Sinful No-Sweat Summer Sweets (Banquet Dessert Bakes, Edwards Oreo Cream Pie, and others)

Okay, having tortured some of you, apparently, with recipes for desserts last week, I thought I’d pick some of the Diner’s quick-serve desserts or treats – that is, desserts you either serve right from the freezer or make from a mix. Luscious, sinful, make-you-moan chocolate sins that you can have near-instantly, to satisfy your summer sugar cravings...cold from the freezer, to add to the joy.


For those who love chocolate cream pie: not counting various pints of ice-cream (Ben & Jerry’s New York Super Fudge Chunk is the top-rated ice cream of all time at the Diner, by the way), the best-rated dessert was, surprisingly, from Banquet, in a line called “Banquet Dessert Bakes.” This is a dessert-in-a-box to which you add water, stir, and refrigerate. Okay…you have to make the crust and the filling separately, but, really, it’s that simple. The winning dessert is called Chocolate Silk Cream Pie, and gets rave reviews – one reviewer, tiamsea, said “Tastes scrumptious too, I even had someone ask me to make it for them because they thought it was a secret recipe haha.” Three different reviewers ranked this dessert 5 stars, not only for taste but for ease of preparation; you may want to stock up on the whipped cream when you make this!

Speaking of chocolate, one of the top-rated desserts is from a brand I’d never heard of before I started the Diner – Edwards. Edwards sells whole, ready-to-eat frozen pies – I’m dying to try the Mocha Mudslide myself – but they also offer the convenience of buying slices of pie, which I think is a boon to those living alone, or, for that matter, couples who just don’t have the oomph to eat a whole pie. Our Regulars at the Diner rate their Oreo Cream Pie a solid 5-stars, with Kwils, our non-dessert eating regular, admitting “…this one I just can't resist and buy it rather often.” She goes on to say that “[t]he crust and filling are both very tasty and this pie doesn't taste "fake" like some frozen desserts do.”

What the heck – let’s make it a Chocolate dessert trifecta: Our third selection for the night is Pepperidge Farm’s Dessert Classics Chocolate Three Layer Cake, which snuck in with a 4.7 out of 5-star rating, earning this enthusiastic review from longtime Diner Regular PattyE: “This is a great chocolate cake. I have to be honest, I am not a chocolate cake fan. I love chocolate, but not chocolate cake. I loved this one! The cake was moist and the icing was very creamy. It is a great cake to have in the freezer for unexpected company.” To be fair, Pepperidge Farm’s Dessert Classics Carrot Cake actually earned a higher ranking – a straight 5-stars from three reviewers – but since chocolate seemed to be the theme of the night, I slighted it in favor of its chocolately three-layer cousin.

And, last but by NO means least - if you love dark chocolate (oooooh, and I do!), want to cut out unnecessary fat and calories, and want a sensuous surprise, run, do not walk, to your local grocer and treat yourself to Haagen-Dazs' new Chocolate Sorbet. Made not with cream, but with Filtered Water, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Egg Whites, Lowfat Cocoa and Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Fruit Pectin, Natural Vanilla, Salt, this sorbet will knock your socks off. Deep, rich, dark and ultimately satsifying, this product is a sleeper that will satsify the hardest of the hardcore chocaholics. It's a perfect summer treat - cool and served without guilt. Enjoy!!

Don't forget to visit the Icebox Diner to read or write reviews of your favorite frozen dishes. Do you have a story suggestion or idea for Auntie? Email me!