If you have 1 day...
So you're organised, but not that organised. But hey, 1 day is better than no day! These desserts can be made the day before, so you can be super relaxed come time to serve up!
Ricotta - the magic cheese that doesn't take months to mature. This recipe uses passionfruit to curdle the milk, adding an extra layer of sweetness to this fresh cheese. Make this the day before, and top simply with toasted macadamia nuts to serve.
Passion fruit ricotta with honey and macadamia Source: Benito Martin
Cheat's tip: use store-bought shortcrust pastry to save yourself some time: shhh, we won't tell!
Chocolate frangipane and cherry tart Source: China Squirrel
This Italian classic gets a New York upgrade. The shells can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container, ready for you to fill just before serving. Or, you know, ready for that comforting midnight snack.
Peanut butter and jelly cannoli Source: Alicia Taylor
If you have 1 week...
Good on you for thinking ahead! You don't have to take the whole week to make these recipes, but you can make components ahead of time, and really bust out the fireworks come showtime!
An easy frozen dessert for summer that needs no ice cream machine or churning, because who has space for another appliance, amirite? Just remember to leave the ice cream out to soften to scooping texture before serving, or you know, eat it out of the tub. No judgement here!
Frozen lychee and coconut cream with sesame praline Source: Benito Martin
Because adults need an excuse to eat jelly, too. Rose adds a delicate aroma to these super easy desserts, and it takes just 30 minutes to make. Keep these in the fridge for up to a week, and top with pistachio just before serving!
Lychee and rose petal jelly with pistachio Source: Benito Martin
If you have 1 month...
We are impressed! We only wish we had your kind of planning skills. Side-step the busy season completely by making these ahead of time, and putting your freezer to good use. Future you will thank you, later.
Bring your ice cream sandwich up to the next level by sandwiching homemade passionfruit ice cream (!) between crisp homemade meringue (!!). The unfilled meringues will keep in an airtight container for a week, and the filled sandwiches will keep for another week.
Passionfruit pavlova ice-cream sandwiches Source: Benito Martin
Trust us, chickpea and chocolate actually go well together. Or don't trust us, and find out for yourself! Make these Italian dumplings ahead and freeze for a ready-made dessert!
Chickpea and chocolate pastries (tortellini de ceci) Source: China Squirrel
These spherical sweets are only made with six ingredients, with chickpea flour (besan) being the one to hold it all together. When rolling them, use a little ghee on your hands and don't worry they will not fall apart once shaped into balls. They'll keep for up to two weeks at room temperature, so go forth and roll.
Chickpea flour sweets (besan ladoo). Source: Tanvi Srivastava.
