Dessert Recipes

A scrumptious torte made with almonds, rum, brandy and semi-sweet chocolate.

Angel food cake layered with rum-soaked strawberries and white chocolate whipped cream, drizzled with orange juice. A no-bake showpiece that comes together in 30 minutes flat.

Peach cheesecake built on a cottage-cheese filling for a lighter, less dense bite, with a vanilla wafer pecan crust and a sour cream topping crowned with sliced peaches.

Buttermilk pie whisks tangy buttermilk with sugar, eggs, melted margarine, flour, and lemon extract into a sweet-tangy single-crust pie. Classic Southern five-minute pie filling.

Sweet potato pie with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a flaky shell, finished with a decorative ring of pecan halves and a dollop of whipped cream. The yogurt in the custard adds tang and lift that traditional milk-only versions miss.

Italian almond-hazelnut biscotti twice-bake to crisp dipping cookies with lemon zest, almond extract, and toasted nuts. Lower-fat traditional Italian style, keeps a month in a tin.

This pie is super delicious and it is always a big hit at our family gathering dinner.

Ann's chiffon cake: a tall, light tube cake with the richness of butter cake and the lift of angel food. Whipped egg whites fold into an oil-based batter and bake into a tender, springy crumb.

Anise biscotti (mandel bread) with lemon zest, anisette liqueur, and star anise baked twice for a crisp, crunchy dunk-worthy cookie. An Italian-Jewish crossover recipe with optional hazelnuts or sliced almonds.

Cooked tiramisu with a safe, heat-tempered egg yolk custard, ricotta cheese, whipped cream, and coffee-soaked ladyfingers. A make-ahead Italian dessert that freezes beautifully.

Hungarian tarts with a cream cheese pastry shell and five filling options: almond, pecan, walnut, coconut, and farmer's cheese. A traditional holiday baking project.

Pumpkin cheesecake with canned pineapple and warm pie spice, baked in a water-bath oven for a silky, crack-free finish. A crustless fall dessert with tropical flair.

Grandma's jam cake, a Southern Appalachian heirloom spice cake folded with fruit jam, raisins, nuts, and warm cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Old-time celebration cake for caramel icing.

Mimi's bread pudding made with French bread soaked in evaporated milk, bananas, raisins, and a full ounce of vanilla. Served with a buttery whiskey sauce.

Mix-in-pan carrot cake: stir all ingredients directly in the baking pan with a fork, no extra bowls or mixers. Spiced with cinnamon and allspice, topped with classic cream cheese frosting.

Chocolate chip fruitcake with candied cherries, dates, walnuts, and chocolate chips bound by a light egg-and-sugar batter. A modern fruitcake that converts even fruitcake skeptics.