Ideas for dessert please?

[Boldbutbereft]

Making a 60th birthday celebration meal for 4 for a friend. Thinkong of scallops to start followed by seabass and am wondering what I could make for a dessert. I don’t want it too light as the mains are light but nothing as heavy as bread n butter pudding or as boring as crumble. Needs to be a bit special. All suggestions welcome!

You’ve got lots of gorgeous fresh flavours going on there so I’d go with either
Eton Mess
Lemon Panna Cotta
Lemon Curd trifle

Ferrero Rocher cheesecake
Bailey’s tiramisu
Lemon meringue pie

My favourite pudding is self saucing lemon pudding (can also make a chocolate version) also like Eton Mess or a fruit glazed tart for pudding 😋

Nigella does a lovely lemon fruit tart. Very easy and would go lovely with your menu.

www.nigella.com/recipes/no-fuss-fruit-tart

https://thisitaliankitchen.com/italian-lemon-ricotta-cake/

I love making a panna cotta as it can be made in advance and is so simple. I made this delicious egg nog one a couple of years ago which would be lovely given the time of year.

realfood.tesco.com/recipes/creamy-eggnog-panna-cottas-with-mulled-berry-compote.html

If they’re pescatarian I would swap the gelatin for agar agar at 1tsp agar agar per gelatin sheet.

Make a rice pudding. Stir through two egg yolks. Whisk to soft peaks the whites and fold through.

Bake in a tray of water for about 30 minutes until puffed and golden.

It should be as light as a feather and absolutely divine,

Pavlova would go well with those starters and mains I think, with looots of cream. I usually make it with whatever excess fruit I have laying around but pomegranate and other sour-ish fruits like green kiwi, raspberries and blueberries go better than very sweet fruits to counter the meringue

Good old trifles made in individual bowls. Can be dressed up so nicely.

Lemon or traditional Tiramisu. Add Baileys to the traditional one and Limoncello to the lemon one, depending on which you prefer.

Both the trifle and Tiramisu can be made ahead. Add trifle toppings of choice to trifle just before serving, and dust the cocoa over the Tiramisu - same.

-Pavlova was my immediate thought with lots of tropical fruit and berries
-This meringue torte cake is always a hit. Sometimes I've covered it in a thin layer of cream all over and decorated with raspberries or choc dipped strawberries. Other times, similar to the pic https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/hazelnut_and_chocolate_32339
-I often have those pre-baked, sweet pastry cases at home. They are so versatile and quick (and I'm not a great pastry maker!) All these use the same pre-baked tart case:
-Salted caramel tart. Tin of caramel spread in base. Sprinkle of salt. Cover with a thin layer of melted chocolate and serve with berries/fruit
-Lemon tart or lemon meringue
-Chocolate tart with berry coulis or just fresh berries
-Passionfruit tart. Tin condensed milk, mix in juice of about 3 passionfruit and juice of 2 lemons. Bake on low till just set. It might still be a little wobbly in the centre but it will set. It can burn quickly, so any browning on the edges, its likely done. Best served cold because it will cut much better.

I'm doing a birthday meal soon and I think I'll make a Banoffee Pie for dessert.

Not too time consuming to make and can be prepared in advance and popped in the fridge until it's time to serve it.

White chocolate and baileys baked cheesecake https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/entertain/white-chocolate-and-baileys-cheesecake/

Pecan pie or Nutella cheesecake

These are all good suggestions. I think friend doesn’t like too much sweetness so not sure about the meringue ones. I love meringue though 😁

Basque cheesecake

this recipe is gorgeous https://www.delicious.com.au/recipes/matt-prestons-chocolate-basque-cheesecake-recipe/w8bxp0fg

At this time of year I make Eton Mess with mince meat instead of fruit.

I’m also a not too sweet person (eg Sticky toffee is too sweet for me). My suggestions :

Orange and almond cake (made with whole boiled oranges) with creme fraiche

Passion fruit curd or lemon curd tart with biscuit base

Nigella salted chocolate tart

Chocolate pots de creme - add a little salt and espresso powder to make it grown up and not too sweet

Tiramisu

Pavlova - the meringue sweetness is balanced if you use a sharpish fruit like berries, grapes or passion fruit

A really sharp lemon posset - so quick and easy. Serve with a bit of shortbread for dipping in, home made ideally or buy some from M&S.