Penguin - 25 Marvelous Microwave Desserts: 25 Delicious Recipes Made Right in Your Microwave!

Not everyone has the time to devote hours to preparing decadent desserts and sometimes you simply need a pick-me-up at the end of the day. If you are looking for quick and easy dessert recipes you have come to the right place. By utilizing your microwave rather than the oven you can create a wide variety of decadent desserts in a quarter of the time it would take to bake them! You may be skeptical about the idea of using the microwave to create heavenly desserts but the reality is that almost anything that can be made in the oven can also be made in the microwave - you simply have to adjust the recipe.

These microwave desserts are just what you need if you lead a busy life but still want to take a few minutes out of your day to treat yourself and your family. From microwave cheesecakes and baked apples to single-serve mug cakes, these microwave desserts are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. You may love these recipes so much that you find yourself preparing them for friends and co-workers at your next dinner party! If you present your desserts well, no one will even know that they were made in the microwave - they will be too busy devouring your delicious desserts to bother asking you how you managed to make them!

Cheesecake is a creamy, indulgent dessert that typically takes hours to bake. If you love the taste of cheesecake but do not want to spend your entire day baking it, try this easy recipe for microwave cheesecake! Once you try it you will be hooked - then you can experiment with the recipe to make new flavors. Try adding some cocoa powder to create a chocolate cheesecake or, if you are feeling adventurous, a few tablespoons of pumpkin pie filling for pumpkin cheesecake!

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp. cream cheese
• 2 tbsp. powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp. sour cream
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tbsp. graham cracker crumbs
• 3 tbsp. melted butter

Instructions:
1. Spray the inside of a small microwave-safe quiche dish with cooking spray.
2. Combine the melted butter with the graham cracker crumbs and press into the bottom of your quiche dish.
3. Whisk together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, sour cream and egg in a small bowl until smooth.
4. Stir in the lemon juice then spoon the mixture into the quiche dish.
5. Microwave on medium for 1 minutes. Microwave longer, if necessary, at 15 second increments on medium power. The center should be slightly wobbly when done.
6. Chill the cheesecake for a few hours in the refrigerator then serve with fresh berries and cream.

This recipe may be simple but it is a timeless classic - for some reason, the combination of chocolate and banana is sometimes just what you need. Dont be afraid to get creative with this recipe! After drizzling the chocolate over your banana slices try sprinkling on some crushed nuts or, if you have a sweet tooth, some marshmallows or extra chocolate chips. If you are looking for something a little more substantial, try dipping large chunks or halved bananas in chocolate!

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp. semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 tsp. canola oil
• 1 banana, sliced

Instructions:
1. Place the chocolate chips in a small microwave-safe bowl and drizzle with oil. Microwave on high at 15 second intervals until melted. Stir until smooth.
2. Arrange the banana slices on a small plate and drizzle the melted chocolate over top.
3. Garnish with whipped cream or nonfat vanilla yogurt, if desired.

Baked apples are the perfect fall and summertime treat when fresh apples are available. This simple recipe cuts the traditional prep time for baked apples in half by utilizing the microwave instead of the oven. Not only is this recipe quick and easy, but you can customize it to suite your tastes. Try stuffing your apples with raisins or dried cranberries for a different flavor - you might even add some chopped nuts and a drizzle of caramel sauce on top!

Ingredients:

• 2 apples, cored
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1 tbsp. butter

Instructions:
1. Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl.
2. Spoon the sugar mixture into the center of each apple. The apples should be cored so as to remove the seeds but the bottom should remain intact.
3. Place a teaspoon or so of butter on top of each apple.
4. Lightly spray a small casserole dish with cooking spray.
5. Place the apples inside the dish and cover them with the lid.
6. Microwave on high power for 3 to 4 minutes or until the apples are tender.
7. Let the apples sit for a few minutes then serve with vanilla ice cream.

Chocolate fondue is the ultimate dessert for any dinner party or family get together. Though it is incredibly simple to make using this microwave recipe, chocolate fondue is a classy dessert that is sure to wow your guests. Serve your fondue with large pieces of fresh fruit such as pineapple, banana and strawberries. You can also throw in some cookies and marshmallows to please the kids!

Ingredients:

• 3 oz. bittersweet baking chocolate, chopped
• 2 tbsp. heavy cream
• 1 tbsp. espresso, brewed
• tsp. vanilla extract
• pinch salt

Instructions:
1. Combine the chopped chocolate, heavy cream, espresso, vanilla extract and salt in a medium microwave-safe bowl.
2. Microwave on medium for 20 to 30 seconds at a time until melted. Stir until smooth.
3. Pour the chocolate into a serving bowl and serve with chunks of fresh fruit.

If you are a candy-lover, this recipe for cranberry nut bark is sure to please. Melting chocolate chips in the microwave is a simple way to start a variety of candy recipes and this cranberry nut bark is one of the simplest recipes of all. Simply stir some of your favorite nuts and dried cranberries into the melted chocolate and you are ready to go! Feel free to customize this recipe by substituting raisins for the cranberries or by omitting the dried fruit altogether.