Recipes with sugar

Fluffy Bisquick dumplings steamed over a warm mandarin orange and cinnamon sauce, all made in the microwave in 30 minutes. A cozy, quick citrus dessert for two that uses pantry staples.

Lard cake creams pure pork lard with sugar, then folds in beaten egg whites and evaporated milk for a tender, old-fashioned vanilla cake. Vintage pioneer-era recipe.

Saddlebag chili with ground brisket, bacon fat, beer, sour mash whiskey, and eight whole jalapeños. A boozy, smoky cowboy-style chili built for the long simmer.

Traditional Ukrainian fish in aspic (studynyna rybiacha): whole fish poached in aromatic stock, layered with carrot rounds, and set in shimmering gelatin. A stunning cold appetizer for holidays.

Chocolate buttermilk sheet cake with rich cocoa icing poured on while still hot. A classic potluck crowd-pleaser that bakes in under 25 minutes and feeds a big group.

Vegan lemon tofu cheesecake with silken tofu, tahini, and lemon zest on a Grape-Nuts crust with maple syrup. Dairy-free and egg-free.

Persimmon cream pie with a custard of egg yolks, cream, and ripe persimmon pulp, crowned with a sticky pecan praline crumble. The fruit must be jelly-soft for the right honeyed flavor.

Classic old-fashioned fruit punch with cold tea, fresh-squeezed orange and lemon juice, ginger ale, and soda water. Garnished with orange slices and fresh mint. Makes 40 cups for a crowd.

A bold, slow-simmered tomato sauce spiked with beer, molasses, Dijon mustard, and a powerhouse blend of nine spices including cayenne and cumin. Two hours on the stove builds serious depth.

Fruity chicken salad with blueberries, grapes, almonds, and a lemony ginger dressing, served in scooped cantaloupe halves. A light, gorgeous lunch that doubles as its own bowl.

Farfallette Dolci are Italian bow-tie fried pastries flavored with orange and almond, tied into loose knots and dusted with powdered sugar. A traditional Italian Carnevale sweet with a crisp, delicate shatter.

This is a good "guest" food. You can appear to have mastered esoteric Oriental cooking techniques without ever having actually prepared the dish before... Unless you drop the pot on the kitchen floor and set it on fire with the hot salt, it's a pretty foolproof cooking technique.

Vegetarian cabbage rolls stuffed with tofu, pearl barley, bulgur, rice, and pine nuts, baked low and slow in a sweet-tangy tomato sauce. A hearty, meat-free comfort classic.

Quesillo! Venezuela's silky three-milk custard baked in a caramel-lined pan. Just 6 ingredients, a blender, and a water bath stand between you and the smoothest flan you've ever tasted.

Classic New England johnnycake made with yellow cornmeal and tangy buttermilk. This diabetic-friendly cornbread uses sugar substitute and comes together in 40 minutes with no fuss.

Finely chopped pork shoulder mixed with water chestnuts, dark soy, and sesame oil, topped with salty Tianjin preserved vegetable and steamed until tender. A traditional Cantonese home-style pork dish.

Florida-style barbecue sauce with orange, pineapple, and mango juice mixed with dark brown sugar, ketchup, and onion juice. A sweet, tropical BBQ sauce that makes 1 1/2 quarts.

You can taste all the flavours in this cream pie, it is so rich, smooth and creamy; the almond crust adds the nutty and tangy flavor.

Grilled grouper marinated in tequila, triple sec, and lime juice, served with fresh tomato-jalapeno salsa. A margarita-inspired fish dish straight off the grill.

Moroccan sweet rice with cinnamon, a buttery side dish dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon. A classic North African accompaniment to spicy tagines or roast lamb.

A moist chocolate banana snack cake made with buttermilk, mashed ripe bananas, and cocoa. No eggs, low in oil, topped with chocolate chips and nuts. Cut into lunchbox-friendly squares.

A layered Southern dessert with a buttery pecan shortbread crust, creamy sweet potato and cream cheese filling, and billowy whipped topping. Crunchy, creamy, and utterly indulgent.

Tropical drop cookies loaded with candied papaya, mango, pineapple, dried apricots, macadamia nuts, and white chocolate chunks. The fruitcake reimagined as a chewy island-style cookie.

Boiled pierogi topped with caramelized onions and red peppers in a sweet-tangy vinegar glaze. A quick, comforting Eastern European weeknight dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Crispy, crunchy chocolate chip cookies with rice cereal folded right into the dough. Lighter and snappier than a traditional chocolate chip cookie. 30 minutes from bowl to cooling rack, and they freeze like a charm.

Southern Confederate pie with a buttery lemon custard filling baked low and slow until golden. Six eggs, six lemons, and a whole lot of old-fashioned charm.

Crispy Thai chicken curry patties with red curry paste, coconut milk, fish sauce, and green beans, served with a tangy cucumber-peanut dipping sauce. Authentic street food at home.

Heaven and hell cake stacks airy angel food and dark devil's food layers with peanut butter mousse between, all under a glossy chocolate ganache. A showstopping light-and-dark cake with a chocolate-peanut butter heart.

An easy chocolate mint cake using box cake mix for quick and easy preparation.

A no-bake cheesecake with a cloud-light filling of cream cheese, whipped cream, and stiff egg whites set on a buttery graham cracker crust. Crowned with a homemade cooked strawberry sauce.

A lighter, golden fruitcake with apricots, golden raisins, candied orange peel, and walnuts in a buttery brandy batter. Baked in decorative molds for a gorgeous holiday centerpiece.

Chocolate bundt cake spiked with Kahlua and instant coffee, made easy with a cake mix and pudding mix shortcut. Drizzled with a coffee liqueur icing that soaks into every ridge.

Yeasted cinnamon buns with a brown sugar swirl, tangy cream cheese filling pressed into each center, and a sweet vanilla glaze drizzled on top. Bakery-level from scratch.

Pumpkin orange cake: moist sheet cake with canned pumpkin, orange juice concentrate, and zest, finished with a citrus glaze. Fall flavors with a bright twist on standard pumpkin spice.

Just 4 ingredients: almond paste, melted chocolate, chopped almonds, and powdered sugar. Roll, chill, slice into elegant no-bake candies that taste like a European confection.

Classic Italian sponge cake made with a warm egg foam, cocoa powder, and no butter at all. Light as air with a deep golden crust and tender chocolate crumb.

Suksessterte is Norway's famous "success cake" with a light almond meringue base, silky egg custard cream filling, and glossy chocolate topping. A stunning Scandinavian celebration cake.

Homemade German-style mustard with whole mustard seeds, cider vinegar, cinnamon, allspice, and honey. Bold, grainy, and fiery. Keeps in the fridge for months. Gift-jar worthy.

Greek monastery cookies rolled in chopped nuts or sesame seeds, filled with apricot or rose preserves. Buttery thumbprint cookies with a crisp nut coating and jammy center.

A unique bread machine loaf made with creamed corn, applesauce, cornmeal, and a hint of nutmeg and vanilla. Slightly sweet, incredibly moist, and totally hands-off.

Guilt-free pumpkin swirl cheesecake uses yogurt cheese and egg substitute to drop the fat without losing the creamy body. Marbled pumpkin filling, spiced cinnamon graham crust, holiday-worthy flavor.

French-style prune and Armagnac cake with a cornmeal crumb, yogurt for moisture, and a boozy glaze from the prune soaking liquid. Rustic and elegant.

Thin-sliced flank steak marinated in white wine, soy sauce, fresh ginger, and brown sugar, then threaded on skewers and grilled. Makes 30 to 40 crowd-ready teriyaki beef skewers.

Moist prune cake made with baby food prunes, cinnamon, and nutmeg. A one-bowl spiced cake that beats everything for 3 minutes and bakes hands-off.

Silky baked egg custard with fresh ginger, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gently cooked in a water bath for a wobble-in-the-center finish. Serve warm or chilled.

Sweet potato pie with nutmeg and margarine in a simple 5-ingredient filling. A no-fuss Southern classic that comes together fast with boiled sweet potatoes.

Chocolate cake with coffee syrup: a moist, fine-crumbed chocolate butter cake with cocoa bloomed in boiling water, brushed with a Kahlua-spiked sugar syrup that deepens the chocolate. Bakery-quality at home.

Vegan BBQ beans simmered with molasses, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, and hot sauce. Water-sauteed veggies keep it oil-free. Serve on buns like sloppy joes, over grains, or as a picnic side.