Banana

This tart is a great last-minute dessert for just about any meal, and it's quite possible you have all the ingredients in your kitchen right now. Grind your own crumbs if you've got whole graham crackers on hand.

A chewy coconut meringue "crust" and rich chocolate mousse filling make this delicious, inventive Australian dessert taste like a combination of coconut cream pie and chocolate cream pie.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Layers of chocolate crust, chocolate ganache and banana cream filling make a stunning black-and-white combination for this comforting no-bake pie. Mixing melted chocolate with the cookie crumbs produces a crust that becomes crisp when chilled.

Thick, oversize pancakes that will satisfy even the hungriest eaters.

Purchased puff pastry and almond paste help make an elegant dessert in minutes.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Couscous is a staple of the Moroccan table. This dessert version is similar to rice pudding. Cream of coconut adds extra flavor.

Biscotti would be great for dipping, too.

(Baked Banana Pudding) Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Add a splash of Angostura bitters, a flavoring found in the supermarket's liquor section, for an intriguing spicy note.

Sandra Sowis of Allenhurst, New Jersey, writes: "My mother loved bananas and used them in anything she could dream up. She made this banana cake for my birthday more than ten years ago, and it has traditionally been my birthday cake ever since." Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

Look for ripe mangoes that are slightly soft to the touch. To evoke the tropics even more, serve the fruit with coconut macaroons or macadamia nut cookies.

Store-bought vanilla frozen yogurt acts as the luscious foil for oranges, pineapple, mango and bananas in a fat-free brown sugar-cinnamon sauce.