154 cracked recipes

Rosemary scones with fresh herbs, plump raisins, and a crackly sugar-crusted top. The piney rosemary plays beautifully against sweet currants and rich cream for a tearoom-worthy bake.

Cinnamon sugar butter cookies rolled in spiced sugar and baked low for a soft, chewy center. Brown sugar dough gives these drop cookies deep caramel notes with a crackly cinnamon coating.

Susan's chocolate chess pie sets a velvety cocoa custard of butter, sugar, eggs, and evaporated milk into two flaky shells. The Southern dessert with a crackly top and fudgy center.

Rich cheesecake swirled with brown sugar caramelized bananas on a toasted pecan crust. Baked in a water bath for a creamy, crack-free finish with an optional splash of dark rum.

Sugar crisps made with oats, almond extract, and a baking soda-vinegar reaction for extra lift. Rolled into balls and flattened with a sugar-dipped glass for a crackly, crisp cookie.

Four-minute brownie pie with no crust needed. Beat everything together for 4 minutes, pour into a pie pan, and bake. Fudgy, crackly-topped, and best served warm with ice cream.

Peanut butter blossom kisses with sugar-rolled cookies and a chocolate kiss pressed warm into each top. The classic holiday cookie tray standard, soft and chewy with a crackly sugar crust.

Ruth's sugar cookies are tender drop cookies made with shortening and dipped warm into granulated sugar for a crackly, sparkling top. A simple recipe that makes three dozen in 30 minutes.

Ritzy chocolate-covered nuts are candied slivered almonds with a crackly sugar shell, roasted to toasty perfection and dipped in melted chocolate. A three-ingredient homemade holiday candy for gift tins.

Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Smoky Red-Onion Salsa recipe

Fudgy brownies made with a whole can of chocolate syrup and chopped nuts, topped with a boiled chocolate chip frosting that sets into a glossy, crackly shell. Retro baking at its best.

Black pepper cream biscuits: flaky buttermilk biscuits topped with a cream wash and a bold crack of coarse pepper. Savory biscuits that hold up to gravy, eggs, or a slab of ham.

Holiday mint log is a light chocolate sponge cake rolled into a classic yule log shape. Separated eggs keep the cake airy enough to roll without cracking, baked in just 12-15 minutes.

Chocolate coconut cake roll spirals a light cocoa sponge around a fluffy cherry-coconut whipped cream filling. Rolled warm so it won't crack, then chilled and dusted with powdered sugar. A retro showstopper.

Fresh blackberries macerated in aged balsamic vinegar, layered with creamy Greek yogurt and honey, then topped with a crackly torched sugar crust. A no-bake crème brûlée that's elegant enough for a dinner party.

Hazelnut au chocolat, a dense flourless chocolate cake folded with ground hazelnuts and whipped egg whites for a fudgy, almost truffle-like crumb. Slow-baked low to set without cracking, finished with raspberry sauce.