Our feel-good desserts turn even ordinary weeknight meals into a special occasion – nothing rounds off a meal quite like a homemade sweet treat. Keep the grey weather at bay with indulgent baked puddings or rich, fruity desserts that add a touch of decadent delight to the daily grind.
Apricot and Almond Pie
When winter seems to have dragged on for too long, this delicious baked pie using tinned apricots reminds us that summer, with its seasonal crops of fresh apricots and peaches, really is around the corner.
In case you’re feeling guilty about contemplating pudding, know that in the case of apricots and almonds, you’re in very respectable company. Apricots have a long culinary history – like plums and peaches, they were domesticated in Asia in the third millenium BCE before spreading to the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East, where they were enjoyed both fresh and dried. They became a staple – if very expensive – part of the Mediterranean diet, used in gourmet dishes stewed with honey and spices or port. Almonds, too, hail from the Middle East before spreading to the Mediterranean along trade routes. Ancient Romans apparently showered newly weds with almonds as a fertility symbol – ouch!
Bake the Apricot and Almond Pie in our perfectly proportioned Pie Dish (the gently sloping sides have been carefully configured to make serving extra easy), using a charming and nostalgic Pie Bird to support the pastry and vent any steam to keep your crust crisp and delicious.
Lemon Meringue Tart
In the middle of winter, is there anything more cheerful than the sight of a lemon tree burdened with its delicious yellow jewels? Packed with vitamin C, lemons add a zesty tang to everything from salad dressings to chicken casseroles, but we think it is time to treat yourself to a time-honoured classic: delicious Lemon Meringue Tart baked in your brightest, most beautiful Fluted Flan Dish.
Orange Malva Pudding
There is something about a hot home-baked pudding that makes it the ultimate comfort food. For us it evokes childhood memories of gathering around our grandparents’ dining table with a noisy crowd of brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles for a long, relaxed Sunday lunch followed by Granny’s homemade malva pudding, steaming from the oven and served with cream and masses of custard. We’ve modernised this traditional favourite with a citrusy burst of fresh orange baked in individual Mini Cocottes. Give our Orange Malva Pudding a go and start a new family tradition of your own.
Passionfruit Tartlets
Packed with nutrients including vitamin C, potassium, antioxidants, minerals and fibre, passionfruit – or granadilla – is a superbly refreshing tropical fruit native to the subtropical wild regions of South America. It grows on a climbing vine and produces the most exquisite, exotic flowers imaginable. The fruit has a tangy, deliciously sour flavour that perfectly complements the sweetness of the creamy filling of these Passionfruit Tartlets, made in individual Mini Pie Dishes lined with a buttery crushed Tennis Biscuit crust.
Volcano Chocolate Cakes
Legend has it that molten chocolate puddings were an accidental invention: a chocolate sponge cake was pulled out of the oven too early while the centre was still runny – the result was a perfect combination of firm sponge cake with a rich, chocolate sauce.
Make individual Volcano Chocolate Cakes with a molten, gooey explosion of rich chocolate sauce at the centre and serve them warm with a spoon of whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder for a decadent dessert. The Mini Cocottes make it really easy to plan ahead: once you’ve poured the mixture into the mini casseroles, the uncooked cakes can be covered with the lids and refrigerated for several hours. Remove the lids before baking and allow a little extra cooking time. Yum!
Dark Chocolate Mousse
We’ve saved the best for last! French chefs have been cooking with chocolate since the early 17th century and perfected the fine art of the chocolate mousse (‘mousse’ means ‘foam’ in French) in the 18th century. The secret to a really good mousse is using the very best chocolate you can lay your hands on! Although some may think that you need chef-like skills to turn out a successful mousse, our Dark Chocolate Mousse is really, really easy! It is rich, though, so make individual portions in our Small Ramekins, which are just the right size and look absolutely fab at the table.
To view our full range of products, visit our online shop at www.lecreuset.co.za, or pop into your nearest Le Creuset Boutique store.
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