13 Classic Traditional Desserts from Around the World You Need to Try

Desserts are a delicious way to experience the world’s rich culinary traditions. From creamy, indulgent cakes to crispy, caramelized treats, every country has its own unique spin on sweet endings. Whether you’re craving something rich, fruity, or chocolaty, there’s a traditional dessert out there that will satisfy your sweet tooth.

Tiramisu (Italy)

Tiramisu is a luscious, creamy dessert made from layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone cheese, and cocoa powder. To make this Italian classic, you’ll need 6 egg yolks, ¾ cup of sugar, 1 cup of strong brewed espresso, 8 oz of mascarpone cheese, 1 ½ cups of heavy cream, and a pack of ladyfingers. First, whisk egg yolks with sugar over a double boiler until thick and pale, then combine with mascarpone. Whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form, and fold it into the mascarpone mixture. Dip ladyfingers in espresso and layer with the mascarpone mix in a dish, finishing with a dusting of cocoa powder. Chill for at least 4 hours before serving.

Crème Brûlée (France)

Crème Brûlée is a classic French dessert that features a rich, creamy custard base topped with a crisp caramelized sugar crust. To make it, combine 1 quart of heavy cream, 1 vanilla bean (or 1 tsp vanilla extract), 6 large egg yolks, and ½ cup of sugar. Heat the cream and vanilla in a saucepan until just simmering, then slowly whisk it into the egg yolks and sugar. Pour the mixture into ramekins and bake in a water bath at 325°F for 40-45 minutes. Once cooled, sprinkle sugar on top and torch it until golden and crispy. Serve chilled for a perfect contrast between the smooth custard and crunchy top.

Baklava (Greece/Turkey)

Baklava is a sweet pastry made of layers of thin, flaky phyllo dough filled with nuts and soaked in a honey syrup. For this Mediterranean treat, you’ll need 1 package of phyllo dough, 1 cup of melted butter, 2 cups of finely chopped walnuts or pistachios, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of water, ½ cup of honey, and 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Brush each phyllo layer with butter and layer them with a mixture of nuts and cinnamon. Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes. For the syrup, simmer water, sugar, honey, and vanilla until thickened, then pour over the hot baklava. Let it soak for a few hours before cutting into diamonds and serving.

Churros with Chocolate Sauce (Spain)

Churros are crispy fried dough sticks, rolled in cinnamon sugar and served with a thick chocolate dipping sauce. For this Spanish street food favorite, you’ll need 1 cup of water, 2 tbsp sugar, ½ tsp salt, 2 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 cup of flour, oil for frying, ½ cup sugar mixed with 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1 cup of dark chocolate, ½ cup of cream, and 2 tbsp sugar for the sauce. Boil water, sugar, salt, and oil, then stir in flour to make a dough. Pipe the dough into hot oil using a star-shaped tip, frying until golden brown. Roll churros in cinnamon sugar and serve with a chocolate sauce made by melting chocolate with cream and sugar.

Mochi (Japan)

Mochi is a chewy, sticky rice cake that comes in various flavors, often stuffed with sweet red bean paste. To make traditional mochi, you’ll need 2 cups of glutinous rice flour, 1 ½ cups of water, ½ cup of sugar, and cornstarch for dusting. Mix the rice flour, water, and sugar in a microwave-safe bowl, then microwave for about 10 minutes, stirring halfway through. Once the mixture is thick and sticky, transfer it to a cornstarch-dusted surface and knead. Flatten the dough, cut into small circles, and fill with red bean paste or your preferred filling. Roll into balls and dust with more cornstarch to prevent sticking.

Pavlova (New Zealand/Australia)

Pavlova is a light, airy dessert made with a crisp meringue base and topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit. To make it, you’ll need 4 egg whites, 1 cup of sugar, 1 tsp of white vinegar, 1 tsp of cornstarch, 1 cup of heavy cream, and fresh fruits like strawberries and kiwi. Whip egg whites until soft peaks form, then slowly add sugar, vinegar, and cornstarch while beating. Spread the mixture into a circular shape on a baking sheet and bake at 250°F for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Let the meringue cool, then top it with whipped cream and fresh fruit for a stunning and refreshing dessert.

Gulab Jamun (India)

Gulab Jamun is a soft, syrup-soaked doughnut-like dessert made from milk solids and flavored with cardamom and rose water. To make it, you’ll need 1 cup of milk powder, ¼ cup of flour, ¼ tsp baking soda, 2 tbsp ghee, 2-3 tbsp milk, 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of water, and 1 tsp rose water. Combine the milk powder, flour, baking soda, ghee, and milk to form a smooth dough, then shape into small balls. Fry the balls in ghee until golden brown, then soak them in a warm syrup made by simmering sugar, water, and rose water. Let them soak for an hour before serving warm.

Alfajores (Argentina)

Alfajores are delicate sandwich cookies filled with dulce de leche and dusted with powdered sugar. For this South American favorite, you’ll need 1 cup of cornstarch, 1 cup of flour, ½ cup of butter, ½ cup of sugar, 2 egg yolks, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and dulce de leche for the filling. Cream butter and sugar together, then mix in egg yolks and vanilla. Add cornstarch and flour to form a dough. Roll the dough out and cut into circles. Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes. Once cooled, sandwich two cookies together with dulce de leche and dust with powdered sugar for a sweet, melt-in-your-mouth treat.

Sticky Toffee Pudding (United Kingdom)

Sticky Toffee Pudding is a moist sponge cake made with dates and topped with a rich toffee sauce. You’ll need 1 cup of chopped dates, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 cup boiling water, 1 ½ cups of flour, ½ cup of butter, ½ cup of sugar, 2 eggs, and for the sauce, 1 cup of cream, 1 cup of brown sugar, and ½ cup of butter. Soak the dates in boiling water with baking soda, then blend into a paste. Cream butter and sugar, then mix in eggs and flour. Fold in the date paste and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. For the sauce, simmer cream, butter, and sugar until thick and pour over the warm cake.

Black Forest Cake (Germany)

Black Forest Cake is a decadent chocolate layer cake filled with whipped cream, cherries, and chocolate shavings. For this German specialty, you’ll need 1 ½ cups of flour, 1 ½ cups of sugar, ¾ cup of cocoa powder, 1 ½ tsp of baking powder, 1 cup of milk, ½ cup of oil, 2 eggs, and for the filling and topping, 2 cups of heavy cream, 1 jar of cherries, and chocolate shavings. Bake the chocolate cake by combining dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately, then mixing them together and baking at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. Layer the cake with whipped cream and cherries, and cover with more whipped cream and chocolate shavings for a rich, indulgent finish.

Apple Strudel (Austria)

Apple Strudel is a traditional Austrian dessert made with thin, flaky pastry filled with spiced apples, raisins, and sugar. To make it, you’ll need 1 package of phyllo dough, 6 peeled and sliced apples, ½ cup of sugar, 1 tsp of cinnamon, ¼ cup of raisins, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and ½ cup of melted butter. Toss the apples with sugar, cinnamon, raisins, and lemon juice. Lay out the phyllo dough, brushing each layer with melted butter, and place the apple mixture on one end. Roll the dough tightly, brush with butter, and bake at 375°F for 30-40 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm with powdered sugar or vanilla ice cream.

Pastel de Nata (Portugal)

Pastel de Nata is a creamy custard tart with a crispy, flaky pastry shell, a famous Portuguese dessert. You’ll need 1 package of puff pastry, 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of milk, ½ cup of cream, 3 egg yolks, 2 tbsp flour, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and a pinch of cinnamon. Roll out the puff pastry and cut it into circles to fit into a muffin tin. For the filling, whisk together flour, milk, and cream, and heat until thick. Stir in sugar, vanilla, and egg yolks, then pour the custard into the pastry shells. Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, until the tops are golden and slightly charred. Dust with cinnamon before serving.

Tres Leches Cake (Mexico)

Tres Leches Cake is a light sponge cake soaked in three types of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream. For this moist Mexican dessert, you’ll need 1 cup of flour, 1 ½ tsp of baking powder, 5 eggs, 1 cup of sugar, 1 can of evaporated milk, 1 can of sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup of heavy cream, and whipped cream for topping. Beat the eggs and sugar until fluffy, then fold in flour and baking powder. Bake the cake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Poke holes in the cake and pour the mixture of the three milks over it. Chill for a few hours, then top with whipped cream and serve cold.

This article originally appeared on RetailShout.

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