What's your best "wow factor" dessert?

[franch]

I'm finally getting back into having friends round for dinner and DH has offered to do the main course next time, which means the pressure's on for a fab pud Actually any excuse to make (and scoff) several 'experiments' over the next few weeks ...

Poached Pears in Honey Syrup. If done right they always look so beautiful.

i second feedthegoat with the nigella choc cloud. it is devine

Mmm, they sound gorgeous imkeepingmum. Which book are they from? If the chocolate pavlova's in the same book I may have to buy it - my Nigella library is clearly incomplete ...

I originally cut the recipe out of a magazine but have just checked for you and at the bottom it says "taken from How to be a Domestic Goddess"

Ah, that is the one I've always resisted ... I think it may be time ...

white chocolate mousse with caramel shards:

om nom nom

cat64 continuing on the Nigella chocolate theme here's a very easy chocolate "mousse" www.nigella.com/recipe/recipe_detail.aspx?rid=75
They are yummy but very rich!!

Nigella also has some lovely easy puds in Nigella Express cat64 - her black cherry cheesecake has earned me loads of compliments from cheesecake connoisseurs and feels like a complete cheat

(I had to double the base and filling quantities to get it to look like the one in the picture tho)

i make chocolate and walnut spring rolls and serve them straight from the fryer with ice cream.

You decide if it's retro of naff (or both), but Delia's Tiramisu always goes down well and is very easy