Is there any pudding that can’t be improved with cream? Is there any desert that cream can’t improve? Here are four inspired ideas to try this weekend.

Pavlova

Because, without freshly whipped fresh cream, it would just be a big meringue topped with fruit, wouldn’t it?

Photo by Donna Lewis.

To make your own, heat your oven to 120°C, then line a baking tray with grease-proof paper. Whip 8 large egg whites in a big bowl with an electric beater on low speed until foamy. Increase the speed and, when stiff peaks form, beat in 440 g caster sugar little by little until the mixture is stiff and glossy. Spread the mixture on the baking tray and bake in the centre of the oven for 1 hour. Turn off the oven, but leave the meringue inside to dry out for a few more hours. When cool, top liberally with whipped fresh cream and fruit.

Malva pudding

If you’re going to go ahead and make malva pudding, don’t bother with half measures and not serving it with a healthy glug of fresh cream.

Photo by Donna Lewis.

Don’t have a reliable family recipe? No sweat. Prepare one 270 g box of Woolies’ malva pudding mix according to packet instructions, crumbling in 25 g marzipan for an added almondy treat. Bake until cooked through. While the pud is baking, make the accompanying sauce to pour over when it comes out of the oven. Once the sauce is soaked in, serve with ice cold fresh cream.

Chocolate mousse

You need something to cut through the sweetness, right?

Photo by Greg de Villiers.

For the dreamiest chocolate mousse, beat 1 cup cream until stiff peaks form, then chill. Next, combine 4 free-range egg yolks, ¼ cup espresso and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a glass bowl over a pot of simmering water, then whisk continuously for about 3 minutes until the mixture has doubled. Take the egg mixture off the heat, then add 120 g melted Lindt dark chocolate, and stir until combined. Beat 2 free-range egg whites with 1 tablespoon sugar until stiff peaks form, then fold into the chilled cream. Lastly, fold the cream and egg-white mixture into the chocolate mixture, then chill until set. Serve with extra whipped cream, of course.

Creamy corner pot desserts

For the times when you need your cream fix, pronto, Woolies offers a range of decadent ready-made dessert corner pots where the hardest work you have to do is flip the crunchy topping over onto the creamy deliciousness.

Photo by Sadiqah Assur.

Made with fresh cream, the range includes a vanilla pud with mini brites, chocolate delight with choc balls, and cheesecake desserts with either a raspberry and litchi compote or caramel sauce.

Craving a creamy dessert? Stock up on fresh cream and Woolies’ creamy corner pot desserts, stat.