International Desserts Worth a Try

Always making the same desserts and looking for a new sweet treat to make? Look to the rest of the world to satisfy your sweet tooth, and bring some international flair to your kitchen. These desserts make great celebratory dishes, or can even be an everyday treat. Below are some of our favourite recipes for international desserts.

Flan

A popular dessert throughout Latin America and Spain, flan is a thick, creamy custard drenched in caramel sauce. Begin by preheating oven to 350 degrees and melting 1 cup of sugar in a pan. Once melted, pour into a glass baking dish. Next, mix together 3 eggs, 12 ounces of evaporated milk and 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract. Pour the egg mixture into the pan and bake covered for 1 hour. Let cool completely, flip the pan over, and enjoy!

Baklava

Baklava is a dessert from the ancient Ottoman Empire and today is eaten all across the Middle East, Greece, and the Caucasus. Begin by layering 8 sheets of phyllo dough in a greased baking pan, and mixing together 1 pound chopped nuts with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Layer a few tablespoons of the nut mixture on top of the phyllo, top with 2 more phyllo sheets, brush with butter and repeat until 1 package of phyllo dough and all of the nut mixture is used. Cut the baklava into triangles and bake for 50 minutes at 350 degrees. While the baklava is baking, boil 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 0.5 cup honey for 20 minutes. Spoon honey mixture over finished baklava and let it cool.

Brigadeiro

Similar to a bonbon or truffle, this no-fuss Brazilian dessert is perfect for the holidays! Combine 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, 14 ounces sweetened, condensed milk, and 1 tablespoon of melted butter in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes until thickened. Let cool, then form small balls and finish by rolling them in chocolate sprinkles, crushed nuts, or any topping of your choosing.

Tiramisu

Aptly translating to 'pick me up' in Italian, Tiramisu is a popular dessert served cold that's both a custard and a cake. Begin with the custard. In a bowl over lightly simmering water, combine 6 egg yolks and 0.75 cup sugar. Slowly add 0.75 cup whole milk, stirring constantly for 10 minutes, then cool the custard by placing the bowl into an ice bath. Once cooled, fold in four 8-ounce containers of mascarpone cheese.

In another bowl, combine 1.5 cups espresso and 0.5 cup brandy or cognac. Dip a package of ladyfingers in the coffee mixture one at a time, and arrange one layer in the bottom of a baking dish. Layer a portion of the custard mixture on top, and repeat by alternating more ladyfingers and custard until the dish is full. Refrigerate overnight and enjoy!

Mango Sticky Rice

Hailing from Thailand, this sweet treat turns savory rice into a delicious dessert. Begin by cooking 1.5 cups of short-grain white rice as directed and let cool. Then, bring 1.5 cups coconut milk, 1 cup sugar and 0.5 teaspoon of salt to a boil over medium heat. Stir the rice into the liquid and let cool.

Next, combine 0.5 cup coconut milk, 1 tablespoon sugar, 0.25 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon tapioca starch and bring to a boil. Plate a portion of the rice and spoon several tablespoons of the sauce over it. Finish by garnishing with chopped mangoes and sesame seeds.

Top 5 Routes for "International Desserts Worth a Try"

1. First We Feast Take a tour around the world with this list of the 13 Best International Desserts.
2. Food Network Taste the sweeter side of Asia with a list of the Food Networks best Asian desserts.
3. Eating Europe Tours Explore European culinary excellence and satisfy your sweet tooth with a tour of Europe's best desserts.
4. Saveur Another list of some of the best desserts from around the world.
5. Curious Cuisiniere The curious cuisiniere offers a wide variety of recipes to help you try out some international desserts.