Dessert, Christma Recipes

Pumpkin chess pie crosses Southern chess pie with classic pumpkin filling. Cornmeal-thickened, warmly spiced, and richer than traditional pumpkin pie with a denser, sliceable texture.

Mary Wilhelm of Sparta sent her signature cookie, which she said she has prepared for the Food Network, Warrens Cranfest and Taste of Home magazine. Two classic flavor pairings - brown sugar and cashews, and orange and cranberry - come together.

Thin, crispy wafer cookies rolled into delicate tubes while warm, then dipped in melted chocolate and crunchy pecans. A show-stopping holiday cookie that bakes in just 6 minutes.

Christmas persimmon cake with ripe Hachiya pulp, raisins, dates, nuts, and warm holiday spices. A spiced loaf cake that bakes long and slow for a moist, fruitcake-style holiday gift.

Christmas Linzer cookies, tender ground-hazelnut shortbread sandwiched with raspberry jam and dusted with powdered sugar, jam peeking through a cut-out window. A nutty, festive take on the Austrian classic.

Czech Christmas cookies rolled paper-thin, packed with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg, sweetened with molasses and brown sugar. Crisp, spicy, and not too sweet.

Christmas Ginger Cookies with Almond Frosting recipe.

Pineapple charlotte with crushed pineapple, unflavored gelatin, beaten egg whites, and whipped topping. A light, airy no-bake dessert served in stem glasses with a cherry on top.

Spicy pumpkin pie with two teaspoons of cayenne pepper hidden in the warm spice blend, balanced by honey, half-and-half, and ground pecans. A Thanksgiving showstopper that surprises every guest at the second bite.

Drunken apple-pumpkin pie blends pumpkin and applesauce in one custard, finished with a dramatic flame of warmed rum poured tableside. Topped with pecan halves and warm baking spices. A holiday showstopper for Thanksgiving and Christmas tables.

These cookies are soft-cake like because of the pumpkin and applesauce. Dried cranberries and chocolate chips give the cookies additional deliciousness.

This Christmas pudding has plenty of delicious fruit and nuts, but it's really simple to make - just plan ahead and then make the warm vanilla-bean custard on the day.

Sugarplum cookies with dried or candied fruit hidden inside each ball of vanilla sugar cookie dough. Topped with creamy frosting and colored sugar for Christmas cookie trays.

Sirups kager are traditional Danish brown spice cookies made with dark corn syrup, cinnamon, and cloves. Crisp, warmly spiced, and ideal for holiday cookie tins and Christmas baking.

Cindy Schweitzer of Muskego offered this cherry twist on melt-in-your-mouth finger cookies.

These rich chocolate-toffee bars from Mary Lueke of Menasha were our top pick in the bar category.