31 Comforting Winter Desserts to Eat Under a Giant Blanket
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What makes a perfect winter dessert? That depends on who you’re asking. Some Epi staffers—like senior editor Anna Hezel—brace themselves from the chill by cozying up to a warm dessert, likeclassic sticky toffee pudding. Others, like senior SEO editor Joe Sevier, believesunny, citrusy dessertsare the cure to winter blues—winter iscitrus season, after all. Assistant digital editor Li Goldstein argues that chocolate knows no season—but that if it did, the colder months would be it. ThisLighter-Than-Air Chocolate Rollis her family’s perennial favorite.
Maybe you’re the type to double down on holiday classics: think sparklingMolasses Cookies, pillowyStrawberry Sufganiyot, and all the other festiveHanukkahandChristmas dessertspeople make this time of year. No matter who you are or what your winter dessert vibe, there’s a sweet solution for you, just below.
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Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova1/31
Flourless Chocolate Cake
One of our best winter desserts,Gourmet’s classic flourless chocolate cake is rich, fudgy, and extraordinarily easy to make. Serve it at a dinner party and let the compliments flow in.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne2/31
Apple Sticky Toffee Pudding
If you like sticky toffee pudding, you’ll love this twist on the classic British dessert. Recipe developerStephanie Ganzadds apples to the mix, then tops slices with the requisite scoop ofvanilla ice cream.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell3/31
Strawberry Sufganiyot
The first night ofHanukkahcalls for something special—like warm, freshly-fried donuts stuffed with strawberry jam and dusted with powdered sugar.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Bill Clark4/31
Pear and Hazelnut Frangipane Tart
You can use any type of nut to makefrangipane, a custardy filling often used in tarts and galettes. Hazelnuts and pears are a perfect match in this effortless recipe.
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Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell5/31
Black Forest Cake
This iconic, perfectly balanced Germanlayer cakecombines chocolate sponge, sour cherry filling, and whipped cream frosting.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne6/31
Gâteau au Yaourt Pour le Dîner (Dinner Party-Worthy Yogurt Cake)
Finish a French-themed dinner party with this Grand Marnier-soaked cake, which stays moist from the yogurt in the batter. Avoid Greek yogurt here—whole plain yogurt’s looser texture is key to the cake’s airy, delicate structure.这样更多的法国甜点吧。
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich7/31
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
These simple chocolate chip cookies are easy enough to whip up, but their depth of flavor (courtesy ofbrown butter) will make them a bake sale top-seller.
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Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton8/31
French Silk Pie
“While the name implies otherwise, French silk pie is a true American invention,” writes food editor Jesse Szewczyk of this stunning chocolate pie, first introduced in 1951 during the third annual Pillsbury Bake-Off competition. This version skips the buttery pie shell in favor of a no-bake Oreo crust, but keepsthe silky, mousse-like filling.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne9/31
猫王Presley’s Favorite Pound Cake
If it’s good enough for the King of Rock and Roll, it’s good enough for us. In summer, we serve this simple pound cake with fresh berries, but it’s just as good with roasted apples orflambéed bananasin the winter.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich10/31
Chocolate Pots de Crème
Chocolate pot de crème is the French answer to chocolate pudding. Setting the ramekins in a waterbath is the most challenging part of this otherwise simple recipe.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton11/31
Lemon Bars
First published in October 1999, this reader-favoriteGourmetrecipe has stood the test of time. The tender shortbread base perfectly complements the smooth, tangy lemon filling.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele12/31
Pear Pie With Lattice Crust
Of all thepie recipeswe’ve published, this vintage one fromGourmetis the sleeper hit. Freshly grated nutmeg makes all the difference in the simple filling. Once summer rolls around, you can use your newfound lattice-weaving skills on a prettyblackberry pie.
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Photo by Squire Fox13/31
Clementine Pound Cake
Brightened with clementine zest and blanketed in thick chocolate-honey glaze, this is the perfect have-around-the-house cake.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Kim14/31
Pear Tart With Dulce de Leche Drizzle
Fanned pears make a beautiful pattern on this festive holiday tart, drizzled with homemade or store-boughtdulce de leche.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich15/31
Easy Vegan Chocolate Cake
The best (and easiest) chocolate cake in the world also happens to be vegan. Divide the batter into cake pans for classic layers or muffin pans for cute cupcakes.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton16/31
Classic Crème Brûlée
Finally, a reason to break out yourkitchen torch. For a layer that caramelizes and cracks beautifully, top the custards with too muchturbinado sugar, then turn it over and tip out the excess before bruléeing.
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Photo by Sam Harris17/31
Triple Chocolate Brownie Fingers
These chocolate-dipped, ganache-topped brownies look straight out of the pages of a magazine. But you can make them at home with surprising ease.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich18/31
Tiramisu Bundt Cake
You don’t need a special occasion to bake a cake. Thistiramisu-inspired bundt is a keep-on-the-counter type of cake, chameleoning as breakfast, snack, or dessert.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Stevie Stewart19/31
Lighter-Than-Air Chocolate Roll
Li’s family has been baking this lighter-than-air chocolate roll cakefor 22 years. Find out why, then start a new tradition and bake one for yourself.
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Photo by Patricia Niven20/31
Spiced Pineapple Crumble
Bring a little sunshine to the cold winter months with this warmly spiced pineapple crumble, complete with a splash of rum.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Sean Dooley21/31
Malted Chocolate Cake With Namelaka and Cherries
Dress up a standard chocolate cake with malted milk powder, which adds a lovely toastiness to the sponge.Namelaka—a creamy hybrid of chocolate ganache, cremeux, and pastry cream—binds the layers.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton22/31
Tiramisu Granita
Just because the weather’s cold doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy afrozen dessert—specifically, this dead-simple granita, made with coffee ice and mascarpone cream. Use decaf cold brew to avoid a post-dinner caffeine buzz.
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Photo by Louise Hagger23/31
Tamarind Caramel Brownies
The one ingredient your caramel is missing? Tamarind paste. “Tamarind’s sharpness takes flight in sweet desserts,” cookbook authorLara Lee writes, “its sweetly sour profile offsetting the richness of the caramel.”
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Photo by Johnny Miller24/31
Ginger-Stout Layer Cake With Ermine Frosting
This chocolate-stout layer cake is one of pastry chefClaudia Fleming’s signature recipes. After you make her buttermilk “ermine,” you’ll never go back tostandard cream cheese frosting.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Eliza Mozer25/31
Molasses Cookies
The holiday season has not truly begun until the first batch of molasses cookies comes out of the oven. Roll the cookie dough balls in granulated sugar to give them a sparkly sheen.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams, Food Styling by Judy Haubert26/31
Microwave Hot Fudge Sauce
Serving a big group? A sundae bar is an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert option. Upgrade your ice cream sundaes with homemade hot fudge, which comes together quickly in the microwave.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne27/31
Gâteau Nantais
It’s worth splurging on awhole vanilla beanfor this recipe, where its flavor really shines. Instead of buttercream, top this single-layer cake with a simple rum glaze.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne28/31
Marjolaine
This winter dessert haslayers: Layers of hazelnut meringue, chocolate ganache, and two types of buttercream, to be exact.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne29/31
Gourmet’s Best Gingerbread Cookies
Bake a batch of gingerbread cookies, then decorate them with royal icing for a fun holiday project both kids and adults will love.
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Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Sean Dooley30/31
Stovetop Apple Crisp
Not in the mood to bake? Opt for this low-maintenance riff on a classic apple crisp. Thecinnamony streusel toppingis made entirely on the stovetop.
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Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova31/31
Panna Cotta
One of the many things we love about panna cotta is its flexibility. Customize this recipe with the flavors of your choice—like caramel, coffee, or vanilla bean—for a simple, make-ahead winter dessert.
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