Baking With Wine- 7 Dessert Recipes That Call For Wine
One of my fondest memories of the winery when I was young was the wine filled chocolates my dad had in the winery. A few times a year, he would send down a case of his sparkling wine and a case of Pinot Noir, to a company in California that would make wine-filled chocolates. You might be thinking of those lame gift boxes that pop up around the holidays with all types of liqueur filled in plastic-tasting chocolate bottles. But these were different. The chocolate was rich, and the shell was somehow crafted to hold the perfect amount of wine. Even as a kid I enjoyed them! (And no, it’s not like I could snack on these all of the time- reserved for special occasions only!).
While I still yearn for those wine-filled chocolates, at least I have Pinterest to satisfy creativity cravings when searching for wine desserts reimagined. If you’re looking for inspiration to impress guests at your next dinner party, or simply for the perfect dessert to spoil your significant other, here are some ultra creative (but still easy!) recipes to get you started.
1. Red Wine Marshmallows with Dark Chocolate Wine Ganache via the Pike Place Kitchen
Homemade marshmallows are so simple but often overlooked in the dessert world. And dipping them in wine-infused dark chocolate ganache? Holy moly, I can’t imagine a better treat.
This would be amazing made with a good bottle of Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon (drink the rest of the bottle with dessert, of course!)
2. Red Wine Hot Chocolate via Wholefully
Let me repeat. Red. Wine. Hot. Chocolate. Need I say more? Want to take this cup of joy to the next level? Serve with the above marshmallows dipped in red wine chocolate ganache. Move over, Martha.
Make with a fruit-forward wine like our 2012 Zinfandel
3. Dark Chocolate Red Wine Truffles from Well Plated
Chocolate truffles and red wine are a common pairing for dessert and are always a great starting point. These truffles made with red wine are a natural progression of the standard go-to box of truffles. The recipe below calls for dusting the truffles in cocoa powder but I also think they’d be delicious with a sprinkle of homemade red wine sea salt instead.
Make them with our 2014 David’s Tableau Vivant
4. Pavlova with Red Wine Cherry Compote via Cooks With Cocktails
Now, this might look complicated but we think the author sums this dessert up perfectly; “Say you are having a dinner party and you bring this puppy out for dessert. It looks impressive and like you really know what you’re doing, but if you can beat eggs in a mixer, stir some sugar and cherries together with wine in a pot, and whip some cream to top it all off then you can make this dessert.”
But clearly the red wine cherry compote is the star of the show, and could be easily translated to a sauce for some vanilla bean ice cream, or to drizzle over a fresh batch of brownies or blondies. I mean, who doesn’t love cherry sauce on any dessert, with or without red wine?
Make with an Oregon Pinot Noir to really enhance the cherry notes in the sauce.
5. German Riesling Apple Cake via Foodal
Nothing screams fall dessert than this cake (okay maybe there are a few…million pumpkin dessert recipes floating around out there that are also very fall-inspired). Boasting two pounds of fresh apples, this dessert is a perfect substitute for an apple pie. Don’t have a German Riesling on hand? This cake would taste pretty great with our 2015 Pinot Gris.
6. Citrus Scented White Wine Cake with Berries from Vegetarian Times
There’s something about a simple white cake topped with berries that just makes my heart sing. Maybe it’s that these desserts are typically reserved for long summer nights when fresh berries are in season. Or maybe it’s the simple dessert, light enough to be enjoyed without needing to be rolled home, but sweet and satisfying enough to make you feel like you really had dessert. Either way, this cake sounds delicious. And during the months when fresh berries aren’t in season, I bet this would be just as delicious with some wine-infused berry compote from (gasp) frozen berries.
7. Red Wine Chiffon Cake via Sprinkle Bakes
Okay I admit, most of the reason why I shared this recipe was because of the adorable cork candles. How cute are those things? Regardless, this cake sounds like the perfect marriage of all things chocolate and wine for you foodies out there. Light, fluffy chocolate cake blended with the best qualities of your favorite red wine. I recommend the same as the baker used, a good Pinot Noir to stick with the light and fluffy personality of the cake.
Tell us, what dessert recipe would you incorporate wine into next time you break out the flour and sugar? Let us know in the comments!
Looking for more? Visit our post Do’s & Don’ts of Cooking With Wine for more inspiration!
