Dessert is usually hard to pass up. After all, that delicious chocolate or lemon tart can be the perfect way to end any meal whether hearty, savory, or spicy. It is a sweet treat that can be a fun and indulgent experience that often compliments a meal and can even be a bonding experience over a shared dish. Many desserts are perfect just the way they are. However, even perfection can be elevated with one simple ingredient.
Enter alcohol, the unexpected ingredient that can take any dessert from good to incredible. Dessert and alcohol are the perfect pairing, two indulgences that can be combined into one and can elevate your dessert by adding a variety of flavor notes, as is the case with rum or brandy which can add notes of caramel and vanilla to confections that have nutty or chocolaty flavors, and dark beer or stout which can add richness to plum pudding or chocolate cake. (These are the best bourbons in the U.S. right now.)
Alcohol doesn't just provide flavor, but can also improve the texture of both baked and frozen desserts. Since it can lower the freezing point of the latter it leads to a smoother final product. It can also add moisture and a tender crumb to cakes. Some recipes will call for alcohol to be baked into desserts, while others may require soaking them in liqueur or an alcohol-infused simple syrup.
To assemble a list of the unexpected ingredient behind these gourmet treats, 24/7 Tempo reviewed numerous culinary websites, including Delish, Eat This Not That, Taste of Home, and Food & Wine. Like all recipes, those for dessert vary widely, and not all will include the same list of main ingredients we highlight. It's important to use a high-quality spirit that is good enough to be enjoyed on its own since inferior liquors can lead to off-putting flavors. (Here's a list of the most valuable liquor brands in the world.)
Here is the unexpected ingredient behind these gourmet treats.
