Short & Sweet: Sophisticated Desserts in No Time at All

Cooks can learn how to have their cake and eat it, too, in less time than it takes for ice cream to melt. Barnard, a columnist for Bon App tit and a James Beard Award winner (for The American Medical Association Family Health Cookbook), demonstrates how the best part of the meal can also be the fastest and simplest to make. The recipes in this collection range from humble and homey Goober Pies to delicious and decadent individual-size Warm Mocha Truffle Cakes. None of the recipes requires more than seven ingredients--most of which cooks are likely to have on hand at home. Clever shortcuts transform ready-made supermarket goods, including pie crust, pound cake and wonton skins, into such tempting desserts as Southern Pecan Tart, Raspberry Lemon Layer Cake and Five-Spice Wonton Cookie Crisps. Even novice cooks will wonder what the point is of using boxed pudding mix when they learn how to whip up some of Barnard's easy Butterscotch Pudding from scratch. There's a mouth-watering selection of fresh fruit desserts that require little preparation, as well as friendly and helpful advice on the basics of whipping cream and melting chocolate. Perhaps the biggest treat here is learning that a sweet tooth can be indulged with minimal investment. (May)