Dessert/6 recipes

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.

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.

Easy one-layer chocolate cake made with melted unsweetened chocolate, applesauce, and pecans. Dense, fudgy, and finished with a simple dusting of powdered sugar.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.