Dessert. That sweet, scrumptious word that brings a delightful vision to everyone’s mind. For some it’s pie loaded with whipped cream. For others it’s brownies with a rich, chocolaty frosting. Whatever your weakness is, there’s a recipe for that.

Did you know the number 2 most searched recipe for Thanksgiving in Utah is Pretzel-Jell-O? How odd is that? Personally, when I’m feeling Jell-O fancy, I just add fruit. Although people have been known to make all sorts of crazy Jell-O; by adding marshmallows, fruit, and even carrots. Some people set their Jell-O atop a bed of cream cheese and pretzel crumbs (the Utah-recipe style), then top it with cool-whip, and sometimes extra fruit on top of that!

That gives us the question, what other crazy, amazing desserts are out there?

A new fun spin on brownies that you may have heard of: Black Bean Brownies. With a food processor and a can of black beans on hand with your other brownie supplies, you can make some pretty thick, gooey brownies. It’s great if you’re trying for gluten-free, or just to cut the calories without cutting out the flavor. Some recipes may call for brown sugar, but my tip for these little delights: use white sugar, or a combination of white and brown, to keep the best flavor. If that’s not your thing, then try throwing some mint chocolate chips or fresh berries into your regular brownie mix. It adds just a little sparkle to an already-delicious dessert.

My personal weakness is cake. I’d do anything for a bit of Devil’s Food cake smothered in frosting. If you feel your cakes are dry, add some instant chocolate pudding to the batter. (You can’t just add the powder, throw the milk in, too!) For something really fun you can make the pudding separately and then swirl it into the cake batter after it’s been poured into the pan. If you do chocolate pudding with a yellow cake, it creates a marbled effect.

If you need something quick, but still want to have a “homemade” dessert, buy a sugar cookie mix from the store. Follow the directions on the packet, but add a tablespoon of milk, and a splash of vanilla for a homemade flavor. (Adding vanilla to store-bought frosting also gives it a homemade taste.) Use cookie cutters or just drop balls onto your cookie sheet and voila: a fun treat for everyone! Use icing or frosting and sprinkles, or just serve them plain!

Whatever your desire, there’s always a way to spice it up! Throw some orange juice in your white cake mix. Add a splash of vanilla to anything, vanilla is a great tool to bring out the flavors already there. Cookies, brownies, or cakes, a little milk might go a long way in keeping them moist and scrumptious for days to come. Add extra eggs for extra thickness. A dash of nutmeg or cinnamon can bring a little life to your dessert. Nutella makes a great peanut butter replacement if you’re baking for someone with a peanut allergy. So add that sparkle, that pizazz, that wow-factor to your desserts by starting simple! Little things make a big difference. The point is, just have fun!