How to fake a homemade dessert for a party?!
Answers: Ok, I am not trying to be deceitful (well, not too much). I have my husband's holiday party to attend Saturday and all the women are expected to bake a great dessert. I have cancer and I have kept it hidden from all but our closest family and friends, but I don't have the energy to bake like I used to. Any tips on how to take a store bought or bakery cake or dessert and make it look not "too perfect" or any other ideas? Please, no sarcasm. This may sound old fashioned, but it is a military event and it is a stupid tradition at this party. Thanks.
I know it's not exactly what you were asking, but how about a non-baked desert like a tiramisu? It's a bit exotic, a bit creamy, very decadent and satisfying and best of all, as it needs chilling you can even do it in batches and take a rest if you get tired.
I made this recipe last New Year and guests really loved it. I decorate with grated milk chocolate.
I hope you get to enjoy the party too at the end of the day. Happy Christmas.
http://www.circlecity.co.uk/kitchen/reci...
Buy a sheet cake & write something on it in frosting to make it look home made.
It'll be personalized & pretty :)
Ask your mom or somebody to make something that you could bring. That way it would still be homemade... and you can still take the credit :}
Something semi homeade is the ticket then. I'll post something.
This one's quick simple and delicious.
Apple Pie Napoleon
serves 8
Prep time: 20 minutes
Baking time: 50 minutes + 15 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
1 Dutch apple crumb pie, Mrs. Smith’s?
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, Pepperidge Farms?
All-purpose flour, for dusting
2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed, Cool Whip?
2 teaspoons cinnamon sugar
1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened, Philadelphia?
3/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted, C&H?
2 tablespoons caramel cream liqueur, Paul Masson?
Bake apple pie according to package directions, about 50 minutes.
Let cool.
Once cooled, break up pie with a fork.
Thaw pastry sheet at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
On a flour-dusted surface, unfold sheet.
Cut pastry into 3 strips along fold marks.
Place strips 2 inches apart on baking sheet.
Bake for 15 minutes or until golden.
Remove from baking sheet; cool on wire rack.
In a small bowl, combine whipped topping and cinnamon sugar; set aside.
In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar with an electric mixer on low speed until light and fluffy.
Add liqueur; beat until smooth.
Place 1 baked pastry sheet on a platter.
With the back of a fork, gently push down center of pastry creating a trough for filling.
Spoon in apple pie pieces; spread 1 cup whipped topping mixture over top.
Repeat layers.
Top with third pastry sheet.
Drizzle with cream cheese glaze and serve.
Buy something nice from a grocery store bakery and put in on your own plate and wrap it with holiday cellophane.
I say ask for a plane cake, whichever type you'd like and then you decorate it yourself. most of the time if you order it premade they can do that. they have to make them anyway, so why not tell them they don't have to put too much work into it
buy some unfrosted cupcakes and then frost them sloppily your self
buy one hide all evidence
dont worry girl everyone does that! buy some desert u see at the bakery and buy it itll totally work!
You can go to Costco or BJ's and buy the one that looks more suitable to you. The only that looks the one you would make.
Why not buy a gingerbread house and claim it as your own?
Its a great visual piece, delicious, and fits with the holidays.
Buy a pack of cookies, Ice cream and whatever, make it into a fake pie I guess
You could always do the Double Chocolate Chocolate Chip muffins....sweet and pretty much a dessert. The trick is to use buttermilk instead of water or milk. If it says 1 cup of water, use 1 cup of buttermilk instead. You may need to add another splash of buttermilk since it's a little thicker. The muffins will be fluffy and pretty, and no one will ever know they came from a box.
An easy way is to buy an unfrosted cake and frost it yourself with canned frosting. Very minimal effort.
Go to a really good bakery and have them make up something for you then put it on your own plate if someone asks you for the recipe just tell them it's ancient Chinese secret
Usually from your grocery bakery you can get pies, squares, or cookies, and all you would have to do is transfer them into a package from home.
I don't think cake is the best way to go because they usually look store-made.
Best of luck, with everything.
I don't remember who makes them, but the boxed "instant" cheesecakes are great and super easy to make. No one would know that you didn't labor all day on that. Or, you could make an easy fruit ambrosia -- buy pre-cut fruit and just add the marshmellows and sour cream. Everyone loves ambrosia and it's a snap to make with some fruit cocktail and whatever pre-cut fruit are available at your grocer. Good luck!
No-bake cheese cakes are available at any grocery store. They're simple, and can be decorated to look homemade....Fudged my way through this one before...By the way cancer free since 1988. Chin up!
Go to a deli at a Groc. store get a red velvet cake.they are really good.
I would get something like chocolate chip cookies and put them on a decorated plate. You can't tell if chocolate chip cookies are homemade or store bought most of the time. Hint....get chewy ones. Good luck with your health and Merry Christmas.
put on your own plate and kind of mess up the frosting or whatever. add some decerations of your own hope you get better though i willl keep you in my prays
use half and half. if u buy store bought cake mix, just make the frosting. less work!!! hope you party goes well!!
you could buy a store bought cake then scrape the icing off and put on your own. Or if there are any small ma and pa bakerys around you could ask them to make it look home made.
for cookies and squares , if they're fresh nobody will be the wiser.
Try this one. It is super easy -- even you husband can help with it.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/200...
Sorry to hear you have cancer but respect your wishes to play it down and keeping it private. Anyway, not sure if you're based in the UK. If you are and you are near to Morrisons, they do several very large sponges which you could add cream and fresh fruit to. They also look and taste homemade. Failing that, how about buying a pastry or sponge flan case and fill it yourself with gelatine and fresh fruit. No cooking (apart from melting the gelatine), quick and easy and doesn't cost too much either. Good luck!
haven't you ever seen those new glade pumkin pie scented candles.......the ad goes exactly like what you are saying..the lady doesn't have time to cook, but she is having guests over..so she gets a store bought pie, and lights a few of these pumkin pie candles..and everyone thinks she baked!!
Except one nosy person finds the candle..and says HEY wait a minute!!!!
people should be happy to see you. If you bought a pie or cake, and they compain. how crazy is that?
just do what you need to do, and if someone give you a hard time, just laugh it off, and say you are losing your touch.
Hope you get better
Go to a good supermarket or a restaurant that specializes in desserts, and purchase a pie. It looks and tastes good, it's fast and easy, and should cost about the same as home made. No need to dress it up, pies look pretty much the same.
I've done this before. Just buy a cake from a bakery or grocery store. Or any desert. The less decorations the better. Transfer to your own platter. and if it looks too professionally done, then add your own decorations or take a smooth knife or blade and carefully scrape theirs off. You could also have one made and specify no decorations.
Good luck. and I wish you the best of health and a happy holiday!
Select a bakery cake that looks reasonable for a home cook. If you visit the bakery ahead of time, you could even select a cake and ask them to make you a version without extra decoration on top. Stick to a high end bakery which will use all "real" ingredients rather than commercial shortcuts.
Pick up a box of raspberries and maybe a few sprigs of mint. Make your own decorations with berries surrounded by a couple of mint leaves.
Actually, bakeries are used to custom orders. Just drop by and ask for their suggestions. Tell them you want it to look like you made it and explain why (or not). I'm sure they can accommodate you.
If you don't already own a cake tray with a lid, pick one up. The box will be a dead givaway.
Maybe get muffins or cupcakes and turn them into butterfly cakes with cream !! Itll look like you done it!!
Or maybe a baked cheesecake with decorations on top
The idea about the cake decorating sounds easy... :)
Also maybe..... an impossible pudding.... that doesnt take much effort to make..... or scones??
best of luck...... :)
Buy a plain poundcake and spread your own whipped topping and berries on it,
or sprinkles, frosting, whatever you want