Ring in the New Year With These Festive Desserts
In any given two-week period, 40% of Americans will fill their ice cream cups and cones to the brim with their favorite chilly treat and feast, according to research by NPD Group. And that number is sure to rise during the holidays Here are three fun, festive ice cream dessert ideas that are guaranteed to make your New Year’s Eve party a hit.
Affogato
Don’t be scared, that’s just Italian for “drowned.” And in this case, drowning is a very, very good thing. The classic Italian recipe calls for scoops of rich, creamy vanilla gelato topped with a generous shot of strong, hot espresso. But on New Year’s Eve, let your imagination run wild. Use chocolate gelato, coffee ice cream, or any other flavor you like. Scoop it into beautiful ice cream cups. Then drown it any way you want to. Try coffee laced with your favorite chocolate or hazelnut liqueur. Garnish your creation with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and some chopped hazelnuts. Serve it with fun colored spoons and a dessert is born.
Dessert A la Mode
This is the food world’s equivalent of the little black dress: A simple, yet classic way to spruce up your dessert for a special occasion. Warm, comforting fruit cobbler covered with decadent vanilla ice cream is a surefire hit. If you’re celebrating New Year’s Eve with a crowd of chocoholics, indulge them by serving deep, dark chocolate bread pudding in elegant ice cream cups. Add a scoop of chocolate ice cream on top, drizzle it with chocolate syrup, then,(because there can never be enough chocolate), finish it off with chocolate whipped cream and shaved chocolate.
Hot Chocolate Floats
Why should root beer have all the fun? For a sweet, satisfying party treat that your friends will love, serve hot chocolate in a festive holiday mug, and top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Easy, yet impressive. Make sure everyone gets a spoon and a paper straw – They won’t want to miss a single drop!
With these three dessert ideas at your fingertips, you and your guests will be ringing in the New Year in style – And meeting your ice cream-eating quota to boot!
