10,000 bitter recipes

Pate sucree is the classic French sweet shortcrust pastry for tarts, with butter, sugar, egg, and flour. A buttery, slightly crisp shell that holds custards, fruit, and chocolate beautifully.

Microwave cucumber-onion bake with layered sliced cucumbers, onion rings, ketchup, and butter. A retro vegetable side dish ready in 30 minutes with just 6 simple ingredients.

Pennsylvania Dutch lima beans and potatoes boiled together then finished with butter and milk. A simple, thrifty Lancaster County side dish with just five ingredients.

Classic French choux pastry with just water, butter, flour, and eggs. The foundation for cream puffs, eclairs, profiteroles, gougeres, and savory gnocchi. Master this one dough, make dozens of desserts.

Classic potato gnocchi made from riced potatoes, flour, butter, and a hint of nutmeg. Light, pillowy dumplings shaped with a fork and boiled until they float.

Three-ingredient graham cracker cheesecake crust with butter and sugar, pressed into a springform pan and baked in just 10 minutes. The go-to base for any cheesecake recipe.

Dill sandwich butter: a three-ingredient compound butter with softened unsalted butter, finely chopped fresh dill, and a pinch of salt. Spreads onto tea sandwiches, smoked salmon toast, or warm bread.

Gourmandise cheese topped with butter-toasted pine nuts for a rich, three-ingredient appetizer that comes together in under 15 minutes.

Christmas oyster soup with butter-simmered carrots and celery in hot milk, finished with gently warmed oysters. A traditional holiday first course meant to be served immediately.

Whole baked trout in white wine with marjoram, parsley, thyme, and butter. A simple oven-poached fish with delicate herbs in the cavity and a wine-butter pan sauce.

Glossy chocolate icing made with butter, sugar, evaporated milk, and chocolate morsels. Boils in one minute, sets up firm on warm brownies. Just 4 ingredients.

Melt-in-your-mouth butter cookies made with cornstarch and cake flour for an ultra-tender crumb. Just 4 ingredients, baked low and slow. Makes 100 bite-sized cookies.

Smørkranser are traditional Norwegian butter wreath cookies made with just four ingredients: butter, sugar, egg yolk and flour. Shaped into tiny wreaths, brushed with egg white and topped with colored sugar.

Sugared pecans in a buttery brown sugar glaze made on the stovetop in 5 minutes with just 3 ingredients. A quick snack, salad topper, or holiday gift idea.

Pecan shortbread cookies with buttery, melt-in-your-mouth crumb and a simple powdered sugar glaze drizzle. Five ingredients, no eggs, with toasted pecans throughout each tender bite.

Traditional Scotch shortbread with just butter, sugar, flour, and salt. Baked low and slow until pale and sandy with a pure butter crumble in every bite.