The recent spread of COVID-19 has restricted air travel and kept many families in their homes for weeks at a time. If you’re battling restlessness at home, travel around the world in your own kitchen with desserts from different countries. Try baking some of these easy desserts from around the world:
Mexico: Tres Leches
This fluffy sponge cake is soaked in tres leches, or “three milks”: sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and cream. The cake’s light and airy texture combined with whipped topping and sliced strawberries makes it a favorite after-dinner dessert for Latin American families.
Guatemala: Mole de Platanos
This traditional Guatemalan dessert has origins in the 16th Century and is still very popular among Guatemalans today. The easy ethnic dessert recipe combines a plantain mash with mole sauce. Mole is a thick, rich marinade that combines chocolate with hot chiles and spices.
Turkey: Baklava
Baklava is a classic Turkish treat that has integrated itself into many other cultures throughout the world. The dessert consists of phyllo dough layered between a mixture of chopped nuts, butter and a sweet, sticky syrup. Anyone can make baklava at home with just a few simple ingredients!
Germany: Apple Strudel
Apple strudel is a festive German dessert that’s surprisingly simple to bake in your own kitchen! The sweet, layered pastry is filled with chopped apples, fresh bread crumbs, raisins, sliced almonds, sugar, cinnamon and butter, and dusted with powdered sugar.
England: Bread Pudding
This classic English dessert is made with cubed bread bites, raisins and spices, then tossed in a simple custard mixture and baked until golden brown. Served warm, bread pudding makes for a special sweet treat after dinner or with brunch!
France: Chocolate Banana Crepes
Crepes are an iconic French food, served with savory or sweet toppings. The thin, egg-based pancakes make a great dessert or sweet breakfast when filled with bananas and melted chocolate! Crepes are also very quick and easy to make at home.
Italy: Tiramisu
Tiramisu is known as one of the best desserts around the world. This coffee-flavored, rum-infused Italian dessert is made of ladyfingers drenched in espresso, layered with a whipped egg mixture, sugar, mascarpone cheese and cocoa. This soft, moist dessert requires few ingredients and little preparation time!
Ireland: Guinness Cake
Chocolate Guinness cake is a popular Irish delight. An easy international dessert, this silky, rich cake uses a minimal amount of baking ingredients. A cocoa, butter and Guinness mixture is blended with eggs and sour cream to be baked, and served with a whipped cream cheese frosting.
China: Ginger Date Wontons
Wontons aren’t only used in savory appetizers and soups. Wontons also pair perfectly with sweet ingredients for a delicious Chinese dessert. Ginger date wontons combine dates, nuts, candied ginger, lemon peel and butter for a soft, chewy filling. The dessert is best served warm with a scoop of ice cream!
