Dessert Recipes

In a Cretan zacharoplasteion (sweet shop), we were so intrigued by these coconut pastries (among the newer breed) that I tried them at home. You can expect the potato pastry to be a bit difficult to manipulate, and you can also anticipate compliments on the results. Attractive and tasty, not excessively sweet.

Anise-scented raisin biscotti with walnuts, lemon zest, and orange zest. Butter-based dough double-baked until crisp. A traditional Italian dunking cookie with citrus and spice.

Rasgulla, the classic Bengali cheese ball dessert of spongy homemade chenna simmered in light sugar syrup until pillowy and sweet. Four ingredients, big payoff.

Raspberry-lemon pie with a tangy condensed-milk lemon filling layered under a glossy raspberry topping in a graham crust. The summer berry-and-citrus combination served chilled.

A super-healthy take on the original German classic - guilt free! Made with antioxidant-rich raw cacao, healthy coconut oil and cacao butter, high-protein mesquite powder, and filled with juicy wolfberries, vitamin E-rich almonds, and other delicious toppings of your choice.

Reva's molasses sugar cookies: chewy, crackle-topped molasses cookies rolled in sugar before baking. Spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. The old-fashioned holiday cookie your grandma kept in a tin.

Rhubarb pie sweetened with both granulated sugar and honey, brightened with lemon zest, and tinted rosy with red food coloring. A double-crust spring pie with floral honey notes against tart rhubarb.

Rhubarb tart with orange glaze layers tart-sweet rhubarb over buttery puff pastry, then gets brushed with a reduced citrus syrup. Two rectangles, one sheet pan, one of the easiest stone-fruit-season desserts going.

Buttery shortbread crust topped with sticky honey-pecan caramel that sets into chewy, candied perfection. Cut into diamonds and dust with powdered sugar for elegant cookie bars.

Rugelach roll flaky cream cheese dough around apricot preserves, cinnamon-brown-sugar, walnuts, and raisins into bite-sized crescents. A classic Jewish bakery cookie for Hanukkah and Christmas alike.

Frozen pumpkin ice cream pie marbled with homemade rum-caramel sauce on a graham cracker crust. A no-bake autumn dessert that serves at least 8 and lives in the freezer until needed.

Scandinavian apple cake layered with toasted cake crumbs, currant jelly, macaroons, and ground nuts, topped with whipped cream and sugar-toasted almonds.

German chocolate pretzel cookies (Schokoladenpretzel) hand-shaped from cocoa dough and topped with cocoa frosting. A fun baking project that makes about 2 dozen pretzel-shaped cookies.

No-mix seven layer bars with graham cracker crust, coconut, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, walnuts, and sweetened condensed milk. Just layer, bake, and slice into gooey, crunchy bars.

Ultra-tender shortbread cookies with a full pound of unsalted butter, sweetened condensed milk, and cornstarch for a melt-on-your-tongue crumble. Baked low and slow until barely golden.

Traditional Norwegian anise syrup cookies made with honey, dark corn syrup, and star anise, finished with a warm powdered sugar glaze. Soft, fragrant, and sweetly spiced. Makes 4 dozen.