> Dessert Recipes

Parmiggiano Ice Cream with Balsamic Glazed Strawberries Recipe
This beautiful dessert was created by Chef Giancarla Bodoni of Miami's organic Italian Escopazzo Restaurant.

Maple-Star Anise Mousse
Maple syrup infused with star anise creates a flavor that is clearly more than the sum of its parts. This mousse has a light, creamy, buttery, licorice-like flavor that barely registers maple as its principal sweetener. Serve it in glasses with some crushed pecans or walnuts as a terrific dessert, or use it as a filling for a torte or carrot cake.

Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp
This classic dessert comes from pastry chef Kate Zuckerman of New York's famous Chanterelle restaurant.

Blueberry and Citrus Sorbet “Layer Cake”
This frozen fruit dessert is so easy to make, yet looks very impressive. Fresh blueberries are perfectly complemented by creamy lemon and orange sorbets. Chopped walnuts are added for a little crunch and added depth of flavor.

Mocha Sherbet Freeze
This delicious frozen dessert recipe was created by former Chez Panisse pastry chef David Lebovitz. A creamy concoction of chocolate and coffee...two of my favorites.

Milk Chocolate Mousse with Champagne Gelee and Berries in Chocolate Cup
This recipe was created by Los Angeles celebrity chef Joachim Splichal (Patina Restaurant) for the 59th Annual Emmy Awards Governors Ball.

Plum Praline Semifreddo
Semifreddo is Italian for "half cold" and refers to a variety of cold or frozen desserts. This recipe is very similar to ice cream and combines fresh plums and pecans for a delicious frozen treat.

Strawberry Baked Alaska
Here's a refreshing twist on an American classic. This recipe for Strawberry Baked Alaska may seem difficult but it's been divided into short, easy-to-follow steps. Give it a try. Recipe created by Chef Mindy Segal of MK and MK North (Chicago, IL) courtesy of the California Strawberry Commission.

Grand Cookie Crumble
Both a drink and a dessert, "drinkable desserts" combine fancy cocktails with luxurious desserts in one of the hottest food trends.

Chocolate Sorbet
Here's a recipe for a beautifully simple and elegant dessert that's also low-fat. This sorbet has a rich, luxurious chocolate taste. High-quality chocolate will give this dessert fantastic flavor, but it will still taste great with less costly chocolate.

Carrot Cake Ice Cream
My wife likes carrot cake. I like ice cream. So I combined the two to make everyone happy. This is not ice cream that has bits of carrot cake in it. It's ice cream that tastes like carrot cake.

Chocolate Lava Cake with Cherry Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream
Chocolate Lava Cakes are so called because the center of the cake is a thick liquid chocolate and oozes out when cut, like molten lava. These make a great surprise dessert and, although pretty simple to make, will impress your guests. The chocolate flavor is intense (especially if you use bittersweet), so I like to serve it with vanilla ice cream to balance the flavor.

Flourless Chocolate Cake with Crème Anglaise
Flourless chocolate cake is a beautifully rich dessert. You will find it on the menu of many upscale restaurants but it is quite simple to make. Easier than most regular cakes, in fact, because if undercooked it will have a nice fudgy texture unlike the sogginess of an undercooked flour cake. I like to serve this with crème anglaise. Vanilla and chocolate naturally compliment each other and you get a nice contrast in temperatures and textures.

Coconut Creme Brulee
Crème brûlée is a very popular dessert that you will find in almost every fine dining restaurant. The smooth creamy custard contrasts very nicely with the crunch of the hardened sugar topping. A delightful dessert that will impress your guests, crème brûlée is actually quite simple to make. This particular version has a wonderfully rich and creamy coconut flavor.

Pumpkin Creme Brulee
Crème brûlée is a classic French dessert that has become very popular in recent years, showing up on the menu of most fine dining restaurants. The creamy custard contrasts nicely with the crunch of the caramelized sugar on top. Crème brûlée comes in many variations. This recipe uses pumpkin puree and spices for a delightful pumpkin pie flavor.

Classic Creme Brulee
Crème brûlée is a very popular dessert that you will find in almost every fine dining restaurant. The smooth creamy custard contrasts very nicely with the crunch of the hardened sugar topping. A delightful dessert that will impress your guests, crème brûlée is actually quite simple to make. This recipe is the classic version of crème brûlée which has a very nice vanilla custard flavor.

Maple Creme Brulee
Crème brûlée is a wonderfully creamy dessert that is elegant yet simple to make. This recipe calls for pure maple syrup. The flavor of pure maple is really highlighted in this dish. Don't use artificial maple, it won't taste anything near the quality of the real stuff.

Dark Chocolate Creme Brulee with Caramelized Bananas
Crème brûlée is a very popular dessert that you will find in almost every fine dining restaurant. The smooth creamy custard contrasts very nicely with the crunch of the hardened sugar topping. A delightful dessert that will impress your guests, crème brûlée is actually quite simple to make. This particular recipe uses dark chocolate but you can also substitute bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate.

Black and White Chocolate Cheesecake
This dessert combines two of my favorite things: cheesecake and chocolate. White chocolate and dark chocolate are used to created a wonderful contrast in color and taste. Nestle Chocolatier dark chocolate chips work very well in this recipe. You can also chop up a bar of dark chocolate or, if you prefer, you can use semi-sweet chocolate.

Cranberry Sorbet Recipe
Cranberry sorbet is not too sweet and a little on the tart side. It's delicious on its own but also goes well with tropical fruit. For something different try serving with cinnamon toast on the side.

Peach Upside-down Cake
Peach upside-down cake looks like a difficult, fancy dessert to make but it's actually quite simple to make. Your guests won't know that, though. More importantly, using fresh peaches creates an unforgettable dessert that is simply delicious. It's pretty good with canned peaches, too. Great for entertaining your friends or just dinner with the family.

White Chocolate-Green Tea Ice Cream
Recipe reprinted with permission from GREEN TEA: 50 HOT DRINKS, COOL QUENCHERS, AND SWEET AND SAVORY TREATS by Mary Lou Heiss (Harvard Common Press, 2006).

Melon Trio in Lavender Champagne Syrup
This melon trio in lavender Champagne syrup makes a very elegant dessert. The spice-filled syrup adds a wonderful complexity to the sweet melon flavors. A great way to end any dinner party.

Watermelon Sorbet
Quick and easy, watermelon sorbet is a refreshing summer treat that everyone will love.

Brown Sugar Glazed Bananas with Roasted Peanuts and Lime
This exceedingly quick and easy recipe blends sweet, sour, and salty flavors. It is a great way to use up bananas before they get too ripe. We like to make this with the small finger bananas, sometimes called nino or baby bananans, and top them with a scoop of coconut or white chocolate ice cream. Avoid roasted peanuts that contain seasonings suh as paprika or garlic salt. - Mary Cech and Jennie Schacht

Banana Rum Fool with Candied Ginger
A fool is a traditional British dessert made with cooked fruit that is then pureed or mashed and mixed with cream. Gooseberries were the fruit of choice in the past but any fruit can be used. This recipe uses bananas, rum, and candied ginger to create a fool with a more Caribbean twist.

Chilled Rhubarb & Strawberry Soup - Gourmet Dessert Recipes
Soup for dessert? You bet! Two signs of spring, rhubarb and strawberries, match wonderfully in this delightful dessert. A scoop of mascarpone cheese adds a luxurious texture to the dish.

Baileys Chocolate Pots de Creme - Gourmet Desserts
Pot de creme (pronounced poh duh KREHM) is a traditional French dessert that consists of a rich, creamy custard cooked and served in small pots. The classic flavoring is vanilla but here we will be adding chocolate and Baileys for an Irish twist.

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding
This luscious dessert recipe combines two classics: Banana's Foster and bread pudding. It make the perfect ending to a New Orleans' Mardi Gras party or a special dinner with friends. Using whole milk and a buttery bread like challah or brioche creates a very delightful but rich dish. If you prefer something not so heavy, substitute 2 percent milk and French bread.

Pomegranate Banana Cheesecake with a Chocolate Crust
Cheesecake is my favorite dessert. It's easy to make but the results are extraordinary. Rich, creamy, and sweet, cheesecake is just heavenly! In this variation, pomegranates, bananas, and chocolate combine beautifully to produce a wonderful dessert sure to please your guests or family.

Molten Chocolate Cake with Pomegranate Granita
Pomegranate seeds look like wonderful purple jewels. They have a sweet, sharp flavor that makes wonderful desserts. Pomegranate and chocolate is a traditional combination because the flavors match so well. Pomegranate season runs from September through December. The juice and seeds can be frozen.

Apple and Maple Caramel Cheesecake
Is there anything better than cheesecake for dessert? Rich, creamy, and sweet, the cheesecake stands out as one of my all-time favorites. Cream cheese, caramel, pecans, and maple syrup are a natural combination. Sinfully delicious, this dessert is perfect for entertaining special guests or as a treat for your family. This recipe has several ingredients but is quite simple to prepare.

Apple Cider Sorbet
Sorbets are much easier to make than ice creams and generally more flavorful. As an added bonus, they are usually fat-free or, at least, low fat. Apple sorbets are normally tart. I use apple cider instead of juice to give it a richer flavor. Adding rum gives the sorbet a more complicated taste. A very simple recipe.

Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Candied Ginger and Hot Bu
Here's a New England favorite with a Caribbean twist. Rich and decadent, pumpkin matches well with ginger and rum to create a bread pudding your guests won't forget. A fast and easy recipe that's full of flavor.

Cheddar and Apple Clafouti with Maple Creme Anglaise
Clafouti is a traditional dessert made of fruit covered with a thick batter and baked until puffy. Apples and cheddar cheese are a classic combination that create a mouthwatering dessert suitable for a family dinner or special occasions. This dessert can be served hot or cold.

Brandied Peach Shortcake with Raspberry Mascarpone and Almonds
Here's a twist on an old classic. Sweet, juicy peaches shine in this dessert that is sure to be a family favorite.

Cantaloupe and Orange Muscat Sorbet
Here is a light refreshing dessert for grown-ups only. Fresh melon combines with an exotic hint of Muscat. Serve with shortbread cookies.

Cherry Apricot Clafouti
Enjoy the fruits of summer in this delightful dish. Clafouti is a cakelike fruit dessert in the French tradition, here using a delicious combination of cherries and apricots.

Fresh Strawberries with Coconut Crème Anglaise
Sometimes simple is better. Lush, ripe strawberries in season are something to really celebrate. The addition of coconut cream creates a dessert that is the perfect finish to an elegant meal.

Banana Cheesecake
Create an unforgettable dessert experience for your family or guests. Roasted bananas and macadamia nuts combine in this cheesecake recipe to create a magical taste sensation.