Dessert Archives - Rhubarb and Cod

Peach Melba Float

August 7, 2026 No Comments

Where have all the floats gone? And no, I’m not talking about flamboyant parade fodder. I’m talking about the ice cream float. When I was a kid in the 90s, I feel like I encountered them far more often. Every diner, dessert counter, or kid-friendly restaurant listed them as an option. But somewhere between the oughts and the 2010s, we lost them. Maybe the thought of ice cream floating in soda was more sugar than the modern stomach could, well, stomach. Or maybe people simply lost interest; the ice cream float has been around since the 1870s, after all. But despite that, here I am with my Peach Melba Float trying to make ice cream floats cool again. And this is going to be a trick considering I don’t have a cool bone in my body. It’s all on you, float!

Custards & Puddings, Dessert

Strawberries and Cream Panna Cotta

July 2, 2026 No Comments

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I’m a day late for Canada Day but at least my dessert is appropriately dressed. This Strawberries and Cream Panna Cotta features a luxurious panna cotta with layers of suspended fresh strawberry jelly. I made my panna cottas mini because I find them easier to serve this way. But you could easily use a larger (roughly 3 cups) mould and slice and serve like a cake. The cross-section would be quite the reveal when served this way. But with individual panna cottas, breaking into one would be its own personal mini surprise. I guess it all depends on how much of a showboat you intend to be. No judgment, I like to showboat as much as the next ham.

Cakes, Chocolate, Dessert

Dark Chocolate Prune Cake with Passion Fruit Curd

May 4, 2026 No Comments

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A little over a week ago, I hit publish on a four-course dinner party menu inspired by the history of the Parisian bistro. If you’re curious to read more about it, you can check out the side dish here and find the full menu over on my Substack. That menu concluded with a rich Chocolate Mousse served with unsweetened whipped cream and Armagnac-soaked prunes. And those unassuming prunes are the reason we’re all here, because without them, today’s Dark Chocolate Prune Cake with Passion Fruit Curd would not exist.

Cookies & Squares, Dessert

Preserved Lemon Poppyseed Shortbread Cookies

December 8, 2025 No Comments

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It is well-documented that I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. I write about it often, like it’s interesting. It’s not. lol! I only mention it because today’s Preserved Lemon Poppyseed Shortbread Cookies are for people like me. People who can’t stomach sweet without a good dose of salty. This holiday treat features buttery shortbread flecked with diced preserved lemon and poppyseeds, topped with a tangy lemon glaze and sprinkled with sumac salt and sanding sugar. Bright, salty, tangy, and sweet, these cookies have something for everybody, regardless of your sweet tooth status.