Dessert in under an Hour

If you've ever seen one of those decorator cake competitions on The Food Network where one of the bakers drops his or her cake during set-up, then you know what the face of heartbreak looks like. Dropping a cake, having it crack in two in the nerve-wracking, breath-holding pan to plate switcheroo, or realizing too late that you forgot something important (like the sugar) is the worst.

But hey, cake happens. And when it does, you've got to think on your feet. Here are a few of our favorite lickety-split stand-ins—each is ready to serve in under an hour without losing a whit of the ooh-la-la factor that makes a pretty dessert the sweet ending it should be.

Lemon Heaven Sundae

Can’t get enough lemon? This grown-up sundae’s for you.

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Raspberry Fool

When it comes to dessert, observe this golden rule: Stint on fat, never on flavor.

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Toffee Icebox Cake

A great way to get chocolate into your summer—no cooking required.

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Magic Mixed Berry Cobbler

The sweet batter rises to the top to form a crusty topping for sweetened berries.

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Lemon Ginger Almond Upside-Down Cake

Try this as a lemony alternative to pineapple upside-down cake.

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