Indulgent treats meet fruity tart-like ramshackle desserts in this article, where we take a tour of the most beloved desserts that start with the letter ‘G’. There might not be many but the little there is, is enough to satiate even the person with a voracious sweet tooth.
‘G’ is for the glorious selection of sweet treats that are straight-up swimming in chocolate or smelling like home and the holidays. From gooey cookies and cakes to gelatinous puddings and fruity gratins, the letter G represents some of the most beloved desserts from around the world.
Whether crafted in home kitchens or enjoyed at fine dining establishments, these desserts have gained global popularity thanks to their impeccable taste textures, striking visual appeal and of course their ability to satisfy one’s sweet tooth. Ready to get your sweet fix with our recipes?
1. Galette
Galette is a French-style flat pastry that is loosely called a free-form tart with a rustic appeal to it. Unlike its perfectly circular and immaculate cousin the tart, the galette embraces its imperfections with grace. A galette is the kind of dessert you can feel good about eating. It's not too precious or precise; a few uneven folds or an extra chunk of fruit slipping out just adds to its appeal. Here’s how to bake your own:
Ingredients:
- 250 gm all-purpose flour
- 125 gm butter, chilled and cut into pieces
- 75-100 ml ice water
- Pinch of salt
Filling: (you can use any fruit filling such as apples, pears, cherries, etc.)
- 500 gm apples, sliced
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut it into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add the ice water one tablespoon at a time until the dough just comes together. Do not overwork the dough.
- Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a 30 cm circle. Transfer to a baking sheet.
- Toss the apple slices with the sugar and cinnamon. Mound in the center of the dough, leaving a 10 cm border. Fold the edges of the dough over the filling, leaving the center exposed.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes until the crust is golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before serving.
2. Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread cookies have been around for centuries, originating from medieval European recipes. They were traditionally baked in decorative shapes for holidays and special occasions. Whether you enjoy them plain or decorated, gingerbread cookies always seem to put people in a festive, cheerful mood with their warm and spicy aroma, so this is the perfect excuse to bake them!
Ingredients:
- 225 gm all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 110 gm butter, softened
- 110 gm jaggery or brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp honey
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C and line an oven-proof tray with baking paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger and cinnamon.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and jaggery/brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, then stir in the honey.
- Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
- Roll out the dough to 5 mm thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut it into shapes using cookie cutters.
- Place cookies 2 cm apart on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the edges are firm. Allow it to cool on a baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
3. Ganache Cake
Ganache is truly a chocolate lover's dream come true, with its silky smooth chocolate filling or frosting made from just two simple ingredients—cream and chocolate. It is versatile when it comes to its uses in baking that easily fill up tarts and cake sponges, and cascade down the tops of cakes.
Makes 1 (9-inch) cake (serving 8)
Ingredients:
For the cake:
- 180 gm all-purpose flour
- 120 gm sugar
- 5 gm baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 120 ml milk
- 60 ml vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 5 ml vanilla extract
For the ganache:
- 250 gm semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 250 ml heavy cream
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, eggs and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir just until combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow it to cool completely before removing from the pan.
- To make the ganache, place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, bring the cream just to a boil. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let sit for 5 minutes. Whisk until it’s smooth and glossy.
- Place the cooled cake on a serving plate and pour the ganache over the top, allowing it to drip down the sides. Slice and serve.