Dessert recipes

No-bake cheesecake with graham cracker walnut crust, applesauce-swirled filling, and warm spiced apple topping. Mix filling uses box convenience with fresh flavor from lemon and homemade sauce.

A four-layer cheesecake masterpiece: walnut-graham crust, dense cream cheese filling, silky sour cream topping, and whole strawberries drenched in a Cointreau-spiked raspberry glaze. Plan ahead; it needs 2 to 3 days to reach peak flavor.

Spiced gingerbread with cinnamon, mace and nutmeg, brightened with orange zest and brandy, studded with raisins. A moist, dense holiday loaf perfect for Christmas tea trays.

New Year's Eve chocolate clock cake stacks three layers of egg-white sponge with stovetop chocolate cream filling and Hungarian chocolate frosting, then iced with a clock face for the midnight countdown.

Whole wheat carrot spice quickbread with orange zest, golden raisins, and walnuts. A lighter, warmly spiced loaf that comes together fast with no yeast required.

Vegetarian mincemeat made with fresh pears, dried fruit, candied cherries, almonds, and a splash of whiskey. No suet needed. Spiced with allspice, nutmeg, and ginger for traditional Christmas mince pies.

No-bake gumdrop peanut popcorn cake: a Bundt-shaped tower of popcorn, peanuts, and rainbow gumdrops bound by melted marshmallows and butter. A retro birthday party showpiece.

French cream pie is a vintage sour cream and raisin filling spiced with cinnamon, cooked custard-style in a double boiler, then chilled in a baked shell and crowned with billowy whipped cream.

Creamy maple syrup pie with chopped walnuts in a silky custard filling. A Quebec-style tarte au sirop d’érable cooked in a double boiler for pure, unburnt maple flavor.

Banana walnut upside-down cake with a brown sugar-maple syrup caramel, sliced bananas in concentric circles, and a cinnamon butter cake. Served warm with whipped cream.

Flourless chocolate decadence cake with melted chocolate, cocoa, and a glossy ganache glaze. Dense, fudgy, and naturally gluten-free with a truffle-like center.

Classic Italian ricotta cheesecake with a buttery shortcrust base and a light, airy filling studded with candied fruit. Torta di ricotta is lighter and more delicate than American cheesecake, baked low and slow until just set.

Low calorie marbled chocolate cheesecake made with cottage cheese, skim milk, and whipped egg whites on a cocoa cookie crust. A no-bake, lighter cheesecake with bold chocolate swirl.

Thin, delicate cookies rolled into calla lily shapes while still warm, then filled with fresh whipped cream and a candied orange peel stamen. Edible art for special occasions.

No-bake Special K cereal cookies made with peanut butter, sugar, corn syrup, and crispy rice cereal. These crunchy, sweet clusters come together on the stovetop in under 15 minutes with just a handful of pantry staples.

Rich chocolate layer cake with cocoa, hot coffee, and a hint of almond extract. Colette's recipe bakes into two moist 9-inch layers that are begging for your favorite frosting.