If you’re not the best baker in the world, the idea of being asked to bring a dessert to your family’s holiday party can be totally overwhelming. You could, of course, just go to a neighborhood bakery and pick up a great pie or cake, but maybe this is the year you finally go out on a limb and try to make something on your own.
And really, you don’t have to do it totally alone — as Ina Garten has famously repeated, getting a little store-bought help is fine. The following recipes are all the definition of “semi-homemade,” or dishes that require a little bit of work but also employ a lot of assistance from store-bought ingredients like pre-made pie crust and instant pudding.
Tiramisu
Tiramisu is one of those desserts that can be as involved as you want it to be. If you don’t want to be involved at all, this recipe requires only a handful of ingredients, all of which are pretty easy to find at the grocery store. All you’ll have to do is whip the mascarpone with heavy cream and vanilla, brew a little espresso, and get to assembling. Most of the magic happens as the tiramisu rests overnight in the fridge, and nobody’s going to be disappointed to see it on your dinner party table.
Icebox Cake
Similar to a tiramisu, icebox cakes involve layering cookies — in this recipe’s case, graham crackers — with cream, fruit, and other garnishes. The outside is finished with whipped cream, and the cake is allowed to chill overnight, which helps all the flavors meld together and the cookies soften into the texture of something that feels like you actually baked. Best of all? It only takes about 20 minutes to assemble, which leaves you plenty of time to go nuts decorating the top in winter wonderland finery.
Pumpkin Pie
Okay, yes, making a pumpkin pie for the very first time does sound a little intimidating, but consider a different approach. Instead of making your own pie crust, pick up a graham cracker crust at the store and a can of Libby’s pumpkin puree. The back of the pumpkin puree even gives you the recipe, and all of the ingredients you’ll need. Follow the recipe, pour your pumpkin custard into the crust, and bake until it’s set in the middle. The graham cracker crust puts a bit of a modern spin on the classic pumpkin pie, and you also get the benefit of mostly relying on a recipe that’s been around for nearly 100 years, and tested by millions of eaters.
Trifle
Trifle is a popular holiday dish in England, probably due in large part to the fact that it just looks festive. Cake, cream, fruit, and jam are layered into a big glass bowl, then garnished with tons of whipped cream and as much aesthetic flourish as you like. This Martha Stewart recipe involves homemade cream puffs, which you can buy at Costco. Or consider Southern Living’s cranberry dreamsicle trifle, which is made with frozen pound cake.
Semifreddo
This one’s actually totally homemade, but semifreddo is a lot easier to make than ice cream, and it just sounds fancier. It’s also easy to zhuzh up with store-bought ingredients, like nice jams and garnishes that will make it look like you put in a whole lot more effort than you actually did. This Serious Eats recipe boasts a sophisticated rose water and honey flavor profile, but you could kick things up a notch with candied nuts, crystallized ginger, dark chocolate chunks, or a swirl of rose petal jam. Maybe you’ll decorate the top with candied citrus peels or gold leaf or whatever you like — (almost) anything is possible!
