Dessert/5 recipes

The famous $250 cookie loaded with chocolate chips, grated chocolate bars, oatmeal ground to powder, and chopped nuts. A legendary urban legend cookie recipe that actually delivers.

Italian macaroons made from almond paste kneaded with egg whites and sugar, baked into chewy, fragrant amaretti-style cookies. A short rest before baking gives them their crackly top and tender center.

Gooey butter cake layers a tender shortbread crust beneath a buttery, corn-syrup-rich filling that bakes into the iconic St. Louis dessert with crisp edges and a soft, almost custardy center. Dust with powdered sugar and slice into squares.

It's easy to satisfy your sweet tooth with this cake that has chunks of Snickers in every bite.

Jumbo gingersnaps spiced with molasses, maple syrup, ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom, rolled in sugar before baking. Hand-sized, crackle-topped, soft-chewy cookies.

Chewy oat crumble bars layered with a thick, glossy blueberry filling brightened with lemon juice. A nutty brown sugar base does double duty as the topping. Makes 15 bars.

Rosettes are delicate Scandinavian fried cookies shaped on a decorative iron, crisp like a wafer and dusted with powdered sugar. A Christmas tradition in Nordic and Midwestern kitchens.

Pear pound cake with buttermilk, chopped pecans, and a hint of nutmeg baked in a loaf pan. Moist, buttery crumb studded with tender pear chunks in every slice.

Fresh banana-pineapple sorbet churned with low-fat yogurt and honey, served in a hollowed-out pineapple shell for a stunning tropical presentation. Light, fruity, and low-fat.

Eggless chocolate zucchini bread made with egg substitute, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and shredded zucchini for moisture. Makes two loaves with a rich, fudgy crumb.

Kaleidoscope slice-and-bake cookies with red, green, and plain dough rolled together for a colorful Christmas pattern. Freezer-friendly holiday cookies that store up to 6 months.

A fresh strawberry and blueberry pie with a buttery coconut crumble topping baked until golden and bubbling. Tapioca-thickened filling keeps every slice neat. Summer berry baking at its finest.

Texas sheet cake enriched with sour cream for moisture and folded with chopped nuts, baked thin in a sheet pan and topped with warm chocolate icing poured straight onto the hot cake.

Low fat lemon pudding cake separates as it bakes into a tender sponge top and silky lemon-curd bottom. Light dessert with skim milk and only one tablespoon of fat.

Lemon cream cheese pie in a graham cracker crust with mayonnaise for extra richness, lemon zest, and vanilla. Baked until set and chilled for a creamy, tangy dessert.

Soft almond cookies made with egg whites, almond extract, and topped with toasted almonds. Lower fat, lightly sweet, and tender with a delicate crumb.