Recipe Sifter

Maple macadamia biscotti made with real maple syrup, maple extract, applesauce, and chopped macadamia nuts. Twice-baked to a crisp, dry crunch for dunking in coffee.

Sweet potato casserole with double ginger, orange zest, and a crispy brown sugar walnut crust. Baked until puffed and golden for a holiday side that steals the show.

Praline cheesecake with dark brown sugar cream cheese filling, chopped pecans folded in, and a maple syrup glaze topped with pecan halves. Rich, Southern-inspired, on a graham cracker crust.

Chocolate peppermint cake: three-layer brown sugar cocoa cake with melting chocolate mint wafers pressed between layers and fluffy seven-minute peppermint frosting on top.

Mandelbreit is a Jewish almond bread sliced twice-baked style with three fillings: cocoa, walnuts, and candied fruit. Aging the rolls in foil for a week deepens the flavor.

Cherry muffins made with maraschino cherries and their juice for color and flavor. A simple, quick muffin recipe with melted butter that bakes in 20 minutes.

Chewy brown sugar cookies loaded with green candy-coated chocolate pieces. A fun, festive cookie for St. Patrick's Day baking that makes 3 dozen in just 30 minutes.

Makana bread is a rich banana bread made with pureed overripe bananas, buttermilk, walnuts, and shortening baked in a tube pan. Hawaiian-inspired and incredibly moist.

While watching the first snowfall, try these scrumptious cookies that contain a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Soft molasses drop cookies spiced with warming ginger and cloves that stay moist and chewy when you don't overbake them. Classic old-fashioned cookies made without eggs for a simple, reliable recipe.

Slow cooker chicken drumsticks diable simmered in a sweet-and-spicy tomato sauce with chili powder, dry mustard, Worcestershire, and a hit of hot sauce. Spooned over spaghetti for an easy weeknight dinner.

Walnut fudge cookies (British-style biscuit fingers): a buttery shortbread base studded with walnuts and topped with a quick brown sugar fudge. Tea-time treat that slices clean.

Poppy seed kolaches made from a soft yeasted dough with mace and lemon zest, filled with a homemade poppy seed, raisin, and cinnamon filling. A Czech-Texan bakery classic.

European mocha fudge cake with a dense cocoa-pecan base and creamy coffee whipped cream filling. A flourless-style chocolate cake that's rich, fudgy, and made without leavening.

Whole wheat apple date muffins with bran, cinnamon, and grated fresh apple. Naturally sweet from dates and brown sugar with a hearty, tender crumb.

Eggnog chiffon pie, an airy brandy-spiked custard set with gelatin and lightened with whipped egg whites, dusted with fresh nutmeg in a flaky homemade crust. A Christmas dessert worth the fuss.