Easy Dessert Recipes

Here are a few easy and delicious recipes to make or eat on a cold winter’s day or anytime!

Crockpot Hot Chocolate

1/2 cup dry baking cocoa
12 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1/8 tsp. salt
7 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

In a 3 quart crockpot, combine milk, water and vanilla. Then add cocoa and salt, whisking until smooth. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours. Serve with marshmallows or whipped cream. Serves 8.

Tips:

If you are in a hurry, heat up the water before adding it to the crockpot.
Add a cinnamon stick or a little instant coffee for 2 different flavors
If it burns slightly around the edges, you can still drink it. Just be careful not to scrape the edges and consider cooking at a lower temperature the next time.

From Reader: Bea

Johnny Appleseed Squares

5 medium apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 cups biscuit baking mix
1/2 cup PLUS 2 Tbsp. cold butter
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9 inch square baking pan. Combine apples with the condensed milk and cinnamon in a bowl.

Measure 1 cup of the biscuit mix into another bowl and cut in 1/2 cup of the butter until it resembles large crumbs. Stir in the apple mixture and spoon the batter into the baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/2 cup biscuit mix with the sugar and cut in the remaining 2 Tbsp. butter until crumbs form. Stir in the nuts. Sprinkle the nut mixture evenly over the apple batter and bake 50-60 minutes.

Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Bars

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup molasses
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. cloves
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups flour

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Mix butter and sugars until fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and molasses and beat 1-2 minutes until lighter brown. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Batter will be very thick. May have to pat into pan.

Pour into 9×13 pan or 8×8 pan* lined with parchment paper or foil and sprayed with cooking spray. Bake until it starts to turn a little brown on the edges.

*If you want a thinner bar, use a 9×13 pan and bake for 20-22 minutes. For a thicker bar use the 8×8 pan and add 2-3 minutes of baking time.

Frosting

4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened (1/2 stick)
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Beat all ingredients together and frost bars when cool.

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