Dessert Recipes

Rhubarb pie sweetened with applesauce instead of additional sugar, thickened with quick-cooking tapioca, and warmed with cinnamon and nutmeg under a lattice crust. The applesauce mellows the tart rhubarb naturally.

Herman coffee cake bakes a 10-day fed sourdough-style starter into a tender cinnamon-raisin coffee cake. The classic friendship cake passed jar-by-jar between neighbors.

Fresh banana rhubarb pie with sliced bananas and rhubarb baked in a double crust with orange juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. A sweet-tart tropical twist on classic rhubarb pie.

A light sponge cake rolled with whipped cream, applesauce, and walnuts for an elegant holiday dessert that looks impressive but comes together quickly.

Pumpkin chiffon pie with a fluffy gelatin-set filling lightened by beaten egg whites and whipped cream. Brown sugar, warm spices, and orange zest make it taste like a holiday cloud. Easier on the stomach than custard pumpkin pie.

I use McIntosh or a combination of McIntosh & Cortlands as my family and I prefer a softer apple filling that holds together (I NEVER use Granny Smiths)...

A moist, lightly spiced snack cake. I have made this using butter or shortening, and both work fine. The butter method is a bit richer in flavor, though.

Spiced molasses cookies sweetened with maple syrup and warmed by ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom. Rolled in sugar before baking for a crackled, sparkly crust and soft, chewy middle.

No-molasses gingerbread made with cane syrup instead, giving a milder, less bitter flavor with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Bakes in a 9-inch square pan in 30 minutes. A Southern-style classic.

Dried cherry apple pie: a twist on classic apple pie with tart dried cherries tucked among cinnamon-spiced apple slices. The cherries plump up in the juices for bursts of tangy flavor.

Sweet egg noodle kugel loaded with cinnamon apples and raisins. This Jewish comfort classic bakes up golden and custardy, perfect for holidays or Sunday brunch.

Four-layer blackberry jam cake with walnuts and warm spices, glazed with jammy caramel loaded with raisins. Impressive Southern dessert for special occasions and holidays.

I used to make this cake when I lived in Germany back in the 80's, and it always got raves. I lost the book the recipe was in during a move, and was really glad to find the recipe here. The cake is in the oven as I write! It makes a great coffee cake in the morning or for dessert.

Authentic Italian cinnamon walnut biscotti: twice-baked cookies with toasted walnuts, orange zest, and a cinnamon-sugar crust. Crisp enough to dip into coffee, sturdy enough to ship.

Diabetic Southern peach shortcake bakes sliced peaches under a sugar-substitute biscuit batter with cinnamon and almond extract. A low-sugar cobbler-style dessert ready in 45 minutes.

Pfeffernuesse are traditional German Christmas peppernut cookies, fragrant with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and a hint of black pepper, studded with citron and almonds and a touch of brandy. A heritage holiday cookie.