It’s almost time for Summer in the Northern Hemisphere! In 2016, the season officially begins on June 20th starting with the Summer Solstice. Since the solstice begins when the sun reaches the most northern part of the Equator, it’s also the
longest day of the year! This leaves more time for you and your family to cook up a delicious treat.
If you’re looking for a sweet snack or dessert to make for your loved ones, look no further. We’ve assembled a bunch of amazing recipes that are both easy and fun to make. Take a look at this diverse collection of treats below!
Maple Taffy (Canada)
Maple Taffy is a popular sugar candy in Canada and New England in the U.S., made by boiling maple sap past the point where it would become maple syrup, but not long enough to become maple butter or sugar. After the boiling maple sap reaches a temperature of about 112 °C (234 °F), it is then traditionally poured over clean snow in a bucket, where it quickly thickens into soft candy. In the summer, using a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream works as a perfect substitute for the snow!
Brigadeiros (Brazil)
Brigadeiros hold a special place in the heart of Brazilians, as they’re enjoyed at many special occasions in Brazil. This delicious treat can be easily made in a pot at home using powdered chocolate, butter, and condensed milk. For more complex flavors, the possibilities are endless! Nuts, fruits, peanut butter, hazelnut spreads, and flavored beverages are all popular additions to this traditional treat.
Homemade Gelato (Italy)
For a taste of Italy at home, you can make
Italian ice cream, or gelato, in your own kitchen. Simply put, gelato is ice cream with a little less fat. It’s made with an egg custard, milk, a small amount of cream, and is churned more slowly than traditional ice cream, leaving it with a denser texture and richer flavors. All you need to make it at home is your favorite flavors, egg yolks, milk, cream, a hand mixer and an ice cream maker, though a blender will do as well.
Mochi (Japan)
Mochi is a sweet, sticky flavored rice cake made of sweet rice flour from Japan. Traditionally, it was made by actually pounding the rice dough with your hands, but these days, anyone can make it at home easily with a household mochi-making appliance. If you’re looking for a special treat, Mochi Ice Cream is a popular dessert worldwide, combining delicious ice cream flavors with a mochi shell.
Banoffee Pie (United Kingdom)
This dessert, as its name suggests, is a
well-known English pie comprised of cream, bananas, and homemade toffee made from boiled condensed milk or dulce de leche. Its base is either made of pastry or crumbled biscuits and butter. Other versions also combine chocolate or coffee for a decadent treat anyone can make.
Any of these delicious desserts would be a great addition to any table. Whether enjoyed post-meal or just as a late-night snack during a family outing, these five recipes will surely satisfy your sweet tooth. This is just a small sample from all of the wonderful treats from all over the globe - tell us what your favorite dessert to make is in the comments!
