Need 'wow' dessert that's not a cake that lookings amazing like I've spent hours but really haven't!

[Lilykin]

Hi

I really need a 'wow' dessert that's not a cake, trifle or cheesecake but looks really amazing like I've really spent ages making it in the kitchen.

Buying the whole thing from a shop and passing it off as my own is not an option!

I am stuck, please help.

Big squidgy inside meringues with passion fruit, raspberries and whipped cream?

lemon meringue rouladr. everyone thinks meringue is difficult to make but this is easy peasy

If I need to do something like this I make this nigella mousse

But put in glass tumblers, add raspberries in the bottom, do one layer with white chocolate mousse - leave to set for a few hours (the actual making takes minutes) then another layer of dark chocolate mousse.

People think you've spent ages, the whole thing takes about 30 minutes of actual making time, in 2 15 minute blocks with a bit of setting time. If you feel like being super fancy, grate some white chocolate over the top.

Dark chocolate and pear frangipane? I melt the chocolate in the microwave, use ready to use, pre-rolled puff pastry, and do all the mixing in a food processor, chucking it all in together. It's very tasty.

or for even more 'easy' version, do it with rich dark chocolate alone, put in esspresso cups, grate white chocolate over the top to be the froth and serve. With dark chocoalte it's v rich so you really don't want much!

Pavlova.

The nigella ones are good and everyone is always impressed.

Iced berries with hot white choc sauce.

mischiefmayhemandmotherhood.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/chocolate-swiss-roll-ice-cream-cake.html

Key lime pie. Go to carnation web site for recipe. It's lush.

I posted this same dilemma a few weeks ago and ended up making tiramisu - 'twas tasty and impressive, and took about 20 mins to assemble including washing up

Chocolate cherry trifle!

Eton mess or some kind of portioned out pre prepared roulade in a glass with v pretty and subtle decoration

Nothing too sweet

Fruit always nice

Try getting local ingredients (if fruit)

Yummy:) Thanks everyone I like all of them but I think my guests will like sharond101's Swiss cake icecream suggestion and DontmindifIdo chocolate mousse suggestion.

Please keep any more ideas coming in, need an excuse to try more dessert recipes and scoff them myself for future occasions:)

Eton Mess.

With a ton of edible glitter and crystallised rose petals.

lemon mille fueille (sp?) - ready rolled puff pastry, cut into thirds. bake. Whip double cream, add a big dollop of lemon curd, mix a bit, but so you still can see the curd. Layer it pastry,cream, pastry, cream, pastry (keeping the nicest piece for the top). Dust with icing sugar.
Cut using a bread knife, but very carefully. Looks amazing, tastes amazing, almost zero effort

Go to M&s.
Purchase their ready made profiteroles (2 boxes for added height and wow-ness).
Stack said profiteroles into a croquembouche and stick them together with ready made caramel sauce.
Drizzle more sauce over just before serving and dust with icing sugar.
Et voila.

Minion-the croq. tower certainly will look wow. Hmm, I can get away with saying I made it because I had to create a tower it hold it place...;)

Google Nigella's express cheesecake. Tastes amazing, always gets a 'wow', if you decorate it 'posh' you can make it look as good as it tastes (think poncey fruit - can't think of the name but like syphillis - and mint leaves as decoration etc)