Overview — Course No. 40250

Spend less time worrying about dessert preparation and more time enjoying your guests! James Beard Award-winning pastry chef Gale Gand shares make-ahead strategies for creating stunning desserts. From rich Irish coffee cakes to chocolate truffles, learn techniques to balance your busy schedule while impressing with your culinary skills.

Video Lessons

01: Impressive Layer Cakes

Chef Gale Gand starts with two stunning layer cakes: a rich Irish coffee cake with chocolate curls and a decadent toasted coconut cake with crystallized petals.

Duration: 45 min

02: Lemon Meringue Cake

Gale puts a unique spin on lemon meringue pie by transforming it into a cake. Learn two decorating techniques with meringue and achieve a dramatic finish.

Duration: 31 min

03: Blueberry-Strawberry Frangipane Tart

Elevate your pastry skills with a blueberry-strawberry frangipane tart. Discover how to use pâte brisée dough and add a luxurious gold leaf finish.

Duration: 25 min

04: Orange-Infused Chocolate Truffles

Craft Gale’s orange-infused chocolate truffles with crème fraîche for enhanced flavor. Learn coating techniques and various finishing touches.

Duration: 27 min

05: Cuccidati Cookies

Become the star of your next cookie exchange with traditional Sicilian fig-stuffed Cuccidati cookies. Gale reveals the secrets to perfecting these Italian delights.

Duration: 24 min

06: Bourbon Mousse in a Rolled Chocolate Shell

Conclude with one of Gale’s favorites: bourbon-chocolate mousse in a rolled chocolate shell. Combine airy mousse with different chocolates for a harmonious dessert.

Duration: 24 min