The variety of desserts
Dessert can come in variations of flavors, textures, and looks. Desserts can be defined as a usually sweeter course that concludes a meal.[2] This definition includes a range of courses anywhere from fruits or dried nuts to multi-ingredient cakes and pies. With the many different varieties of desserts the many cultures have different variations. In modern times the variations of desserts have usually been passed down or come from geological regions. This is one cause for the variation of desserts. These are some major categories in which desserts can be placed.[10] Custards and Puddings- These kinds of sweets usually include a thickened dairy base. Custards are cooked and thickened with eggs. Baked custards can include creme brulee and flan. Puddings are thickened with starches. Frozen Desserts- Ice Cream and gelato both fit into this category. Ice cream is a cream base that is churned as it is frozen to create a creamy consistency, while Gelato uses a milk base and has less air than ice cream. Thirdly, Sorbet is made from churned fruit and is not dairy based. Cakes- Cakes are sweet tender breads made with sugar and delicate flour. Cakes can vary from light, airy sponge cakes to dense cakes with less flour. In addition, small-sized cakes have become popular in the form of cupcakes and petits fours. Cookies- Cookies are similar to cakes (the word coming from the Dutch word “kowkje” meaning little cake). Historically cookies were small spoonfuls of cake batter placed in the oven to test the temperature. Cookies can come in many different forms. Examples inclued layered bars, crispy meringues, and soft chocolate chip cookies. Pies- Pies and cobblers are a crust with a filling. The crust can be either made from either a pastry or crumbs. The fillings can be anything from fruits to puddings. Chocolates and Candies- Many candies involve the crystallization of sugar which varies the texture of sugar crysta s. Candies can be found in many different forms including caramel, marshmallows, and taffy. Pastries- Pastries can either take the form of light and flaky bread with an airy texture or unleavened dough with a high fat content. Pastries can be eaten with fruits, chocolates, or other sweeteners. Miscellaneous Desserts- Many desserts cannot be categorized such as cheesecake. Though cheesecake is a similar to a custard, it is named “cake”. Many desserts can span the categories and several don’t fit in a category at all.Ice cream (derived from earlier iced cream or cream ice[1]) is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners. In some cases, artificial flavourings and colourings are used in addition to, or instead of, the natural ingredients. The mixture of chosen ingredients is stirred slowly while cooling, in order to incorporate air and to prevent large ice crystals from forming. The result is a smoothly textured semi-solid foam that is malleable and can be scooped. The meaning of the phrase "ice cream" varies from one country to another. Phrases such as "frozen custard", "frozen yogurt", "sorbet", "gelato" and others are used to distinguish different varieties and styles. In some countries, such as the United States, the phrase "ice cream" applies only to a specific variety, and most governments regulate the commercial use of the various terms according to the relative quantities of the main ingredients.[2] In other countries, such as Italy and Argentina, one word is used for all variants. Analogues made from dairy alternatives, such as goat's or sheep's milk, or milk substitutes, are available for those who are lactose intolerant, allergic to dairy protein, or vegan. The most popular flavours of ice cream are vanilla and chocolate.[3]