Frozen Dessert

Spectacular but easy, thanks to purchased ice cream and sorbet. The meringue is browned in the broiler, like a baked Alaska, just before serving.

The addition of fresh fruit gives these irresistible sundaes seasonal appeal. The rich creamy sauce is a do-ahead.

You can find canned litchis in the Asian section of most supermarkets.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

This simple, delicious recipe mixes hot and cold, sweet and tart. It's from a high-school cooking class of thirty years ago. If there is a problem with eggs in your region, do not prepare this dessert.

This dessert is a trompe l'oeil, resembling the peel, rind, and flesh of a cantaloupe.

Perfect for an elegant dinner party, this sophisticated dessert is a snap to make.

Executive chef Bridget Batson of Hawthorne Lane serves this dessert with homemade caramel sauce (you can use purchased if you like). If you're running short of time, omit the homemade ice cream and mix chopped peanut brittle into your favorite vanilla ice cream.

This recipe calls for green-and-white or clear peppermints as well as red-and-white ones. If you can't find the green-and-white or clear mints, use additional red-and-white candies.

Coffee Semifreddo "Drowned" in Coffee We have served this dessert at Pó for six years and it is consistently my favorite—a kind of adult milkshake. Be careful to use decaf for the bathing liquid, or your guests may be up yakking all night.

The caramel sauce adds a grown-up edge to these summer treats.

From L'Etoile, Madison, Wisconsin.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Hazelnut liqueur adds zip to the sauce in this easy dessert.