Series: How to Cook a Thanksgiving Meal: Desserts

If an elaborate dessert table is on your menu, look no further.

Molded Desserts:

Chocolate Almond Peanut Butter Cups

Chocolate Almond Peanut Butter Cups

Chocolate Almond Butter Cups

Chocolate Pate

Pate de Fruit et Pate du Vin

Making gelee Pate de Fruit

Making gelee Pate de Fruit

Custard Based:

Strawberry Cheesecake rhubarb compote

Strawberry Cheesecake rhubarb compote with hemp seed crisp

De-constructed Strawberry Cheesecake with Rhubarb Compote

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding with Toasted Almonds

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding with Toasted Almonds

 

Pies and Tarts:

Easy tart and pie crust

Easy tart and pie crust

An Easy Crust for Pies and Tarts

Fig, Almond Frangipani Tart

Fig and almond tart

Fig and almond tart

A delicious Green Tomato Pie

A delicious Green Tomato Pie

Green Tomato Pie

Cherry Hand Pies

Cherry Hand Pies

Hand Pies

Lemon Blueberry Tarts

Lemon Blueberry Tarts

Lemon Blueberry Tarts

Nut Crusted Fruit Tart

Nut Crusted Fresh Fruit Tart

Nut Crusted Fresh Fruit Tart

Cakes and Brownies:

Applesauce Cake

Applesauce Cake

Applesauce Oatmeal Cake

Gluten Free Almond Cake

Gluten Free Almond Cake

Versatile Gluten-Free Almond Cake

Quince and Gingerbread

Quince and Gingerbread

Quince and Gingerbread

Oatmeal Cranberry Bars

Oatmeal Cranberry Bars

Zucchini Brownies

Zucchini brownies

Zucchini brownies

Cookies:

Raw Almond Date Cranberry Cookies  Rather than "raw" let's call them "No Bake"

Raw Almond Date Cranberry Cookies
Rather than “raw” let’s call them “No Bake”

Almond Date, Cranberry Lime No Bake Cookies

Cranberry Oatmeal Bars

Glazed Lemon Shortbread

Pumpkin Snicker-doodles

Something Special:

Cinnamon, Almond, Pistachio Danish Ring

Serve warm  Apple Dumplings with whipped cream and caramel sauce. A few fresh berries add color to the plate.

Serve warm Apple Dumplings with whipped cream and caramel sauce. A few fresh berries add color to the plate.

Pineapple, Chestnut, Caramel upside Down Cake

Cinnamon Almond Danish Ring

Cinnamon Almond Danish Ring

Warm Apple Dumplings

 

 Have Fun!

#holidaybaking #desserts #makedessertsathome #dessertrecipes #gettingfat

 

Nut Crusted Fruit Tart Re-Visited

Nut Crusted Fruit Tart Re-Visited was in the make as we ate the first tart.

So delicious, we started talking how we could modify the recipe.

The second Nut Crusted Fruit Tart

The second Nut Crusted Fruit Tart

This is how we changed it.

For the Crust:

Keeping in mind the ratio is 1 cup dried fruit to 1 cup nuts, the possibilities are limitless!

This time we used:

  • 1/3 cup almonds
  • 1/3 cup pecans
  • 1/3 cup pistachios
  • 1/2 cup dates
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 4 pitted prunes
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
Look at that crust! I love how the cranberries and pistachios look!

Look at that crust! I love how the cranberries and pistachios look!

This made a beautiful crust! Just process it all in a food processor and press it into your pan. The consistency should hold together when your squeeze a bit of the mixture in your hand. If it doesn’t, add more dried fruit until it holds together.

Fruit Filling

This time we had a bit of each of these fruits on hand:

  • Mango
  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Blackberries
  • Raspberries
  • Bananas

This time I photographed how to lay in the bananas.

Tyler asked if the bananas could be substituted but the role they play is to provide a nice base for the fruit to lay on also, to absorb some of the juices. The bananas also mimic the custard, pastry cream  or marzipan filling on traditional fruit tarts. Here’s how you lay the bananas in the pan.

Flatten the bananas into the pan, cut side down.

Flatten the bananas into the pan, cut side down.

We were short on strawberries for the puree, so we pureed a mango instead. I think kiwi puree would look amazing!

Place strawberries on top of the bananas

Place strawberries on top of the bananas

Add the puree the edge with raspberries and blackberries

Add the puree the edge with raspberries and blackberries

On top of the bananas, we placed sliced strawberries, then poured the mango puree over the top of the tart. Then we placed raspberries and blackberries around the edge, a ring of blueberries, then a ring of blackberries, leaving the center open to show the brilliant mango color in the center.

A nice slice!

A nice slice!

To maintain a healthy dish, instead of adding that tempting dollop of whipped cream, use Greek yogurt flavored with honey and vanilla instead. And if mint was growing outside now, I’d also add a mint leaf or two.A nice slice!

Here’s the thing about this tart:

No cooking! All you need to make this is a knife, cutting board, a food processor large or small, a tart or pie pan.

Since Tyler is moving back on campus next semester, he will use his Kitchenaid “Handy-Chopper” which is a nice small convenient unit.

Tyler has decided to use this as his signature go-to dish. I think his roommates will be impressed.

Nut crusted Fruit Tart with Mango Puree

Nut crusted Fruit Tart with Mango Puree