Instant Gratification: No-Hassle Desserts in Just About No Time

by Lauren Chattman

Good Lack of time is no longer an excuse for not making dessert. Pastry chef and busy mom Lauren Chattman offers 110 foolproof desserts that can be put together in less than fifteen minutes. These amazing desserts are created by someone who truly understands what it means to cook against the clock. Using quality ingredients and the best of convenience foods, Lauren shares her favorite professional tips and shortcuts, like how to turn wonton wrappers into sweet and crisp "shortcakes" and using crumb cursts instead of time-consuming pastry doughs for pies. Instant Gratification features streamlined, refined versions of beloved Plum Brown Betty, Blueberry-Walnut Crisp, and warm brownies and ice cream. When a spoonful of comfort food is in order, you'll find succor with Banana-Caramel Bread Pudding, Tea-Infused Panna Cotta, and Buttery Butterscotch Pudding. Company coming? In the blink of an eye, you can whip up Champagne Sabayon with Blackberries or Flourless Chocolate-Almond Cake. Bake sale tomorrow? Throw together some almost-instant Deluxe Four-Layer Bars. And when your sweet tooth really demands immediate satisfaction, there's an entire chapter with sweets that can be made and on the table in less than a quarter of an hour. Every recipe features an equipment list so that no time will be lost fiddling in the kitchen looking for the right utensil. Instant Gratification is all about delicious desserts--and this book shows that it doesn't take long to make them.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking

230 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2000

Reviews

[Belle Meade School]

641.8

[Cera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not yet made anything out of this book, but I am very happy with the variety of recipe and the simplicity of many of them. The true test of a cookbook is, of course, the cooking, but for the moment it seems to have earned its 4 stars.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice concept but the ingredients are a tad gourmet for me. This is for people who keep cream and bittersweet chocolate stocked.

[Katey Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my go-to cookbook when it comes to dessert! Yes, dessert really can be both fast and fabulous.Everything is amazingly scrumptious (we LOVE the s'more sundaes and raspberry brownie cobbler... to name a few). The equipment list is unique and incredibly helpful. Other cookbooks come and go, but this one is a permanent fixture in my collection.