Best Desserts

Dessert is the crowning glory of a meal, whether it is a simple sweet treat or an elegant arrangement, and the best desserts are those that please the eye as well as the palate. Depending on the meal, the best desserts may be quick and easy, individualized, or traditional favorites, but they will always be one of the best parts of the meal.

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 Recipes

 The classic cake can’t be beat for desserts, and gourmet cakes are an even better option. With limitless varieties, cakes can be simple or complex, quick to create or painstaking to perfect, and adjusted to complement any meal. By choosing a whole cake for dessert, families are encouraged to remain at the table in one another’s company just a little longer, and the blend of sweet and rich flavors will please both children and adults. Try flavors such as mocha, chocolate nougat, or caramel for superior decadence sure to please everyone.

2.

 One of the fastest and easiest desserts to prepare, Jell-O is perfect for summer meals, picnics, or as a sweet treat to accompany any casual meal. The rainbow of available flavors is both tasty and colorful, and adding fruit or using alternative ingredients (soda, milk, ice cream, etc.) gives this versatile dessert a wide repertoire for sweet lovers. Sugar-free varieties are also available, making this dessert suitable for any specialty diet. More elaborate recipes can create multiple layers, creamy pies, or festive cakes in a stunning spectrum of colors.

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 Recipes

 Whether it’s a classic pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, a flaky apple pie for the Fourth of July, or a decadent chocolate pie for any occasion, this traditional dessert is a favorite in many homes. Pies can be purchased in a wide array of flavors in the freezer section of any grocery store, or they can be made from scratch with varying levels of difficulty.

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 Recipes

 Smooth and rich, pudding is a quick and easy dessert to create just minutes before dinner is served. Adding toppings such as cookie crumbles, candy pieces, sauces, or nuts makes this a personalized dessert paradise, giving every family member the opportunity to make their favorite creation. Made with milk, pudding is also a great source of calcium, and its consistency can easily be adjusted by using more or less milk to create mousses, pies, and other treats.

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 Recipes

 Though less versatile than a classic cake, cupcakes have the added convenience of being easily controlled portions that can be eaten without silverware or extra dishes. Frosted cupcakes can be personalized with individual toppings, and colored icing can be used to create a panorama of delicious cupcake desserts. Inserting candy bits such as peanut butter cups, small mints, or caramels into the uncooked batter will yield a delicious surprise at the very first bite.

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 The natural sweetness of fruit makes it one of the best desserts available, not only because it is a pleasant taste but because it is healthier than many other dessert options. Seasonal fruit is relatively inexpensive, and there are a wide range of recipes for fruit salads, tarts, pies, creams, and other healthy treats to help every family member get their recommended fruit servings in a tasty way. For greater decadence, top fruit with a blended coulis, caramel or chocolate sauce, whipped cream, cinnamon, or mint.

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 Seasonal desserts are excellent choices for parties, entertaining, or just as an unusual family treat for any special occasion. Every family has heirloom recipes they treasure from year to year, and using those classic desserts with special meals will make them even more enjoyable and significant.

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 Recipes

 A tasty, exotic drink can be a delicious dessert, whether it is a smoothie, exotic punch, decadent hot chocolate, or spirituous beverage. Drink desserts are especially suitable for parties or adults-only dinners, when casual sipping and great conversation make any meal more memorable. Using sweet stirrers such as candy sticks, chocolate-dipped spoons, or cinnamon sticks will make the drink even more festive.

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 Recipes

 A classic summer treat, ice cream and ice cream sundaes make superb do-it-yourself desserts. Whether it is a homemade sorbet, a crunchy snow cone, a classic hot fudge sundae, or an exotic flavor, ice cream is a treat most diners will appreciate long after the meal has ended. For the best results, choose premium ice creams such as Ben & Jerry's, or use lower grade ice creams to create frozen ice cream cakes, shakes, or other treats.

10.

 Mint desserts – grasshopper pies, chocolate mint cookies, mint ice cream, peppermint hot chocolate, spearmint vanilla cakes, or any ordinary dessert topped with a mint sauce – are a refreshing and rejuvenating alternative to heavier desserts. The cool flavor of mint refreshes and cleanses the mouth after the richest meal, leaving a pleasant taste that will discourage further unnecessary snacking.

The key to any great dessert is not only in choosing the right item, but in presenting it well. A delicate presentation accompanied by complimentary sauces, a sprig of edible flowers or mint, and contrasting yet compatible colors will make the treat even more memorable than its taste. As the finishing touch to any meal, the best desserts are those that can tempt even full diners to indulge in one more delicious taste.

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