by Catalogs.com Info Guru Aurora LaJambre

Dessert puts a sweet finishing touch on any meal, but even chocolate cake can get dull.

Turn things up a notch by pouring on a little booze on the sweets tray. Liquors, wine and beer enhance the richness of creamy caramel or bittersweet dark chocolate, while adding a complexity that turns a traditional dessert into something brand new.

These desserts with alcohol add plenty of spirit to any gathering.

10. Sparkling Cupcakes

Not all desserts with alcohol need to hog the spotlight. Sparkling wine cupcakes offer a pleasant and light, but happy ending to heavier dinners. The effervescence and fruity flavors in the wine add zing to otherwise familiar cupcake flavors. Mix a tablespoon of wine to the frosting and you have the makings of a unique New Year’s Eve toast.

9. Bourbon Balls

Bourbon balls are a quick boozy treat with universal appeal, and you don’t even have to bake them. Use a food processor to crush toasted pecans with Nilla wafers, brown sugar, confection sugar and cocoa powder. Drizzle in some syrup with about 2/3 cup of bourbon for every package of wafers. Once crushed, form the mix into balls and roll in cinnamon and sugar (or nutmeg and ginger). Easier yet, order bourbon balls online – one for yourself and one for a friend!

8. Floating Doughnuts

What’s better than a plate of mini homemade doughnuts elegantly laid out for guests to nibble on? A whole tub (or pretty bowl) of them swimming in the good stuff, i.e. chocolate Baileys, strawberry daiquiri. Nervous about the mess? Arrange them on a cloud of tequila-infused whipped cream, using one tablespoon of tequila for every ¾ cup of chilled heavy whipping cream.

7. Baked Fruit Steeped in Wine

Sometimes it’s the simplest treats that steal the show. Slice some of your favorite fruits into equal, bite-sized pieces – pineapple, cherries and grapefruits work fantastically. Mix sugar and red wine at a ratio of 1:2 and pour on top of your fruit mix in a baking dish. Cook for about an hour or until the liquid is fully absorbed and the fruit is plump. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

6. Bananas on Fire

Also known as Bananas Foster, this firey recipe is among the very best desserts with alcohol, if you like bananas. Fire brings out the rich, warm aromas of rum – but use it with caution. Follow this recipe on Chow.com, and don’t be stingy on the portions.

5. Tiramisu

Having Italian for dinner? Nothing quite hits the spot like the decadence of Tiramisu. Many have their own signature variations, but the tasty components are always the same: ladyfingers, coffee, mascarpone and cocoa – all rather drenched in liqueur. Salute!

4. Rum Cake

So what if that Caribbean vacation isn’t happening tomorrow. You can still dine as if the sand is brushing beneath your feet. Tortuga’s Caribbean rum cakes https://www.tortugarumcakes.com/ are baked with rum and glazed with 5 year old rum stored in oak barrels. Eat like you’re on vacay and enjoy for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

3. Drunken Milk Shakes

The rule for a great milk shake is simple: always use more ice cream than you think you need. Now that you’re a master, kick things up a notch with a little crème de delicious – kahlua, crème de menthe or crème de cacao are all perfect with mint chocolate chip ice cream). You may as well throw in some cookies or wafers, top with some whipped cream and take a bow.

2. Chocolate Beer Cake

Spike a classic dessert and what do you get: chocolate stout cake. This yummy cake recipe from Epicurious calls for two cups of Guinness, but you may want to figure three so you have something to sip on while you patiently await the oven timer. Enjoy a thick slice on a winter’s night and you’ll barely feel the chill.

1. Frozen on a Stick

Possibly the easiest way to turn your favorite drink into a treat du jour is by freezing it on a stick. Margarita-flavored popsicles are mess-free and completely addictive. Sprinkle on a little salt when serving and Voila! For tropical themes, freeze up some pina coladas, daiquiris and mohitos.