You never have to worry about finding delicious meal options with the culinary amenities at The Gardens, including restaurant-style dining, a 50's-style diner, catering for special events, a private dining room and a country kitchen. But sometimes you might get a sweet craving you want to satisfy quickly. Microwave desserts are easy to make in your assisted living apartment and perfect when you don't have a full kitchen. Most microwave desserts make one serving, so you get just enough to satisfy your craving. Try these delicious microwave dessert options for an occasional treat.
If you're craving a slice of cake, you can bake one in a few minutes with your microwave. You'll find lots of mug cake recipes online, or you can buy mug cake mixes at the store that come in individual pouches with instructions.
Another option is to use a box cake mix for your mug cake. This option lets you choose any flavor that's available in the cake mix aisle. Use an 11- or 12-ounce mug for the best results. To make this version of a mug cake, you'll need:
Start by spraying a mug with cooking spray. Then, mix the three ingredients in the mug. You can experiment with add-ins like nuts, fruit or chocolate chips if you want. Microwave it for about 1 minute and 30 seconds or until the cake is done. You can eat the cake plain or top it with frosting, chocolate sauce, fruit, whipped cream or other toppings.
Apple crisp is the perfect fall treat, but you can enjoy a single serving any time of year with a microwave version. You'll need one medium apple in any variety you prefer. Peel the apple and cut it into thin, even slices so they cook well. Add the following ingredients to the apples:
Put the apple mixture in a large mug or small microwave-safe bowl. Then, mix the following ingredients for the crispy top:
Sprinkle the crisp mixture over the apples. Microwave it for two to three minutes. The apples should be soft. You can top the microwave apple crisp with ice cream or whipped cream if desired. You can also add other fruit or use different fruit completely. Adjust the microwave time as needed if you use different fruit.
Crispy rice cereal treats are easy to make, but you don't always want a full pan. You can make a smaller single serving in the microwave to satisfy your craving. Start by putting 1/2 tablespoon of butter and 1/2 cup of mini marshmallows in a large mug or microwave-safe bowl. Place it in the microwave and heat for 20 to 30 seconds. The marshmallows will get large and melty. Stir them until they're smooth. If necessary, you can microwave it for a few more seconds to melt the marshmallows completely.
Add about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of Rice Krispies cereal to the marshmallows. Add part of the cereal and stir. If it seems like it has too much marshmallow in it, add a little more cereal and stir again. Add sprinkles, chocolate chips or other add-ins if desired to customize the treat. You can enjoy it straight out of the cup or place it on parchment paper to shape it.
You can't have an open flame in your assisted living apartment, but you can still enjoy a microwave-safe version of this campfire favorite. Place the bottom graham crackers on a microwave-safe plate and top them with marshmallows and chocolate. Microwave for 20 to 30 seconds, keeping an eye on it the entire time so the marshmallows don't get too big. You want them to expand a little and get melty. When you're happy with the marshmallows, take the plate out of the microwave and place a second graham cracker on top to complete the dessert.
Chocolate-covered strawberries seem like a fancy dessert, but they're easy to make in the microwave. You simply need to melt the type of chocolate you prefer and dip your strawberries in it. Chocolate wafers that are made for dipping make this microwave dessert even easier. Simply melt the wafers in the microwave according to the instructions.
If you prefer chocolate chips, put 16 ounces of chocolate plus 2 tablespoons of shortening or coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the chocolate at 50% power in 30-second intervals. Stir after each interval. When it's smooth and melted, you're ready to start dipping.
You want your strawberries to be clean and dry before dipping. Water can make the melted chocolate seize, which means it gets thick and clumpy. Pat the strawberries dry after cleaning them to avoid this issue. You can also try dipping other fruit like orange slices, kiwi, pineapple and apple slices.
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