"We're bringing our childhood memories to the table, and now people are paying attention," said Erick Rocha, pastry chef at Corima in Manhattan and the all-day cafe Vato, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, where conchas regularly sell out.
Icebox cakes are simple, no-bake desserts perfect for summer. They are made with a ladyfinger or cookie crust and a pudding or custard filling, and are chilled in the freezer so that the layers soften and blend into a sliceable cake.
On my last trip, in Bologna, I found yet another way to enjoy Italian coffee (beyond ordering a doppio). One memorable café topped its coffees with fruit powder-infused whipped cream. They were listed under a section on the menu appropriately named "caffe della gioia" (yes, "joy coffee"). These joyful mugs are topped with a generous mountain of whipped cream that can be folded with fruit- or nut powders, like pomegranate, pistachio, orange, wild berries, and aniseed.
This bread pudding is going to put you into a chocolate coma... and worth every bite. It's a rich and decadent bread pudding filled with chocolate and pecans. The bread pudding has a firm but creamy texture and the pecans add a nice crunch. Alone, it's delicious. But add the simple chocolate sauce and this is out of this world good. You don't have to dip the strawberries in chocolate, but it's a nice touch
What goes into the ideal Italian cocktail, as a result, is as much about sociability and presentation as it is about a specific flavor profile or provenance of ingredients. It isn't just a drink, it's a way of life. As soulful as a Puccini-penned opera. As colorful and exuberant as a summer sunset over the Amalfi Coast. Equally as expressive regardless of time or season.
If you only know trifle as a way to use up dry cake or as a quaint dish from the Great British Bake Off, you're in for a surprise. This chocolate strawberry brownie trifle is a scrumptious and special dessert to whip up for Valentine's Day, a romantic date night at home, or any time you need a sweet chocolatey treat.
Is there anything more delicious than tiramisu? This Italian dessert consists of decadent layers of espresso-dipped ladyfingers and plush mascarpone cream. It's perfectly creamy and only lightly sweet, with a rich dusting of cocoa powder on top. On our first trip to Italy, I ordered it at every restaurant Jack and I went to. It's just that good. After I shared this strawberry tiramisu last summer and this pumpkin tiramisu in the fall, I couldn't resist developing a classic tiramisu recipe too.
If you're unfamiliar with the unabashed pageantry that is Italian cassata, let me enlighten you. The Sicilian showstopper consists of a booze-soaked sponge cake layered with sweetened ricotta that's cloaked in a bright green marzipan cape and adorned with all kinds of candied fruit with decorative piping. It's a cake that demands attention, and one that rejects the notion that simple is best. With cassata, more is more.
Mix the cake mix, eggs, oil, water, sour cream, and chocolate pudding mix. (I use my mixer set to low.) Add chocolate chips and mix in by hand. Spray a large Crock Pot with non-stick spray. If your pot runs a little hot, line it with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Spread the cake batter in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4 - 5 hours. Do not open the lid. Serve with vanilla ice cream and drizzle with chocolate syrup.
Whether you believe it's cheesecake or not, you can't argue that it's not a terrific (and super easy!) breakfast, snack, or dessert on its own merits. For something so easy to make, this two-ingredient Japanese cheesecake sure did come out delicious.
If all things chocolate make up your love language, then this silky rich chocolate pudding pie brought to us by recipe developer Miriam Hahn will speak to you in more ways than one. The homemade chocolate pudding is made from real cocoa and chocolate, providing that smooth and velvety texture that you just can't get from an instant pudding mix laden with artificial flavors.