March 02, 2004

By: James Sparks
Website: http://www.1st-in-steaks.com

Non-traditional cheese desserts take the cake

America’s pastry chefs are thinking “outside the cheesecake box” by bringing bolder cheese flavors to the dessert course in innovative recipes such as roasted pears sprinkled with Blue cheese and Petite Crème citrus bread pudding.

Top chefs such as Gale Gand, host of the Food Network’s “Sweet Dreams” and 2001 James Beard award winner, as well as Sarah Stegner, executive chef at The Ritz Carlton, are driving this trend, using cheeses like rich Gouda, nutty Asiago and creamy Brie to update traditional recipes.

“Diners will always love traditional desserts, but today they’re demanding more adventurous tastes,” said Stegner. “Chefs realize adding flavorful cheese to classic sweets brings desserts to the next flavor plateau and gives diners what they crave.“

With its variety of tastes and textures, cheese adds complexity to the simplest of sweets, creating non-traditional desserts out of classic favorites.

From July 4th picnics to Bastille Day celebrations and graduation parties to wedding showers, summertime is the perfect opportunity to serve unique cheese desserts. With more than 300 varieties of American-made cow’s milk cheeses, there’s a cheese to complement any sweet and please every palate.

This summer, take your favorite apple pie and fruit tarts to a new level with a tempting recipe for Cheddar Apple Tarts with Apricot-Mint Glaze. With sharp Cheddar cheese baked into the crust and melted inside the gooey, custard apple filling, this scrumptious treat is a delicious cross between a delicate French pastry and Mom’s homemade apple pie. Served a la mode with a wedge of aged Cheddar, this dessert is the perfect combination of bold and sweet.

Or, get your sweet reward from Chocolate Mascarpone Roulade, a sheet of flourless chocolate cake spread with a creamy layer of Mascarpone filling, rolled up, sliced, and drizzled with chocolate.

Also see: Desserts

About The Author:

James Sparks is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-steaks.com.  Great tips on buying top quality meats, steaks and seafood from the finest ranchers and butchers.