French & German & Italian Desserts
Dessert is that special something that comes only after we have cleaned our plate and satisfied our body’s need for real nutrition. It is the favored part of every meal that makes everyone lick their lips and pat their stomach with satisfaction.
Europeans have a special love of desserts. From Italian desserts to the special treats known as German and French desserts, you simply want to taste forever when you wrap your taste buds around these heavenly flavors.
Cultures from Europe tend to favor heavier desserts that sit down on the stomach and make you feel full. It is the exact opposite when eating desserts in hotter, Mediterranean climates where fruity flavors and light cakes are preferred. This may reflect the type of food eaten in these different cultures. Lighter meals can accommodate a heavy dessert much better than a meal that is already heavy to begin with.
French desserts trend toward lighter types these days, while the Italian desserts are more heavy, may contain more fat and more sugar than those which are eaten by their counterparts in the United states. German desserts are also usually far more rich than some of the others that you may encounter.
When you visit French restaurants you are likely to find very light, fruity desserts or crepes being served. You may also find wine and cheese to be one of the popular French desserts. Yet, go to the country and taste every day cooking by the French people and you will find some heavier desserts.
An example of French country cooking is the downright delicious Apple Tart Tatin. This tasty tart is made from real butter, French brandy, vanilla bean, and green apples all combined into a puffed pastry. Even the pickiest eaters will fall in love with this French dessert.
While the heavier Italian desserts are reserved for the evening meal, you can find lighter desserts being served during the day with earlier meals as well. Tiramisu is one of the heavier desserts that would be reserved for an after dinner treat. This Italian dessert features layered pound cake with cream and mascarpone. Simple delicious! Another of the more popular Italian desserts is affogato, which just means “drowned” in Italian. This dessert incorporates Italian ice or sometimes ice cream topped with hot espresso.
There are a few features that tend to bind most German desserts together: super sweet tastes, rich flavors, and a filling, heavy feeling on the stomach. The great thing about the Germans is they like their desserts to be fast and easy to make yet very filling and satisfying on the stomach. For instance, consider Kuchen, which simply means “cake” in German. Some people may make this cake with a filling of cinnamon and sugar while others only fill with sugar and then put a very sweet custard sauce over the top. The intense sweetness tends to be a trademark of German desserts.
Do you think Italian, German or French desserts sound amazing? You can find some great recipes in all of these cultures online for free. Experiment with authentic recipes from the European cultures and you are bound to find many you fall in love with.
Tags: European Desserts, French Dessert, German Dessert, Italian Dessert
