Dessert/5 recipes

The shredded zucchini makes this cake very moist, and the topping adds a nice crunch. Whenever zucchini is in season I freeze some, shredded, in 2 cup amounts so I can make this favorite anytime of the year.

Irish cream balls combine crushed vanilla wafers, toasted pecans, cocoa, and Irish cream liqueur into no-bake boozy bites rolled in powdered sugar. The grown-up holiday cookie tray staple.

Coconut Pecan Biscotti This crunchy Italian-inspired biscotti combines the tropical sweetness of coconut with nutty pecans for a perfect coffee or tea companion. Twice-baked for extra crispness, it's ideal for dipping or gifting.

Gather round pound cake: a moist butterscotch-coffee bundt cake with melted butterscotch chips and instant coffee in the batter. The deep amber pound cake that smells like a coffee shop bakery.

Chocolate snappers with unsweetened chocolate, cinnamon, and corn syrup rolled in sugar and baked until crackled. A chewy, crinkle-style chocolate cookie with a sugary crust.

Light, chewy coconut macaroons made meringue-style from whipped egg whites and grated coconut, sweetened sugar-free and scented with almond. Naturally gluten-free, and lovely topped with a glace cherry.

Glazed orange butter cake made with cake flour and cornstarch for ultra-tender crumb, scented with fresh orange juice and zest, then drizzled with a tangy orange glaze. The bright citrus cake worth pulling out the stand mixer.

Two-ingredient mango cream dip made with cream cheese and mango chutney. A sweet, tangy, and spiced dip that works with fruit, crackers, or as a spread for chicken sandwiches.

Chocolate pinon cookies with grated semi-sweet chocolate and toasted pine nuts in a buttery shortbread dough, dusted with powdered sugar. A Southwestern-inspired holiday cookie.

This scrumptious Irish cake is so tasty, the boiled raisins and currants with butter give the cake great texture and flavor.

Fresh figs poached in port and creme de cassis, the wine reduced to a glossy syrup, served over vanilla frozen yogurt. An elegant, low-fat dessert with deep berry and fig flavor from just a few ingredients.

Caramel shortbread squares with a buttery crumble base and thick, chewy toffee layer made with condensed milk and corn syrup. Chills overnight and inverts for clean slicing.

Eggnog chiffon pie in a flaky homemade crust with a light, airy filling of custard, whipped cream, rum extract, and nutmeg set with gelatin. A holiday dessert classic.

Fruit-filled yeast bread wrapped around a dense, spiced filling of dried pears, prunes, raisins and walnuts spiked with kirsch. The fruit is enclosed in a soft enriched dough and baked golden. A festive, slice-and-serve loaf.

Jello sugar cookies made with gelatin mix for colorful, flavored drop cookies ready in 25 minutes. A retro classic that yields 2 dozen soft, buttery cookies kids absolutely go wild for.

No-bake, 3-layer, chocolate covered bars. Nanaimo bars are a traditional Canadian dessert, though nobody is certain where the tradition came from.