12 Unusual and Little-Known Desserts From Around the World to Try This New Year

As you continue growing older, it might get more difficult to stick to resolutions, and by now, you might’ve stopped pretending that you can actually do it. So, for those of you, this article is a dare to try these unusual desserts, who knows you might actually love them!

New Year is almost upon us, and there is no better occasion to try something new, by that we mean desserts! If you have been looking for a sign to try something adventurous and try some wild and wacky desserts, then this is it. Ranging from the mouth freshener mint, to the creamy mayonnaise and even olive oil, these desserts have been tried and tested by generations of families before it was presented to the world. Safe to say, you will need an open mind to have these desserts.

1. Skillet Brownies

Cooked in a cast iron skillet, these brownies develop an unparalleled fudgy center and crispy edges thanks to the pan's conductive heat distribution. The batter is simply mixed and poured into a hot-oiled skillet before baking. As it bakes, the edges crisp up while the center remains molten.

2. Espresso Cheesecake

This sophisticated dessert infuses creamy cheesecake with rich espresso flavor. The filling is made with cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, and a few shots of strong brewed espresso coffee. This lends deep coffee notes that pair beautifully with the creaminess. The graham cracker crust provides a complementary texture.

3. Mint Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwich

Now is the time to shed the ick and try mint chocolate for yourself. Thin chocolate wafers or cookies are sandwiched around a scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream. The crisp cookies provide a nice textural contrast to the soft ice cream. Specks of mint add a refreshing flavor to each bite of rich chocolate ice cream.

4. Oreo Lasagne

This decadent no-bake dessert layers crushed Oreo cookies and sweetened condensed milk or cream for a treat that's easy to assemble. It can be prepared ahead of time and chilled before serving. Crushed Oreos form the "noodles" which are layered with a sweetened condensed milk or cream "sauce" and sometimes include other mix-ins like chocolate chips.

5. Ambrosia

Ambrosia is a quintessential salad that celebrates fresh citrus fruits in season. This classic salad is often eaten as a dessert that combines fresh citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, marshmallows, and often coconut. This dessert is best enjoyed chilled and is quite refreshing. Layered in a glass bowl, like a messy parfait, it's as colorful and messy, but a delight to eat.

6. Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake

Despite its unusual name, this moist chocolate cake is surprisingly delicious. The mayonnaise acts as a fat replacement, keeping the cake tender and moist even after several days. It combines chocolate cake mix with mayonnaise, eggs, water, and sometimes pudding or sour cream for extra moisture and flavor.

7. Olive Oil Cake

Extra virgin olive oil lends distinctive flavor and moisture to this classic Italian cake. It combines olive oil, eggs, flour, sugar, and sometimes citrus zest for a tender crumb and subtle olive notes. Baked in a loaf or Bundt pan, its light texture makes it very versatile as an afternoon snack, breakfast bread, or dessert. A dusting of powdered sugar or glaze accentuates its subtle sweetness.

8. Turkish Delight Cheesecake

This cheesecake marries the flavors of creamy cheesecake with the rose-scented Turkish delight candies it's swirled with. A graham cracker crust is topped with a smooth cheesecake batter dotted with pieces of Turkish delight, which melt into rosy pockets of flavor throughout. As it bakes, the Turkish delights soften into a rose-scented sauce.

9. Rose Water Cake

Light and moist, this Persian-inspired cake is perfumed with rose water. It combines butter, sugar, eggs, flour, rose water, and sometimes pistachios. The rose water adds a subtle floral note that blossoms with each bite. Baked in a cake pan, its fine crumb soaks up syrup or a rose-scented glaze. A light dusting of powdered sugar highlights its pale hue.

10. Chocolate and Walnut Sheet Cookies

Thin and crispy on the outside with a soft and fudgy center, these no-bake cookies deliver hearty chocolate flavor and crunch from walnuts in every bite. The simple dough combines melted chocolate, butter, sugar, and walnuts before being pressed into a baking sheet and chilled. Once cooled it is broken off from the cookie sheet and eaten like a snack.

11. Sour Cream Cake

Light, moist, and subtly tangy, this cake combines butter, sugar, eggs, flour, sour cream and sometimes citrus zest. The sour cream adds moisture and a pleasant tang that balances the sweetness. Its fine crumb soaks up glazes or syrups well, and a dusting of powdered sugar adds a satisfying sweetness.

12. Corn Custard

This creamy, sweet custard gets its distinctive flavor and color from fresh corn. Kernels are simmered to release their natural sugars before being pureed and added to a custard base, along with eggs, milk, or cream and sometimes corn flour for extra flavor and texture. Baked in a water bath, its texture is rich and spoonable with a bright yellow hue.