Celebratory Desserts

Ring in the New Year with a decadent dessert.

* Rosebud Cakes: How about a “champagne bucket” cake? The cake is the bucket, the “champagne bottle” white chocolate. A “new wave” cake is decorated with multicolored pieces of chocolate, plus a 2001 greeting, if you want. (Cakes range in price; call for details.) Rosebud Cakes, 311 S. Robertson Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 657-6207.

* Caprice: Try a hazelnut napoleon, a vanilla and ginger panna cotta, a pear tart with almond cream or a chocolate raspberry ganache--layers of cake and raspberry marmalade covered with whipped chocolate ganache. (Hazelnut napoleon, $4; panna cotta, $3.25; warm pear and almond tart, $22 to $26; chocolate and raspberry ganache, $30 to $40.) Caprice, 3213 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 453-1932.

* Sweet Lady Jane: Confetti cake has a colorful explosion of edible streamers and confetti dots; another cake is adorned with edible “champagne glasses.” (Confetti cake, $29 to $40; customized cakes add an extra $15 to $20.) Sweet Lady Jane, 8360 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, (323) 653-7145.

* Emil’s Swiss Pastry: Croquembouche is a tower of cream puffs filled with custard (vanilla, chocolate or mocha), all in a web of spun caramel. (Croquembouche, sizes from $50 to $250.) Emil’s Swiss Pastry, 1567 Barry Ave., West Los Angeles, (310) 820-2666.

* Julienne: Choose a chocolate toffee crunch cake, a silky chocolate pot de creme torte, a caramel pumpkin pudding or an orange cheesecake decorated with candied cranberries. All serve 12. (Chocolate toffee crunch cake, $35; chocolate pot de creme torte, $40; caramel pumpkin pudding, $35; cranberry-orange cheese cake, $35.) Julienne, 2649 Mission St., San Marino, (626) 441-2299.

* Zov’s: Try the milk chocolate creme bru^lee bombe: shortbread topped with chocolate mousse and creme bru^lee, covered with chocolate ganache. A cheesecake “box” is layers of lemon cake, lemon creme and vanilla cheesecake, garnished with berries. The praline toffee crunch cake is butter crunch cake, praline mousse and chocolate ganache sprinkled with crushed praline. (Milk chocolate bru^lee bombe, $6.95; lemon cheesecake box, $5; praline toffee crunch cake, $6.95.) Zov’s Bistro & Bakery Cafe, Enderle Center., 17440 E. 17th St., Tustin, (714) 838-8855.