815 crackling recipes

Peanut mojhy, a Pennsylvania Dutch molasses and brown sugar candy loaded with peanuts. An old-fashioned hard crack candy poured onto buttered tins with just five ingredients.

Mocha white chocolate cheesecake with a cocoa vanilla wafer crust, Kahlua coffee filling, and sour cream topping. Baked in a water bath for a crack-free finish.

Lemon curd cheesecake with a tangy cream cheese and sour cream filling topped with homemade lemon curd. Baked low and slow for a crack-free, silky finish.

Cedar-plank salmon crusted with smoky Portuguese linguica, breadcrumbs, and citrus zest. A bold Emeril-style seafood showpiece with wood-smoked aroma and a crackly sausage topping.

Rich lemon muffins with fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and melted butter, topped with a sugar crust. Bright, buttery, and intensely lemony with a golden crackly top.

Easy steak au poivre: filet mignon crusted in cracked black peppercorns, pan-seared in butter, finished with a red wine pan sauce. French classic in 15 minutes.

Gaslight Restaurant peppercorn dressing with Parmesan, cracked black pepper, garlic, Worcestershire, and hot sauce in a mayo base. A bold, restaurant-style dressing you can make at home.

Mom's peppered ham: poached ham shank coated in cracked black peppercorns and dried in a low oven for paper-thin deli-style slices. Old-school deli cooking at home.

Intensely fudgy brownies with a crackly, craggy top loaded with melted chocolate chips and chopped nuts. These one-bowl bars are rich, chewy, and dangerously easy to make.

Old-fashioned bread and butter pickles with the classic ice-and-salt soak that locks in jaw-cracking crunch. Sweet vinegar brine with turmeric, celery seed, and mustard seed. Makes 32 jars.

Standing rib roast with a roasted garlic and parsley crust, served with tarragon carrots, browned butter parsnips, roasted onions, and red wine au jus. A holiday showpiece.

Classic Italian amaretti cookies made with almond paste and egg whites, piped and baked until golden with a crackly crust. Just three core ingredients for crisp, chewy almond flavor.

Double chocolate cheesecake with a chocolate wafer crust and a dense, fudgy chocolate cream cheese filling. Rich, smooth and crack-free, finished with piped white chocolate stars. A chocolate lover's showpiece.

A lighter peach brulee: ripe sliced peaches with orange juice, blanketed in tangy Greek yogurt and topped with a crackly broiled-sugar crust. The flavors of creme brulee with a fraction of the work.

Simple steak au poivre with cracked black pepper crust, hot chili oil sear, and cognac pan sauce. Bold pepper-crusted sirloin strips flamed with Armagnac for smoky depth.

Creamy New York-style cheesecake with a graham cracker crust and tangy sour cream topping. Baked low and slow at 300F for a crack-free finish every time.