5 Tips for Making Killer Desserts

The desire to create the perfect dessert and really impress other people is common for anyone who has done some baking in their life. While master chefs can pull off complicated recipes, not everyone possesses that immediate skill level. The good news is that these five tips can help you bake killer desserts today, without years of culinary training.

killer desserts

Pop Balloons

You can use chocolate domes and cups to hide cream or jello or house little pieces of fruit. They make a delicious component of many different desserts. However, making them is certainly a challenge. Normally, you would need to carefully temper chocolate, pour it over molds, and wait for the chocolate to harden and cool, before carefully trying to peel it from a mold. This is often a long and arduous process, even for highly-trained chefs. However, this need not be the case. Instead, blow up some small balloons and dip them in your prepared chocolate. Once they are cool (put them in the fridge to speed this process), simply take a pin and carefully pop the balloon. If you are steady and patient, you will have a perfect chocolate dome to use.

Cut With Floss

Have you ever tried to make a tiered cake? The process involves making lots of batter and baking solid cakes before slicing them into smaller layers, at which point you can alternate with cake and additions like jam, icing, or mousse. One particularly difficult part of cutting the solid cakes into smaller layers is ensuring all of the layers are flat and the same size. Cutting with a knife does not offer a lot of precision. However, you can easily cut perfect layers of cake with some waxed, unflavoured floss.

Measure where you want to cut your layer, and stick toothpicks around the cake. Wrap your floss around the cake just on top of the toothpicks, crossing the ends. With slow but steady pressure, pull on the floss until it cuts through your cake.

Create a Double Boiler

Yes, you can melt chocolate in the microwave. However, this heating process is often inconsistent and can quickly result in burnt chocolate. Instead, you can create a double boiler, which will heat your chocolate without a risk of uneven heating and potential burns.

First, take a pot and pour some water in the bottom. An inch of water will work, but adjust as needed for the size of the pot as well as how much chocolate you need to melt. Turn the stove on high and wait for the water to boil. Put your chocolate into a metal bowl and place the bowl on the pot of boiling water. Stir the chocolate frequently until it completely melts.

Draw a Water Bath

Making a perfect cheesecake can be quite the difficult task. You can follow the ingredient ratios exactly, but still end up with a nice tasting cake full of cracks. The good news, at least, is that you can fix this issue with some patience. Place your cheesecake pan (with the crust and batter inside) onto a roasting pan or cookie sheet with a raised edge. Pour some water into the pan until the surface is covered. Bake your cheesecake according the normal temperature and time.

Delay Removing From Oven

When you are finished baking your cheesecake, do not take it out of the oven right away. Instead, turn off the oven and open the oven door slightly. Let the heat gradually escape. This prevents a sudden drop in temperature from shocking the cheesecake and creating the cracks. You can also use this trick if your dessert is slightly undercooked, as the residual heat may be enough to finish it off. It also minimizes the risk of burning your dessert.

 

Image: shalamov

Not yet following us on social media? Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn, or subscribe to our YouTube channel!Â