Dessert

Light, fluffy, and oh-so-delicious, these ricotta and peach pancakes will take your crepe experience to a whole new level.

Nothing beats fresh homemade cookies. Except homemade cookies with the hidden surprise of an Oreo in the centre. You're welcome!

Vanilla ice cream, caramel, nougat and chocolate combine in this dreamy layered dessert.

This French dessert is made by layering meringue discs and ice cream - our tropical version uses sorbet and an array of gorgeous tropical fruits.

A Charlotte is a French dessert characterised by landyfingers and cream. This version sees Cointreau-dipped sponge fingers encasing strawberry ice cream, cream and fresh berries.

Layers of coffee biscuits, praline and cream make this a showstopper of a dessert.

This light and billowy cream pie is a case of assembly, rather than cooking, meaning anyone can make it!

These glazed pears are a beautiful, indulgent dessert option for the cooler autumn months. This recipe appears in Maggie Beer's new book, "Autumn".

One of Australia's top chefs, Mark Best, has shared his recipe for his decadent chocolate tart. The pastry and filling is all made from scratch, creating the perfect balance of crispy, creamy and sweet in this wonderful dessert.

Coffee and chocolate are a match made in heaven, and when frozen in mousse form it's a dream come true!

Like a Neapolitan dream, this mousse cake has a base of chocolate mud cake, followed by a layer of chocolate mousse, then strawberry mousse and topped with fresh strawberries.

Make your own delicious honeycomb to sprinkle atop this light-as-a-feather chocolate mousse!

The ultimate creamy caramel ice cream topped with toasty slivers of almond, served in a delicious waffle cone.

A beautiful blueberry ripple runs through the middle of this cheesecake-inspired ice cream. Cheesecake fans be warned, this is addictive!

Ice cream laced with lemon curd and crumbled mini meringues = lemon meringue ice cream.

Enjoy all the elements of a delicious strawberry shortbread but in ice cream form! Biscuit crumb and strawberry jam top vanilla ice cream in this moreish dessert.

This clafoutis is one of my Frenchman’s family classics and is a great way to use an abundance of home-grown eggs. It’s also super-easy to make – feel free to use whatever stone fruit you have in abundance. Photographs by Jani Shepherd and styling by Fiona Hugues; Gatherum Collectif.

Punnets of deep red strawberries stacked high and deep outside fruit shops and dairies epitomise the Kiwi summer. But by the tail end of the strawberry season, as the fruit quality wanes, I’m left looking for ways to keep this less flavoursome berry exciting. Here’s my new trick: a short session in a hot oven and strawberries morph into fragrant domes bursting with flavour. These roasted berries are sublime over ice cream but even better topping a flaky pastry base smeared with zesty cannoli cream. End-of-berry-season blues sorted. Photographs by Jani Shepherd and styling by Fiona Hugues; Gatherum Collectif.

These little sundaes are a hit! Leftover pudding, or Christmas cake, goes so well with vanilla ice cream and a generous drizzle of home-made salted caramel. Simply irresistible!

I have marvellous holiday memories of fighting with my brother and sister over the contents of boxes of Christmas chocolates while holed up waiting for rain to clear.

Many strawberry farms around the country now offer fresh fruit ice creams at the farm gate. My kids shriek and demand a detour whenever they see a painted strawberry sign on a hot summer road trip. Please note: this recipe makes a two-tiered cake; to construct the four-tiered cake pictured here, double all the quantities (except for topping) and first make sure it will fit in the freezer. Photographs by Jani Shepherd and styling by Fiona Hugues; Gatherum Collectif.

Jellies will keep kids happy whenever you’re entertaining as they never seem to tire of them! Mum would make jellies as a treat for pudding or, if we were really lucky, she’d put them in our lunch boxes frozen and they’d then thaw out over the day. Why are jellies so fascinating to children? I think it’s the thrill and intrigue of wondering how something that can wobble so deliciously can still hold together.

Can you imagine devouring a slice of rich, creamy cheesecake and feeling nothing but pleased with yourself? When it’s made solely with raw ingredients and contains no wheat, refined sugar or dairy, you can afford to be the smuggest hedonist in town

If you love praline-filled chocolates, this bread and butter-style pud is the thing for you. Shards of bitter chocolate and bitter chocolate sorbet keep it from being cloyingly sweet. You will need an ice cream machine for this recipe.

Making individual pavlovas, which each person can load with as much cream, berries and coulis as they wish, is the way to go at Christmas. Getting the perfect balance of crunchy exterior and marshmallow centre can be tricky, but this recipe works every time!

The mincemeat should be prepared at least three weeks – and up to three months – in advance. The longer it soaks, the better, but don’t let it dry out. Top up with more brandy if needed. Recipe by Kim Evans.

This night-before frozen Christmas ice-cream cake is quick and delicious, and will have your guests coming back for more!

This spectacular dessert makes an enchanting addition to the Christmas table. Make a day in advance for a stress free Christmas.

The Christmas cake of the moment! Why not try this red velvet bundt cake, so easy to make and yet so delicious!

This lightly spiced cheesecake becomes a showstopper when topped with dark chocolate glaze and poached pears.

Deliciously crispy on the outside, soft and fruity on the inside – this Chocolate and Cherry Strudel is the perfect festive dessert. Serve after a scrumptious Christmas lunch!

In the words of my dear mother, “Panforte is a wonderful alternative to Christmas cake and Christmas minces. Not that I’m suggesting you don’t have the Christmas cake and minces on hand too, for when friends drop round for Christmas greetings, but it makes a nice change.”

If you like trifle, you will adore this version. It can be made up to two days ahead of when you need it to lessen the stress of making it at the last minute.

These chocolate cupcakes are the perfect alternative to traditional Christmas pudding, and look cute to boot!

This sweet and creamy chocolate 'bark' is studded with crunchy hazelnuts and chewy dried cherries to create a delicious, healthy treat for after dinner. It's easy to make, and refined sugar-free - bonus!

How cute! These little Christmas tree cupcakes look good enough to eat.

These funny little cupcakes are sure to delight adults and children alike this Christmas!

This picture-perfect white chocolate bark is swirled with pink colouring and sprinkled with gorgeous edible flowers to create a sweet treat that is both beautiful and delicious.

These snowy cupcakes look straight from the slopes, but taste totally tropical!

Make any festive gathering a winter wonderland with these Christmas snowflake cupcakes!

These cute little cupcakes wouldn't look out of place on the Christmas tree!

Bring a little bit of glitz and glamour to your favourite cupcakes.

An easy (and tasty) alternative to a gingerbread house!

A crunchy, pepperminty, Christmas twist on a cupcake!

These shards are a brilliant cheat’s cookie, utilising bought savoury crackers, dark chocolate and a sprinkling of hundreds and thousands.

Danielle Cubis of Spongedrop Cakery presents this boozey trifle layered with plums, chocolate and meringue.

Refreshing watermelon, lime and berry cheesecake jars make the ultimate dessert this summer!

Get creative in the kitchen with this heavenly coconut macaroon cheesecake - the perfect summer indulgence.

Sweet, icy treats are perfect for sharing with friends this summer. Indulge in this deliciously easy no-churn coconut ice-cream!

Pretty pastel coconut ice! A beautifully delicious sweet treat everyone will love!

Treat yourself with this delicious macadamia and coconut praline - the perfect sweet treat for morning or afternoon tea.

These decadent chocolate nutella mug puddings are the ultimate dessert for all the sweet tooth's out there! Easy to prepare and irresistibly delicious!

Without doubt this layer cake is a festive showstopper. Recipe by Fiona Hugues. Photo by Jani Shepherd/Gatherum Collectif.

This little light patisserie concept originates from northern France – translated into English, ‘merveilleux’ means ‘wonderful’ and what wonderful mouthfuls these little treats are. They are usually a combination of meringue, cream and dark chocolate but I’ve given them a Kiwi summertime makeover with lots of sharp and tangy fruit flavour. Crunchy puffs of sweet meringue, chock-full of lemony cream and wearing tangy caps of strawberry powder are the perfect light finish to a holiday celebration. Recipe by Fiona Hugues. Photo by Jani Shepherd/Gatherum Collectif.

Michele Cranston shares this deliciously easy recipe for lemon posset in "A Simple Table". "Part of me loves this dessert for its wonderful old-fashioned name but I mostly love how stupidly simple it is. It sets into a sublimely silky, creamy, lemony pudding that could be served with crisp almond bread, but for this recipe I’ve decided to celebrate the lemon and garnish it with sugared zest. The zest adds just a little bit of sweet texture, which is really all you need, because the posset is pretty darn close to perfection as it is. Just one quick note: make sure you buy thick, or double, cream and not thickened cream or the result will be disappointing."

"I’ve used powdered gelatine in this recipe because it’s universally available," Michele Cranston writes in her new book 'A Simple Table.' "However, I do prefer to use sheet gelatine and if you do too, then just follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the setting ratio of liquid to gelatine. These jellies are like mini individual trifles, minus the soggy sponge. The jelly needs to set before you can add the mascarpone topping, so it’s a good idea to make the jelly in the morning or the day before. The mascarpone cream is ridiculously delicious and I often serve it dolloped into bowls with biscotti on the side. A shot glass of liqueur completes the story. Dip the biscotti in the liqueur, top with a spoonful of cream and enjoy."

Michele Cranston picked this recipe up from a café she used to work at, and it now appears in her new book "A Simple Table". She writes "Back then it was served toasted with sliced banana, but because I often find myself with a couple of overripe bananas in need of a good baking, I’ve popped them into the bread instead."

Treat yourself to these decadent white chocolate and coconut balls - the perfect afternoon pick me up!

Embrace the warm summer days with this delicious grilled tropical fruit with orange glaze dessert! Sweet and indulgent, this makes the ultimate holiday treat!

Chocolate and nuts are a match made in heaven. Especially when you add some ultra sweet toffee into the mix. This decadent treat is perfect for a weekend treat or a homemade gift for loved ones.

The perfect way to bring the Christmas decorating to the table!

This festive treat pairs minty candy canes and creamy white chocolate with crispy rice bubbles to create the ultimate Christmas gift for loved ones.

These deliciously sweet frozen puddings are perfect for a hot New Zealand Christmas celebration. We'll show you the quick way to make these impressive desserts with minimal effort.

White chocolate fans rejoice! This delicious White Christmas slice is filled with chewy cherries, apricots and coconut. Quick and easy just refrigerate till firm, then serve.

These mini gingerbread houses are a kid friendly project that will get everyone into the Christmas spirit.

Get into the festive spirit with these delicious spicy Christmas cupcakes, a blend of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and golden syrup. Start this recipe the day before to prep the Christmas icing decorations.

Nothing says the festive season quite like Christmas pudding - dense, moist and loaded with delicious dried fruit.

Julie Goodwin's mouthwatering chocolate trifle makes the ultimate sweet indulgence this holiday season! This festive favourite is perfect to share with family and friends!

This one might be a little bit outside the box, but I love to play with savoury and sweet. You could use this basic method to experiment with all sorts of different flavour combinations. - Al Brown

I use the term trifle lightly! Rather than the traditional sponge base, I've used a Pineapple and Coconut Torte inspired by a great friend of mine, chef Philip Johnson. Nothing screams summer more than ripe strawberries and if you can track any down from Scott’s Strawberry Farm in Hawke’s Bay, they’re off the dial! - Al Brown

Photography by Ian Hofstetter/bauersyndication.com.au

These single portion tarts are slightly tangy from the labneh, yet balanced by the strawberries and a drizzle of maple

Macerating the strawberries enhances their flavour, so this is a handy recipe for when the fruit looks better than it tastes. The filling is light and creamy with a hum of ginger, and the tart is easy to make ahead.

Delight your family with these homemade Christmas mince pies. We've combined figs, cranberries and raisins to create a wonderfully sweet filling for these beautiful tarts.

This traditional Christmas dessert is absolutely divine, layered with fresh strawberry and raspberry jelly, creamy mascarpone custard and sherry soaked sponge cake. Perfection!

The size of these Raspberry & Coconut and Marmalade & Lime petite lamingtons means the ratio of sponge to delicious flavoured coating is stepped up a notch

This easy rocky road is a gorgeous edible gift idea for Christmas. Photography by Melanie Jenkins.

This quick-to-make custard is very rich so serve either warm and drizzled over fresh berries or chilled in small glasses.

Custard is one of life’s simple pleasures. Add Nutella to the mix and you have a delectable dessert. Photo by Bauersyndication.com.au.

Serve this delicious alcoholic custard with Christmas pud, pineapple upside down cake, in fact almost any cake, bananas…

A great alternative to a hot Christmas pudding, this ice cream bombe is an explosion of flavour. Recipe and photography by Bauer Syndication.

This refreshing recipe is from Luke McCartin and Claire Beard, owners of Mount Maunganui’s Japanese restaurant Mr Miyagi.

Incredibly easy to make and yet so gorgeous to look at, this edible gift is a fun one for the kids to make. There are three flavour combinations but the method is the same. Photography by Jani Shepherd/Gatherum Collectif.

Luca Villari teams up with chef Antonio Crisci at his picturesque Waiheke vineyard and restaurant Poderi Crisci for this sublime Italian dessert. Photography by Todd Eyre.

A rich chocolatey slice great for a gift or as a lunch-box filler. Photography by Jani Shepherd.

Containing only four ingredients, this cake is light but decadent, perfect for summertime. Photography by Jani Shepherd/Gatherum Collectif.

Get creative this festive season with Julie Goodwin's marvelous meringue Christmas tree! Tastes as good as it looks! The perfect dessert for Christmas Day.

Indulge in this deliciously decadent chocolate cupcake thickshake! A classic American-diner treat!

Delicious treats are arguably the best part of Christmas. Indulge in Julie Goodwin's decadent Christmas gingerbread! Sweet and delicious, and perfect for the whole family!

There’s a hidden layer of thick vanilla custard in the centre of this cake that takes it from good to great. Serve it warm, but not too hot. Photography and recipe by Gourmet Traveller.