Discover the Joy of Seasoning Desserts with Spices, Herbs and More for Extra Flavor

The Joy of Dessert Seasonings

After finishing a savory dinner, there's nothing quite like a sweet treat to end the meal on a delicious note. While desserts can feel indulgent, a dusting of spices and herbs can take your homemade baked goods and custards to the next level. Read on to explore the wonderful world of dessert seasonings!

Enhancing Flavor with Cinnamon

One of the most popular dessert seasonings is cinnamon. This warm, aromatic spice has a slightly sweet and spicy flavor that brings warmth to any dessert. A dash of cinnamon can enhance the natural sweetness of cakes, cookies, pies and more without overpowering other ingredients. For best results, use real cinnamon sticks or ground cinnamon, not cassia. Cassia has a harsher flavor while true cinnamon offers a more nuanced sweetness.

Cinnamon shines in baked desserts like snickerdoodle cookies, coffee cakes and churro-style pastries. Dust cinnamon sugar on fried doughnuts or churros for an extra punch of flavor. Cinnamon also complements fruit-based desserts like apple pie, pear tarts and baked apples. A sprinkle of cinnamon enhances chocolate treats too, from hot cocoa to chocolate cakes and truffles.

Zesty Ginger and Nutmeg

Along with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg are popular dessert seasonings. These spices add warmth, complexity and zest to both fall and winter treats. Ginger's refreshing heat and bite works well in gingerbread cookies, pumpkin pie and carrot cake. Nutmeg has an almost citrusy, nutty sweetness that enhances custards, puddings and eggnog.

Use fresh grated ginger for the best flavor in baked goods. For nutmeg, grate whole nutmeg seeds instead of pre-ground nutmeg which loses potency over time. A touch of ginger or nutmeg enhances chocolate desserts too. Add some to brownies, chocolate pudding or Mexican-style hot chocolate for extra flavor depth.

Uplifting Citrus Zest

Citrus zests add bright, tangy flavor to desserts and pastries. Lemon, orange and lime zest enhance fruity desserts like lemon bars, citrus cakes and key lime pie. Add zest to berry tarts, trifles or panna cotta for a burst of fresh flavor. Citrus oils in the outermost peel layer provide the most concentrated taste.

Use a zester, microplane or paring knife to remove just the colored outer peel layer. Avoid the bitter white pith underneath. Add citrus zests to cookie doughs, sprinkle over finished desserts or use to infuse custards and puddings. Mix citrus sugar by combining granulated sugar with finely minced zest, then use to sweeten and add flavor at once.

Warming Allspice and Cloves

Allspice and cloves add warmth and richness perfect for holiday baked goods. Allspice tastes like a blend of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and peppercorn with lightly spicy, sweet notes. It enhances gingerbread, spice cookies, fruit pies and other fall and winter desserts.

Cloves have a strong, punchy sweet flavor that complements baked apples, pear desserts, pumpkin pie and chocolate treats flavored with orange. Use cloves sparingly as they can overpower more delicate ingredients. For best results, buy whole allspice berries and cloves to grind fresh before baking.

Uplifting Rose Water and Orange Flower Water

For a light, floral dessert seasoning, try rose water or orange flower water. Distilled from rose petals or orange blossoms, these liquid flavorings provide delicate sweet, perfume-like flavors. Add rose water to yogurt, ice cream, panna cotta or fruit desserts like berry tarts for an exotic twist.

Orange flower water enhances citrus or almond flavored desserts like lemon cake or almond cookies. Use sparingly as both rose water and orange flower water are intensely flavored. Look for food-grade varieties available at specialty markets. Add drops at a time until the desired taste is reached without overpowering other ingredients.

Versatile Vanilla Bean

No discussion of dessert seasoning is complete without vanilla. Vanilla bean infuses custards, puddings, ice cream and cream-based desserts with its distinctive, warming flavor. Vanilla also enhances chocolate, coffee, caramel, cinnamon and many fruit desserts.

For best flavor, use whole vanilla beans, split lengthwise and scraped to remove the tiny seeds inside. Vanilla beans impart a more complex, nuanced flavor compared to extract alone. Let pods infuse milk, cream or sugar to transfer flavor before baking or making other desserts. A little vanilla bean goes a long way, so use sparingly and taste as you go.

Creative Dessert Seasoning Combinations

Many dessert seasonings complement each other beautifully. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice create complex spiced desserts. Citrus zest brightens cinnamon, chocolate and vanilla. Vanilla bean enhances cinnamon, chocolate, coffee and fruit flavors. Part of the fun is experimenting with seasoning blends to create your own signature desserts.

Keep your pantry stocked with cinnamon sticks, whole nutmeg and allspice berries, vanilla beans, fresh ginger and a variety of citrus fruits. With these fundamentals, you can whip up both classic and creative seasoned desserts after any meal.

What dessert seasoning combinations are your favorites? Get inspired to add new dimensions of flavor to your baked goods, custards, puddings and other sweet treats.

FAQs

What are some of the most popular dessert seasonings?

Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, citrus zests, vanilla, allspice and cloves are some of the most popular dessert seasonings used to add flavor to baked goods, custards, puddings and more.

What types of desserts work well with cinnamon?

Cinnamon excellently enhances the flavor of cookies, cakes, pies, churros, baked apples, pear tarts and chocolate desserts.

How should you add vanilla to desserts?

For best results, use whole vanilla beans, split them lengthwise, scrape out the seeds and let the pods infuse liquids like milk or cream before using. This imparts a deeper, more complex flavor than extract alone.

What desserts pair well with citrus zests?

Lemon, orange and lime zest brighten up fruit desserts, custards, puddings, cakes, tarts, trifles, cookies and more. Any dessert with citrus or berries benefits from fresh zest.

Can you combine multiple dessert seasonings?

Absolutely! Many seasonings like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and citrus complement each other beautifully. Part of the fun is experimenting with blends to create signature flavors.