10,000 bitter recipes

Triple-layer chocolate-glazed cheesecake with a chocolate cookie crust, a dark chocolate layer, a brown sugar pecan layer, and a classic cream cheese layer, all topped with warm chocolate glaze. A show-stopping celebration dessert.

Adobe Pie: a frozen layered ice cream dessert with chocolate wafer crust spiked with Amaretto, vanilla and coffee ice cream stacked, finished with shaved dark chocolate. Make-ahead party pie.

Delicious spread -- so creamy. I used pecans instead of walnuts and it was great. Wonderful with slices of apple or pear. Toss fruit slices with lemon juice to keep them from browning.

Vanilla-limeade ice cream pie: a chocolate wafer crust ringed with cookies, layered with vanilla ice cream and ribbons of tart green limeade, then frozen firm. A no-bake, make-ahead summer dessert.

Braised Belgian endive with framboise (raspberry brandy) in a butter sauce finished with lemon juice. An elegant French vegetable side dish with just five ingredients.

Mandarin orange muffins spiced with allspice and nutmeg, dipped warm in melted butter and cinnamon sugar. Tender and citrusy with bursts of orange in every bite.

The classic coconut-pecan frosting for German chocolate cake, cooked on the stovetop with evaporated milk, egg yolks, butter, and vanilla. Thick, rich, and loaded with coconut and chopped pecans. Makes 4 1/2 cups.

Sweet corn tamales with roasted corn folded into whipped butter-masa dough with poblano peppers and Monterey Jack, steamed in corn husks. Vegetarian comfort wrapped up tight.

Noodles in fairy butter, a sweet historical pasta tossed in a rich sauce of hard-cooked egg yolks, butter, sugar, orange flower water, thyme, and basil.

Strawberry, banana, jam and cream cheese make a creamy, rich and fruity stuffing that's filled into toast. Shallow frying the stuffed toast in butter until golden, brown and oozy. Serve with some freshly made strawberry sauce.

Spaghetti carbonara with bacon, beaten eggs, white wine, butter, and grated Italian cheese. The hot pasta cooks the eggs into a creamy, silky sauce right in the bowl.

Sicilian pizza dough made in the bread machine with active dry yeast, dry milk powder, and a touch of butter. Hands-off thick-crust dough that rises pillowy and bakes with a crisp underside.

Florentine triangle cookies with a buttery shortbread crust, candied cherry and pineapple topping with almonds, and a semi-sweet chocolate drizzle. A stunning holiday cookie.

Buttery walnut cookies made with toasted ground walnuts, piped and baked low and slow until pale golden, then dusted with powdered sugar. Tender, crumbly, and freezer-friendly.

Pumpkin bars built on a spice cake mix shortcut: a press-in crust topped with a pumpkin custard layer, finished with chopped pecans. Thirty-two festive holiday bars from one box of mix.

Golden Delicious apple pie spiked with dark rum, brown sugar, and chopped nuts under a lattice crust. Served warm with a buttery rum sauce for a holiday-worthy showpiece.