Dessert for 50

[Indirect Heat]

I'm hosting a going-away party for friends, and I'm preparing a meal for 50. Gonna smoke 2 large briskets, bbq sauce, sausages, rolls, coleslaw, veggie platter and what should I make for dessert? Want it to be good, but has to scale easily (not really interested in making 50 creme brulees for example).

Ideas?

[mkayahara]

Rice pudding! Generally, anything that can be made in quantity and scooped into bowls.

[onrushpam]

Bananna puddin'

Peach or blackberry cobbler

A big chocolate sheet cake (CocaCola Cake?)

Watermelon

[Beebs]

Trifle

Brownies or cookies

Tiramisu

Build-your-own ice cream sundaes, with a selection of tasty toppings.

[Jaymes]

Key Lime Pies

Blazingly easy, especially if you buy the pre-made graham cracker crusts.

And, in lieu of squeezing all those small key limes, you buy the juice from these nice folks: Nellie & Joe's Key Lime Juice.

I find that juice available on the shelves of my local grocery stores.

If you buy the crusts and the juice, it's just a matter of stirring it all together, popping it in the oven for a very few minutes just to set.

And meringue can be difficult, so whip up some cream and lace it with brown sugar and a little Meyer's rum to dollop over each slice as you serve it.

Key Lime Pies are not only one of the easiest things on the planet, everybody absolutely loves it.

And it goes well with a heavy barbecue meal.

That's sure what I'd do.

[JAZ]

I'd go with fruit crisp or cobbler. You can use the large aluminum disposable pans and even frozen fruit works well, so it's very easy. People feel virtuous eating fruit and for those who want more, you can have ice cream or whipped cream to go on top.

[FrogPrincesse]

Chocolate mousse - prepare a large batch and transfer ahead of time into individual dishes (small disposible paper cups work well for that purpose).

[binitahp]

How about a berry trifle? With the abundance of fresh berries it would delicious and it's easy to scale up. Ina Garten has a great recipe that has been well received every time I've made it: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/raspberry-orange-trifle-recipe/index.html

Good luck!

Edited July 14, 2010 by binitahp (log)

[KarenDW]

Summer Pudding: layer (sweetened) crushed fruit and crusts-off, sliced white bread in cake pans or hotel pans. Cover with plastic wrap, extending the wrap past the edges of the pans. Press, with a cutting board, and a couple of 1 lb cans. This can be done a couple of days in advance. Invert onto a board, and slice or cut into squares. Serve w/ sweetened cream, ice cream, or chilled creme fraiche.

Here's a BBC version.

[Marmish]

Blueberry crumb bars

or the cobbler or crisp with ice cream

[RobertM]

How about rice krispie squares, except instead of cutting into squares, roll into truffle size pieces, insert a paper confection (lollypop) stick and then dip in chocolate - with enough for 50 you could do milk, white and dark, or combinations thereof - double dipping - striping -

[LindaK]

A couple of large foil pans of tiramisu would work--find a recipe and scale up. It can be easily cut into squares, plated, and served.

[Indirect Heat]

Thanks all. Ultimately went with 3 trays of apple crisp and ice cream. Didn't take long to prepare, and was well-appreciated.

Thanks for all your suggestions.