Dinner party dessert ideas

[marplemead]

Evening all,

I am hosting a dinner party next weekend. It's been a while since I've cooked for a crowd, and I can't decide on a dessert.

The main is a Greek mezze. I was thinking of buying some baklava and serving with ice cream. But I also like to bake, so would like to offer another dessert option. Any suggestions?

I'm fairly competent in the kitchen and can follow most recipes.

Thank you!

I'd be very happy with baklava and coffee

So would I, love baklava. You really wanted to make something, you could bake your own?

https://www.nigella.com/recipes/baklava

Lemon and raspberry roulade.

I'd do a large lemon meringue roulade. Make up the meringue then spread with a mix of whipped cream and lemon curd, scatter fresh raspberries and then roll it up. Really fresh & tasty but light. Great in the current warm weather!

@JayAlfredPrufrock great minds!!

I like lemon posset with homemade short bread, prepare ahead and pop in fridge and tin.

Raspberry meringue pavlova & homemade elderflower ice cream

homemade ginger biscuits are also nice with lemon posset

If you wanted to continue the Greek theme, here are some ideas: 17 amazing Greek desserts (taste.com.au)

I sometimes have 2 dessert options. Lemon meringue, cheesecake, salted caramel tart, chocolate tart with berry coulis, pavlova and hazelnut/strawberry meringue cake are my usual choices- with a cheese platter on the side.

I’d do either:
baklava served with coffee
ashure served with ice cream

I love a pavlova piled high with summer berries and some sprigs of mint this time of year. You could mix some greek yoghurt into whipped cream with some vanilla to keep it light, and stay slightly with the theme.

This Greek orange cake is delicious, it goes well with ice cream

www.mygreekdish.com/recipe/extra-syrupy-greek-yogurt-cake-oranges-portokalopita/

I’d love to hear what’s on your Greek mezze menu please! X

A plain Greek yogurt mousse with a drizzle of honey, chopped walnuts and some fresh figs.
Serve baklava and coffee with ouzo.

I live a Greek night! Enjoy 🙂

Great suggestions, thank you! I hadn't thought about making my own baklava 🤦🏻 It's always something I buy or order in a restaurant.

I have a ton of lavender in the garden and make Mary Berry's lavender shortbread all the time. Would that go with a lemon posset?

Also learning towards a pavlova as that's low effort but impressive.

https://spanishsabores.com/burnt-basque-cheesecake-recipe/

I am not a big sweet fan but this with berries is delicious.

For ease, I would do something like posset, lemon cheesecake or a berry eton mess, but would also get some baklava to go with coffee. Wouldn't make it myself, but then, I have a Turkish supermarket nearby and they have a huge selection of ready made and then a fresh range which is fabulous!

Nothing too adventurous I'm afraid.
I'm still working the menu out but, so far, have:
Slow-cooked Greek lamb (good food)
Flatbreads
Tzatziki
Greek salad
Feta and cheese pastries
Grilled halloumi
Hummus, olives and other snacky bits

I think I will go with the lemon posset suggestion. I want to enjoy the evening, so something easy I can make ahead is probably best. I've found this recipe for a lavender lemon posset but will make Mary Berry's lavender shortbread to go with, as they are lovely.

Lemon possets

Sounds gorgeous.

If I wanted to bake, I’d do a really moist sponge cake with drained tinned apricots on top before baking. To serve with ice cream or honeyed yoghurt and pistachios or walnuts.

I’m not sure I’d bother baking your own baklava, whenever I’ve done it it’s been a real faff and not as nice as shop bought. Maybe this https://www.nigella.com/recipes/clementine-cake but made with oranges (she gives instructions) and served with proper Greek yoghurt. The whole oranges make it appealingly bitter. Or the damp lemon and almond cake also from domestic goddess.

This sounds so good, thanks for sharing!

I'm bookmarking all the links for future dinner parties! I tend to overdo it when hosting and really need to rein it in from now. No one needs five dessert options when two is plenty 🙈

Lemon posset with lavender shortbread sounds gorgeous.
My favourite, which I recommend here too regularly, is Nigella's honey semi freddo with pine nuts. Just lovely.