Dessert/8 recipes

Vegetarian mincemeat pie with TVP standing in for suet, loaded with apples, raisins, walnuts, and warm spices in apple cider. A holiday classic reimagined for plant-based kitchens.

Cherry-pistachio biscotti studded with tart dried cherries and bright green pistachios, brightened with lime zest and twice-baked to that classic dunkable crunch. Holiday cookie tin material.

Healthy apple pie with a crushed Grape Nuts cereal base and a no-sugar-added filling sweetened with apple juice concentrate. Coriander and cinnamon spice six thinly sliced apples for a low-fat dessert.

Kumquat pecan crepes are filled with a frangipane-style pecan butter and chopped preserved kumquats, baked golden, then flambeed tableside with warm cognac. A grown-up dessert with theatrical presentation.

Fresh peach pie layers ripe sliced peaches under a glossy peach-and-nutmeg glaze in a pre-baked shell. No double crust, no second bake. The classic American summer fridge pie that lets ripe fruit do the talking.

Strawberry daiquiri pie, a cool no-bake dessert with a creamy cream cheese and condensed milk filling spiked with strawberry daiquiri mix and rum extract, all in a graham cracker crust. Chill or freeze for a breezy summer slice.

Lemon queen cake is a four-layer white cake with lemon curd filling, lemon-butter frosting, and lemon-tossed coconut pressed into the sides. A stunning Southern celebration cake.

Apple cheddar turnovers: whole baked apples stuffed with brown sugar and cinnamon, wrapped in a sharp cheddar pastry. A New England classic riff on apple-and-cheese.

Fudgy chocolate brownies built on bittersweet chocolate, sour cream, and a final fold of chopped chocolate chunks. Dense, gooey center with a thin crackled top.

Zucchini mock apple pie with sweet raisins folded through and a buttery crumb topping. Lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg fool the taste buds into reading squash as apple, with chewy raisins adding depth.

Nutty carob chip cookies sweetened with honey and made with whole wheat flour. Caffeine-free chocolate-chip-cookie alternative for the carob-loving, health-conscious snacker.

Tri-berry pie with strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries baked under a golden lattice crust. A red-white-and-blue summer pie that works equally well with fresh or frozen berries.

This rich and delicious pie is made with chocolate cookie crumbs, corn syrup and semi-sweet chocolate.

Buttered rum pound cake: a tall, tender sour cream pound cake with vanilla and lemon notes, lightened by whipped egg whites folded in at the end. A Southern holiday classic for slicing and sharing.

Light apricot almond cake made with ground almonds, egg whites, and fresh apricot slices on top. No egg yolks, no heavy batter, just a tender, airy French-style fruit cake served warm.

Pumpkin marble cheesecake on a gingersnap-pecan crust with swirled pumpkin spice and vanilla cream cheese batters. A stunning fall dessert with two-tone visual appeal.