Dessert/5 recipes

Pina colada sheet cake: a yellow poke cake soaked with cream of coconut, sweetened condensed milk, and rum, topped with crushed pineapple, whipped cream, and coconut. The cocktail in cake form.

Deep-fried fruit fritters made with apples, pears, and bananas in a light vanilla batter, served with a warm lemon-bourbon sauce. A Creole-inspired dessert.

Fruit custard pie pours a silky scalded-milk custard into a pastry shell, then tops it with fresh berries that sink and bake into pockets of jammy fruit. A simple British-style dessert with six pantry ingredients.

Old-fashioned sugar cookies with a dual-sugar dough of granulated and powdered sugar, flattened with a sugar-dipped glass. Tender, crackly-topped, and buttery.

Old-fashioned filled sugar cookies with a cooked raisin and nut filling sandwiched between two thin, almond-scented sugar cookie rounds. A classic heirloom cookie recipe.

Rich, dense classic cheesecake with two pounds of cream cheese, sour cream, and butter, baked low and slow then cooled in the oven for a crack-free top. Crustless, ready for any topping.

Rolled and cut oatmeal cookies with finely chopped rolled oats worked into a buttery shortbread-style dough. Holds shape through cutting, perfect for cookie decorating.

Traditional German almond cookies shaped into hearts, with a tender flourless crumb made from ground almonds, egg yolks, and lemon extract, topped with a bright lemon icing. Naturally gluten-free and irresistible.

This very funny and sweet recipe. I am just loving it.

Chocolaty, creamy, smooth and absolutely delicious. This chocolate cheesecake is heaven.

Four-ingredient peanut butter cookies using yellow cake mix as a shortcut. Just blend, roll, fork-press, and bake for golden cookies in 30 minutes flat.

Layered caramel brownies with German sweet chocolate, a gooey melted caramel center, chocolate chips, and walnuts. Fudgy, chewy, and utterly over the top. Makes 25.

Pumpkin pecan pie combines spiced pumpkin custard with a broiled brown sugar pecan crumble topping. The best of both Thanksgiving pies in one slice, with five warm spices.

Irish curd cake: a traditional sieved cottage cheese cheesecake in a shortbread crust with lemon zest and a sugar-butter glaze. Light alternative to heavy American cheesecake.

Layered oatmeal bars with a brown sugar oat crust, chopped peanuts, semisweet chocolate, and caramel ice cream topping drizzled through the middle. Chewy, crunchy, and irresistible.

Italian country spice cake (torta speziata): cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves with raisins plumped in warm water and a hit of brewed espresso in the batter.