FAST FOOD: A sneaky holiday dessert tip.

For me, Holidays = Dessert. No holding back. No guilt. No excuses. And if you’re also like me, you might find that holiday-time translates into constantly craving some kind of fancy dessert for your own fridge, offering to take a fabulous dessert to a friend’s party or just plain find yourself obligated to blow your in-laws’ socks off when it’s time for the big family feast. (Yes, I’ve lived all three. I still haven’t lived down that time I made my grandma’s legendary pumpkin chiffon pie for my husband’s side of the family – but didn’t allow enough time for the gelatin to solidify. It’s still a major sore-spot for me. I digress.) I’ve always LOVED making desserts. But with two toddlers, the days of me mulling over a complicated new project in the kitchen are few and far between. I need fast results, people. Here’s a sneaky way to fake a fab dessert for the holidays (or, any days) if you just don’t have time for it all and want to fool them all: I call it “Half-Bought.”

Buy a plain cheesecake from your local grocer… and then top it with homemade froth. My concoction? Pumpkin Rum Cinnamon Cream. I half-stole it was inspired by the delicious Deen Brothers’ Whipped Pumpkin Cream idea for their Thanksgiving recipe special on Cooking Channel. I basically followed their recipe but added a bit more cinnamon and pumpkin and then splashed in a little rum. Ok maybe a lot. Yum. Yum. YUM. Feel free to sprinkle with fresh fruit, chocolate chips, more cinnamon, whatever you wish. My girlfriends were wowed. Rightfully so… they were probably half-drunk off of it! I’m thinking, for Christmas or New Years, you could probably change out the pumpkin/spices/rum combo with crushed candy canes/chocolate/peppermint schnapps?? (OMG now I want to try this!!!)

Don’t forget to put the spectacle on a pretty cake plate. BAM! Fast and fancy dessert. Half-bought, fully-impressive. Fabulous.

WHAT ARE YOUR SHORTCUT TRICKS FOR HOLIDAY DESSERTS?