179 crackling recipes

Thyme focaccia made simple with a bread machine: a dimpled, olive-oil-rich flatbread scented with fresh thyme, cracked black pepper and flaky kosher salt. Crisp edges, soft airy middle.

Rich white chocolate cheesecake on a cinnamon-almond crust, served over fresh raspberry Grand Marnier sauce. A stunning baked cheesecake with a water bath method for crack-free results every time.

Kopenhai is a Greek almond torte with an orange-scented shortbread base, fluffy ground-almond souffle filling, crackly phyllo top, and a fragrant lemon-cinnamon syrup soaked through every diamond slice.

Spiced almond macaroons: gluten-free five-ingredient cookies with crackly tops and chewy almond centers, lifted with warm cinnamon. Bake on greased sheets and finish with a scatter of sliced almonds.

Fudgy, cocoa-rich brownies loaded with pecan halves and chocolate chunks. Butter melted right into the cocoa gives these a dense, truffle-like center with a crackly dry top. Game day gold.

Dry veggieburger mix combines blender-cracked corn, brown rice, white rice, lentils, black beans, oatmeal, and whole-wheat flour into a shelf-stable pantry mix. Add water to make custom plant-based patties.

Mocha crinkle cookies with deep cocoa, instant espresso, and a surprising pinch of black pepper, rolled in powdered sugar for that signature cracked-top look. A grown-up twist on classic chocolate crinkles.

Vegan Cuban-style black beans with two stages of green pepper, classic sofrito, and a finish of apple cider vinegar. Slow-simmered until the beans crack open. Plant-based comfort that holds its own.

This relish is based on a prize-winning English recipe of more than a generation ago. It is less sweet than traditional chutneys; most of its sweetness comes not from sugar, but from apples, dates, and parsnips. I generally use Winesap apples but any well-flavored, crisp eating apple will do.

Southern sweet potato pie with mashed sweet potatoes, warm spices, and a brightening splash of fresh lemon or orange juice. Pecan halves on top add Southern charm. The two-stage bake delivers a custard that sets without cracking.

Classic Boston baked beans slow-cooked for 8 hours with molasses, brown sugar, dry mustard, and a kick of cayenne. Crusty on top, creamy underneath. The real deal.

Holiday pork loin stuffed with brown rice, toasted almonds, orange, and crystallized ginger, glazed with cranberry-orange sauce. A festive Christmas centerpiece roast that slices into ruby-red rounds.

Baeckaoffa is an Alsatian casserole of pork, lamb, and beef marinated overnight in Riesling wine, then slow-braised with layered potatoes and onions in a flour-sealed earthenware pot.

Surprise your loved one with this scrumptious chicken dish that will add a kick to anyone's tastebuds.

Hearty vegetarian burgers made from pearl barley, chickpeas, and oatmeal seasoned with soy sauce, paprika, and basil. Pan-fried or baked, naturally low in fat and cholesterol-free.

Cilantro pesto pasta with macadamia nuts, ginger, lime, and chile. A punchy 15-minute Thai-leaning pasta that swaps the basil-pine-nut combo for something brighter and hotter.