5 Pick-Me-Up Desserts When Nothing Is Going Right
Whether you missed out on an internship you though you had in the bag or got seriously ghosted by a cute match on Tinder, life throws a lot of annoying B.S. at us, and it usually seems to happen all at once. Everyone needs a pick-me-up dessert every once in a while, and now is the perfect time given that, chances are, the coronavirus has you trapped indoors anyways.
With these five, easy, and super indulgent recipes, you’ll be back on your game in no time.
1. Raspberry Truffle Brownies
This fruity twist on rich, decadent brownies is the perfect pick-me-up for whatever, and however much, life throws at you. Chocolate is also an aphrodisiac, so one batch of these brownies is sure to boost your mood (and re-set your hormones).
When you bite into one of these chocolate wonders, the fudginess will remind you of something familiar. That’s because they taste just like brownie batter. And we all know you licked the spatula.
If you prefer cakey or firmer brownies, this dessert is not for you. But the slightly underdone-ness of this brownie recipe is what makes it so wonderfully tasty. The batter will probably even stick to the bottom of the pan a bit, so be sure to use plenty of cooking spray.
Pro tip: for recipes this fudgey, feel free to coat the pan in a few sprinkles of flour in addition to cooking spray.
The entire recipe is prepared in a single saucepan, which makes for a hassle-free clean up. So you don’t have to stress yourself more than you already are.
Get on these, ASAP. Your chocolate-loving heart will not regret it (and will probably thank you for it).
Get the recipe:
2. Cake Batter Oreo Cookies
Cake batter. Sprinkles. Chocolate chips. Oreos. All in one cookie.
The idea of this on its own is enough to cure any bad mood. They’re chewy, they’re soft, and they’re packed with an all-encompassing flavor mood for whatever your sweet tooth is lacking. And if you’re not scared of a little raw egg, this dough is totally the real deal.
Some people need more than one cookie to bring them out of the dumps, so if that’s you, don’t fret. Since the Oreos are stuffed inside the batter, there’s a surprise cookie baked inside the cookie. I can not stress that enough. A surprise. Cookie.
This will, without a doubt, give you the best kind of sugar high you could ask for, and you’ll definitely be making this dessert again the next time you need it.
Aka the next day, And the day after that…
Get the recipe:
3. Banana Bread
This classic dessert is timeless and can be made in countless variations. Who doesn’t love having options?
With ingredients you probably have lying around in your pantry — including walnuts, coconutflakes, maple syrup, pecans, chai tea, or, everyone’s favorite, chocolate chips — this banana bread is cure to satisfy your hankering for something sweet, and, if you can pace yourself, you’ll have enough of this pick-me-up to get you through an entire week!
If life’s getting you down but you want something healthy-ish, this recipe has got you covered. Feel free to replace the tablespoon of milk with Greek yogurt or any dairy substitute, the butter with vegetable oil, or the white sugar with coconut sugar.
Should all else fail, at least this is a tasty use for those spotty bananas you forgot to eat. But you’ll definitely go bananas for this banana bread.
Get the recipe:
4. Chocolate Cupcakes & Peanut Butter Icing
Peanut butter and chocolate? You mean the best flavor combo EVER?
The combination of peanut butter and chocolate will most definitely give you a taste of childhood snack nostalgia, but there’s a secret ingredient that kicks this treat up a notch even further: that’s right, coffee.
The use of coffee in the chocolate cupcake batter will give you an extra kick of energy and bring you out of your emotional slump. Plus, it makes a little over a dozen, and can please a crowd. So, don’t let the amount of ingredients deter you from making this big batch of heaven for all your best friends to enjoy.
You’ll have everyone raving in no time!
Not into peanut butter, though? No problem. Using ANY type of icing on these cupcakes will work just as well. Just make sure you don’t hover over the mixing bowl with a spatuala for too long, or else you might find yourself left without any frosting at all. In which case you’ll have to make another pick-me-up dessert to cope.
Get the recipe:
5. Marble Cheesecake Bars
Want to save yourself the trouble of preparing an entire cheesecake, but don’t want to deprive yourself of its irresistible yumminess? Look no further than to these marbled cheesecake bars.
This super easy version of a seemingly complicated dessert will cheer you up in no time.
With a crumbled cookie crust and swirls of both chocolate AND vanilla, you don’t have to make any compromises on flavor palettes. You can also cut these bad boys into however big, or small, of a piece your heart desires…or needs in a moment of crisis.
And if you’ve already prepared another one of these dessert recipes but want to stockpile for your seemingly never-ending self-quarantine, these bars can be made up to two days in advance and then kept in the fridge in an airtight container. What more could you ask for?
Brace yourself, though: this treat will not last long. If you don’t hover over the pan with a spoon, someone else will beat you to it. Guaranteed.
