Gourmet Cookie Bouquets Recipe Blog

Archive for the ‘Fruit Desserts’ Category

Well trifles were my dessert of choice when going to potlucks the past few months so this summer when the Colorado peaches were at their best, I made this delectable Peaches n' Cream trifle to bring to a work party.  Everyone loved it... especially my husband who LOVES peaches about as much as I love chocolate covered Oreo cookies.  Now that is saying something!

We received a footed trifle bowl in a wedding gift basket, but I must admit that until this summer, I hadn't really used it much.  I don't know why because it seems that every trifle I made was well-received and it looks impressive when you walk in the door with it.

You can see the final product in the photo above.  I left off the slivered almonds which normally would be sprinkled on top the dessert because a child at the party was allergic to nuts and I didn't want to take any chances.  That said, the extra crunch would have really added to the final product so you should use them if possible.

Peaches n' Cream Trifle Recipe

4 cups fresh ripe peaches (about 5 large or 7 medium peaches)
3 Tbsp sugar
1 - 16 oz loaf of frozen pound cake, thawed and cut into 1 inch cubes**
1 - 12 oz container Cool Whip, thawed
2 (3.9 oz) packages of instant vanilla pudding
3 cups of milk
1/4 cup slivered almonds

**We use the Sara Lee rectangular pound cake cut up like this:

Peel the peaches and slice into segments or 1" pieces - keep cutting until you have the 4 cups. Then place them in a glass bowl and toss them with the sugar. Let stand for 20 minutes or until they begin to juice. Meanwhile, use a hand-mixer on low speed for 2 minutes to mix the pudding in a glass bowl with the 3 cups of milk.

• Nutter Butter Banana Pudding Trifle
• Chocolate and Fruit Trifle Recipe
• Strawberry Valentine Trifle Recipe
• Peaches n? Cream Trifle
• Peaches and Cream Truffle Recipe

You'll find bananas in many gourmet desserts these days. They're delicious and healthy at the same time! For both those reasons, this recipe is always a hit.

• 1 cup sugar

• 2 tbs. water
• 8 firm bananas
• 1 ½ cups coconut cream
• 1/8 tsp. salt

Cook the sugar and water over low heat until syrupy. Peel the bananas and arrange in a deep skillet. Pour the syrup over them; bring to a boil. Add the coconut cream mixed with the salt; cook over medium heat until cream is absorbed, turning the bananas frequently.

For more tasty treats with bananas, try the following recipes:

• Banana Cupcake Recipe
• Gourmet Frosted Banana Bars
• Banana Nut Bread

If you've got a fruit basket with too much fruit, you may be considering different ideas to make sure that it gets used. In this case, a fruit cup salad is an excellent idea. Plus, fruit is never a bad thing!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup orange juice

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 tangerines or oranges
• 2 peaches
• 1 cup strawberries or raspberries
• 1/4 cup blanched chopped almonds

Cook the orange juice, water, sugar, and cinnamon until a syrup is formed. Cool. Segment the tangerines or oranges; slice the peaches and berries. Combine in a bowl and pour syrup all over them. Chill 1 hour; sprinkle with the nuts and serve in sherbet cups.

For more fun fruit recipes, try:

• Summer Fruits Salad
• Summer Fruit Trifle Recipe
• Fruit Mousse
• Bourbon Fruitcake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup minute tapioca

• 4 cups water
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tsp. green food coloring
• 2 cups fresh coconut, grated or 2 cups flaked coconut

Wash and drain the tapioca. Bring the water and sugar to a boil; stir in the tapioca and cook until transparent. Add the food coloring. Pour into a greased 8x8 inch pan. Chill. Cut in squares and coat all sides with coconut.

These might remind you of the coconut cookies that we tend to talk about.

Click here for a coconut cookie recipe!

If you love gourmet caramel apples then you will love this recipe for caramel apple oat bars.

Ingredients:

• 1 2/4 cup flour

• 1 cup quick cooking oatmeal

• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

• 1/2 tsp. baking soda

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 1 cup cold margarine

• 1 cup chopped walnuts

• 20 caramels

• 1 can sweetened condensed milk

• 1 can apple pie filling

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, sugar, soda and salt. Using a pastry cutter or the back of a large spoon, mix in the margarine until mixture is crumbly. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of crumb mixture for later use and then press the rest with fingers in the bottom of a greased 9x13” pan. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.

Melt caramels with sweetened condensed milk by placing the unwrapped caramels and milk in a microwave safe bowl and microwaving on high in 30-second intervals. Check and stir the caramel mixture after every 30 seconds and if it isn’t melted, go another 30 second interval. Mixture should be smooth. Spoon apple filling over prepared and cooled crust. Top with melted caramel mixture. Mix 1 cup of walnuts in with the reserved crumb mixture and then sprinkle evenly over the top. Bake bars 20 minutes or until set. Cool and cut into squares.

For more tasty caramel recipes, try:

• Snicker Caramel Apple Salad Recipe
• Campfire S'mores Caramel Apples
• Easy Overnight Bundt Caramel Rolls
• Custard with Caramel Syrup
• Caramel Nut Candy Bars