Pastéis de Nata II | Portuguese Custard Tarts

Outrageously popular in Portugal, these cute little custard cups known as pasteis de nata boast a silken filling, a flaky pastry, and quite the dedicated following.

• Quick Glance
• 25 M
• 1 H
• 4

Indian Milk Fritters | Gulab Jamun

These orbs of rich, milky, buttery marvelousness bring together two of the best things about Hanukkah–dairy and fried dough. A traditional Hannukah indulgence.

Hedgehogs

These charming chocolate and rum buttercream creatures are known as Igels in Austria. Include them on an assorted miniature tray for a touch of delicious whimsy.

Meringue Bubbles

You taste chocolate right away when you bite into these, but the appearance of a snowy white meringue kiss shape atop a short tender cookie gives no clue.

Apricot and Goat Cheese Tarts

Although a dessert, this tart is more savory than sweet. Apricot slices and crumbles of goat nuzzle in a pistachio crust then everything is baked until golden.

Madeleines

Buttery, cake-y, crisp on the edges, these madeleines with a hint of lemon are great as a snack and ideal for the tea table.

Cheddar-Crust Apple Pie

This apple pie, filled with sweet Golden Delicious apples, has a crust made with extra-sharp Cheddar cheese for a sweet-savory hit in every bite.

Portuguese Christmas Golden Soup

For this sweet Christmas dessert, slices of sponge cake are dipped in a sugar syrup then drizzled with a custard sauce and sprinkled with cinnamon.

“Dreams” Portuguese Doughnuts

Sonhos–Portuguese for dreams–are Portugal’s addictive doughnuts that are dusted with powdered sugar or drizzled in syrup. Caramel sauce is a good idea, too.

Golden Caramels

Golden caramels — literally, that’s what these are in taste, color, and topping. Decorate each caramel square with a bit of 24-karat gold for a glitter look.

French Vanilla Ice Cream

For the purists out there, nothing beats the recipe for smooth, creamy vanilla bean ice cream made from the essentials: milk, sugar, vanilla bean, eggs, cream.

Pistachio Gelato

This is true pistachio gelato, Italy’s ice cream. It’s all meaty nuts and sweet creaminess. Don’t mind the drab green color; it’s a sign of authenticity.

Apricot Clafoutis

This French cake, also called a clafoutis, is full of ripe apricots and custardy creaminess the French are so famous for. Top it with cream of creme fraiche.

Blackberry Roly-Poly with Sliced-Lemon Sauce

For this roly poly, fresh blackberries are rolled up jelly-roll style in a milk pastry. A zingy sliced-lemon sauce is serve on the plate as a perfect companion.

Sour Cream Mocha Cake

An adult dessert if ever there was one, this incredibly moist mocha creation takes its minimum age requirement from dark, dark chocolate and lots of espresso.

• Quick Glance
• 25 M
• 1 H
• 3

Portuguese Rice Pudding

Rice pudding is a Portuguese staple. This lighter recipe, which doesn’t call for the traditional use of eggs, is flavored with lemon and dusted with cinnamon.

Coconut Layer Cake

Layers of vanilla cake alternate with a coconut filling and the whole thing is slathered with a fluffy white icing. Crowning touch: A coating of coconut on top.

Little Nectarine Cakes

Mini vanilla cakes are filled with fresh slices of nectarines, but apricots and peaches would work equally well. A sprinkling of sugar finishes them off nicely.

Portuguese Coconut-Custard Tarts

A creamy custard riddle with flakes of sweet coconut and a hint of lemon are what these cups, called pasteis de coco in the Azores, Portugal, are all about.

Tiramisu

This isn’t your nona’s tiramsu. Here layers of coffee-soaked sponge cake alternate with a cream cheese-mascarpone cheese filling and are dusted with cocoa.