Show Stopping Desert Inspiration Needed Please

[FickleFairy]

Hi All,

Between Christmas and New Year a group of our friends all get together at a different couple's house each year and produce a course each for a dinner party.

This year I am on rota for a desert and wondered if anyone had any fabulous suggestions?

I bake a LOT anyway and have a bit of a reputation amongst all our friends for my deserts (Mainly cause none of them bake, so for some reason think everything I produce is an extravagant work of art even if it's a brownie)! So I want to go all out and do something special for such a special occasion.

Just a few things to narrow the selection process down slightly - I know for a fact something chocolatey will go down well with the majority and also we are out for quite a bit on the day of the Dinner Party so I will have limited time during the day (although an hour or so won't be a problem) so preferably would like it to be something I can mainly prepare in advance and finally as I then have to get it to my friends house I would rather not have to do much to it there (for example a souffle that I have to cook in their oven).

Hope you can help Mumsnetters!

x

nigellas cherry chocolate trifel...

you can do it the day before too... and its lovely

If you go on the good food website and search white chocolate and rasperry cheesecake - it is so so amazing I cannot tell you!

this is something I have dreamt of making for such an occasion as yours!

this is similar
this

I think the Sahara is pretty fantastic....

But this is one of my favourites, though I am currently trying to resist all such temptations.

shop - which book is the cherry chocolate trifle in? We are having friends round on Sunday and that sounds like an ideal pud.

If you want something fabulous, then you could try mini layered desserts - you need some tall shot glasses, then make different tiny desserts in them. Trifle, apple crumble (you bake the crumble topping on its own, then layer with cooked apple in the glass), lemon meringue pie (lemon filling layered with meringue crumbs and topped with a small meringue or more crumbs), black forest gateau etc etc. Make about 4 per person, then they can select which ones they want

Profiteroles - always a winner here

Chocolate tart with rasps on top

Home-made icecream with caramel baskets on top?

In Nigella's Christmas book there is a fabulous recipe for Chocolate Chestnut Pots - 15 mins max to make and taste heavenly; very rich so small quantities needed. I made mine in espresso cups and they looked lovely. Highly recommend.

Message withdrawn

Feast i think... its in the chrsitmas section...
Its lovely, and easy. The chocolate custard takes a while, but is really worth it. People have seconds and ask to take some home ( not what i want, i want the left overs myself! )

Ooooh you are all fabulous thank you.

I particularly like the look of the Chocolate Orange Truffle Cake!

CMOT - I was thinking of doing an assiette as thought this would work really well so everyone could have a little bit of something but wasn't sure if I was giving myself a load of unnecessary work but having seen your suggestions it looks quite achievable. Thanks.

I just nipped into Waterstones and had a peek at that trifle in Nigella's Feast book, think I shall definitely be making that on Sunday! I have the book at home.
Another fab trifle is Nigel Slater's one in - I think - the Kitchen Diaries. It is absolutely scrummy and decorated with crystallised violets which always amuses people.

If you want a trifle, then I can definitely vouch for Nigella's Anglo Italian Trifle - It is lush and I dont normally like trifle, and it is best made the day before so the flavours mix etc

Disclaimer - Not for DC - too alcoholic

bettymum - let me know what you think of it!

shoptilidrop, thanks so much for your recommendation! I made half quantities which theoretically should serve 8, so we had MORE than enough for the 6 of us plus toddler. Everyone thought it was lovely - very rich! Will definitely make it again, the beauty of it was that it was all done the day before except for the last minute whipping of some cream. A fab pudding.

One dessert that always get a oooh, and can be made in advance (and is a good one if you are already confident at baking) is Boston Cream Pie. Recipe here. Nigella has a good recipe for it in her Domestic Goddess book. It's v yummy and a good winter cake/dessert but a bit different from usual Christmas desserts. I often serve it with some gently stewed plums/cranberries as they go well with the dark choc glaze.

I like the sound of Christiana's pistachio apricots too.

Glad you liked, its fab isnt it.
Rich, so you only need a little... and of course brilliant that you can make it in advance.