Whisky desserts to warm the cockles

Get ready to roll, roll out the barrel.

Whisky pots with treacle butterscotch Source: Alan Benson

Whisky is the smoky, peaty, malty, fruity, cut-through flavour your desserts have been pining for. It pairs well with big flavours like caramel, chocolate, cheese and wasabi (see below!), but it also brings out the sweet subtleness of apples, honey and nuts.

Pour yourself a wee dram and try one of these recipes to warm up your next shindy. Just remember, if you're in Scotland you're ordering whisky, but if it's Ireland you'll be asking after a whiskey.

Whisky sweet

Go ahead and drizzle that whisky sauce to your heart's content. Source: Mary's Kitchen Crush

This sweet 'n' salty cheesecake has a little whisky in the sauce. It smooths over the sickliness of caramel and bites nicely into the pretzel crumb.

Perfect pair

A classic case of 'don't knock it until you try it'! Source: Kitti Gould

Sweet butterscotch sauce is made infinitely better when paired with a loutish whisky and wasabi shot. The maltiness of whisky and grassy heat of wasabi puts a necessary brake on butterscotch's sugary tendencies.

Tart it up

The Scottish highlands are calling and they want their dessert back. Source: Alan Benson

A walnut and whisky tart can't be anything but a full stop on a rich and satisfying evening. It's the kind of dessert you need to leave room for and the kind of dessert you'll want to.

Tiramis-key

Remember to start this one the night before to allow maximum booze-soaking time. Source: Adam Liaw

Ditch the Frangelico and add a slug of whiskey to a classic tiramisu instead. It adds a subtle smokiness that goes down a boozy treat.

Puddina be good

A couple of pieces of puddina and that pick-me-up will be off the floor. Source: Food Safari

This Maltese take on an English bread-and-butter pudding isn't shy about adding a drop of the good stuff. No wonder it makes such a good afternoon pick-me-up.

Just a dash

This wicked dessert teams dark chocolate with bittersweet butterscotch and a dash of whisky. Source: Alan Benson

Whisky trawls chocolate's depths to find an extra fathom of moreishness. Add in some butterscotch flavour and you may never surface again.

Honed honey

It's sweet versus strong and the result is an harmonious tie. Source: Chris Chen

The pure sweetness of this honey cake is fired up by a battalion of whisky and spices. The resulting taste is so complex and full that it wages war on unsuspecting tastebuds.

Clean sweep

On fire. Source: Alan Benson

Spazzacamino translates as chimney sweep in Italian. Featuring finely ground coffee, which looks like ash from the chimney, and a smoky, peaty whisky that smells like the fire, this dish is very aptly named.

Easy parkin

Permission to set your tastebuds on fire. Source: Regula Ysewijn

A sticky ginger cake from the north of England that's traditionally eaten by the bonfire on Guy Fawkes Night. The splash of whisky is sure to keep everyone warm.

Frittering away

Munch on these and throw your cares into the fire. Source: Alan Benson

Crisp, spicy and warming, apple fritters are the kind of dessert you eat by the fire late into the night. Serve them with a tumbler of whisky on the side... actually, that's a good accompaniment to any dessert, any time.