The Perfect Desserts to Serve After a Hearty Beef Stew

As soon as the weather turns chilly, all I want to eat is comforting, hearty meals. And nothing satisfies more than a bowl of rich, flavorful beef stew. Chock full of tender meat, potatoes, carrots and more, beef stew really fills you up. But after a bowl or two, I always have room for something sweet. And let’s be honest – a great dessert is the cherry on top of any cozy dinner!

So what dessert should you serve after beef stew? Here are my top picks for delicious treats that perfectly complement the savory bowl of goodness:

Warm, Gooey Cookies

You can’t go wrong with a freshly baked cookie warm from the oven. The contrast of a hot, melty cookie with a spoonful of ice cold vanilla ice cream is simply sublime after a hearty beef stew dinner.

My favorite cookies to bake are:

• Chocolate chip – The classic! Melty morsels of chocolate bliss.

• Oatmeal raisin – Chewy oats with sweet raisins bake up nicely.

• Peanut butter – Who doesn’t love PB cookies? Bake them a little extra for a gooey center.

• Double chocolate – For the chocolate lover – fudgy and decadent.

Bake up a batch of cookies before dinner so they are still warm when you are ready for dessert The aromas baking in the oven will make your stew dinner even more inviting!

Old-Fashioned Fruit Crisps

For a simple, wholesome dessert, you can’t beat a classic fruit crisp. They’re easy to throw together and bake up nice and bubbly. The sweet, tender fruit topping contrasts nicely with the crunchy oat streusel.

Some tasty crisp combinations include:

• Apple – Tart apples baked under a brown sugar streusel,

• Berry – Mix berries like raspberries, blueberries, blackberries.

• Peach – Summer peach season is perfect for crisps.

• Pear – For an elegant, autumnal dessert.

You can use fresh or frozen fruit – either way it will be scrumptious. Topped with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, fruit crisps are the perfect not-too-heavy dessert after stew.

Old-Fashioned Puddings

For ultimate comfort food, you can’t beat pudding! The creamy, smooth treat is light but satisfying. And pudding comes together quickly while the stew cooks.

Give classic puddings a try:

• Chocolate – Rich, sweet chocolate pudding is a crowd favorite.

• Vanilla – Simple vanilla pudding with its creamy flavor always delivers.

• Butterscotch – For something a little different with its brown sugar and butter notes.

• Rice – Cozy, comforting rice pudding with cinnamon and raisins.

Let guests spoon their pudding into pretty glasses or dishes. Top with freshly whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon if desired. Old-fashioned pudding is the essence of childhood delight.

Seasonal Pies

As we move into fall and winter, nothing beats a homemade pie for dessert. The flakey, buttery crust and fruity or creamy filling caps off stew splendidly.

Some fabulously seasonal pie options include:

• Apple – Classic apple pie with cinnamon and brown sugar.

• Pumpkin – Spiced pumpkin pie when fall hits its peak.

• Pecan – For a Southern twist with sticky pecan filling.

• Chocolate cream – Rich chocolate pudding in a chocolate cookie crust.

• Coconut cream – Dreamy coconut custard in a cloud of meringue.

Let guests indulge in slices of your homemade pie creations. The stew’s perfect counterpart.

Cobblers and Crisps

Similiar to fruit crisps, cobblers take things up a notch with a sweet biscuit topping over tender baked fruit. Crisps and cobblers both pair wonderfully with stew.

Some easy cobblers to try:

• Peach cobbler – Sweet peaches nestled under a golden biscuit crust.

• Berry cobbler – Mix berries under a light cake-like topping.

• Apple brown betty – Spiced apples topped with buttered bread crumbs.

• Blackberry cobbler – Plump sweet blackberries under a biscuit topping.

The biscuit or crumble topping soaks up the fruit juices as they bake, giving you a sweet fruited dessert full of texture. Top with ice cream for total decadence!

Easy Single-Serve Desserts

For effortless options, you can’t beat single-serve desserts. Let each guest create their own tasty treat to satisfy that sweet tooth after stew.

Fun DIY desserts include:

• Purchased brownie mix + ice cream

• Store-bought blondies, topped with chocolate chips and walnuts

• Angel food cake + berries + whipped cream

• Pound cake slices + fresh peach slices + whipped cream

• Rice crispy treats + toppings like chocolate chips, peanut butter, etc.

With pre-made and store-bought items, you can quickly assemble yummy individual desserts in no time.

Take-Home Treats

Send your guests home with something sweet for later! Bonus – easy transport and no dishes to wash.

Hand out these grab n’ go goodies:

• Cookies, cookies, cookies! Bake up some plain or themed cookies, wrap individually.

• Muffins – Bake mini muffins like blueberry, banana walnut, lemon poppyseed.

• Brownies or blondies – Cut into small squares to share.

• Rice crispy treats – Kids love these too!

• Pie slices – Send with slices of apple, pumpkin, or other pie.

With any of these delectable desserts, your beef stew dinner will end on the perfect sweet note!