Common Element in Desserts: Ingredients and Preparation Quiz

Study Notes

Dessert Ingredients

Cream can be combined with rice, sugar, and milk to make rice pudding.
Nuts are available in different forms (whole, ground, roasted, or caramelized) and provide flavor to creams and ice creams.
Chocolate can be melted and blended into fillings and batters, or poured over desserts and molded into decorations when cooled.

Sauces

Sauces are flavored liquid blends that add flavor and enhance the appearance of desserts.
Fudge is a soft confection made of butter, sugar, and chocolate.
There are various types of sauces, including:
- Rich sauce, suited for simple desserts
- Light sauce, suited for rich desserts
- Hot fudge, a delightful contrast to cold cornstarch pudding or vanilla ice cream
- Hot sauces, made just before use
- Cold sauces, cooked ahead of time and refrigerated to chill

Thickening Agents

Thickening agents improve the quality of sauces, including:
- Starch
- Cream
- Eggs
- Rice flour
- Cornstarch

Dessert Sauce Categories

Custard sauces, with flavor variations like vanilla, chocolate, or others
Fruit purees, made with fresh or cooked fruits, sweetened with sugar, and sometimes with added flavorings and spices
Syrups, including chocolate sauce and caramel sauce

Common Ingredients

Sugar is a common element in desserts, used for various purposes like sprinkling over fruit, beating into egg yolks or whites, or making sugar syrup
Gelatine is used to set cold moulded desserts, jellies, and creams and mousses
Egg yolks can be mixed with flavorings, sugar, and cream or milk to make custard or whisked over hot water to create a sabayon
Egg whites can be beaten to create air bubbles, supporting soufflés and mousses or meringues
Fruit is used as a basis for many desserts, with various preparation methods like pureeing, baking, or poaching
Cream is often used as a decoration or accompaniment for desserts, and can also be used as a recipe ingredient

Description

Test your knowledge of the common ingredients and methods used in preparing sweet treats. From sugar to gelatine, learn about the essential components of hot and cold desserts. How well do you know your dessert basics?