Dessert cakes

Some cakes demand to be eaten with a fork as they are far too squidgy for teatime.

These dessert cakes all make the perfect finale to a meal, often served with lashing of cream for even more indulgence.

A picture of Delia's A Return to the Black Forest recipe

Return to the Black Forest Flourless

Though much debased by many frozen versions, the original Black Forest gateau, way back in the Sixties, was...

Though much debased by many frozen versions, the original Black Forest gateau, way back in the Sixties, was a delight: a soft, light concoction made with seriously dar...

Almond Tuiles

When you look at these you’ll probably think ‘I can’t be bothered’, but they are unbelievably easy to make ...

When you look at these you’ll probably think ‘I can’t be bothered’, but they are unbelievably easy to make and are the most elegant biscuits to serve with fruit fools ...

4 minutes - 5 minutes

to cook

Amaretti Chocolate Cake

Italian Amaretti biscuits are now widely available in supermarkets, as well as delicatessen, and their stro...

Italian Amaretti biscuits are now widely available in supermarkets, as well as delicatessen, and their strong almond flavour is the perfect match with some strong, ver...

A picture of Delia's Apricot Hazelnut Meringue Cake recipe

Apricot Meringue Cake

This used to be a rather soft, rather squashy meringue, but now I like it crisper and chewier. Either wa...

This used to be a rather soft, rather squashy meringue, but now I like it crisper and chewier. Either way it’s loved by everyone. You can of course use any other fr...

Baked Vanilla Cheesecake

I have made many cheesecakes over the years but this one is my current favourite. Part of its charm is t...

I have made many cheesecakes over the years but this one is my current favourite. Part of its charm is that it’s a little bit wobbly at the end of the cooking time ...

55 minutes

to cook

A picture of Delia's Baked Vanilla Cheesecake with Raspberries and Redcurrants recipe

Baked Vanilla Cheesecake with Redcurrants

I have made many cheesecakes over the years but this one is my current favourite. It’s absolutely ...

I have made many cheesecakes over the years but this one is my current favourite. It’s absolutely perfect in the summer season when there are so many soft fru...

55 minutes - 1 hour

to cook

Banoffee Cheesecake

The magic word 'banoffee' does not, as you might have thought, have exotic origins: it is simply an amalgam...

The magic word 'banoffee' does not, as you might have thought, have exotic origins: it is simply an amalgam of banana and toffee. But it is magic nonetheless – the ...

1 hour

to cook

Chocolate Hazelnut Meringue Roulade

When we first put this on the menu at Delia's City Brasserie at the football club, it was one of the fastes...

When we first put this on the menu at Delia's City Brasserie at the football club, it was one of the fastest-selling desserts ever. Please don't worry about rolling...

Vegetarian

Chocolate Mascarpone Cheesecake

This is quite simply a chocolate cheesecake to die for. If you like chocolate, if you like dark chocolat...

This is quite simply a chocolate cheesecake to die for. If you like chocolate, if you like dark chocolate with fruit and nuts, and if you like luscious, velvet-text...

Chocolate Souffle Cake

This is quite simply my own favourite chocolate dessert of all time. It’s dark, very moist, and the prun...

This is quite simply my own favourite chocolate dessert of all time. It’s dark, very moist, and the prunes soaked in Armagnac make it a very grown-up chocolate expe...

30 minutes

to cook

Coconut Layer Cake

The optimum word here is 'fresh'. If you've ever suffered cakes made with dry, dull desiccated coconut, ...

The optimum word here is 'fresh'. If you've ever suffered cakes made with dry, dull desiccated coconut, let me transport you to a different world. Fresh coconut (yo...

30 minutes - 35 minutes

to cook

Greek Orange and Honey Syrup Cake

The sharp acidity of the orange in this cake combines beautifully with the sweetness of the Greek mountain ...

The sharp acidity of the orange in this cake combines beautifully with the sweetness of the Greek mountain honey. Because the cake is soaked in syrup, you can make ...

40 minutes - 45 minutes

to cook

A picture of Delia's Lemon Griestorte recipe

Lemon Griestorte Flourless

Because there’s no flour in this it’s unimaginably light and airy, and very lemony, which makes it a very e...

Because there’s no flour in this it’s unimaginably light and airy, and very lemony, which makes it a very elegant dessert cake.

20 minutes - 25 minutes

to cook

Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake

This is a very light, fluffy lemony cheesecake which, if you serve it with a Confit of Lemons, makes a deli...

This is a very light, fluffy lemony cheesecake which, if you serve it with a Confit of Lemons, makes a delightfully refreshing end to a rich meal. The Delia Online ...

Lemon Roulade

This is very light, fresh and lemony, with a lovely squidgy centre. If you have only one baking tin of t...

This is very light, fresh and lemony, with a lovely squidgy centre. If you have only one baking tin of the right size, you can make and bake one base at a time, by ...

Maple and Caramelised Pecan Cake

I have been a huge fan of maple syrup ever since I went to Canada to see how it was produced. It has a u...

I have been a huge fan of maple syrup ever since I went to Canada to see how it was produced. It has a unique flavour, which seems to have a real affinity with peca...

25 minutes

to cook

Maple and Walnut Cheesecake

There is a distinct affinity between walnuts and maple syrup, and this light cheesecake marries the flavour...

There is a distinct affinity between walnuts and maple syrup, and this light cheesecake marries the flavours beautifully. In order to increase the maple flavour the...

30 minutes

to cook

Pear and Almond Cake with Streusel Topping

This would be my choice for autumn when there are lots of lovely ripe pears around. We like to eat it se...

This would be my choice for autumn when there are lots of lovely ripe pears around. We like to eat it served in slices with pools of Jersey pouring cream.

45 minutes

to cook

Prune and Armagnac Chocolate Log

If you want different recipes for the celebrations, this is one of them – a traditional Christmas log with ...

If you want different recipes for the celebrations, this is one of them – a traditional Christmas log with two very special fillings: a chocolate mousse and prunes wit...

Prune, Apple and Armagnac Cake

This is a cake that borders on being a dessert, and would be my choice for a celebration supper party, serv...

This is a cake that borders on being a dessert, and would be my choice for a celebration supper party, served warm with crème fraîche. If you are not a lover of Arm...

1 hour

to cook

Vegetarian

Spiced Apple and Cider Cake

This is quite definitely a dessert cake. The combination of spices, and the balance of tart apples and c...

This is quite definitely a dessert cake. The combination of spices, and the balance of tart apples and cake are perfect. It needs a large dollop of crème fraiche or...

1 hour 20 minutes - 1 hour 40 minutes

to cook

Spiced Bread Pudding

Sometimes this gets confused with bread-and-butter pudding, but it's quite different. It was invented, I...

Sometimes this gets confused with bread-and-butter pudding, but it's quite different. It was invented, I think, to use up stale bread, which is still a good reason ...

1 hour 15 minutes

to cook

Strawberry Hazelnut Shortcakes

If you’ve managed to grow a fine crop of strawberries with the sun shining and the rain holding off, then t...

If you’ve managed to grow a fine crop of strawberries with the sun shining and the rain holding off, then the last thing you’ll need is a recipe. With that wonderfu...

Vegetarian

A picture of Delia's The Famous Chocolate Truffle Torte recipe

The Famous Truffle Torte

Yes, this is the one where the nation ran out of liquid glucose, because of (it has to be admitted) the pow...

Yes, this is the one where the nation ran out of liquid glucose, because of (it has to be admitted) the power of television. It has been much copied over the years,...