There was a time when pumpkin pie was the only dessert served on Thanksgiving. Not anymore. These days Turkey Day diners expect a variety of sweet treats to cap off their mega-meal.
My family goes all out on Thanksgiving with a huge dessert buffet featuring a variety of pies, cakes, cookies and other goodies. However, the most popular treats are the mini desserts. They may be small (which enables everyone to sample without guilt), but they’re big on taste and are simple to make.
Take a look:
APPLE TARTS
Ingredients:
1 sheet puff pastry
6 ounces almond paste
2 tablespoons sugar
3 ounces unsalted butter, softened
2 eggs
2 tablespoons flour
2 apples (choose your family’s favorites)
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Beat together almond paste and sugar.
Add butter and beat until light and fluffy.
Add eggs, one at a time.
Fold in flour.
Refrigerate mixture while you unfold puff pastry and cut into four, 4-inch circles.
Place circles on parchment lined cookie sheet.
Put 1 tablespoon of almond cream mixture in the center of each pastry.
Peel and core apples. Cut apples in half and slice thinly.
Fan half of each apple over almond cream mixture.
Brush tops with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar.
Bake for 15 minutes or until brown.
Remove and serve.
MINI CHERRY PIES
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons chopped pecans
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons all purpose flour
Dash ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons butter
6 ounces canned cherry pie filling
1 box fillo shells (15 count)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
To make streusel topping: Place nuts, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and butter into a food processor and pulse until mixture is coarsely chopped.
Spoon 1 teaspoon of cherry pie filling into each fillo shell.
Top with 1/2 teaspoon of streusel topping.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove from oven and serve.
Related Articles:
Beyond the Pumpkin Pie: Sweet Treats for Your Thanksgiving Dessert Table
Variations on the Traditional Pumpkin Pie
Abandon the Pumpkin Pie: A Pumpkin Torte
Abandon the Pumpkin Pie: Pumpkin Apple Cobbler