Dessert/4 recipes

Rich cheesecake with dual liqueurs, vanilla wafer-almond crust, and sour cream topping. Amaretto and Irish cream create layers of boozy complexity.

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.

Frozen cranberry souffle with Italian meringue and whipped cream, garnished with spun sugar cranberries. A showstopping holiday dessert that's made ahead and served frozen.

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.

No-bake rocky road chocolate creme pie loaded with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips in a chocolate cookie crust. A pudding-mix shortcut dessert that comes together in 20 minutes plus a quick chill.

A surprising sweet-savory pie layering sautéed zucchini with caraway seeds and lemon zest beneath a rich, buttery lemon custard. The kind of old-fashioned garden pie that turns zucchini skeptics into believers.

Chocolate cinnamon angel food cake made from scratch with egg whites, cocoa powder, and cinnamon. A light, fat-free cake with warm spice and delicate chocolate flavor.

Moist two-layer chocolate cake with a bright orange zest frosting. Boiling water in the batter creates an extra-tender crumb. Drizzle with orange liqueur for special occasions.

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.

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.

Mini cherry cheesecakes with vanilla wafer crusts and homemade tart cherry topping. Single-serving cream cheese desserts baked in muffin cups, ready for any party tray.

Old-fashioned chocolate sheet cake with a boiled cocoa frosting that goes on while everything's still hot. Buttermilk keeps it moist, chopped nuts add crunch. Ready in under an hour.

Mediterranean almond cookies made with ground almonds, egg whites, and candied cherries. Low-temperature baked treats dusted with powdered sugar and optional rosewater.

Cats Tongues (Langues de Chat) are delicate French butter cookies piped into thin finger shapes with browned edges and a pale, crisp center. Made with just butter, powdered sugar, egg whites, and flour.

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.