A little sweetness after a meal always brings a sense of completeness and warmth. Dessert doesn’t have to be an elaborate cake; sometimes a bowl of che, a plate of fruit or a glass of cool jelly is enough to delight the whole family.
Making desserts at home lets you control the sweetness, the ingredients and your peace of mind. This article suggests simple desserts that are easy to succeed with even for beginners, so your kitchen always has a little sweetness to offer your loved ones.
Easy-to-Cook Che
Che is one of the most humble and familiar desserts. Mung bean che, black bean che, ba ba che and banana che are all fairly easy to cook. The general principle is to simmer the main ingredient until soft, add a moderate amount of sugar and a little coconut milk for a rich, fragrant finish.
One note is to add the sugar after the beans have softened, since adding it too early keeps the beans from turning tender. Coconut milk should go in at the end and not be boiled too long, to keep its natural richness. With just a few inexpensive ingredients, you’ll have a warm dessert for the whole family.
Cool Agar Jelly and Thach
Agar jelly is a wonderful way to cool down on hot days and is extremely easy to make. All you need is agar powder, sugar and water: dissolve it over heat, pour into molds, let it cool and chill it in the fridge for a cool jelly. You can create many layers of different colors and flavors for a pretty look.
To make the jelly more appealing, add coconut milk for a rich white layer, or coffee, pandan or fruit juice for natural color and flavor. Fruit jelly with pieces of mango and strawberry inside is both beautiful and delicious. This is a dish anyone can succeed with, and children love it especially.
Seasonal Fruit and Yogurt
Sometimes the best dessert is the simplest thing of all: a plate of fresh seasonal fruit. Choose ripe fruit, peel it and arrange it nicely, and you have a cool, refreshing dessert rich in vitamins that needs no preparation at all.
Pairing fruit with homemade yogurt makes a light snack that is both delicious and good for digestion. You can make set yogurt, fruit yogurt, or simply dip fruit in yogurt. It’s a healthy, low-sugar choice that still satisfies the palate after a meal.
Flan and Other Rich, Soft Desserts
Flan is a much-loved dessert that isn’t too hard to make. All you need is eggs, milk and caramelized sugar, gently steamed in a water bath, for a soft, silky dessert that melts in the mouth. The trick is to steam over low heat and cover with a cloth so condensation doesn’t drip down and pit the surface.
Besides flan, dishes like yogurt with black sticky rice, tofu pudding in ginger syrup, and almond-milk jelly also belong to the rich, soft group that pleases everyone. These can be made ahead and kept in the fridge, enjoyed gradually over a few days, very conveniently.
Balancing Sweetness and Portion Size
The nice thing about making desserts yourself is that you control the amount of sugar. Shop-bought sweets are usually very sugary, but cooking your own lets you cut back for your health while keeping it tasty. Get into the habit of tasting and adding sugar gradually rather than pouring it in by a rigid recipe.
Dessert should be a light closing note, not something you eat so much of that you feel heavy or harm your health. A moderate portion, enjoyed slowly, is more satisfying than eating a lot. Homemade sweets, enjoyed in moderation, are a thoughtful way to care for yourself and your family.
Desserts for Special Occasions
For occasions with guests or on holidays, a more carefully made dessert rounds out the celebration. Eye-catching layered jelly, cool almond-milk jelly, or a glass of silky panna cotta are not too difficult but look very elegant, enough to impress family and friends.
The trick is to prepare ahead, since most good desserts need time to chill or set in the fridge. Making them the day before frees you to focus on the main dishes on the day of the party. A homemade sweet, however simple, always carries a warmth and sincerity that store-bought ones lack.
Homemade desserts are not only delicious but also carry the affection of the person who made them. With just a few simple ingredients and a little time, you can close a meal on a sweet note.
This weekend, try cooking a pot of che or setting a mold of jelly for the whole family. The joy of watching your loved ones enjoy what you made is the sweetest reward of all.