Recipe Sifter

Pecan pie mini muffins with just five ingredients and all the buttery, brown sugar flavor of classic pecan pie. Bite-sized holiday treats that come together in one bowl, no pie crust required.

A decadent cake that is buttery, moist, rich and delicious.

Freeze-ahead oatmeal cookie dough made with vegetable shortening, ready to slice and bake whenever cravings strike for chewy raisin nut cookies.

Chocolate and cherries - always a great combo - are enhanced in this winning shaped-cookie recipe by a coating of cocoa and powdered sugar. It was submitted by Lois A. Hernandez of West Allis.

Parmesan-crumbed chicken breast pan-fried in olive oil and butter with a crispy breadcrumb, Parmesan, and parsley crust over Dijon mustard. A golden, crunchy breaded chicken cutlet.

Classic flounder meuniere pan-fried in browned butter with lemon juice and fresh parsley. A simple French technique for delicate white fish fillets.

Lightened cranberry cake with whole berries on the bottom and a tender egg-white batter on top. A jewel-toned holiday dessert with naturally sweet-tart bite.

Traditional plum dumplings made with potato dough, farina, and fresh plums stuffed with sugar. Boiled until tender and topped with buttered bread crumbs.

Moist quick bread loaded with grated fresh apples and crunchy pecans, topped with cinnamon sugar before baking. Serve warm from the oven or at room temperature for afternoon tea.

Peanut butterscotch squares with a buttery shortbread base topped with melted butterscotch chips, chunky peanut butter, and crunchy corn flakes. No-bake topping on a baked crust.

Le Montrachet lobster bisque: classic French restaurant-style bisque made from real lobster shells, white wine, brandy, sherry, and heavy cream. The kind of soup that earns its place at a fine-dining table.

Kahlua chocolate nut squares pack coffee liqueur into a brown sugar bar studded with semi-sweet chocolate and walnuts, then crowned with browned butter Kahlua icing for a grown-up bake sale showstopper.

Tender scones packed with oat bran cereal and chopped fresh apples, brushed with butter and cinnamon. These wholesome wedges bake up golden in under 20 minutes for quick breakfasts.

Old-fashioned oatmeal muffins with sour milk-soaked oats for a tender, moist crumb. An overnight soak and simple pantry ingredients make these a rustic breakfast staple.

Mint Surprise Cookies hide a melty chocolate mint wafer inside soft brown-sugar dough, each one crowned with a toasted walnut. Chill the dough so it seals the surprise neatly before baking.

Buttery drop cookies loaded with oats, vanilla milk chips, flaked coconut, and macadamia nuts. Sour cream keeps them soft and chewy. Makes 5 dozen for the holiday cookie swap.