5 Desserts that will brighten up International Men's Day

Celebrate the men that bring warmth and joy in your life with some delicious sweet treats on International Men’s Day this year. The event falls on November 19 every year to celebrate the positive value that men bring to the world. It’s also the day when other social issues that men often face are brought to the fore. So, here’s how to celebrate International Men's Day this year. Make any of these five easy desserts at home for your fathers, sons, husbands, friends, and partners!

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 100 gm granulated sugar
• 165 gm packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 115 gm melted butter
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 155 gm flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 110 gm semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 110 gm dark chocolate chips

Instructions:

• Whisk all the sugar, salt, and softened butter together in a bowl until pale and creamy.
• Then add the vanilla extract and egg.
• Sift together the flour and baking soda in another bowl, then fold this into the creamed butter and sugar.
• Try not to overmix because you will get tough cookies otherwise. Fold the chocolate chips into the dough as well.
• Chill the dough for around 30 minutes, then shape the cookies and place them on a parchment lined baking tray.
• Preheat the oven to 180°C and once the oven is hot enough, place the cookies in it for 12 to 15 minutes.
• Let the cookies cool down on a wire rack before enjoying them.

One Bowl Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

For the cake:

• 120 gm flour
• 200 gm granulated sugar
• 25 gm cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 120 gm vegetable oil
• 120 ml buttermilk
• 120 ml hot water

For the frosting:

• 71 gm unsalted butter
• 25 gm cocoa powder
• 150 gm icing sugar
• 2-3 tbsp milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

• Line an 8-inch round or square cake tin with parchment paper, then set it aside and preheat the oven to 180°C.
• Sift all the dry ingredients in a large bowl, and whisk them together.
• Then add the wet ingredients, with the final addition being the hot water. Whisk until you get a smooth batter.
• Pour it into the lined cake tin and let it bake in the oven for around 25 to 30 minutes.
• Once done, let the cake cook down completely.
• Then start preparing the frosting by beating the softened, unsalted butter with cocoa powder, icing sugar and vanilla extract. Add milk to loosen the buttercream and to help mix all the ingredients together.
• Frost the cooled cake liberally with the buttercream frosting, but into slices and enjoy.

No Bake Cheesecake

Ingredients:

• 100 gm graham cracker crumbs
• 67 gm packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 80 gm melted butter
• 454 cream cheese
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 463 ml whipping cream
• 67 gm white sugar

Instructions:

• Mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter and add this to the bottom of an 8-inch springform tin. Refrigerate this for a couple of hours.
• Beat together cream cheese and lemon juice together with white sugar.
• Whip the cream with a whisk or an electric beater until you get stiff peaks.
• Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese.
• Pour this mixture into the prepared graham cracker base, smoothening the top.
• Cover with readymade cherry purée or even a layer of fresh seasonal fruit, mangoes are a great idea.
• Leave it in the fridge or even the freezer to solidify.
• Slice and serve once the cake has set.

Easy Chocolate Bark

Ingredients:

• 340 gm chopped chocolate
• 90 gm raw nuts or seeds
• 40 gm dried cranberries or any other dried fruit like raisins

Instructions:

• Chop the chocolate of your choice and then melt it in a heatproof bowl, either above a pot of simmering water or in the microwave.
• Prepare a parchment-lined baking tray or use a silicone tray.
• Pour the chocolate and spread it thinly all over the parchment paper.
• Decorate the layer of chocolate with nuts, seeds, and the dried fruit.
• Pop the tray in the fridge for a couple of hours.
• Once the chocolate solidifies again, break the chocolate bark and then serve.

Easy Chocolate Fudge

Ingredients:

• 340 gm semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 396 gm condensed milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

• Line the bottom and sides of a 9-inch square pan with parchment paper.
• Place the chocolate chips and all of the condensed milk in a big enough heatproof bowl, and microwave in 30-second intervals until the chocolate melts.
• Mix everything and finally add the vanilla extract.
• Pour this mixture into the lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
• Refrigerate the fudge for about 2 to 3 hours.
• Once the fudge is solid, cut into squares. You can also dust it with some cocoa powder or icing sugar.