Help! Quick dessert recipes that look like they took ages but didn't...

[TinyGang]

..Any suggestions gratefully received please.

I have to take one to a friends today. Preferably something chilled/choclatey but any favourites you have would be lovelyTIA!

Ever lasting syllabub ?

Lime and Marscapone Torte ?

Both sound good. Especially like the lime torte. Is it quick? I think I should've started yesterday with some of the recipes I've been looking at.

Eton Mess, or whatever the strawberries, cream and broken meringue thing is.

Or chocolate fondue with fruit and marshmallows to dip in. Impress by using top notch choccy.

Raspberry Cheesecake Tart:

500g carton of mascarpone cheese
4 tablespoons icing sugar
4 pieces stem ginger
250g punnet of fresh raspberries
6 rounds shortbread biscuits

1. Spoon mascarpone into large bowl. Sift over icing sugar.
2. Chop ginger, stir into mascarpone, along with a handful of raspberries. Chill until ready to serve.
3. place shortbreads on board. Form a circle around the shortbread by using a flexible ruler.
4. spoon one-sixth of the mixture into the ring, roughly levelling off. Undo the tape. Repeat on remaining shortbreads.
5. scater rest of raspberries on top and sprinkle with icing sugar.

BTW - step 3 is only if you want them to look neat, I usually just lob my stuff on!

Biscuit base

How long have you got ?

It needs to chill for a few hours.

1 tub mascarpone, 1 large bar plain chocolate, melt them together in a saucepan and pour into individual ramekins to set (makes 4). Or eat warm , straight from the saucepan and them buy another tub of mascarpone, another bar of chocolate and try again. If you're feeling poncey, sift cocoa and icing sugar over the top when they've set and add a chocolate curl

For this evening...could be ok if I get a move on now.

Thanks to BadHair and Elf too. Did Eton Mess type thing once before with same friends. Very good tho.

Soupy, I was about to post chocolate mousse but I think you may have changed my life.

Lime and Mascarpone Torte

200g Ginger Snap biscuits, crushed
2oz butter, melted
500g Mascarpone cheese
1.5oz icing sugar, sifted
zest and juice of 2 limes

Mix biscuits and melted butter and press into base of 7" round sponge tin (preferably spring sided). Put in fridge to firm.

Mix mascarpone, icing sugar, lime zest and juice in bowl and beat together. Spread over biscuit base. Chill for 30 mins to 1 hour.

Grate chocolate over the top to decorate or, if you are feeling flash, dip some grapes in water and roll in caster sugar to "frost" them before placing in a basket of chocolate leaves (which can be bought in many supermarkets) on top of torte.

I'd melt them in the microwave, me, chocolate melts beautifully in there.

:o @ MInferior. I made this recipe up when I needed chocolat dessert one day. You know those moments when mere chocolate won't do?

I think the measurements are a 200g bar of chocolate and 250g mascarpone.

Indian Mango Dessert

2 ripe mangoes
300ml double cream plus extra to decorate
2 tsp caster sugar

1. cube the mangos, (reserve a few slices of skinned mango for decorating).
2. place in blender and process until smooth puree
3. beat the cream with the caster sugar until stiff, gently fold in the mango puree. Spoon into glass dishes and chill until required. Add the mango slices to decorate and serve with whipped cream.

Lemon posset (contains uncooked egg whites)
grated rind and juice of one large lemon
4 tbsp dry white wine
55g caster sugar
300ml double cream
2 egg whites
lemon slices to decorate

1. mix the lemon rind, lemon juice and sugar in a bowl. Stir until sugar has dissolved. Add the cream and beat until soft peaks form.
2. Whisk egg whites in separate spotlessly clean greasefree bowl until stiff then carefully fold in the cream mixture.
3. Spoon into glasses and chill until required. Serve with lemon slices and amaretti biscuits.

Last one...

Chocolate and Orange Pots:

200g plain chocolate
Grated rind one orange
300ml double cream
140g golden caster sugar
3 tbsp Cointreau
3 large egg whites
fine strips of orange rind to decorate and crisp biscuits to serve

1. melt chocolate and stir in orange rind. 2)Place the cream in a bowl with 100g sugar and Cointreau and whip until thick
2. Place eggwhites in clean greasefree bowl, whisk until soft peaks form, then gradually whisk in the remaining sugar until stiff but not dry.
3. fold in the melted chocolate into the cream, then beat in a spoonful of the whisked egg whites. Then gently fold in the remaining egg whites until thoroughly mixed.
4. Spoon mixture into 8 small ramekin dishes or coffee cups. Cover and chill in fridge for one hour, then decorate with orange rind and serve with biscuits

My goodness these are all fantastic! Thanks so much everyone.

Think I might have a go at LadySherlock's lime torte and Elf's mango one. (Two's a bit greedy but what the hell!)

Better get my arse in gear then. Will let you know how it goes.

Both delicious and a big success - you saved me! Thanks again

soupdragon - I love your recipe. especially the eat it warm from the pan bit. can this be done whilst standing with your back to small children and telling them they can't lick the bowl coz it's nearly tea-time?

Also Soupy's can be fed to pregnant women. Or even just to everyone thus avoiding those awkward 'is everyone all right with uncooked eggs' questions while trying studiedly to avoid the eyes/bellies of one's guests. If you know what I mean.

it's definitely worth keeping that in mind MI. it's 14 girls* all of a pretty reproductive age. at least 2 are obviously pg, a 3rd is but not sure if the others know, for all I know several others might be too. I think I'll do cheese and biscuits and watch carefully who steers clear of the stilton .

• obvioulsy they are, individually women, but I firmmly believe that if you get more than 6 in a room they become girls.