in winter can be a conundrum for some. But it really shouldn't be, considering there's no better time to enjoy the hearty comforts of a baked treat fresh from a hot oven.
From crumbles and cakes that make the most of seasonal fruit to an easy banana loaf pudding, these warm dessert recipes – many of them from cooler climates around Europe – are perfect for an Aussie winter.
Comforting and easy enough for everyday, but impressive enough for a special occasion! With chocolate chips and soft pear pieces layered in the middle of a tender sour cream and pecan cake, topped with a pecan crumble, this is a wonderful combination of textures and flavours. Can be served warm from the oven, or cooled and stored for later.
Pear and choc chip pecan crumble cake. Credit: Everyday Gourmet with Justine Schofield
"This is not a cheesecake. It is a cake, made with cottage cheese. It is on the custardy side of things, so if you ever wished for something between a cheesecake and a cake, this might be the cake for you," says Alison Roman of this one-bowl recipe. With rhubarb in season in winter, it's a delicious way to use it (and although this version has been made with rhubarb, this versatile recipe can be made with any seasonal fruit).
Cottage-cheese cake with rhubarb Credit: Jiwon Kim
Served warm, this will warm any winter's night. This strudel is all about sweet, wintery flavours, with apples, dried figs, walnuts, almonds, raisins, cinnamon, fennel seeds and lemon zest. The olive oil pastry is easy to make and easy to roll out.
Credit: Bonacini's Italy
If cold weather leaves you feeling like you don't have a lot of energy for baking, but you really want to make something, this simple comfort loaf is just what you need. This loaf cake makes use of basic ingredients, very little effort, and just ten minutes of active work to produce a delicious moist, jammy cake.
Quick jam cake. Credit: Hardie Grant Books / Rochelle Eagle
Winter is the perfect time to embrace the joy of apple pie. This recipe, from Mary Berg, offers a classic pie with a perfectly buttery, flaky crust around gently spiced apple.
Credit: Mary Makes It Easy
Much more like a cake than a pie, this traditional Norwegian dessert is comforting, homely and can warm the soul with just one mouthful – especially when served straight from the oven in generous scoops and topped with ice-cream or a large dollop of thick cream. It is also pretty good served like any other cake, cooled and in wedges.
Credit: Alan Benson
This traditional English pudding, with a bread and custard base, a layer of jam and a topping of meringue, is soul-warming and economical. Feel free to replace the mixed berry jam used here with raspberry, plum or strawberry to ensure the sweet but subtle middle layer suits your tastes.
Credit: Alan Benson
This is an easy-to-make, delightfully light and fluffy cake, with an excellent texture from the polenta. It's also a great way to showcase the delicious flavours of lemon or other winter citrus fruits. The cake is given an extra bit of oomph with a boozy citrus sauce (which can be made ahead of time, and is also great poured over pancakes). Wonderful served warm.
Lemon polenta cake Credit: Benito Martin
Austria’s version of the French soufflé, Salzburger Nockerln, is baked to represent Salzburg’s snow-capped mountains. The soufflé mixture, placed in the baking dish in large pieces to form the 'mountains', is baked over vanilla-infused milk, which becomes a lovely light custard.
Credit: Alan Benson
In the time it takes to defrost a frozen pudding, you can whip up this banana caramel delight from Donna Hay. The pudding is baked in a loaf tin, and served with a simple caramel sauce made with cream and brown sugar.
No-fuss banana caramel pudding Credit: Donna Hay: Fast, Fresh, Simple
With its shortbread-like base, tart apple filling and crunchy crumble topping, this recipe from Anneka Manning is a slice that you eat with a fork or spoon, not your fingers. It's more suited to dessert than afternoon tea... although, by all means, feel free to indulge mid-afternoon!
