Anna Olson’s Best New Dessert Recipes

Red velvet is so last year. Follow in Anna’s footsteps and go for a softer shade of pink — which is achieved not by food colouring but with beets.

A good butter tart is hart to beat but if you don’t have the time to make the pastry and roll, cut and fill individual tarts, it doesn’t get easier than this. Plus, any time you’re making squares with a sticky feeling, if you freeze the whole pan before you slice them, they’ll come out that much more cleanly. They need a 20-minute thaw and then you’re good to cut.

Leave it to the queen of baking to take the classic Earl Gray tea and its milky vanilla sweetness and spin it into a gorgeous cupcake, only made more complete by the truffle centre.

This isn’t your average pudding in a cup. On the contrary, the gooey centre elevates it to an individual molten lava cake. Top with your new favourite ice cream flavour that is rich, creamy and packed with toasted marshmallow deliciousness, and it’s basically summer in a bowl. For a twist, serve the ice cream on its own and top with graham cracker and chocolate, or blow your guests’ minds by creating a s’mores ice cream sandwich.

Sometimes you want to treat yourself — but not with an entire cupcake. Anna’s cupcake tops, which don’t skimp on the icing, are the perfect dessert, and only made to feel lighter with that delightful lemon flavour.

Sfogliatelle, which is Italian for “small, leaf layers” is a stunner of a dessert. The flaky dough is much different than a puff pastry, almost pasta-like, nor is it buttery like a croissant, but it somehow manages to be soft with a bit of crunch, necessary to hold the citrusy ricotta filling.

A rich, moist layer cake can be tough to achieve but this chocolate beauty (intensified by the coffee and just the right amount of natural orange flavour) is the perfect recipe to attempt. And once you nail down Anna’s modern, elegant style of frosting all three layers, it’s perfect for any occasion.

You can pretty much put sprinkles on anything and kids will come running but they’d much prefer these soft squares which have sprinkles on top and mixed into the dough. They can even be stored in an airtight container for up to a week but it’s not like they’re going to last that long.

These little hand-held bites of goodness are so soft, they’re a cross between a cupcake and a cookie and because of all the carrot, currants, coconut and oats, they make for a healthier indulgence. Right?

This dessert is that airy, Japanese-style of cheesecake – a much lighter version than a dense and creamy New York cheesecake. It’s topped with fresh raspberries and a jelly glaze that is sure to delight.

One of the most iconic pairings in culinary history is that of chocolate and peanut butter. These layered cups have a chocolate base, a smooth peanut butter filling, and a chocolate-peanut butter truffle topping.

This marriage between coconut cream and key lime pies is a delicious, dreamy summer dessert. Best of all, the crust is absolutely no-fuss, made with coconut flour, sugar, butter and flaked coconut.

Thick Icelandic yogurt, skyr, is made into a creamy no-bake cheesecake that’s naturally high in protein and calcium. It is also gluten-free with a nut and date crust. This recipe is free of refined sugar, using maple syrup to sweeten everything up instead. Blueberries add drama and big flavour to this impressive dessert.

Fluffy, praline-topped pumpkin bars can be tailored to your preference just by changing the base. Whether you choose graham cracker crumbs or crushed gingerbread cookies, you and your guests will love these no-bake treats.

These individual, ruffled baklava are a splendid finish to any meal. In this popular Baltic sweet, a spiced nut filling is surrounded by layers of flaky phyllo pastry and basted with a sticky honey syrup.

This gravity-defying dessert will satisfy even the most diehard chocoholic. A chocolate crust is filled with a dark chocolate truffle and topped with a creamy milk chocolate layer.

These little crisp meringue cookies are so tender and light. They are fantastic dessert nibbles, ideal for afternoon tea or part of a petit fours plate. Find more of your favourite Anna Olson recipes.

This fruity tart is made with Ataulfo mangoes which are sweet, rich and boast great colour.

These decadent individual desserts are an elevated spin on the diner malted milkshake. They’re a cool and creamy finale to an elaborate meal.

Souffles have a reputation for being temperamental, but they’re actually very simple to make. Rich, salty, sweet and creamy caramel sauce really takes this dish over the top.

This bright, fresh and citrus-y lime mousse can be whipped up in almost no time at all and makes for a great mid-day snack or after-dinner dessert.

The combination of lavender honey ice cream and cake that is covered with meringue makes for one classic dessert. The key is keeping both cake and ice cream as cold as possible for the perfect hot-day treat.

This torte is made of a chocolate-coffee cake base and beautifully topped with a bittersweet chocolate ganache glaze. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, here are Anna Olson’s chocolate recipes for every skill level.

These beautiful cookies are made with ground almonds and feature a dollop of jam in the centre. Serve them after a satisfying holiday meal or at your next cookie exchange.

This savoury cheesecake can be served as a creative appetizer with a side salad or as an ending to a warm winter meal.

Who says you can’t have dessert for breakfast? The chocolate sauce in this recipe has a hint of black pepper to add sparkle, keeping the sauce from being too sweet.

What’s better than an ice cream sandwich? A huge cookies and cream ice cream cake that’s perfect for your next birthday celebration at home.

Coconut milk gives this souffle a creamy, tropical note. Just a few spoonfuls and it’s almost like you’re on an island vacation.

“Pizze” means flat in Italian, and these flat, crisp waffle cookies make for great ice cream sandwiches. Alternatively, you can dip these treats in hot chocolate or coffee to satisfy your sweet tooth mid-day.

Ready for a pretty retro-themed cake design? You’ll fall in love with this easy and colourful hatbox cake which uses rich Swiss buttercream frosting as the gorgeous ribbon.

Divine little bites that are filled with light, whipped chocolate and dusted in deep cocoa powder. It’s just the sinful chocolate dessert you need to satisfy your cocoa cravings.

Not only are these tiny French cakes full of nutty flavour, each petit four is treated to an irresistible chocolate ganache glaze.

These chocolate-y cookies are rolled in icing sugar, creating a snow-dusted effect. Here are more chocolate recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth.

These individual flourless desserts are similar to a molten centre cake, but better. Tender gingerbread cookie encases a rich chocolate filling that, when baked and served warm, surprises each guest when they break through the crisp, cookie exterior.

Regardless of the season, sorbet is always a refreshing dessert. The tart and sweet green apple flavour makes the perfect after-dinner treat.

Every home baker needs a go-to loaf in their repertoire, and this one has staying power. The quintessential teatime treat will perfume your home as it bakes, which is almost as delicious as its fruity citrus flavour.