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.

Rainbow ice cream cake layers jello-coated angel food cake pieces with strawberry, lime and orange-pineapple flavors, fruit and vanilla ice cream. A showstopping no-bake frozen dessert.

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.

Rasomadhuri, Indian fried cheese balls made with ricotta, milk powder, and cardamom, soaked 24 hours in sugar syrup. A traditional sweet that melts on your tongue.

Raspberry cranberry mousse: silky pink dessert with pureed raspberries, cranberry concentrate, whipped cream, and beaten egg whites. Light, tart, and ready for the holidays.

Raspberry meringue cookies piped into rosettes and baked low and slow until crisp. Light as air with real raspberry preserves folded into the meringue.

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.

Raw apple bundt cake stays incredibly moist thanks to three cups of fresh chopped apples, plus flaked coconut, sweet dates, and toasted pecans. A dense, spiced fall cake that needs no frosting.

Homemade whipped cream beats heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla into pillowy soft peaks. Three ingredients, ready in 5 minutes, no canned topping required.

Rhubarb and banana fool made with quark, whipped egg whites, brown sugar, and preserved ginger. A light British dessert with tangy fruit and creamy cheese.

Rich chocolate cherry bundt cake made moist with a whole can of cherry pie filling, studded with melty chocolate chips and crunchy nuts. A cinnamon-kissed, Black Forest-style cake finished with chocolate icing.

Rich date-nut chocolate chip cookies with brown sugar, chopped dates, walnuts, and flaked coconut. A loaded drop cookie with deep caramel sweetness and chewy texture.

Orange oatmeal cookies sweetened with banana, honey, and orange juice concentrate. A low-fat cookie with no butter, no oil, raisins, walnuts, and fresh orange zest.

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.