32 Unusual Desserts That Rely on a Shocking Ingredient

Read Time: 10 mins

32 Unusual Desserts That Rely on a Shocking Ingredient1/32 Summer Squash Pound Cake 5 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Summer Squash Pound Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Yellow Squash This golden brown, tender pound cake is the perfect treat to make when you have an abundance of summer squash in your garden. It’s not overly sweet, so it appeals to everyone. —Lisa Brockwell, Necedah, Wisconsin 2/32 Fried Ice Cream Dessert Bars 19 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Taste of

Home Total Time 50 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Cornflakes Fried ice cream is such a delicious treat, but it can be a hassle to make individual servings. This recipe gives you the same fabulous flavor in an easy and convenient bar form. —Andrea Price, Grafton, Wisconsin 3/32 Peaches and Cream Whiskey Loaf 3 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Peaches and Cream Whiskey Loaf Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 20 min Servings 1 loaf (12 pieces) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Whiskey I love

when fresh peaches are in season!

when fresh peaches are in season! This recipe is sweet from the ripe peaches with a slight tang from the whiskey. This is a perfect after-dinner treat, but it’s just as good with your morning coffee. It also makes a welcome gift for neighbors and friends. —Anne Ormond, Dover, New Hampshire 4/32 Vegan Chocolate Mousse Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 25 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Avocados My son is allergic to dairy and eggs, so I created this silky vegan chocolate mousse recipe that he could enjoy. It’s also gluten

free and grain free

free and grain free. If you’re having company over, it can be prepared the night before and stored in the refrigerator. —Sarah Meuser, New Milford, Connecticut 5/32 Pink Peppercorn and Sake Ice Cream Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 3-1/2 cups Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Peppercorns There’s plenty of sake flavor in this rich ice cream studded with peppercorns. You’ll get an interesting pop of heat with every bite. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 6/32 Black Bean Brownies 31 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 35 min Servings 1

Who would have thought black bean brownies would be so amazing?

dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Black Beans You’d never guess these rich, velvety chocolate treats contain a can of black beans. Who would have thought black bean brownies would be so amazing? —Kathy Hewitt, Cranston, Rhode Island 7/32 Pineapple Carrot Cake 14 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 55 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Baby Food This moist cake with cream cheese frosting is the best I’ve ever eaten. It’s so simple, too, because it uses two jars of baby food instead of fresh carrots that need to be

They travel well in containers without melting or getting soft

grated. —Jeanette McKenna, Vero Beach, Florida 8/32 Potato Chip Clusters 31 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings about 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Potato Chips Just three offbeat ingredients add up to one unique, delectable, no-bake treat. These super-easy, sweet-and-salty candy clusters make for merry munching during holiday trips or parties. They travel well in containers without melting or getting soft. —Donna Brockett, Kingfisher, Oklahoma 9/32 Tropical Compote Dessert Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 2 hours 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the

The icing recipe can be doubled for real sweet tooths

Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Jalapeno To make a more adult version of this recipe, use brandy instead of the extra tropical fruit juice. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 10/32 Contest-Winning Chocolate Potato Cake 6 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Potatoes I won grand champion honors in a potato festival baking contest with this moist chocolate cake. The icing recipe can be doubled for real sweet tooths. A great-grandma, I’ve spent over 85 years on the farm. 11/32 Rosemary Citrus Sorbet 2 Reviews Test

Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 10 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Rosemary This pretty pastel dessert bursts with the fresh flavors of grapefruit, lime and rosemary. —Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah 12/32 Raspberry Cake 21 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved SARAH TRAMONTE FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 45 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Jazz up plain cake with raspberry gelatin and frozen berries. Spread with a light, fruity whipped topping (or this whipped topping substitute), the festive results make a cool and refreshing dessert.

—Marion Anderson, Dalton, Minnesota 13/32 Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake 64 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Mayonnaise Mom always made this special chocolate mayonnaise cake for my birthday meal. It is very moist and has a nice light chocolate taste, and the flavorful frosting is the perfect topping. —Deborah Amrine, Grand Haven, Michigan 14/32 Lavender Honey Cheesecake 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Lavender I love the scent

It’s mildly sweet with a hint of paprika

of lavender, and the edible flowers make this cheesecake one of the most spectacular I’ve tasted. You can use lavender honey in this recipe for extra flavor, but even without it, the lavender is very distinct. —Julie Palmer, Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania 15/32 Dark Chocolate Ice Cream with Paprika & Agave Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 1 quart Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Paprika Pair this rich and creamy ice cream with a cup of hot or iced coffee. It’s mildly sweet with a hint of paprika. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Ingredient: Balsamic Vinegar This

16/32 Chocolate Guinness Cake 138 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Stout One bite and everyone will propose a toast to this silky-smooth chocolate Guinness cake. The cream cheese frosting reminds us of the foamy head on a perfectly poured pint. —Marjorie Hennig, Seymour, Indiana 17/32 Quinoa, Fresh Fig and Honey-Balsamic Parfait Test Kitchen Approved Quinoa, Fresh Fig & Honey-Balsamic Parfaits Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Balsamic Vinegar This

quinoa yogurt parfait is special to me because of its wholesome ingredients

quinoa yogurt parfait is special to me because of its wholesome ingredients. Quinoa is gluten-free, which is good for those who have food allergies, like my daughter. And I love fresh ripe figs when they are in season. Enjoy this for breakfast or dessert. —Dawn Hutchins, St. Johns, Florida 18/32 Olive Oil Cake 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Olive Oil A good olive oil cake isn’t overly sweet, so it can just as easily be a breakfast treat or an afternoon snack as a dessert.

—Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 19/32 Bacon Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Blondies 4 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 15 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Bacon If you’re a sweet and savory fan like me, you’ll go wild over this bacon cookie bar recipe. You just can’t beat a cookie, brownie and cheesecake all mixed up and sprinkled with bacon. —Katie O’Keeffe, Derry, New Hampshire 20/32 Sauerkraut Chocolate Cake 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 55 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

Ingredient: Sauerkraut For an adventurous cake, try this recipe

Ingredient: Sauerkraut For an adventurous cake, try this recipe. People might need a little coaxing to try it but once they do, they will love it.—The Fremont Company 21/32 Red Curry-Pandan Ice Cream Test Kitchen Approved MARK DERSE FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 50 min Servings 1 quart Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Curry Powder The curry and coconut flavors are subtle, allowing the flavor of pandan leaves to shine. Pandan is a tropical plant that grows in Southeast Asia with a naturally sweet, bright flavor. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 22/32 23/32 Spiced

Ingredient: Toasted Wheat Germ

Toffee Cookies Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings about 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Toasted Wheat Germ I bake these cookies for family gatherings because my crowd likes cookies thin and chewy with a crispy exterior. The toffee bits make a happy surprise.—Gloria Bradley, Naperville, Illinois 24/32 Green Tomato Pie 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour 15 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ingredient: Green Tomatoes When frost nips our garden, I quickly gather all the green tomatoes still on the vine

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