The Best Cheese Desserts on the Web The Cheesemonger

In the spirit of this month's Escapes theme, the cheesemonger in me got to thinking: How do I escape with cheese? Just how and when does cheese have the ability to transport me to a different place? There are lots of ways, indeed, to answer the question. Bloomy rinded cheeses? Perhaps triple cremes, specifically? Or fondue? Nope, I've got to go with cheese desserts. And here's a roundup of some of the best on the web.

Desserts with cheese are so soul-satisfying because they so often have both creamy and tart components. And since salt is a major component of any cheese, making most cheeses more savory than sweet, it's a nice contrast to make them a major focus in a dessert. Maybe it's for this reason that cheese desserts are so satiating: it's that perpetually-satisfying combination of salty and sweet.

The Best Cheese Desserts We Could Find

From the Kitchn:
• One Bowl Mascarpone Brownies
• Cheese for Dessert (the absolute escape, if you ask me)

• Goat Cheese Cheesecake from Clinton Hill Foodie
• Honey Ricotta Cheesecake from Giada de Laurentiis
• The Nibble's roundup of ice creams made with cheese, including Ferran Adrià’s Parmesan Ice Cream Sandwich recipe, Charlie Trotter’s Goat Cheese Ice Cream with Figs, and a recipe for Buttermilk Blue Cheese Ice Cream
• Deep-Dish Apple Pie with Cheddar Crust at Epicurious
• Lemon Mascarpone Charlottes from Tartelette
• Goat Cheese Custards with Strawberries with Red Wine Syrup from David Lebovitz
• Crescent Cheese Cookies (made with Pot Cheese) from Gourmet
• Pear and Goat Cheese Tart from Leite's Culinaria
• Baked Pecorino Cheese with Honey and Walnuts from Veranda

What are your favorite desserts that involve cheese? Got anything that can top this list entirely? I want to know!

(Images, clockwise from left: Carolyne Roehm for Veranda; Romulo Yanes for Gourmet; The Nibble; Andy Ryan)

My all-time favorite cheese desert, aside from a killer slice of cheese cake, are chocolate cream cheese truffles. They're incredibly easy to me -- I started making them as a child -- they're super chocolaty & they have just a bit of tang from the cheese. Here are two takes on the basic recipe (one with bacon!!)

http://www.clovesandcream.com/2008/12/s-quishing-cream-cheese-and-coco-powder.html

http://www.clovesandcream.com/2009/06/bacon-truffles.html

posted by cloves and cream on July 22nd 2009 at 2:49pm
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I always get rave reviews when I make grilled gorgonzola and pear sandwiches on cinnamon bread, even from people who claim not to like blue cheese.

posted by Mlle. Cara on July 22nd 2009 at 4:40pm
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Mmm... I like these cupcakes that I made recently:

http://dicedtomato.blogspot.com/2009/07/peach-cupcakes-with-sage-infused.html

posted by yse on July 22nd 2009 at 5:17pm
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good blue cheese, manchego, roasted walnuts, and quince jam. mmmm.

posted by lotusmoss on July 22nd 2009 at 10:01pm
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No baked brie!

My first really fabulous meal as an adult was brie barely warm in phyllo dough and drizzled with berries macerated in ice wine!

oh so, so good

posted by cashba on July 22nd 2009 at 11:09pm
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