Simple but tasty Dinner Party dessert?

[BassAce]

I’ve been tasked this month with providing the dessert course for a dinner party with friends (no dietary restrictions other than I don’t like nuts). I’m not really a sweet cook, so I’m a bit out of my depth… what’s a failsafe simple but impressive dinner party dessert for 8 people that’s not chocolate mousse, cheesecake or poached pears?!

Appreciate any great ideas from more dessert-savvy people out there… I’m currently contemplating either a pear and frangipane tart, or a giant vanilla slice. But I’d love some extra inspiration, particularly from anyone who can guarantee it can be made by a Luddite…. 😂😂

As it’s so cold I’m going to suggest sticky toffee pudding

This posset and shortbread is ridiculously simple and delicious. Very portable too.

Posset

Yum - pear and frangipane tart!

I would get a M&S or Waitose frozen roulade if you aren't into baking, life is too short to do things you don't enjoy.

Do you have to transport it, and if so, how far, what mode of transport, can you heat it through at the other end, etc?

I served this once and it was easy and impressive

Strawberry and cream meringue roulade, would serve 8, cheap to make and quick to make also. 😋 Eggs, caster sugar, double cream and Strawberries.

Pampered chef maple and pecan crown. Comes out looking incredibly impressive but surprisingly easy
sheffieldpamperedchef.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/the-pampered-chef-%C2%AE-caramel-pecan-pastry-ring-recipe/

You suggest you want easy to make deserts then mention two fairly complex ones!

A pavlova is a real crowd pleaser and super easy. You can do the meringue in advance then whip your cream that afternoon. Just prior to eating pile cream on top of meringue disc then fruit or whatever on top and job done.

This is really easy and always goes down well. I have also done it with strawberries too and also Raspberries and used Chambord instead of cassis as that was in the cupboard.

It also isn't a prob if you don't have creme fraiche and just use cream and you can also leave out the cassis if you don't have that either same with the white wine vinegar in the meringue -- But it is a really easy recipe that looks like you went to alot of effort

www.womanandhome.com/recipes/blackberry-roulade/

Lemon syllabub (served in cool/fancy glasses if possible!)

Thank you so far for all your suggestions.

Forgot to add the important detail that only needs to be transported to neighbours house, so carried on foot.

Key lime pie so easy my 7 year can make i and it is always popular

I always do Lemon posset, bit of whipped cream and a couple of raspberries on top, with a piece of lemon shortbread (from aldi, delicious). So simple but looks great and people always rave about it

Apricot crumble. Tin of apricots and a bit of juice. Cover in crumble mix and muesli. Bake. Serve with cream / ice-cream. Lush.
Can use tinned pears too.

Mille feuille. Shop bought puff pastry. Oblong serving dish. Sharp sharp knife!

John Waite posted a lovely looking lemon curd burnt basque cheesecake on Instagram today that went straight into my bookmarked recipes. Looked straightforward but needed 3 hours to chill.

I think the OP said no cheesecakes!

Affogato, use really good quality vanilla ice cream and espresso, it's so nice and simple

Oops sorry!! That concept is alien to me, I have never knowingly refused cheesecake 😂

Well in that case, Nigel Slater’s Double Ginger cake and some good shop bought custard.

I do various desserts using a pre-baked, sweet pastry case:

• Easy salted caramel tart: Tinned caramel (I use the nestle one) put into the pastry case, leaving a small gap at the top, smooth the top with back of a spoon. Sprinkle of salt on caramel then cover in a thin later of melted chocolate. If you have extra melted chocolate, half dip strawberries in it and use as decorations

• Lemon Meringue in a pastry case

• Easy Passionfruit tart: Mix a can of condensed milk with juice of 2 lemons and pulp of 2/3 passionfruits. Pour mix into the pastry case and bake at about 180'C for approx 10-15mins until its set and before it browns

Tiramisu- no baking, it’s an assembly job. We used this recipe at Christmas - it will easily feed 8
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/best-ever-tiramisu

Has to be cold, then? I'd have said apple crumble otherwise. Really can't be beaten, especially in cold weather. Served with any or all of cream, custard, ice cream.

Your original idea of pear and frangipane tart sounds gorgeous. Another idea might be lemon meringue pie.

i second tiramisu as both easy and transportable. Nigella’s Baileys version always gets compliments!

www.nigella.com/recipes/irish-cream-tiramisu

I’ve made these so many times and they are very straightforward but have an Ooohh factor 😉

Potential issue is that one is hot and the other a frozen but removed from freezer before serving.

Google -

Nigella’s Easy Sticky Toffee Pudding -

it is delicious, as nice as you’d get out in a restaurant and it’s unbelievably easy to make, you won’t even need to take out the mixer. And custard/cream/ice cream to cut the richness.

For the other recipe google -

Lemon Meringue Ice Cream Cake (good food magazine)

this is so lovely, everyone always enjoys it.

Take some mints or fudge for having with coffee after too.