The holiday season is a time for togetherness, memory-making and loads of delicious, sweet treats. Whether you’re hosting a party and need a few easy recipes to wow your guests, or just a couple dessert ideas so you don’t show up empty-handed to the Christmas party of the year, Her Campus has you covered! These recipes require six ingredients or less and can be made in 20 minutes or less, but don’t let the simplicity fool you! Your friends and family will wonder how you found time in this busy season to make such decadent desserts.
1. Not Just for Soup Anymore: Saltine Cracker Toffee
You don’t have to reserve those saltine crackers just for your winter chicken noodle soup cravings. Put those saltines to sweet use! This dessert is a family favorite in my house. Every Christmas season, my Nana would whip up this quick and delicious treat to spoil her five children and 11 grandchildren — on a dime! It requires a whopping four ingredients and approximately 10 minutes of cook time. The most difficult part of this recipe? Keeping your hands off of it while the chocolate cools!
2. Gluten-Free Bliss: Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Attention all gluten-free gals out there: this is the recipe for you! No more eyeing the dessert table with envy — these peanut butter cookies are gluten-free, taste amazing and only require six simple ingredients you’re sure to have around the house. Unlike some gluten-free baked goods, these cookies are soft and flavorful. This is one gluten-free dessert your gluten-addicted friends won’t turn down!
3. Toffee Take Two: Homemade English Toffee
Last Christmas, I was determined to make my older brother’s favorite dessert, english toffee, from scratch, but every recipe I found required a candy thermometer. Since I didn’t have a thermometer or any interest in purchasing one, I turned to the web for an alternative solution. To my delight, I found this painless recipe with step-by-step pictures that make it nearly impossible to undercook or overcook the sugary concoction. I can’t count the number of times I’ve thrown the three simple ingredients together, 20 minutes before guests arrive, only to receive praise at my seemingly fancy dessert. Oh, and it definitely earns me brownie — make that toffee — points with my older brother, who claims it’s better than any store-bought toffee he’s eaten before.