Dessert Recipes

Mom's lemon pie cooks a fresh-lemon curd with the zest of two whole lemons over the stovetop, thickened with both flour and cornstarch. A traditional water-based lemon meringue pie filling.

French pear tart with almond frangipane, kirsch-soaked apricot glaze, and vanilla-poached pears. Crushed macaroons fold into the pastry cream for chewy depth, finished with green pistachios.

Low-fat cheesecake made with overnight-strained yogurt and blended cottage cheese instead of cream cheese. Dense, silky, and tangy on a graham cracker crust with no cream cheese at all.

Mango kulfi frozen dessert made with fresh mango puree, whipped cream, gelatin, and ground roasted pistachios. An Indian ice cream that's creamier and denser than regular ice cream, no machine needed.

Fabulous lemon meringue pie offers both stovetop and microwave methods for the cornstarch-thickened lemon curd. Topped with cream-of-tartar-stabilized French meringue in a deep-dish baked shell.

Rich chocolate brownies topped with a lemon-chocolate frosting loaded with chopped pecans. The lemon juice in the frosting adds a bright, unexpected twist to fudgy brownies.

No-bake lemon cheesecake with Neufchatel cheese, gelatin, and a graham cracker crust. A lighter, sugar-free cheesecake that sets in the fridge in 2 hours.

Ann's chocolate pie with a buttery shortbread crust, airy egg white mousse filling swirled with melted chocolate, and whipped cream folded in. A no-bake chocolate mousse pie with a crumb topping.

Grilled dessert kabobs with pound cake cubes coated in peanut butter and chopped peanuts, skewered with banana and nectarine, and basted with warm caramel sauce. A fun cookout finish.

A juicy and scrumptious apple pie that tastes wonderful with any fruit topping or with the traditional whipped cream.

Light lemony cheesecake made with nonfat cream cheese and condensed milk on a graham cracker base. A lower-fat cheesecake topped with fresh fruit that still feels indulgent.

Illinois apple pie fills a flaky double-crust shortening pastry with thin-sliced Granny Smith apples spiced with cinnamon, brown sugar, and nutmeg. Brushed with milk and dusted with sugar for a sparkling top.

Polenta blueberry cakes are tiny lemon-glazed muffins with cornmeal grit, buttermilk tang, and juicy blueberries folded through. A make-ahead dessert or brunch bite for a crowd.

A spicy and scrumptious side dish made with pistachio nuts and cardamom seeds.

Moist applesauce cake with molasses, cinnamon, and raisins baked in a square pan, then glazed with lemon icing while still warm: tender, spiced, and just sweet enough.

Apple meringue pie with grated apples in a custardy cinnamon-nutmeg filling and a cloud of vanilla meringue on top. A two-stage bake that finishes lightly golden.