15 desserts and sweet treats
Kheer, halwa, cakes and other sweet things for after dinner or for guests.
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1 Pakistani · 1 h · serves 6
Chawal ki Kheer
Rice simmered slowly in milk with cardamom until creamy, finished with pistachios and almonds. Serve chilled in clay bowls.
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2 Pakistani · 1 h 15 min · serves 6
Gajar ka Halwa
Grated red carrots cooked slowly in milk, then fried in ghee with sugar and cardamom. Winter in a bowl.
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3 Pakistani · 3 h 55 min · serves 6
Jalebi
Crisp, golden spirals of fermented batter soaked in warm saffron-cardamom syrup. Plan on a few hours of batter resting, then about half an hour of frying and dipping.
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4 Pakistani · 1 h · serves 12
Kalakand
Soft, slightly grainy milk cake made from fresh homemade chenna and condensed milk, scented with cardamom and topped with pistachios. A simple mithai for Eid, weddings or a sweet craving.
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5 Pakistani · 40 min · serves 12
Besan Ladoo
Round gram flour sweets made by slowly roasting besan in ghee until nutty and golden, then shaping with sugar and cardamom. A classic for Eid, weddings and tea-time gifting.
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6 Pakistani · 1 h · serves 6
Badam Halwa
A rich, glossy almond halwa made from freshly ground blanched almonds, milk, ghee and saffron. It suits Eid tables, dinner parties and winter evenings.
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7 American · 48 min · serves 16
Fudgy Chocolate Brownies
Dense, glossy brownies with a thin crackly top and a soft, fudgy centre. Made with one bowl, simple pantry ingredients and real dark chocolate.
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8 Continental · 50 min · serves 10
Vanilla Sponge Cake
A soft, golden two-layer sponge sandwiched with strawberry jam and vanilla buttercream. It uses simple pantry ingredients and suits birthdays and afternoon tea.
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9 American · 1 h 10 min · serves 12
Chocolate Cake
A deep, moist two-layer chocolate cake made with oil and cocoa, then covered in glossy dark chocolate ganache. It stays soft for days and suits birthdays or any weekend bake.
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10 Italian · 45 min · serves 8
Coffee Tiramisu without Alcohol
A cool, creamy tiramisu made with strong coffee, mascarpone and a gently cooked egg custard, so there is no raw egg and no alcohol. Make it a day ahead for the best slices.
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11 Italian · 4 h 20 min · serves 6
Vanilla Panna Cotta
A silky, softly set Italian cream dessert scented with real vanilla and served with a quick strawberry sauce. It is made ahead, so it suits dinner parties and Eid tables.
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12 American · 1 h 15 min · serves 10
Banana Bread
A moist, tender loaf made with very ripe bananas, brown sugar and a hint of cinnamon. It is an easy one-bowl bake that turns spotty bananas into tea-time slices.
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13 American · 1 h 10 min · serves 12
Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
A moist, lightly spiced carrot cake with walnuts, topped with tangy cream cheese frosting. It keeps well, slices cleanly and suits tea time or celebrations.
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14 British · 1 h · serves 6
Apple Crumble
Soft cinnamon-spiced apples under a golden, buttery oat crumble. It is an easy British pudding that uses pantry staples and tastes best warm with custard or cream.
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15 American · 6 h 45 min · serves 10
No-Bake Cheesecake
A cool, creamy cheesecake on a buttery biscuit base that sets in the fridge, with no oven needed. Good for hot days, birthdays and make-ahead entertaining.
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