Recipes with sugar

Caramel pecan cheesecake with a graham cracker crust, melted caramel and pecan layer, and a creamy vanilla cream cheese filling. A layered dessert that's simpler than it looks.

Chewy butterscotch bar cookies made with brown sugar, bran, and nuts, rolled in powdered sugar after baking. A simple vintage treat with a nutty, toffee-like flavor.

Crunchy cornmeal biscotti with hazelnuts, lemon zest, and cinnamon, shaped into fingers and baked until golden. A lighter cookie made with egg whites only.

Apricot walnut crescent cookies with a flaky sour cream pastry rolled around apricot preserves and ground walnuts, dusted with powdered sugar. An Eastern European holiday classic.

White chocolate mousse layered over genoise sponge with candied citrus peel, pine nuts, and chocolate curls. A showstopping dessert with bright citrus and creamy white chocolate in every bite.

Old-fashioned Christmas sugar cookies made with a full pound of butter, sour cream, and baking soda. The dough chills overnight for easy rolling and clean cookie cutter shapes.

Cooked coconut pecan icing made with evaporated milk, sugar, and margarine. A thick, buttery frosting with toasted coconut and pecans, poured over hot cake.

Vegan Sicilian lentil pasta sauce simmered with mushrooms, garlic, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Low-fat, high-protein, and hearty enough to replace any meat sauce over pasta or rice.

Nonfat hot fudge sauce with cocoa powder, evaporated skim milk, and a touch of cornstarch. A guilt-free chocolate sauce ready in 10 minutes that's thick, glossy, and serious about chocolate.

Deep-fried chicken in a ginger-brandy batter with a sweet and sour brown sugar-soy glaze, topped with chopped macadamia nuts. Hawaiian-inspired over rice.

Old-fashioned oatmeal chocolate chip cookies made with shortening for extra-chewy texture. A from-scratch drop cookie recipe that makes three dozen.

Asian-inspired sesame dressing with toasted sesame seeds, peanut butter, roasted garlic, dry mustard, and a sweet-tangy vinaigrette base. Ready in 5 minutes.

Upside-down bread pudding with a caramelized sugar crust, dried figs, and chopped almonds baked in a loaf pan. Flip it out for a golden, sticky-topped dessert.

Banana caramel pie with a brown sugar custard cooked on the stovetop, sliced ripe bananas, and a whipped cream or meringue topping. A retro butterscotch-banana pie that beats anything from a box.

English Derby cheesecake folds whipped egg whites into a cream cheese, sour cream, and lemon batter for a tall, cloud-light texture. A classic British baked cheesecake with a slow oven cool that prevents cracks.

Baked bananas in a buttery caramel syrup scattered with raisins and pecans. A simple, old-fashioned dessert ready in 45 minutes, served warm with whipped cream.

Raspberry cheesecake cookie pizza with a giant butter cookie crust, cream cheese filling, swirled raspberry preserves, and toasted almonds. A dessert pizza that slices into wedges like a pie.

Festive ham slices baked low and slow with brown sugar, whole cloves, and canned plums in their own juice. A sweet, fruity glazed ham with just 4 ingredients and minimal effort.

Always Popular lemon meringue pie tempers the egg yolks before cooking, then finishes with boiling water for a fast, fail-proof curd. Topped with classic French meringue in a baked pastry shell.

Christmas surprise cookies: brown sugar drop cookies with a hidden jam center and a dusting of sweet coconut on top. A vintage holiday thumbprint for the cookie tin.

Silky coconut custard filling topped with billowy meringue in this retro diner-style pie. The secret is scalded milk for ultra-smooth texture that sets perfectly after chilling.

Old-fashioned pickled peaches: small ripe peaches studded with cloves and put up in a sweet, spiced cider vinegar syrup. The Southern relish tray classic that bridges canning season and Christmas dinner.

Rich chocolate cake: single 8-inch buttermilk cocoa layer cake finished with bittersweet chocolate glaze. Can be split for a filled two-layer version.

Classic skillet pineapple upside-down cake with caramelized brown sugar topping, juicy pineapple rings, and cherries. Simple cake mix recipe baked in cast iron for golden edges.

Three-layer espresso jellies stack coffee gelatin, a dark chocolate Marsala layer, and vanilla-bean whipped cream in tall glasses. A tiramisu-inspired make-ahead dessert with restaurant presentation.

Crazy cake, also known as wacky cake, is an egg-free and dairy-free chocolate sheet cake made with vinegar and oil. Depression-era one-pan recipe that bakes in 35 minutes.

Buttery Sour Cream Crescents with Nut Filling recipe

Vegan date nut muffins made with whole wheat flour, wheat germ, molasses, and apple juice instead of eggs. Hearty, naturally sweetened bran muffins with walnuts and lemon zest.

Pineapple macadamia nut bread with crushed pineapple, pineapple juice, and chopped macadamias in a tender quick bread. Bake as a loaf or muffins.

Frozen pumpkin ice cream pie in a gingersnap crust with cinnamon-spiked vanilla ice cream and pumpkin whipped cream, finished with warm caramel pecan sauce poured over each slice.

Wonderful fruit cookies are lightly sweetened raisin and currant drop cookies made with hot apple juice and nutmeg. A diabetic-friendly, low-sugar cookie with real fruit flavor.

Wine-soaked apple rings broiled with brown sugar, butter, and curry powder until glazed and golden. A unique side dish where apples soak in red wine for 3 hours before a quick broil with a spiced glaze.

Szechuan cold noodles tossed in a sesame-soy-chili oil sauce with sliced scallions. A Chinese-style make-ahead noodle dish that improves with a few hours in the fridge.

New Orleans beignets are pillowy square yeast doughnuts, deep-fried until golden and puffed, then buried in confectioners' sugar. The iconic French Quarter treat, best eaten piping hot.

Peaches in red wine Tuscan style with blanched peaches soaked in a hot vanilla-sugar wine syrup with roasted almonds and fresh mint. An elegant Italian summer dessert.

Cream cheese rhubarb pie: tangy cooked rhubarb filling layered with a baked cream cheese custard in a flaky pie crust. Topped with whipped cream and toasted almonds.

Rhubarb lemonade, a pink, fizzy punch made by simmering rhubarb into a sweet-tart syrup, then mixing it with pink lemonade and lemon-lime soda. A refreshing, ruby-hued drink for warm days.

Old-fashioned hermit cookies spiced with molasses, coffee, and five warm spices. Soft, chewy, and loaded with raisins, bake them as drop cookies or cut into bars.

Sourdough pancakes with applesauce folded into the batter for fruity sweetness and extra moisture. Tangy from the starter with a fluffy lift from baking soda.

Coconut kisses made from stiff egg whites folded with shredded coconut, vanilla, and almond extract, topped with a candied cherry. Light, chewy meringue cookies with only six ingredients.

Fat-free carrot muffins with grated carrots, raisins, cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest. Weight Watchers-friendly with no oil or butter and just 6 tablespoons of flour.

White chocolate fruit tart with a buttery shortbread crust, creamy white chip and cream cheese filling, and glazed fresh fruit on top. A stunning no-fuss dessert.

Chocolate bourbon balls are no-bake holiday treats made with crushed vanilla wafers, walnuts, honey-sweetened melted chocolate, and a splash of bourbon. A Southern Kentucky tradition.

Mocha cheesecake with a chocolate wafer crust, cocoa-cream cheese filling, and instant coffee for real coffeehouse depth. Rich, dense, and built on the classic cheesecake frame.

No-bake German chocolate pie with melted chocolate, cream cheese, and whipped topping in a graham cracker crust. Just 6 ingredients and 10 minutes of hands-on work.

Fruit-glazed cheesecake: a dense, velvety baked cheesecake made with cream cheese and cottage cheese, finished with fresh strawberries. Slow-cooled in the oven for a crack-free top.

White chocolate spritz cookies pressed into festive shapes and dotted with mint-chocolate morsels. A buttery, melt-in-your-mouth holiday cookie made with a classic cookie press.

Mayo-free corn and cabbage slaw with a tangy lemon-mustard vinaigrette. A light, crunchy no-cook side dish that improves as it sits in the fridge.