10,000 desert recipes

Alice's white cake is a tender vanilla and almond-scented layer cake leavened with whipped egg whites for an airy, snowy crumb. The kind of from-scratch white cake that makes box mixes look amateur.

Blender chocolate chip cupcakes mix the entire batter in a blender for one-bowl convenience. Tender vanilla cupcakes studded with semisweet chocolate chips. Mix, pour, bake. Done in 45 minutes.

Orange coconut cake layers a tender almond-scented white cake with a tangy fresh orange filling and fluffy boiled-sugar frosting. A vintage Southern church-cookbook bake with citrus brightness throughout.

Buttery melt-in-your-mouth cookies made with cornstarch for an ultra-tender crumb, scented with almond and vanilla, then dusted in powdered sugar.

Rich baked chocolate pudding pie with 18 egg yolks, two types of chocolate, heavy cream, and dried currants. A custard-style filling baked in a water bath.

Old-fashioned chocolate layer cake with cocoa, instant coffee, and buttermilk frosted with sweetened whipped cream. A tender, not-too-sweet chocolate cake with a light, airy frosting.

Thumbprint buttercream cookies made with brown sugar, egg yolks, and shortening, coated in stiff egg whites and nuts, then filled with buttercream icing after baking.

Thin, crisp lemon wafers made with fresh lemon zest, butter, and vanilla. Just 8 ingredients and 6-8 minutes in the oven for delicate, golden-edged cookies.

Meringue madeleines made with whipped egg whites, cake flour, and melted butter. Light as air with crisp edges, best eaten warm straight from the oven.

Soft, moist velvet pumpkin cake made with Bisquick, canned pumpkin, and vanilla, served warm with sweetened whipped cream. A cozy fall dessert ready in one hour.

Eggless cocoa cake made with no butter, milk, or eggs. A depression-era style chocolate cake using vinegar and baking soda for lift, baked in a tube pan. Naturally vegan.

Classic lemon cheesecake with graham cracker crust, cream cheese, lemon juice and zest, and whipped egg whites folded in for a lighter, airy texture.

Chocolate chiffon pots made with skim milk, cocoa, and gelatin blended with ice cubes for instant mousse. Low-fat chocolate dessert ready in 30 minutes.

Soft, chewy drop cookies packed with chopped figs, molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger with hints of lemon and vanilla. An old-fashioned spiced fig cookie recipe that makes 2 dozen.

Lady Baltimore cake is a tall white layer cake filled with fruit and nuts, then covered in fluffy boiled icing. The genteel Charleston dessert that's been a Southern wedding cake for over a century.

Thin, lacy sesame wafers with nutty toasted sesame seeds and brown sugar. These crisp, buttery cookies spread into golden wafers as they bake, making 4 dozen irresistible treats.