Dessert recipes

Weinkuechle or wine fritters: German sweet bread slices battered, fried golden, and drowned in hot sweetened wine or cider. A rustic winter dessert from the Black Forest tradition.

Molded chocolate mousse set in a loaf pan with gelatin, coffee, rum, and whipped egg whites for lift. Sliceable dinner-party dessert topped with vanilla whipped cream.

Mohn kuchen: a traditional German poppy seed cake with a pressed shortbread base, creamy cooked poppy seed filling, and buttery streusel top. Dense, nutty, old-world dessert.

Strawberry fool with crushed berries folded into whipped cream and sour cream, drizzled with a spiced port wine syrup. The classic English dessert updated for summer dinner parties.

Almond and hazelnut pastry ring with a sweet marzipan-style nut filling, baked in a glossy golden spiral. Classic European dessert pastry for coffee or tea.

Blueberry puffs baked in individual custard cups with lemon-kissed berries on the bottom and a light cake batter on top. Turned out upside down for a warm, fruity dessert.

Rum chocolate mousse folds melted semi-sweet chocolate, rum syrup, beaten egg whites, and whipped cream into a light, boozy three-ingredient dessert. Chilled in sherbet glasses for an elegant finish.

Classic peach Melba: vanilla ice cream crowned with a poached peach half, glossy raspberry-currant sauce, crushed macaroons, and a piped collar of whipped cream. Auguste Escoffier's signature dessert from 1893.

Iced blackberry yogurt swirls seedless blackberry puree with honey, brown sugar, banana, plain yogurt, and a beaten egg white into a light frozen dessert. A no-churn frozen yogurt for hot afternoons.

Old-fashioned raisin pie with plump fruit simmered in brown sugar, cinnamon, and orange juice, sealed under a flaky double crust. A pantry-staple Amish dessert known as funeral pie.

Light angel food cake rolled with a tangy lemon cream filling made from sweetened condensed milk and whipped topping. A stunning no-fuss dessert that starts with a box mix.

Party date cake is a big-batch chocolate date loaf topped with sugar, chopped nuts, and chocolate chips. Served warm in slices with whipped cream for a crowd-sized dessert.

Sewian is a classic Indian vermicelli dessert fried golden in ghee, then slow-simmered in milk with sugar and rose water. Topped with slivered almonds and pistachios for a fragrant, creamy sweet.

Mango kulfi frozen dessert made with fresh mango puree, whipped cream, gelatin, and ground roasted pistachios. An Indian ice cream that's creamier and denser than regular ice cream, no machine needed.

Pineapple mint sorbet blends fresh pineapple, orange juice, lime, and mint into a smooth, tangy frozen dessert. A light palate cleanser or refreshing warm-weather finish, no ice cream maker required.

Peanut brittle Bavarian ring with a coffee-flavored gelatin mousse of whipped cream and egg whites over a crunchy peanut brittle base. A retro no-bake dessert with a cloud-like texture and caramel crunch.