No meal is complete without dessert. And every country has some iconic desserts that you absolutely must try. Even though you probably can’t travel at the moment, you can still satisfy your sweet tooth with these easy dessert recipes inspired by countries around the world.
This list of delicious sweets will give you a taste of what you might come across while you’re travelling, or even help you get over your holiday blues by recreating your favourite dishes. From sprinkle-coated Brazilian chocolate balls to creamy French crème brûlée, these simple desserts are the perfect thing to try out during your lockdown cooking sessions.
Easy Dessert Recipes From Around The World That You Can Actually Make
Banoffee Pie — A Banana-Toffee Treat From England
England’s banoffee pie was created in 1972 by Ian Dowding and Nigel Mackenzie, of The Hungry Monk restaurant in Jevington, East Sussex. The classic and simple dessert is made with bananas, cream, toffee, and sometimes chocolate or coffee.
Churros — Deep-Fried Dough Sticks From Spain
Churros are deep-fried treats from Spain that are now really popular across Latin America, particularly Mexico, Colombia and Guatemala. Choux-like pastry is piped through a star-shaped nozzle into hot oil, fried until golden brown and then sprinkled with sugar. They’re traditionally found at street vendors or in cafes and are often served with hot chocolate or dulche de leche.
Recipe here.
Brigadeiros — Sprinkle-Coated Chocolate Balls From Brazil
Brigadeiros are similar to truffles and are eaten at any major Brazilian celebration. Named in honour of military figure Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes (they were supposedly his favourite dessert). These delicious chocolate balls are a simple dessert made from sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, and butter and then rolled in chocolate sprinkles.
Recipe here.
Tres Leches Cake — A Light And Airy Cake From Mexico
Tres leches mean “three milks”, and this creamy sponge cake features three kinds of milk—evaporated, condensed and cream. Together, they create a light and airy texture that has made it a classic in Mexican kitchens. It’s said to have been a result of Nestlé’s popularisation of condensed and evaporated milk in the 1940s.
Recipe here.
Milk Tart — Custard Tarts From South Africa
This is one of South Africa’s most beloved desserts, and it can give the tres leches cake a run for its money. Milk Tarts can be traced back to the 17th century when the Dutch first settled in South Africa. Reminiscent of Dutch desserts, it’s a creamy custard tart made from milk, sugar, flour and eggs. Be sure to add a sprinkling of cinnamon to this easy dessert recipe (an ingredient that’s a result of South Africa’s trade with Indonesia).
Crème Brûlée — A Rich Creamy Treat From France
The origins of this dish are unclear, with England, Spain and France all claiming to have invented it. However, crème brûlée became most popular in France and is a favourite dessert for a reason. A rich, creamy egg custard, it’s topped with sugar that’s browned to a layer of hard, crunchy caramel.
Recipe here.
Apple Pie — An Iconic And Popular Pie From America
While Europe and England have long histories of making fruit pies (that probably inspired the Americans), there’s something that’s just quintessentially American about apple pie. In this simple dessert, apple slices are coated in cinnamon and sugar and encased in a flaky crust.
Recipe here.
Waffles — A Light And Airy Treat From Belgium
Just as apple pies have become synonymous with America, Belgian waffles are famous around the world. The batter often includes sugar that caramelizes when cooked. These waffles are a common street snack and are eaten warm and topped with powdered sugar or Nutella (but not syrup).
Recipe here.
Lamingtons — Chocolate And Coconut Coated Cakes From Australia
Lamingtons are found throughout Australia. This dessert is made from squares of butter cake or sponge cake coated with an outer layer of chocolate sauce and rolled in desiccated coconut. They’re named after Lord Lamington the eighth Governor of Queensland, and are an easy dessert recipe that can be made effortlessly in large quantities.
Recipe here.
Kheer — A Warm Rice Pudding From India
Kheer or payasam is an ancient Indian dessert that’s believed to have originated in the Lord Jagannath Temple in Orissa. Nothing can beat good old kheer when it comes to easy dessert recipes. This creamy rice pudding has several variations across the country and is popular at festivals and celebrations. For this simple dessert, rice or wheat is boiled with milk and sugar and flavoured with dried fruits, nuts, cardamom, and saffron.
Recipe here.
Basbousa — Coconut-y Semolina Cake From Egypt
Bssbousa can be found all over the Middle East, but it is primarily associated with Egypt. This cake is made from semolina, eggs, butter and coconut, which is soaked in sweet syrup after being baked. It can even be flavoured with rose or orange blossom and topped with almonds.
Recipe here.
Tangyuan — Sweet Dumplings From China
Tangyuan are sweet dumplings that are traditionally eaten on the 15th day of Chinese New Year (to signify the end of the celebrations). However, they can be enjoyed year-round. Made from glutinous rice flour, these chewy balls can be filled with red beans, black sesame, or peanuts and are usually covered in a syrupy broth.
Recipe here.
Also Read: 20 Lip Smacking Soups To Try From Around The World
So, Which Of These Lockdown Desserts Will You Be Making To Branch Out Your Baking Skills?
While we can’t travel and taste every delicious famous dessert around the world right now, we live in an age where we can drool over mouth-watering desserts from different countries in the comfort of our homes. So, branch out your lockdown cooking skills with these simple desserts from across the globe. Let us know in the comments below which of these easy dessert recipes you plan on trying first.
