Festive Desserts for New Year's Eve!

NEW YEARS EVE DESSERTS…

COUNTDOWN CHEESECAKE
Tick-tock…tick-tock…guests will surely count down the minutes until they can dig into this creamy strawberry cheesecake, then ask for seconds.

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 24 squares)
3 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted

FILLING:
2 cartons (8 ounces each) spreadable strawberry cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1-1/2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
Red decorating gel
1 fresh strawberry, halved

Directions

In a bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, sugar and butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in up the sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Bake at 325° for 10 minutes; cool.
In a bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Fold in the whipped topping. Gently spread a third of the filling over crust. Arrange strawberries on top. Spoon remaining filling over berries; smooth top. Refrigerate overnight.
With decorating gel, pipe numerals and the minute and hour hands for a clock dial on the cheesecake. Place strawberry halves at the tips of the clock hands. Yield: 8-10 servings.

PINK CHAMPAGNE CAKE

Champagne cake is the perfect dessert for toasting the new year and celebrating 2011! The champagne comes to play in the pink buttercream (yum) so use it on the delicious strawberry cake featured or use it on your favorite cake recipe (even chocolate!). Or try making this in a mini version like mini cupcakes or even cake pops!

Full recipe here.

BALL DROP CUPCAKES

How cute are these ball drop cupcakes? Donut holes, little gumballs, an assortment of sprinkles, lollipop sticks, and cupcakes come together to create this perfectly fabulous New Year’s Dessert. This is a fun one to make with the kids!

Visit Confessions of a Cookbook Queen for the full how-to!

FORTUNE COOKIES

Toast to good fortune by making homemade fortune cookies! Drizzle or dip in chocolate for a festive touch.

Ingredients

6 tablespoons butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
2 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon Spice Islands® pure vanilla extract
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 ounces white candy coating
Red sprinkles, optional

Directions

Write fortunes on 10 strips of paper (5-in. x 3/4-in.): fold in half. Set aside. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Draw two 5-in. circles on the parchment paper. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, egg whites and extracts. Add flour; mix well. Spread 2 tablespoons of batter over each circle. Bake at 400° for 5-6 minutes or until lightly browned.
Working with one cookie at a time, remove carefully from pan using a thin spatula (cover other cookie with clean kitchen towel to keep warm). Place a fortune in the center of cookie; fold cookie in half over fortune strip so that the edges meet. Press edges together for 3 seconds. Place center of cookie over rim of a glass; gently press ends down to bend cookie in half. Let cookie cool on glass for 1 minute, then remove to a wire rack. Repeat with remaining cookie. If cookies become too cool to fold, return to oven to soften for 1 minute. Repeat with remaining batter.
In a microwave, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Drizzle over cookies. Melt candy coating; stir until smooth. Drizzle over cookies. Top with sprinkles if desired. Yield: 10 cookies.