Dessert can be enjoyed at any time. When visitors stop by, for a morning break or even as an afternoon pick-me-up, dessert brings a touch of sweet luxury to your life. And while you might not want to eat it every day, you certainly shouldn’t ban desserts from your life. Eggs, chocolate, and coffee bring significant benefits to a healthy diet and you’ll find all three in many desserts, including some in this article.
When dessert isn’t an everyday thing, it becomes a ritual that’s anticipated with pleasure and genuinely enjoyed. These 5 best tasty desserts to enjoy at home represent the best of contemporary food trends but include some old favorites, updated. So, let’s dive in and find out what’s new in desserts and how you can enjoy these tasty trends at home.
1. Shortbread
Starting its long life in Medieval Scotland, shortbread has a long and illustrious history. Once upon a time, something like shortbread called “rusk” existed, which was a bread roll past its freshest self, baked again with sugar. The result was a hard, dry roll – a far cry from the crumbly, butter-rich treat we know today.
Shortbread consists of butter, flour, and sugar with an emphasis on butter, of course! Gracing Holiday meals and special occasions all over the world, what could be more comfortingly luxurious than shortbread with a hot cup of tea or coffee (perhaps with a side of liqueur)? If you like the sound of that, try this gorgeous shortbread cookie recipe to create a sweet, buttery sensation you’ll be baking more than once!
2. Tiramisu
Meaning “lift me up”, tiramisu has been rediscovered by restaurants and food editors. In 2023 it’s the dessert of the year, showing up in all manner of interesting disguises. Originally developed in the 1960s in response to the “easy entertaining at home trend”, tiramisu is greeted with enthusiasm at dinner parties. This Italian dessert’s primary ingredients are ladyfingers (small oval biscuits), cream, and mascarpone, among other sinfully tempting ingredients. And it’s getting a 21st Century makeover with delicious iterations cropping up everywhere.
While I won’t judge you if you choose traditional Italian tiramisu, I will offer you a trendy alternative, so you can take your pick. Lay on the mascarpone goodness, slathered with coffee liqueur, or go a little lighter with an equally delicious, more health-conscious variation.
3. Dessert Board
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You’ve heard of charcuterie boards, now meet the dessert board! Just as you might think, the dessert board offers up small bites of favored nibbles. But this is the sweet side of the board, so instead of olives, crackers, and deli meats, fill the board with petit fours, macarons, and chocolates. And if you don’t like those selections, you can make up your own!
A dessert board can be seasonal. Arrange a platter with Holiday cookies, candies, and baked goods. Or choose a theme. Add fruit, cream spreads, and slices of pound cake or banana bread. To create your dessert board, all you need is a platter, a dessert-focused imagination, and a bunch of irresistibly tasty treats, attractively arranged.
4. Vegan Desserts
The vegan dessert is a growing trend, as the adoption of veganism becomes more common. While veganism is still somewhat “niche”, its influence on culinary trends is undeniable as more people question practices like factory farming to produce meat and dairy products. But ethical implications aside, it appears that veganism can be downright yummy!
And who says you can’t have your chocolate and be vegan, too? You can. Baking without animal products is becoming more common. The good news is that by using plant-based ingredients, you save money and you still get to experience the joy of chocolate! Even if you’re not feeling veganism, if you’re mad for chocolate and ready for a delicious plant-based alternative, try this recipe for vegan 2-ingredient dark chocolate truffles.
5. Get Spicy
The popularity of Scoville-worthy, spicy desserts has been surging since some smartypants added sriracha hot sauce to their bowl of double chocolate chip ice cream. Today, spicy desserts are a mainstay on menus everywhere. There’s something about spice and chocolate that feels perfectly natural. Perhaps that’s because chocolate comes from Mexico, where it was once called “chocolātl” in the Nahuatl language. When you consider the Mexican kitchen’s abundance of peppers, it’s clear that a national secret has been unleashed.
So, what would happen if you created a spicy, sweet bacon dessert? Every second donut has bacon on it now, so why not make a dessert that’s unapologetically bacon centric? Pralines make this recipe a spicy-sweet tribute to the American South with a sweet taste of New Orleans.
Life Without Dessert? No, Thank You!
No one wants to live without dessert and you don’t have to! Put dessert in its place as a much-anticipated indulgence, elevating it to its former glory as a treat. The desserts offered here are simple but delicious. I hope readers will find something new and appealing to add some delightful dessert indulgence to their lives.
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