Desserts are my first love.  That really shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone!  When we go out to eat I reach for the dessert menu sometimes before I even pick my entree.  I can’t help it!  Even though I think I’m a pretty good cook, I get excited about baking and sweets.  I love experimenting with new things or combining new flavors.  I also love to bake just to give family and friends something yummy to eat.  It’s very gratifying to serve those I love through food. A couple of months ago we had a big party at our new house.  I decided to provide most of the desserts (um, a no-brainer), but I also wanted to make things that weren’t too complicated, were easy to make and just yummy.  They are also some of my favorites 🙂  I thought I would share these with you…who doesn’t need some quick desserts?!  Even though these are simple, they are gobbled up every time I make them.  I hope you like them too.

O Henry Bars….but all you have to know is peanut butter and chocolate together…the greatest combination the world has ever known.  These are basically cereal bars, jazzed up a little bit.

Mounds Bars.  This picture makes me drool.  I am a total sucker for coconut.  I know a lot of people don’t like coconut, but to me it’s divine.  And these do taste like Mounds candy bars…only possibly a little better 🙂

Lemonies.  Lemon brownies.  That’s a good way to describe them.  They aren’t quite as dense, but have a similar texture and a wonderful lemon flavor.  These are my new favorite lemon dessert, this was the first time I made these and it definitely won’t be the last.

You don’t always have to make a fussy, fancy dessert to make everyone happy.  Keep these in mind as we head toward the holidays…these are easier than cookies and just as wonderful!

O Henry Bars

(These are gluten free)

1 cup sugar

1 cup white corn syrup

1 1/4 cup peanut butter

7 cups Special K cereal or corn flakes

1 (12 oz) package semi sweet chocolate chips

Measure cereal into a large bowl.  In a saucepan combine sugar and syrup and bring to a starting boil.  Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter.  Pour into cereal and mix well until well coated.  Pour into a 9×13 greased pan.  Spread and press firmly into pan.  Melt chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds.  Spread over bars and let cool completely.  Cut into squares.

Mounds Bars

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup melted butter

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

2 cups flaked coconut

1 (12 oz) package of semi sweet chocolate chips, melted.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine the graham cracker crumbs and the sugar; mix in melted butter.  Pat into the bottom of a 9×13 pan.  Bake for 15 minutes. Remove pan from oven and sprinkle with the coconut.  Pour condensed milk evenly over coconut.  Bake again for 15 minutes. Melt chocolate chips (I use the microwave) and spread over coconut.  Let cool completely and cut into bars.

Lemonies

Do yourself a favor and just double this recipe.

3/4 cup flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 stick butter, softened

2 eggs

juice from 1/2 a lemon (I added extra lemon juice and zest!)

zest from 1/2 a lemon

Combine the flour, sugar and salt in a bowl.  Mix in the softened butter.  In another bowl whisk the eggs with the lemon juice and zest.  Add to the larger bowl and mix well.  Pour into a greased 8×8 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Glaze:

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Stir together.  After the lemonies have completely cooled, spread glaze on top.