Sensational spring flavors

(Family Features)  – Between blossoming flowers and warmer temperatures, there are plenty of reasons to spend more time outside. Brighten up your spring family gatherings with the sweet flavors of the season. You can prepare a delicious brunch for your family or bring a fun dessert to your next gathering without having to take away any of your time enjoying the outdoors. 

Spring is also the perfect time to introduce new twists on classic desserts that will impress your loved ones. Dessert combinations, like a classic cheesecake laced with sweet cherries on a buttery chocolate chip cookie crust or a brunch-perfect cinnamon French toast with your favorite features of an apple fritter, are sure to be the talk of your family’s table.

Overnight Apple Fritter French Toast Casserole

Recipe courtesy of Kate of “I Heart Eating”

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 45-55 minutes

Servings: 12

Ingredients

1 package (24 ounces) thick-sliced cinnamon bread, divided

1 can (21 ounces) apple fruit pie filling and topping

9 large eggs

1 cup fat-free half-and-half

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup powdered sugar

1-2 tablespoons milk

Method

Grease 9-by-9-inch baking dish.

Cube cinnamon bread and add half to prepared baking dish.

Add fruit filling over bread. Cover fruit filling with rest of bread cubes.

In bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half and cinnamon. Pour evenly over bread.

Cover and chill overnight.

When ready to serve, heat oven to 325 degrees F.

Uncover and bake for 45-55 minutes. 

If casserole starts to brown too much, tent aluminum foil over casserole.

Let cool in pan for about 10 minutes.

Glaze

Whisk together powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon milk, adding more as needed to make pourable glaze. Drizzle glaze over casserole just before serving.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cherry Cheesecake Pie

Ingredients

Cook time: 67-82 minutes

1 roll (16.5 ounces) refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough

2 packages (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

2/3 cup sugar

1 egg

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cans (21 ounces each) cherry fruit pie filling, divided.

Method

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Press cookie dough evenly into bottom and sides of deep dish (2-inches deep) 9-inch pie plate.

Bake 12 minutes. Cool completely. While crust is cooling, prepare filling. 

Filling

In large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth. Stir in 1 can of cherry fruit filling. Pour filling into cooled crust.

Bake 55-70 minutes, or until filling is set and golden brown.

Cool. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Top with remaining can of cherry fruit filling.

Recipes and photos  from Lucky Leaf.