Recipe for an Easy, Affordable Dessert for BBQ

Layer pieces of pound cake, cool whip and either berries and/or bananas.

Another variation is to do the pound cake, cool whip, pudding and pie filling (cherry is good).

How about ambrosia salad? It's been awhile since I made it, but it's basically cool whip, mandarin oranges, coconut, and mini marshmallows. If you google it, I'm sure you'll get a ton of different variations. The Dirt that others have suggested is also a good choice and kids LOVE it!

Don't know if this piques your interest since you are already serving fruit...

Summer Day Salad
A wonderful sweet salad that tastes like dessert!

Ingredients
1-20 oz can pineapple tidbits
1-11 oz can mandarin oranges
1 small pkg lemon instant pudding
1 cup quartered strawberries
1 cup sliced bananas

Instructions
Drain pineapple and oranges, reserving liquid. Prepare pudding, using liquid from the fruit in place of milk. In a bowl, combine pineapple, oranges and strawberries and gently fold in pudding. Chill for at least 2 hours. Add bananas just before serving. (Makes 8-10 servings.)

I usually make this the morning of or a day ahead. I also use vanilla pudding (since that is what I usually have on hand) and I omit the bananas. The pudding turns out syrupy and is sweet. I've served it as both a salad and a dessert. This is super quick and easy to make and to double.

hi S., my mom makes Dirt Dessert. i think the only things you need for it are crushed oreo cookies and chocolate pudding. she makes it in a bucket that the kids use for the beach or a cheap flower pot she also adds some gummy worms and a few plastic flowers stuck out the top for effect. you can layer pudding with the crushed cookies. it's a great summer dessert and looks really cute too.

One word: DIRT! So yummy and great for a BBQ. There are several different recipes out there. I'm sure you can find one that fits your preference.

Have fune!!

I like Beth R.'s idea, DIRT! Pudding is cheap, quick & easy. Throw a few crushed sandwich cookies in layers add some gummy worms & throw it all in a new, but cheap terra cotta flower potor toy buck and your good to go & looking fab! This can be done in multiple sized containers at a scale to fit every crowd. My Aunt used to go as far as putting a few fake flowers in the pot.
My mother always made "dump cake" you can find the actual recipe online, but the ingredients include cherry pie filling, crushed pineapple, butter, a yellow cake mix and coconut flakes. Everytime I make this I end up handing out the recipe. It is super easy to make (my 4 y/o loves to make it w/me as you simply dump/layer the ingredients in & bake).

banana pudding! just made it this weekend and the guests nearly ate my bowl!! this recipe is from kraft foods...

2 boxes of instant vanilla pudding (4, 1/2 c servings)
4 cups of milk
5-6 ripe banana's, sliced
cool whip (one container should be fine, two if you are doubling the recipe)
approx 46 nilla wafers (one box is enough, even if you are doubling)

prepare instant vanilla pudding as directed on box...
on the bottom of a glass (not necessary, but looks pretty) bowl layer about a cup of pudding, top with nilla wafers, then top with sliced banana....arrange nilla wafers around the perimeter of the bowl....then continue layering pudding, wafers, and banana until you run out! top with cool whip! YUM!
refrigerate for a few hours or overnight to soften the cookies...i usually double this recipe

S.,

How about a trifle bar? Tasteofhome.com had this idea in a recent issue and I thought it was great. You can set it up with pieces of pound cake, chocolate cake, pudding, fruit, caramel and other sauces, etc. You can set it up for lots of people, do it ahead of time, and guests can make them to their liking. Try the web site for more ideas of what to put out for the bar. Have fun!

I have several great recipes for easy desserts that can be made ahead - Hawaiian cake (with pineapple), pudding cream cheese torte (usually chocolate, but I've also made it with coconut or lemon pudding), pretzel/jell-o salad. However, these, and most of the ones mentioned by other users require refrigeration. Since you said that you are also serving fruit, I wanted to check if you will have the space to keep everything in the fridge? Feel free to message me back if you want more details on any of the recipes I mentioned . . .

S. M. I got this recipe from some little booklet that the Acme supermarket sent out in the mail. It is a no bake and has to be prepared ahead. I always double the recipe.

this is a single batch

12 ice cream sandwiches (they are cheap at Wal-mart)
1 container of cool whip (also Wal-mart is cheaper)
1 container of peanuts (no name brand) crushed
1 bottle of choclate syrup (Aldi's brand is pretty cheap)

in a 9X12 throw away with lid lay out the ice cream sandwiches in the next layer mix together 1/2 of the cool whip and a little more then a quarter of the choc syrup. then cover that layer with the crushed peanuts.

I add marshmellow to the cool whip/choclate syrup.
heat it in the micro-wave and mix it with the cool whip and choc. spread over the ice cream sandwiches.

Repeat layers then store in freezer till ready to serve. Cut like cutting brownies.
It is really good and loved by kids and adults alike.

if need be you can get all the ingredients in sugar free but you really have to look for the ice cream sandwiches.

Good luck enjoy it is really easy and good.

Three ideas:
1. What about all different kinds of brownies and blondies? Those can be made ahead of time. And you can buy mixes on sale for about a buck each.

2. Or if you want to put out a little more effort, have you ever made a pea pickin cake? Yum!!! Google it. It's delicious.

3. As for a make ahead the little "cookies" made from pretzel squares. Line up a zillion on cookie sheets, place a Hershey's kiss on each one...pop in oven til chocolate is JUST soft, remove from oven and add another pretzel grid square as a lid. When they cool a little sprinkle with powdered sugar. These are really yummy. A lot of work but can be made WELL ahead and stored in fridge in Ziplock bags.

Try a Tiramisu. It is very easy to make and it doesn't take much. Just google it and get a recipe that is done with lady fingers.

I third making Dirt. It's super easy, quick, no bake, and delicious!

DIRT DESSERT

1 1/4 lbs. Oreo cookies, crushed
3 lg. pkgs. vanilla "Instant" pudding
12 oz. soft cream cheese
6 oz. Cool Whip
4 1/2 c. milk
1 flower planter (pot), approximately 10 inches in diameter
1 gummy worm
1 bunch plastic flowers

Whip together pudding, cream cheese, Cool Whip and milk. Layer flower planter with crushed cookies and pudding mix (be sure crushed cookies are on the bottom first) and save crushed cookies for the top of your planter. Decorate with worm and flowers. You may want to wrap stem of flowers in a baggy for easier cleaning and reuse. You'll be surprised at the comments of your "Dirt" Dessert!
(From http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1613,151183-255201,00.html)

We sometimes substitute the different flavors for the vanilla pudding. Chocolate fudge has been a big hit, but that will depend on how much you like chocolate.

S. I hope this helps. There are so many sites you can belong to for free and get there newsletters. I love receiving recipes from kraftfoods.com, bettycrocker, and pillsbury. They all are very informative and you can print out coupons for their products. Here are a few that I found on kraftfoods: Vanilla Almond Fruit tart, Quick lemon berry triffle, and low fat rasberry summer sensation. Good luck!

Jello! I personally do not like Jello at all - but many people do. This past spring, my son decided he wanted a volcano "cake" for his birthday -- the caveat -- made out of Jello. Anyway, I made 3 layers and sprinkled fruit in this (blueberries, kumquats, grapes) - and it was devoured by all (except me).

Another great idea (no cooking) is coconut bon bons. These can be made well in advance and taste like Almond Joys. NOW this recipe - mommy loves!

Email me if you would like the recipe.