Questionable Questing

Choux pastry, the stuff that eclairs and the like are made of, isn't as hard as it sounds if you watch a few videos. Churros are similar, there is a bit of a process but it's easier than it sounds (but you will need a piping bag). For something with shelf life, you could buy a cake tin and go for a Black Forest cake. The one from Sally's Baking Addiction is actually a rock solid recipe.

People often recommend muffins, but I disagree. Muffins are surprisingly finicky, and can be too wet or too dry very easily. If you are looking for something very easy and still really tasty, there is a French dessert called Clafoutis that is excellent.

An apple pie or crumble is another easy one that will get you very far, and you can even get away with using tinned apples, so it won't be too pricey. Sticky date pudding is also manageable, and if you serve it with something like a brandy and fig butterscotch sauce, mmmm.

Finally, if you are looking for something a little more out there, but still a baked dessert, you can whip up some Crème Brûlée. It's a crowd pleaser, and while it's definitely more advanced, you can do smaller, seperate portions just fine. Also, you'll need a small torch to caramelise some sugar over the top, but you can get some very easy to use ones - simple point and pull, like a spray bottle.