten-free cookies for the tiramisu).
I highly suggest that you pick at least one of the desserts from this list and make it at least once. You will be so happy that you did.
As always, thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
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