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The holiday season is the perfect time for hosting family and friends! I love having opportunities to spend time with people I love…catching up over wonderful conversation AND good food! I’m also particularly fond of serving up sweet treats on a festive dessert table…especially when they’re as easy as they are delicious! I think it’s fair to say most of us love the idea of entertaining but can be overwhelmed at this busy time of year…but don’t let that stop you! Today I’m sharing some festive ideas for how to host a “Ladies Night In” that’s so easy and cheerful…with delicious desserts that will have your guests talking! Check out the holiday cheer…
festive desserts that will have you dancing with joy!
i’m so happy to have teamed up with Marie Callender’s and Reddi-Wip, to share with you some festive desserts that look AND taste like you slaved in the kitchen all day! see how to set up a delicious & whimsical “Nine Ladies Dancing Dessert Table”…and you might feel like dancing because it’s so easy to do! i popped into my local Kroger store to grab all the goods to create a dessert display of mini cake “stacks”, caramel apple pie parfaits, and a tower of pound cake!
crowning touch
being the mom of two boys, i don’t often get the opportunity to decorate all girly…so when i have the chance to entertain with my gal pals i always spruce up my table & treats with feminine touches!
Marie’s Callender’s® Pound Cake Loaf Cake is ready right from the freezer! i sliced mine and layered it into a pretty stack of made from scratch deliciousness!
to add some holiday touches i topped it with sprinkles, mini cookies, a dollop of cotton candy, and a ballerina ornament!
pretty parfaits
it’s so easy to make some special treats with Marie Callender’s® Dutch Apple Pie…
from the freezer right to the oven…it couldn’t have been easier and my kitchen smelled heavenly!
it was almost a shame to turn this pretty pie into something else…but for my holiday party it got a festive new twist as caramel apple pie parfaits!
once it’s cool you can begin with a dollop of pie in a pretty glass…
top it with toffee bits and caramel sauce…
make sure to add plenty of crumble AND the flaky, made-from-scratch crust in the layers…
keep layering toward the top ending with pie & crispy crumbles…
but leave plenty of room for a generous topping of Reddi-Wip® Real Whipped Cream…
a perfect compliment to any holiday dessert! (cover and refrigerate the pie portion until ready to serve…then pipe on the dreamy whipped ruffles)
once on the table i gave the topping a dose of sparkle…
not only are these so incredibly easy to make but they’re SO delicious i had to hide them from my family or i wouldn’t have had any left! (one pie makes approximately 6-8 medium parfaits)
joyful mini bites
one thing i love about semi-homemade treats is that you can serve up that home-baked taste and still have time to have some styling fun! if you try these mini “stacks” make plenty…because once you start popping them in your mouth, it’s hard to stop!
layer Marie’s Callender’s® Pound Cake Loaf Cake with Marie Callender’s® Double Chocolate Chip Loaf Cake and you get a bite of two delicious bakery-inspired flavors in one!
easy DIY instructions…
slice the loaf cakes with a tiny biscuit or cookie cutter to create your simple shapes…
i used the pound cake on the bottom and spread on a layer of strawberry jam…
stack the chocolate cake on top and add any loose chocolate bits…
then simply secure it with a decorative pick!
i loved these pretty princess ballerinas…perfect “ladies dancing” for my girly, holiday theme!
you can make these little festive desserts ahead and go from fridge to table in a snap!
how cute do they look on top of this painted craft shape? a sweet substitute for a platter!
tabletop
festive desserts deserve festive decorations…but that doesn’t mean you need to be a designer to pull of a pretty display! i’m a big fan of using easy paper products at parties! just stack an array of hues and shapes for an effortless “custom” look!
a simple ornament & tiny cookie placed on top adds to the holiday cheer!
tiny glue dots secure a strand of pretty trim to the disposable cups…
and a stick of candy makes a delicious swizzle-stick for a festive punch!
pretty flowers always add a charming touch…and just a couple scattered about is all you need!
and for more whimsical color, honeycomb balls look cheerful on the table…but they also look great as a backdrop! open them halfway and secure them to the wall with painters tape!
let your creativity shine with your decor AND desserts…easy never needs to be less elegant, festive OR delicious!
entertain with ease this season!
you can find these delicious products to help you serve up the holidays in the Kroger frozen dessert isle…
get your coupons here…
and don’t forget to print off this recipe for easy caramel sauce for your caramel apple pie parfaits!
- 1 Cup sugar
- 1/4 Cup water
- 8 Tablespoons butter cut into pieces
- 1/2 Cup heavy cream
- 2 1/2 Teaspoons vanilla
- pinch of salt
- In a heavy pan add the water. Pour the sugar evenly over the top and place pan over medium heat swirling gently by the handle until the sugar dissolves and syrup is clear. Avoid letting the syrup boil until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- When sugar is dissolved, increase the heat, cover tightly and boil for 2 minutes.
- Uncover and continue to boil until it begins to darken around the edges. Gently swirl until the syrup turns deep amber.
- Remove from heat and add the butter. Gently beat with a whisk until butter is incorporated.
- Stir in heavy cream. If caramel sauce becomes lumpy set pan over low heat and stir until smooth. Remove from heat and add the vanilla and pinch of salt.
- Cover and refrigerate up to one month. (When re-heating you can add some water if it is too thick.)
enjoy your holidays and special parties with semi-homemade desserts that will shine!
thank you Marie Callender’s and Reddi-Wip for making it easy to serve up some festive joy!
Anonymous
December 11
These desserts look amazing, and for me, they’re straight-forward enough that it looks like I can do them in a short time. Thank you, Lori!
Susan
December 11
What great dessert ideas ! Everything looks delicious and so pretty
Lori
December 12
Thank you so much Susan! It was a fun one to work on! xoxo
Courtney Buteau
December 11
Lori, this post is amazing. It is so festive and looks like a beautiful holiday party. I also love your caramel sauce recipe. It’s the perfect addition to these desserts you created. Love love! #client
Lori
December 12
I appreciate it so much Courtney! It was so much fun to create a party table with things that were so delicious! Thank YOU!!!
Laura
December 11
This all looks incredible!!! I love the parfaits and those cute toppers !!! Such amazing inspiration and I can’t wait to try all of these ideas out this holiday season!
Lori
December 12
Thank you Laura!! I really appreciate it and I hope you try them…they were delicious and sooo easy! xoxo
Lori
December 12
Oh I’m so glad you liked them! I also love things that save me time and still look & taste yummy!!
Beth
December 13
I can’t decide if I’m going to make the caramel apple pie parfaits or the ballerina bites! Both are fabulous!
Lori
December 17
Thanks so much Beth! They both were really yummy! xoxo
Brenda
December 19
What an amazing party. Love all the pink and those sweets look so amazing!!!! Plus, those tablesetyings with the ornaments is so pretty!
Lori
December 20
Thank you Brenda! It was so fun to play with pink for this one! xoxo