9 decadent desserts to sweeten the holidays this season

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, especially for dessert lovers. Here are some of the most decadent sweet treats to indulge in this season

Christmas is the time of year when weight-loss diets are let go in favour of guilt-free festive sweet treats, whether it is a chocolate log, Christmas pudding or panettone. Feast your eyes on some of the perfect sweet endings that chefs are serving up on their Christmas menus this year.

Amber

Completing the Christmas menu this year at two-Michelin starred Amber at the Landmark Mandarin in Central is a  yuzu Akitakomachi rice, sake leese, sake Junmai Ginjo egg white. The Akitakomachi is cooked as a dairy-free rice pudding, combined with yuzu mousse, sake lees ice cream, yuzu, sake marmalade and puffed Akitakomachi rice topped with meringue.  

Aqua 

Hong Kong’s iconic Aqua restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui celebrates its first Christmas at its new home on the 17^th floor of HZentre.  The menu of Italian and Japanese fare has not changed, and this Christmas, the menu is available from December 6^th to 30^th excluding 24^th and 25^th. The festive dessert is a mouth-watering Christmas bauble served with preserved fruit parfait and hazelnut custard. An edible chocolate paintbrush accompanies it in honour of Aqua’s latest décor and stunning interiors at HZentre. 

Dim Sum Library

Take a break from shopping and stop by Dim Sum Library in Pacific Place and Elements Mall from December 13^th to 31^st for a special festive dessert. Finish off your dim sum lunch with a glorious Christmas tree chocolate bao. It is filled with decadent dark chocolate and decorated with snowy spiral garlands, strawberry jam festive lights and topped with a golden star.

Also see: #legendeats: 5 indulgent weekend champagne brunches in Hong Kong

Harbourside Grill

Located in Ocean Terminal, Harbourside Grill offers cuisine with a French influence. Diners can choose alfresco dining, as the restaurant is on the Victoria Harbour waterfront, to take in the views. This Christmas, there is a five-course dinner on the 24th and 25th December, which ends in a delightful signature apple tarte tatin with salted caramel sauce and crème fraiche. 

Hue Dining

For something completely extravagant, Hue Dining finishes its Christmas set menu with Forbidden Fruit – a red chocolate mirror glazed ‘apple’ with coffee gelato, apple mousse and limoncello cream filling, severed on top of a shortbread biscuit. Hue Dining is located on Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in the Hong Kong Museum of Art.

Hotel Icon

The Market at Hotel Icon in Tsim Sha Tsui East offers a sumptuous festive buffet from December 24^th to 27^th.  The festive feast includes a host of traditional desserts, such as chocolate Yule logs, mince pies, Christmas pudding, apple crumble, and cinnamon crème brûlée.

Murray Lane

Murray Lane, the lobby bar at The Murray Hong Kong, continues with its new tapas weekend brunch over Christmas, offering the best Spanish tapas by executive chef Edgard Sanuy from Barcelona. The brunch features the perfect dessert of delicious crispy churros coated with cinnamon sugar. 

Spiga

Located in the heart of Central, Italian eatery Spiga by chef Enrico Bartolini offers a five-course Christmas tasting menu on Christmas Eve and Day. The stunning dessert to finish is a yoghurt chocolate mousse with roasted banana, yuzu caramel cream and hazelnut sponge.

Zuma

This holiday season, Zuma at the Landmark Atrium is offering a Festive Daikoku Tasting Menu featuring an array of la carte and signature dishes to share, along with some festive cocktails. The grand finale from executive pastry chef Eddy Lee is the delicious Kyoto carrot cake with caramelized figs and rum ice cream. 

Also see: 7 festive menus to savour in Hong Kong this holiday season