Dessert ideas

I'm the self proclaimed foodie of the family. I enjoy cooking and eating. The best part of cooking, though, is when someone takes a bite, stops, looks at the food like, "WHERE HAS THIS BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!" then continues eating. I've had it happen a few times, absolutely love it.

Instead of doing birthday gifts, I do birthday meal. I make what the birthday person asks for. If the birthday person asks for boiled liver and lightly sautéed Brussels sprouts, I try to make them in the top 5 best plates, even if no one else likes it. (I make alternatives if it's controversial) this includes birthday desserts.

Birthday season is coming up (most of my family's birthdays are July to December) there are a few adult family members that say "surprise me" or give a vague request (i.e. "something chocolate, but not just chocolate" my answer was a Black Forest cake, including chocolate bark- absolutely loved)

I'm looking to expand the ideas for cakes/desserts. What's a good resource I could browse, besides browsing here (which I've started)? I live in small town Midwest. I recently discovered a Kentucky Jam Cake. Yet I'd never heard if it before then, despite being an hour from the border.

Like I said, this is in anticipation of the few "surprise me" or vague requests.