Desserts come in all shapes and sizes, flavors and textures. But here are our favorites starting with the letter ‘S’ to inspire you to get baking yourself, especially if you share the same first letter in your name!
Desserts are a great way of elevating the dining experience, an absolute must for many. From iconic classics to innovative new desserts, here’s a list of the best desserts starting with the letter ‘S’.
The French classic, souffles are among the most challenging desserts to get right. Their airy and delicate texture is proof of the precision and science that goes into baking it. Baking it for long enough that it rises but doesn’t deflate is another challenge that can only be overcome with practice and experience. While it can also be savory as a cheese souffle, souffles are normally understood to be desserts, coming in flavors like vanilla and chocolate and served in their special ramekin. It's worth practicing and getting right since the eating experience is divine, feeling almost like one is eating a cloud.
The Shahi Tukda is a Mughlai dish, whose hero ingredient is bread. Slices of ghee-fried bread are topped with a sugar syrup, on which goes the creamy rabri and a garnish of chopped nuts. It's similar to the western concept of bread pudding in some ways, although it's a more elaborate and formal dessert. It's popularly present during Iftar and Eid celebrations. There’s also local iterations of the dessert like the Hyderabadi Double Ka Meetha.
The Strawberry Shortcake is a must-have summer dessert in America, featuring layers of crumbly shortcake, fresh, chopped strawberries, and chilled whipped cream. Similar to the English Trifle in some ways, the dessert can be a proper cake served in a formal setting or a simple, homemade dish, enjoyed for its elements more than its presentation. Since it's a summer favorite, it often accompanies picnics and other outdoor gatherings.
Shrikhand is a rich, creamy, decadent dessert originating from India. It has a warm yellow color from the saffron infused in it, which also offers a milk sweetness to the dish. It's always present in festivals and religious ceremonies, especially Janmashtmi. It's also easy to make and is a filling dish. It has several health benefits like being rich in calcium and nutrients that nourish the skin. It's also full of healthy fats that can help with weight gain.
In the city of Vienna, in 1832, Franz Sacher created a chocolate cake that soon became a symbol of Austrian culinary prowess. It was the Sacher Torte, with layers of rich chocolate cake, apricot jam and a chocolate glaze on top. One will also find the iconic Sacher seal on top of the dessert. The recipe of the famed dessert is still a closely guarded secret, although many home bakers have tried to create their own spin on the dish. It's best enjoyed at Hotel Sacher, where you know you're getting the real deal.
No exploration of desserts starting with the letter ‘S’ is complete without including sundaes. These indulgent desserts are a simple dish to make and offer a memorable experience. Take a bowl or glass, fill it up with as many scoops of ice cream as you can fit and top it with chocolate, vanilla, caramel or other sauces. Then add the toppings like chopped nuts, sprinkles, brownie bits, biscuit crumbles, fresh fruits—the possibilities are truly only limited by your imagination. Share with a loved one or eat alone if you're feeling really indulgent.
The festive season is upon us and it's truly incomplete without s’mores. These are essentially graham cracker sandwiches, stuffed with roasted marshmallows and chocolate pieces. Each bite is a gooey and delightfully messy experience. Although best enjoyed around a campfire, s'mores are also great for holidays, especially since the marshmallows come in many colors and themed shapes. The gooey, chewy marshmallow, soft, melty chocolate and the crisp crackers tangle soulfully in the mouth to create a memorable eating experience.
Snickerdoodles are a type of cookie that are soft and chewy, and rolled in a cinnamon powder and sugar mixture before baking, leading to a truly indulgent and unique eating experience. The two flavors make for a delightful blend of sweet and spice, and add grainy texture to the otherwise soft cookie. It's often a nostalgic dessert, with many people having memories of home baking and sharing the cookies with their family and friends over cups of tea or glasses of milk.