Simple & Easy Homemade Desserts
for the Holidays baked LIVE Virtually
with Gina, Chris & The Chef’s Hat Group

LIVE Event – Baking Easy Desserts

There was a fantastic turnout last night at our LIVE Virtual Event of Baking Holiday Dessert Together!
Some baked along with us, in real time, while others just came to watch and enjoy learning
new recipes, tips and tricks. This live baking event continued with two more very simple and
easy to make desserts that should be added along with our Baking Season Blog post from last month.
For those who attended live and made these desserts along with us, Thank you!
It was a pleasure to have you with us and hopefully you had fun
baking in real time as we made some really really . . .

Simple & Easy Desserts

First Up ~ Cherry Yum Yum

Cherries seem to really shine during the holidays, so we thought we would bring them
front and center, but with a twist. Instead of chocolate cover cherries or crusty cherry pie,
we came together to make a Cherry Yum Yum. Hmmm, what is Yum Yum?
It is what your taste buds say to each other with each bite of this lite and creamy dessert.
Taking only about 15 minutes to prepare, it can be ready to serve in an hour, but
the flavors really pop if you refrigerate over night before serving.

Tips & Tricks for making Cherry Yum Yum

  • Crust – rub a little butter onto the bottom of pan before pressing crust down –
    needs to be moist & mix with hands to press into bottom of dish,
    if it seems dry & flakey add little more butter
  • Milk – It’s best to keep milk very cold until ready to whip
    (makes the dream whip respond nicely)
  • Whip – mix on high speed for whipping – the air will help to whip the
    dream whip & milk, it will get thicker & peak, once there add the sugar & cream cheese
  • Cream Cheese – add sugar first to the whip then add chunk pieces of cream cheese
    Note: it is ok to have small chunks left after whipping – Taste Great!
  • Layer – spread 1/3 of whipped mixture over crust, then spread cherries on top,
    then add remaining whip across top.
  • Topping – none needed, but it’s always fun to add a little something –
    in pic below, we added a little cookie stick & some crumbs

Really is an easy quick recipe and sure to be a crowd pleaser. Enjoy in the pans or mix it up and
make little pies to serve at a diner party. Let us know if you make it!

Mix & Done

  • Spatular
  • Hand Mixer
  • Can Opener
  • Measuring Cups
  • Bowls/Cups for Prep
  • 9×13 dish – Full Recipe – see below
  • 8×8 or pie dish – 1/2 Recipe – see below
  • Stick Butter
  • Box of Dream Whip
  • Milk (most alternatives ok)
  • Sugar (some alternatives ok)
  • Cherry Pie Filling (2 cans)
  • Box Cream Cheese
  • Box Graham Crackers
  • 1/2 c milk
  • 1/4 c sugar
  • 1/8 c sugar
  • 6 Tbs stick butter
  • 1 pkg dream whip
  • 4 oz cream cheese
  • 1 c cherry pie filling -21 oz
  • 1 1/2 c graham cracker crumbs
    (1 sleeve or 16 squares crushed = 1 1/2 c)
  • 1 c milk
  • 3/4 c sugar
  • 1 1/2 stick butter
  • 2 pkgs dream whip
  • 1 8oz cream cheese
  • 2 cans cherry pie filling
  • 3 c graham cracker crumbs

Next Up ~ Nut Balls

Mostly this describes Chris (yep, he is a nut ball!) and probably not what you
would think of as an easy or simple dessert, but it is an easy & simple dessert.
From the time I (Gina) was about 12 or 13, I can remember my Mom and Grandma making Nut Balls.
We mostly enjoyed them around the holidays, as a bowl of them was always readily available, but
sometimes they would make them for parties or special occasions too.

Tips & Tricks for making Nut Balls

  • Mix – slowly add flour & sugar into a bowl – alternating to make sure mixed well – may use a sifter if desired
  • Butter – best if really soft, break butter by hand & and squeeze into flour/sugar until mixed well. then add
    vanilla & nuts
  • Make balls – roll into bite size balls & place on baking sheet – may use parchment paper if desired or use
    a nonstick pan
  • Bake – know your oven, but bake at 350 and DO NOT Touch while hot! They will break apart!
  • Roll – once semi cooled roll GENTLY in powder sugar – then roll again before plating. Let cool completely
    before storing in closed container on counter top.

Another easy recipe for you to bake throughout the year.
Hope you enjoy them as much as we have over the years!

Mix & Bake

  • Mixing Bowl – Large
  • Mixing bowl – Sm/Med
  • Measuring cups / spoons
  • 2 Cookie Sheets (only 1 for 1/2 recipe)
  • Oven Mitt / Pot Holder
  • Baking oven
  • Mixing gloves if you don’t
    like getting hands in mix
  • Plain Flour
  • Sugar
  • Stick Butter
  • Chopped Pecans
  • Vanilla
  • Powder Sugar
  • 1 c plain flour
  • 1/8 c sugar
  • 1 stick butter (soft)
  • 1 c chopped pecans
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/2 c powder sugar
  • 1 Cookie Sheet (line with parchment optional)
  • 2 c plain flour
  • 1/4 c sugar
  • 2 sticks butter (soft)
  • 2 c chopped pecans
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 2 c powder sugar
  • 2 Cookie Sheets (1 will do)
  • Line with parchment – optional


Let’s be baking friends! If you try our recipes please leave a comment here and let us know.
By sharing your experience, variations and insights, we learn new ways as well
as our readers pick up helpful ideas too.. If you share on Social Media sites,
please tag @therivetedfox so we can give your post some love too. 

Happy Baking!
Thank you for reading!
Gina (and Chris)

Events Blog Join the FUN

Similar Posts

snow on the mountains

A Wild Road!

ByGina Fox

Nestled in southwest Montana and winding through the northwestern part of Wyoming lies a 68 mile scenic byway named The Beartooth All-American Road.    Lot’s of switch backs, crazy climbs and beautiful views are just part of what one may find while driving and exploring this scenic byway.   “It is one of the highest…

Leave a Reply