Dessert/3 recipes

French Canadian date doughnuts (beignets) with chopped dates, nutmeg, and lemon extract, dropped by the spoonful into hot oil and fried golden in 3 minutes. From the Quebec kitchen tradition.

French sables are buttery slice-and-bake cookies with a crumbly, sandy texture and sparkling sugar crust. Six ingredients, no leavener, all about the butter.

Rich lemon chiffon pie with whipped cream and gelatin-set lemon curd folded together in a baked shell. A bright, airy citrus dessert with a cloud-like texture and tart finish.

Classic French madeleines: tender shell-shaped tea cakes with crisp golden edges and a hint of lemon. Buttery, light, and best eaten the moment they cool.

Vegan orange chocolate mousse made with silken tofu, cocoa powder, brown rice syrup, and orange zest. Dairy-free, egg-free, and ready in 10 minutes plus chilling.

A silky baked custard infused with orange zest, cinnamon, and cloves, set over golden homemade caramel with slivers of candied orange peel. Low-fat, elegant, and worth the overnight chill.

Rhubarb crumble with apples and strawberries under a buttery oat and brown sugar topping. Tart fruit baked until bubbling with a crisp, golden crust.

Soft, sugar-coated cookie drops studded with mint chocolate chips. Made with oil instead of butter for a tender crumb that stays chewy for days.

Mocha butterball cookies with cocoa, instant coffee, chopped nuts, and a powdered sugar coating. No-spread, no-chill cookie dough ready to bake in 25 minutes.

Old-fashioned chocolate layer cake with cocoa, instant coffee, and buttermilk frosted with sweetened whipped cream. A tender, not-too-sweet chocolate cake with a light, airy frosting.

Homemade pound cake with butter, powdered sugar, eggs, and a hint of lemon extract. Five-ingredient classic for tea, dessert, or strawberry shortcake base.

Classic Italian tiramisu with mascarpone, espresso, cognac, amaretto, and dual layers of Savoiardi ladyfingers and amaretti biscuits. No-bake dessert showstopper.

Buttery almond snowball cookies made with biscuit mix and chopped nuts, rolled in powdered sugar while warm. Just 6 ingredients and no chilling needed.

Lemon cayenne cookie press cookies with bright lemon zest and a spicy kick from cayenne pepper. Buttery, crisp, and sweet-heat in every bite.

Rose geranium cookies made with rosewater and chopped geranium leaves baked into a soft, floral butter cookie. A unique garden-to-cookie-sheet treat.

Classic British teatime shortbread cookies with just four ingredients: butter, sugar, flour, and salt. Buttery, crumbly, and pale golden with the traditional fork-pricked tops.