4 Cold Desserts That Are Perennial Favourites

ByAabidaha Shaikh

All food is great for the soul, but desserts are especially a call from heaven. Biting into a succulent, well-made dessert transports into the kind of paradise that you’ve only dreamed about. The perfectly made dessert signifies many things: it is a symbol of love, penitence, celebration, happiness and even peace.

Think about it – what do people do when they’re upset or stressed? They make a beeline for chocolate. What puts a smile on your face at the end of a good meal? A well-made custard or a sinful frosted pastry. Whether you’re eating a simple meal at home or out celebrating a special event with friends, there’s no way to round off a meal than with a great dessert.

Is it any wonder then, that your customers request desserts more than other items? Some people just drop by on an afternoon for coffee and cake, while others order lavish dinners and enjoy two or three desserts after. No meal, whatever the cuisine, is complete without a dessert as a delightful full stop.

It is summer season and your patrons will want to try new and light desserts. You will have to stock your pantry with sugar, salt, milk, cream, butter, baking powder and custard mixes. Also add dry fruit, semolina, vermicelli and jaggery for Indian style desserts. Now read on for some dessert inspiration:

  • Chocolate custard. This chocolate custard recipe is the easiest you will ever make – just take custard powder, unsweetened cocoa, milk and sugar, and boil the lot on a medium flame so that no lumps are formed. Let it cool till it thickens, then portion it in custard bowls and set aside in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Serve cold with a side of coffee or vanilla cookies.
  • Gulabi nariyal kheer. This is a really special recipe that goes well with days like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and the like. You will need scented rose petals to boil in milk till the latter reduces to half. To this, add cardamom powder, custard powder and sugar. Keep boiling on low flame to a thick consistency. Remove from the flame and add coconut milk and grated coconut, stirring well alongside. Garnish with fried cashews and serve cold.
  • Light coffee cake. This is a simple coffee cake that is irresistible with a cup of coffee. Just beat sugar and eggs to form a creamy mix, and sift flour, baking powder and salt in it. Slowly blend in milk and melted butter. Pour the batter in a greased baking pan and bake at 175⁰ for 25 minutes. Cut into desired size and shape and serve cold.
  • Dutch coffee custard. Mix custard powder with milk and set aside in a bowl. Take a saucepan and melt sugar in it over medium heat, adding some more milk to it when it starts to caramelise. Add coffee powder to the pan and boil the milk and sugar mix. Once it becomes crusty, reduce the heat to low and cook till the sugar dissolves. Fold the custard powder mix into the sugar and cook, stirring till it thicken. Remove from heat and whisk in egg yolk rapidly. Meanwhile, take a glass bowl and beat the egg whites to form peaks. Fold the egg white foam into the custard mixture gradually, then refrigerate till it sets.

 You can make any number of desserts with a variety of ingredients to match with your meals, or create their own fusion. Here’s to a great season of putting smiles on people’s faces with your sweet treats!